Owned & Untamed (Back Down Devil MC #11)(35)

“It’s my land,” he said. “It’s my money. I’ll do what I want. Is that a crime?”

Duke shook his head. “It kind of is, man. You don’t know what you just did. Fuck.”

Duke left the kitchen and left me standing in shock.

I just stared at Jim. “You sold land?”

“So?”

“That was for us. From Mom and Dad.”

“Look, Belle, you think I want to live here for the rest of my life? Attached to this house? Living like this?”

“I think I should go,” Maggie said.

“No,” I said. “Stay, Maggie. Take a good look at him. A good look at my brother.”

“It’s my f*cking land,” Jim growled.

“You didn’t even talk to me. You’re so selfish.”

Jim lowered his head and his eyes were like that of a demon.

Duke popped back into the kitchen. “I’ve got to go. Right now.”

I jumped after Duke and grabbed for his arm. “What is it? What’s going to happen?”

I chased Duke to the front door before he finally stopped me. He pulled me to the porch and pinned me against the house.

“I can’t believe this,” he said. “I have to go and try to fix this. I need everything about this deal. Everything. Whether that’s legal or not.”

“I’m… what…”

“Sweetie, you want the truth?” Duke was so abrasive and in my face. “Your brother all but dug his grave with this decision. Got that?”

“Holy shit.”

“Yeah. I need to go talk to my guys and figure out how to proceed here.”

Duke started to move and I sank my nails into his arms. “Duke. I’m sorry. I had no idea. I never have an idea what Jim is doing.”

“I know, sweetie. I’ll protect you. I’ll defend you. Him too.”

Duke leaned in and planted a kiss to my lips.

He then left me lingering.

I watched the outlaw ride away and had no idea what to do next.

Trouble was everywhere… the worst, however, in my heart.





chapter seventeen.



(duke)



Of all the things going on, the one thought that plagued was why had I kissed Belle? There was no need to kiss her. Shit, all I needed to know was whether she was involved with the land deal with the Hell Five or not.

I made my way back into Daurian only to receive a phone call that something was going down.

Ivan was at the clubhouse. With a prospect taken as a hostage.

It was the last thing I needed to hear and deal with.

I gunned my ride back to the clubhouse and sure enough, Ivan and Peter were standing in the lot with Trev and Jasper. Another huge looking man had one of our prospects by the throat, a gun pointed at him.

When I finally got off my ride, Ivan had taken out his big handgun.

Trent pushed his way between Trev and Jasper, doing his job to protect the Prez and VP.

I was right there with him.

“What is this?” I asked.

“You,” Ivan said, looking right at me. “We shoot you. We tell you to get blood money. What do you do? You bar fight and f*ck country girl.”

“What?” I asked.

“What the f*ck is he talking about?” Jasper asked.

“You know what I talk about,” Ivan said. Spit was in the corner of his mouth.

“Ivan, look at me,” Trev said. “We’re going to get your money. We already offered to give you the money out of our share. Take it. What the f*ck do I care? We’re dealing with our business our way. We took on the Hell Five bar to prove a point. We have them rattled.”

“Who the f*ck is this country girl?” Trent asked.

That’s when it hit me.

Belle.

Ivan and his cronies were following me?

I stepped forward and Peter was right there, hand out, hitting my chest.

“Touch me again and I’ll break your arm,” I said to Peter.

“Get the money,” Ivan said. “My money. No more f*cking around.”

“What’s changed your mind here?” Trev asked. “You didn’t seem to mind before. You seemed to trust us.”

“No trust,” Ivan said. “It’s dead.”

“Too convenient,” Peter said.

“What’s that?” I asked.

“You lose money,” Peter said. “You tell us you were attacked. Fair enough. We kill our own man for you. Then you, right there you” - Peter poked a finger to my chest - “you are in bed with someone getting land with the money stolen.”

“We f*cking know the truth!” Ivan bellowed.

“Jesus Christ,” I said. “That’s not…”

“Enough,” Peter said.

He made a quick fist and threw a punch at me. Right to my lip, splitting it open. I stepped back but wasn’t going to take that shit. I lunged at Peter and clocked him in the jaw.

Then I had the entire MC on top of me, trying to keep me away.

The melee only ended when Ivan’s gun boomed.

I ended up on my ass, just sitting there with Peter standing feet away.

He pointed at me. “We will find all truth.”