Outlaw Revenge (Back Down Devil MC #1)(41)

Mr. Strokner stepped forward as the small crowd opened up. He took out a cigar and smelled it. His face looked a mess. His eyes were big and bulging. The process of grieving really did some scary stuff to people.

“Look at this,” Mr. Strokner said. “Look who is here. My daughter’s best friend.”

“Leave her out of it, man,” Griffin said.

Mr. Strokner nodded and now a gun was on Griffin. Griffin put his hands up. “Calm down. We can talk about this, right?”

“I told him what I wanted,” Mr. Strokner said. “Yet it hasn’t been done.”

“What are you talking about?” Miller asked.

“The death of my daughter stinks in this place.”

“We had nothing to do with that,” Miller said. “That was a terrible accident. Okay? Coming in here with guns is a really stupid mistake.”

“Why?” Mr. Strokner asked. “Are you going to shoot me? Kill me? Prove just who you are?”

Miller shook his head. “No. We don’t shoot. We don’t kill.”

Emily swallowed hard. This was lies, and the mess was getting bigger as Gaige was out causing his own trouble.

“You don't kill,” Mr. Strokner said and laughed. “Talk to Gaige then. I told him what I wanted. I want to look into the eyes of the man who killed my daughter.”

“The police are working on it,” Miller said. “They were here already. We’re clear in this.”

“Clear,” Mr. Strokner said. “Sure. Clear.”

Mr. Strokner put his cigar away and took Emily by the hand and smiled.

“It’ll be okay,” Emily said.

“You believe that? With these guys?”

“I do,” Emily said. “They didn’t hurt Rachel.”

Mr. Strokner smiled and touched Emily’s face. “You were always so damn pretty, Emily. I remember the first time Rachel brought you over. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I always hoped you’d grow up into the woman you are…”

“Hey,” Miller said. “Holing up here isn’t going to help anyone. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Mr. Strokner ignored Miller and kept his cold stare on Emily. It really bothered her the way he looked at her.

“Just so pretty,” Mr. Strokner said. “I would look at you all the time, Emily… and…”

Mr. Strokner slid his thumb along Emily’s bottom lip. He groaned and then tried to force her mouth open. Emily started to shake.

“Fuck this,” Jace called out.

He threw an elbow and hit one of the men in the face. The man dropped his gun and Jace lunged forward and grabbed Mr. Strokner by the collar. He threw him backward to his ass. The other man with a gun put it to Griffin’s chest and pushed him against the wall. Emily couldn’t stand the idea of someone else being hurt because of her so she acted with the first thing that came to mind. She made a fist and swung, hitting the man in the face. The man turned and then the gun was at Emily.

“Whore…”

“Stop it!” Mr. Strokner ordered.

The other man got his gun back and hit Jace across the face, causing Jace to spin and crash into the wall. When Jace turned, he walked right into the gun, blood running down his face.

“Do it,” he taunted. “Fucking blow my heart out. You f*cking *.”

“I said stop!” Mr. Strokner yelled.

Miller offered a hand and helped Mr. Strokner back to his feet.

“Take the gun off Emily,” Mr. Strokner said.

The man listened and lowered his weapon.

“Let’s all stay within reason here,” Mr. Strokner said. “I just want it to be known that I’m digging. I’ll find it all.” He looked at Miller. “That land has all the secrets, doesn’t it?”

“There are no secrets,” Miller said. “You got the wrong group of guys.”

“You’re an *,” Mr. Strokner said. “And if Gaige doesn’t fulfill what I want… this club will be gone. Your land will be mine. And all of you can rot in prison for the rest of your lives.”

Mr. Strokner smiled at Emily and then turned. He and his two guys slowly walked away. Jace and Shay drew their weapons but Miller quickly grabbed them by the shoulders to stop anything from happening. Emily understood it. There was an image to keep up right now. They needed to play it all off and take their hits.

When Jace turned and looked at Emily, she wasn’t sure what to do. The blood on his face reminded Emily that he had helped her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Jace walked away.

“You okay?” Shay asked Griffin.

Griffin wiped his forehead. “Fucking great.”

Emily felt like the center of it all. The problem.

Miller looked at her, his eyes confirming it. “This needs to end.”

“Gaige is doing it now,” Emily said.

“Shit,” Griffin whispered.

“What did you say?” Miller asked.

“Gaige. He and Nate and Blaine… they went to Eight Under…”

“Fuck,” Miller said. he looked at Griffin. “You know about this?”

“I’m just doing my paperwork,” Griffin said.

“Goddamn,” Miller said again. “Shay, ride with me. We need to end this bullshit.”