Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(40)

“Then you hit the button,” Gaige said. “And… it’s done.”

“He’ll be in a billion pieces of blackened flesh,” Griffin said. “It’ll be perfect.”

“Okay,” Miller said. “Let’s not get too lost just yet. We’ll vote on it. But first, we need to get our brother back home, safe.”

“Safe?” Landon asked.

Miller stood up. “It’s been quiet out there with Eight Under. That worries me. But keep that shit tucked away. Let’s keep our eyes open and let’s bring Erik back.”

“Agreed,” Gaige said.

“Yes,” Griffin said.

Landon simply nodded.

He couldn’t believe what he had just done. He just threw Avery right into a fire. But maybe that’s what she needed. The MC life was simple, you were either, in, out, or dead.





twenty-one.



Miller got the call and it was time to get Erik. The entire bar erupted into cheers. Everyone was instructed to get their motorcycles ready and load up within the next hour. Landon went to his room to get ready, and to get Avery. Whether she knew it or not, she was coming for the ride.

Halfway down the hall, Landon heard Gaige yelling his name. When he stopped, Gaige was whispering something to Emily. He squeezed her ass, she giggled, turned red, and walked away.

“You ready to go soon?” Gaige asked.

“Always,” Landon said.

“Hey, are you nervous at all? Or at least thinking anything?”

“Yeah,” Landon said. “I’m bringing Avery with me. Just in case.”

“What did Miller…?”

“I’m not going to worry about that. I have to keep her safe.”

“You don’t think she’ll be safe here?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore. I just know that if Avery is on the back of my motorcycle, I’ll be able to keep her safe.”

“Okay,” Gaige said. “I was thinking the same for Emily.”

They bumped fists and went to get ready.

Landon found Avery sitting on the edge of the bed in his room. When she saw him, she stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Landon held Avery for a little bit, taking deep breaths, inhaling her scent.

“What’s wrong?” he finally asked.

“I can’t stop thinking about it,” Avery admitted. “After what happened in that alley, I just know something else will happen.”

“And if it does, would you rather be alone? Or with me?”

Landon looked down at Avery. She touched his face, her thumb grazing his bottom lip.

“I want to be with you,” Avery said. “But what if he just starts shooting? What if he hurts someone in the MC?”

Landon put a hand to Avery’s face. “That’s the kind of shit that gets people killed. Don’t worry, sweetheart. Nothing is going to happen. You’re riding with me today, okay? We’re going to get Erik from the hospital. I promise you, once Erik is back and we get a plan to get revenge on who tried to kill him, I’m going to personally find Bry and settle this.”

“Kill him?”

“If that’s what you would want me to do,” Landon said. “Or I can take some guys with me and trash his dive bar.”

“No,”Avery said. “I don’t ever want anyone to go in there. That’s where he… to me… all the time…”

Landon saw tears well up in Avery’s pretty eyes. He wiped a thumb under her eye just in time to catch a tear. He’d never really seen a woman in pain or fear like this before. And if he had, he never cared enough to remember it. But this hurt him, too. His mind flashed images that he knew he shouldn’t have allowed. He saw Avery on a bed, held down, forced to give herself to a man. That not only angered Landon but it made him writhe with jealousy. He was the only one who could command Avery now, especially in bed. The difference was that Avery wanted him to f*ck her, wanted him to order her to her knees to suck him, because he was the one who protected and loved her.

Loved her.

That thought crashed hard.

Landon moved from Avery. He couldn’t look at her right now for a moment or else he’d slip and tell her.

“Let’s just get through today,” Landon said. “I’m sorry that you’re still hurting from him. But I’m right here, sweetheart. I’ll give you a gun if you would feel safer. But I don’t want you here while the rest of us are going to get Erik. There’s too much shit waiting to happen. Come with me to pick up my brother, and then we can talk. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Avery put her hands to Landon’s back. It made Landon’s lip curl because Avery posed a power threat to him.

“Hey, listen, there’s something else I need,” Landon said, trying to sound tough again.

“What is it?” Avery asked.

Landon looked over his shoulder. “I need you to pay off that debt you owe me and the club. For Pop?”

“Okay…”

“There’s a guy we need to speak with,” Landon said. “But he’ll only travel alone if he’s within the company of a woman. He likes to pay for strippers and *. Get my drift?”

Avery’s face looked a little pale. “You want me…”