Dark Fall (Back Down Devil MC #3)(3)

“You want him to see me?” Erik asked. “You want him to see my face? Scare him?”

“The truth,” Gaige said. “We want everyone involved in this to see and know the f*cking truth. We are not going to bow down and walk away from this.”

“They’ll attack again,” Miller said. “I refuse to have more bloodshed in my club.”

Erik swallowed his pride and nodded. The scars would never go away. They would forever be a haunting reminder.

“Then we ride,” Erik said. “You guys want my gun or something?”

“No,” Miller said. “You need to protect yourself, brother. We just want you to know what’s happening right now.”

“Four of us are going,” Gaige said. “Miller, me, Blaine, and you. That’s it. Quick ride out and back.”

“Who is this guy?” Erik asked.

“Strokner,” Miller said. “We’ve kind of… scratched each other’s backs, I guess you could say. He’s got an in with a lot of shit dealing businesses. He’s digging around for us, hoping to uncover something useful about the club, the town, and Shay. Who knows what kind of skeletons he keeps in his closet.”

“Probably as many hookers and strippers Blaine keeps in his,” Erik said.

Gaige laughed and lit a cigarette. He stood and took a deep drag. “Enough wasting time here.”

“Are you sure you can ride?” Miller asked.

“I can ride,” Erik said. “I’ve felt dead from the moment that bomb went off. The only time I felt partially alive was when that nurse had her mouth wrapped around my cock. Now I want the open road. Plus, it’s dark. I like the dark.”

“Then let’s move,” Miller said.

They led the way and Erik walked out into the clubhouse. The room was full of life yet Erik's mind was full of death. He wondered if it would finally be the night a bullet would rip through him and end his life.





two.



Miller and Gaige rode side by side with Blaine and Erik behind them. Their bikes roared through the streets of Frelen like two-wheeled thunder. It was pure darkness except for four headlights that shined into the distance.

Inside, Erik could still feel pain. There was always pain; so much of it that he wasn’t sure if it was physical, mental, or maybe something else. He told himself the club was doing all they could. They would someday find the *s who did all this and it would get resolved. Knowing that should have calmed Erik, but it didn’t. All he felt was numbness. Everywhere All the time.

They went around a few wide twists and turns until there was a set of headlights in a clearing ahead. The thrill was coming back to Erik as his heart began to race. Maybe this was all he needed. A little action, the two wheels, and the open road.

Miller directed the four of them to the side of the road. They filed in together and Miller and Gaige took the lead. It was their contact. Blaine kept his leather cut open, his hand near his gun. Erik lingered a few feet behind.

The passenger door on the SUV opened and a man in a nice suit came out. He adjusted his suit jacket, and offered a hand to Gaige. Erik could quickly see how uncomfortable Gaige looked as he shook the man’s hand.

“My friends,” the man said.

“Nobody is our friend,” Gaige said. “Get that through your head, Strokner.”

“Sure,” Strokner said with a nod. He offered his hand to Miller. “I just wanted to start by saying thank you for a job well done with my dear friend, Charles. We miss him so much. Turns out one of the whores he had been f*cking finally got sick of him. Took him out in an explosion.”

“Terrible,” Miller said and laughed.

“I think that’s enough talk,” Gaige said. “We’re here for business.”

“I can see that,” Strokner said as he looked at Blaine and Erik. “Your friend back there is holding his gun.”

“Touching it,” Blaine said. “Want me to hold it?”

“Whoa,” Gaige said. “Blaine, ease off. Nothing is going to happen here. It's all good.”

“Friends,” Strokner laughed.

“We need information on our problem,” Miller said. “You said you knew Jonesy.”

“Yeah,” Strokner said. “He helped me a few times. Good man. Honest. Fair. He’d do anything to get information.”

“Give a finger?” Gaige asked.

“Knowing him, he’s still alive,” Strokner said. “Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sent it himself. As a way to warn you. A calling. I don’t know.”

“So you’ve got nothing?” Gaige asked.

“I wouldn’t say that,” Strokner said and adjusted his jacket again. “Just wondering what I get…”

Erik had enough. He stepped forward and pushed between Gaige and Miller. He reached for Strokner’s shirt and pulled the man close.

All the doors to the SUV opened.

“Easy now,” Strokner said.

“I don’t know who the f*ck you are,” Erik said. “But let me introduce myself to you. I’m Erik. See my f*cking face, man?”

“I see it.”

“A bomb went off that was supposed to kill Shay. I was in the car instead. I don’t know why I lived, but everyday I fight to stay alive. All I have are these goddamn scars to show the world.”