Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(39)

“For a hooker?” Blaine asked.

“He was beating her. She died last night.”

“Fuck,” Shay yelled.

“Why?” Landon asked.

“It was an ex,” Griffin said. “Guy freaked out when he saw her working the corner.”

“Which means what?” Miller asked.

“It means Jonesy is personally taking this on for us,” Griffin said. “He’s not taking our money until he has something to give. He dug up some dirt on a small crew running out of a garage in a residential neighborhood. Ten miles east of us here.”

Is that Death territory?” Blaine asked.

“It ain’t them,” Shay said. “Lots of men want me dead.”

“At least we know it’s not Eight Under,” Jace said.

“Fuck that,” Landon said. “I want to bury those f*cks, and soon.”

“It’s been quiet,” Miller said. “I think all messages have been sent. Let’s focus on the present.”

“The present is that Jonesy is gearing up and hitting the streets for us,” Griffin said. “I have direct contact to him, and if shit hits the fan, he’d call us. We may need to help.”

“What the hell are we paying for then?” Nate asked.

“As of right now, we aren’t paying for a thing,” Miller said. “We will get this shit sorted out. If Erik asks us, Jonesy is on the case, following a lead. That’s it. Got it?”

Everyone nodded.

Landon drank beer and wished he was back in the shower with Avery.

“When can we get Erik?” Blaine asked.

“Yes,” Shay said, nodding. “I want to hug that son of a bitch and drive him back here. Back home.”

“Hey,” Blaine said, snapping his fingers, “we need some * in his room, waiting.”

“He already had a nurse,” Griffin said.

“Fuck it,” Miller said. “Make it happen. We celebrate life right now. Make it happen, Jace. Make the call. Set it up.”

Jace left the room.

“And Erik?” Blaine asked.

“Soon, brother, soon,” Miller said. “Everyone stay local and stay as sober as you can.”

Miller called the meeting and the room started to clear out. Miller whistled for Gaige and Landon to stay, along with Griffin.

“Griffin knows what’s happening with Strokner,” Miller said.

“For the record, I think you guys are right,” Griffin said. “Having a guy like that think he’s close to us can be a good thing.”

“Okay,” Landon said.

“I know this Charles guy,” Griffin said. “He’s a fat, pompous dick. He inherited all his money from his father and his business deals are always big and wasteful. He’s got more money to spend than he knows what to do with it.”

“Those kinds of men usually spend it on women,” Landon said.

“Exactly,” Griffin said. “But with Charles comes security. It’s going to take a little finesse to make this bomb thing work.”

Griffin smiled. His eyes lit up. Griffin’s job for the MC used to be to simply blow shit up. Although, that was a different time, it didn’t mean Griffin didn’t like stepping back into the past for a little fun.

“You’re going to do this?” Landon asked.

“Fucking right he is,” Miller said. “I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”

“I like it,” Gaige said.

“We need to distract Charles. We need a diversion. We need him alone… with someone.”

“A woman,” Gaige said.

“Yes,” Griffin said.

Landon’s mind went right to work. He said, “Avery…” before realizing what the hell he was saying.

“Avery?” Miller asked. “Your friend?”

“Not my friend,” Landon said. “She’s… whatever. But she’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?” Gaige asked.

Landon nodded. “She will.”

Guilt went through Landon’s body, but he knew why he wanted Avery to do this. He wanted her to prove herself to the MC. And, maybe, to him. He wasn’t supposed to fall for her, but that’s just what happened. He had completely fallen for Avery, but it couldn’t just be some happily every after romance. This was serious shit. This was a serious way of life. In other words, Avery needed to see the purpose and the fight of freedom. Not the life she had with abusive *s.

“We can hire someone,” Griffin said.

“No,” Landon said. “You’ll need too much trust.”

“We trust Avery?” Miller asked.

“I do,” Landon said. “Is that enough?”

Miller slowly nodded. “Okay. Let’s get a plan together then. We’re going to need to take this to the entire table, so we can make sure Avery is safe when she’s out there.”

“I say we load up his car,” Griffin said. “Then we get him and Avery, and a driver, in the front seat.”

“One of us will be the driver,” Landon said.

“Yes,” Miller said.

“Sure. We stage a heist. We take Avery and make it look pretty f*cking serious. I’m sure Charles would give up a woman for his own damn life.”