Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(21)

“No,” Landon said. “No favors and debts and bullshit. It’ll never end.”

“Which is what Gaige said,” Miller added.

“Hey, I thought by sending this guy those eyeballs it would scare him a little. Make him realize we mean business.”

“Now he wants to enjoy our business, huh?” Landon asked.

“That’s why we’re meeting him,” Miller said. “I want you and Gaige to meet him. I need to go meet with Jonsey and I’m taking Nate and Blaine with me. Griffin, Shay, and Jace are at the hospital to check on Erik. I want everyone to be in pairs or groups, got it? Just in case these Eight Under *s pull anymore shit.”

“Okay,” Landon said. “Let’s get moving then.”

Gaige nodded and the group broke up. They all walked outside and got on their motorcycles. The sun was high, the sky was clear and blue, and it was a perfect day for hitting the open road and settling scores. It was the greatest life Landon could ever imagine living… yet in the back of his mind he thought about Avery. He regretted not f*cking her last night.

The roar of Landon’s engine shut his mind up, which was nice.

The crew moved out of the lot, following Miller. When it came to split up, they all waved and were set off on their own missions.

Landon caught up alongside Gaige and the two rode through Frelen. Judging by the quiet roads Gaige was heading toward, Landon knew they were meeting Strokner in a secret location. It made sense since there was no purpose in meeting such a wealthy businessman at one of his buildings. Back Down Devil and suits and ties really didn’t mix well.

Sure enough, about twenty minutes away there was a long, black SUV on the side of the road. The windows were tinted black and for a moment, Landon scanned their surroundings wondering if it was some kind of setup. He’d been around long enough to know there were no such things as friends in this life, just enemies.

They stopped in front of the SUV and when Gaige reached for his gun, Landon followed suit. The driver of the SUV put up his hands and said something. The driver side back door opened and someone got out and rushed around to the other side. He opened the passenger side back door and Landon watched a pair of shiny black shoes hit the dirt. A man stepped into the open, adjusting his suit jacket.

“It’s good,” Gaige said to Landon.

They lowered their weapons as Strokner walked toward them.

“Aren’t we on edge?” Strokner asked with a grin.

“It’s the life,” Gaige said.

Strokner opened his suit jacket and Landon lifted his gun again. He took a step and ignored Gaige’s plea to stop. Strokner seemed to not fear the gun, which pissed Landon off. It didn’t matter how rich a man was, a bullet could still rip through any man’s head and take his life. Strokner took a cigar from his suit jacket and lit it.

“Would you like one?” he asked Landon.

“No,” Landon said.

“Can you perhaps not point a firearm at me?”

Landon heard a metal click sound and turned his head to see someone at the front of Strokner’s SUV with a small machine gun.

“Christ,” Gaige said. “Can we all just take a deep f*cking breath for a second?”

“I’m fine,” Strokner said.

“Landon,” Gaige said. “Come on, bro. This isn’t war here.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Strokner said. “There is no war here.” He stepped forward as Landon drew down and stepped back to Gaige. “But there is war all around us. Wars you men fight and wars that I fight. I think that’s what makes us both so intriguing, isn’t it? Your leather and your motorcycles are your suit and tie, if you can believe it.”

“What’s wrong?” Gaige asked. “I was under the impression that once you received your promise, our relationship would be settled.”

“Oh, the eyes?” Strokner asked. “The eyes… they were a wonderful tribute, Gaige. Now, tell me, did you do that yourself?”

“Yes.”

“That’s amazing. Such dedication to my beautiful daughter. I bet if she were alive you’d have ended up with her instead of her best friend.”

Landon now sensed Gaige getting tense. If Gaige lost his cool, there would be no stopping whatever would come next. Landon felt like a bomb ready to go off as it was.

“If we are all at war,” Landon said, “then why are we wasting time like this? Shouldn’t we both be fighting our wars?”

“We are,” Strokner said. “And we need each other right now.”

“How so?”

“I’ve got eyes in a jar in my office,” Strokner said. “Eyes that could be traced back to a body…”

“Don’t you f*cking blackmail me,” Gaige said. “I’ll f*cking tear everything apart in your life…”

Strokner simply smiled. The man with the machine gun made a move toward Gaige and Landon had to spring into action. He threw himself back and slammed into the guy, knocking him down. Landon spun and smashed his gun off the man’s face before the man could shoot him. The dumb f*ck still pulled the trigger though and sent bullets spraying into the air and into the windshield of the SUV. Landon turned and saw the deer in the headlights look on Strokner’s face. This idiot was going to end up getting killed. Landon grabbed Strokner and saved his life by getting him behind the SUV. When the gunfire stopped, Landon emerged to find Gaige with his gun at the man’s head.