Riding Darkness (Back Down Devil MC #4.5)(11)

“To Gunner,” Ares whispered.

They drank and then Miller went straight to business. “What happened?”

“We showed up,” Ares said. “The guy running the thing was some greasy looking f*ck. He looked the type to scam and run. He claimed to have security there, but there was none. He probably runs these things all the time and takes what he could get and goes to the next town. Fuck, even when the bullets started flying, he was on the ground scooping up cash.”

“Who was there?” Gaige asked.

“Coast Road. Eight Under. Guys in suits.”

“Suits,” Blaine said. “And how does that beautiful, big tit woman play into this?”

“She didn’t belong there,” Ares said. “Not like she was. She had a gun but was too afraid to use it. The guy running it - Armen - that’s her brother.”

“Jesus Christ,” Nate said. “The sister of someone who killed one of our guys is here? We need to gut her as revenge.”

“Easy now,” Miller said. “Gunner was just a prospect. A dumb one.” He looked at Ares. “Who shot first?”

“Armen did,” Ares said. “When Eight Under saw me, things got heated. Obviously… what happened…”

“Fucking their women and killing their prospects,” Griffin said with a grin. “You’re just a wild outlaw, Ares.”

“Yeah, right,” Ares said. “I was giving fair warning to all those there and Armen said he was going to get security to kick us out. He walked toward the back and then smacked a drink tray out of Brooke’s hand and then he turned and took a shot. He did it to get everyone scared and shooting at each other.”

“So we’re not sure who killed Gunner,” Gaige said.

“No,” Ares said. “Armen did it. I watched him do it. He came up over a table and Gunner wasn’t paying attention. He was too worried about finding a f*cking door than protecting himself.”

“And you guys,” Miller said. “Have to look out for our brothers.”

Ares took the comment personally. He lowered his head. “Yeah, exactly. The bullet tore through his chest and he was dead before he hit the ground.”

“Why the woman then?” Griffin asked.

“I don’t know,” Ares said. “She pointed her gun at me and then gave it to me. I didn’t want her in the crossfire anymore. Her piece of shit brother would probably give her up to get his own ass out of there free. Plus, we could use her.”

“I could f*cking use her,” Blaine said. “I could eat that * and suck on them tits all night.”

“We all could,” Gaige said.

Ares felt anger and jealousy again. “I meant I could talk to her. Find out some shit on Armen. Find out what her position is in all this. She doesn’t seem the type to do this. He’s forcing her hand.”

“Maybe he’s f*cking her,” Blaine said.

“Christ,” Gaige said. “That’s his sister.”

“So?”

Miller pounded a fist on the table. “Fair enough. I’ll dig up dirt on Armen. Any other bodies at the warehouse?”

“Yeah,” Ares said. “I think a Coast Road. Maybe more.”

“Fuck,” Miller said. “I’ll make a call and send in a clean up crew. We’ll get Gunner’s body and figure out what to do. Give a proper send off, out of respect.”

“He wasn’t paying attention,” Ares said. “Dumb f*ck.”

“It’s good,” Miller said. “Don’t worry about it. Right now, enjoy the night. The illegal gambling will stop. Whoever this Armen guy is, we’ll get him. We have his sister.”

“I want his sister,” Blaine said.

“She’s for Ares,” Miller said. “Everyone out. Except Ares.”

This was even more unheard of. A prospect left in the meeting room with the President. Miller slowly stood up.

“I didn’t expect that,” Ares said. “But I figured it.”

“If you weren’t there, they would have all gotten killed. You’re the only one who could survive all this shit.”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“Take the f*cking patch, Ares.”

“I don’t deserve it.”

“Fuck that,” Miller said. “Fuck your old club. Fuck their decision.”

“I don’t want…”

“I don’t care what you think or want,” Miller said. “You have to let that shit go. If you don’t, it’ll get you killed.”

“Maybe that’s what I’m looking for. Revenge on myself.”

Miller growled. “Asshole. Get the f*ck out of here.”

Ares left the meeting room. The clubhouse was roaring with life. Blaine had a reliever on each side of him, talking, his hands working up and down their backs and asses.

Taking the patch would be a smart thing. It would give Ares a life, protection, a brotherhood. It would give him respect and it would give him a sense of purpose again. But each time he considered it, he was taken back to the night he changed the course of his own life. The night someone considered a brother was killed. The death on his hands. Not the blood, no, but the death, yes.