Crash and Burn (Back Down Devil MC #2)(44)

“Just f*cking great,” Miller said. “This shit is a real mess. Jerry calls in the body on the ground and we’re all going in for questions. And you, Landon, are hauled off for murder.”

“He hurt Avery,” Landon said. “He needed to die.”

Miller bumped his chest into Landon and took off his sunglasses. “Look in my eyes, Landon. There were two f*cking men here. One is dead. One is a witness and is off to jail. Fix this shit.” Miller put his sunglasses back on and turned. He walked to Bry’s body and kicked it. “Fuck!” he yelled. Then he said, “Load back up. We have to get to the table and sort this out.”

Slowly, the MC started to compose itself again. Everyone lined up with Miller in front. Landon put his hands to Avery’s waist. In that moment, Avery felt like she and Landon were the only two people in the world. The motorcycles started to ride by, but all Avery could do was stare into Landon’s eyes.

“It’s done now, Avery. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“But I am afraid,” Avery said, “because I’m in love with you.”

Landon pulled her close and kissed her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m in love with you too.”





twenty-three.



The celebration started right in the lot the moment Shay pulled in with Erik. Erik climbed from the car and looked around. Miller took Erik’s helmet off his motorcycle and walked it to him. The table crew gathered around Erik, Landon barely making it in time. He didn’t have to say a word to Avery, she knew to hang back at the motorcycle. Things were tense as it was because of her and what had just happened.

But f*ck that guy. That f*cking * that hurt Avery. Nobody rapes and beats a woman without proper punishment. That wasn’t the problem though. The problem was the other guy that Jerry took away. That * had seen everything and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the chief of police in town worked very close with the MC.

“They tried to take one of our brothers down,” Miller said. “They tried to blow up Shay but hit Erik instead. Yet, whoever did this forgot one important thing…” Miller held the helmet up. “We’re Back Down Devil and we don’t f*cking die.”

The club cheered and whistled.

Erik finally smiled.

Landon did his best not to look at Erik’s face, but the poor guy was all sorts of f*cked up. Most of it was fresh wounds and scabs, but damn, he was going to have some wicked looking scars.

Miller handed Erik the helmet. “You’ll be riding with us again soon enough, brother. I know it.”

“Thank you,” Erik said. “Thanks to everyone for giving a shit about me. And for that nurse. She cleaned me out.”

Blaine clapped. “There’s more waiting inside.”

“Strippers,” Jace said.

“Strippers that f*ck,” Blaine corrected.

“Then why the f*ck am I surrounded by a bunch of guys?” Erik asked.

Everyone laughed and Miller hugged Erik.

Then, one by one, everyone properly welcomed Erik back to the clubhouse. Landon waited until last and when he shook Erik’s hand, he pulled him in.

“I’m sorry for that out there, bro,” Landon said.

“Wasn’t expecting that as part of my homecoming,” Erik said.

Landon nodded and looked at Erik. “I wasn’t either. I’m sorry if I f*cked up your homecoming.”

“Hey… guns, bullets, death, and police. That’s about right for us, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Landon said. He patted Erik’s face. “You look good.”

“I look like I got blown up.”

“You’re alive.”

Erik grabbed Landon’s leather cut. “Who did it, man?”

“We’re getting close,” Landon said. “We hired someone to find everything out. You’ll get your revenge.”

Erik touched Landon’s cheek and said, “Heard you fought to earn some cash to help out.”

“Anything for the club,” Landon said. “And you, brother. Whoever hurt you will pay. They will suffer.”

“Thank you,” Erik said. “And judging by the pretty eyes at your back, you’re not getting your dick sucked by a stripper tonight, are you?”

“Not quite,” Landon said.

“Landon, I need you,” Miller’s voice boomed.

“I have to face this shit,” Landon said.

“Good luck,” Erik said.

Landon walked over to Miller and Erik went into the clubhouse. Miller leaned against his motorcycle with his arms crossed.

“Shit got intense out there,” Miller said.

“I shouldn’t have done it like that,” Landon said. “But the shit Avery told me that guy did to her… I kept picturing it. No matter what I did…”

“It’s okay,” Miller said. “Christ, Landon, you have a f*cking heart after all.”

“Yeah, thanks. But I made a mess.”

“It’ll get cleaned up,” Miller said. “The question here though is how committed is your woman? Can she handle her own?”

“She’s good with what we need from her. I talked to her. I promise.”