Riding Darkness (Back Down Devil MC #4.5)(21)

“Did you tell them what happened? Didn’t they listen?”

“That’s not how this life works, darling,” Ares said. He touched her cheek. “It’s a different kind of justice in a clubhouse. There’s no such thing as a judge and jury. There’s action, reaction, and more action. Revenge is not always right, but it never feels wrong.”

“So killing makes other killing okay… or something…”

“Yeah, something,” Ares said. “I deserved my punishment. I should have been killed. They spared me because I didn’t actually kill Buzz. I just took off. I admitted it, but they wouldn't kill me.”

“You wanted them to kill you?”

“Maybe I did… maybe I still wait for it… maybe that’s why I won’t patch in here…”

“That’s why you want to kill Armen?” Brooke asked.

“It’s not about want, darling,” Ares said. “It’s about what needs to be done. I’m only sorry because of the way you’re looking at me right now. But I’m not sorry for what needs to be done. Each man - and woman - takes their own path. All paths lead to a grave, it’s the time in between that which matter. Your brother’s is coming to an end.”

Brooke found herself moving closer to Ares again. So close that they ended up hugging each other. Brooke’s hands touched Ares’s hard, muscular back. He put a hand to her back and the other to her hair.

“There’s one more thing I need,” Ares said.

“What?”

“I need to know where he is. I need you to find him. I need to do this soon.”

Brooke didn’t respond to that. Instead, she said, “Take me to bed, Ares.”





fifteen.




They were at the pool table again. Miller, Gaige, Nate, and Blaine. Ares stood next to Gaige and looked around the table. It could work to be patched in. Hell, maybe even at a table. Saying his peace. Throwing around his votes. Making an impact.

Ares closed his eyes for a second and shook that bullshit away.

He was better off on the street, working through Frelen, protecting the club.

“What do we have?” Gaige asked.

“He’s local,” Miller said. “Chief Jerry has his eyes open and is trying to pull his guys away from what happened. The problem is that Armen’s other enemies are working their way into Frelen. A lot of people want him.”

“Has he run?” Blaine asked. “That would be the most logical thing to do.”

“He doesn't have everything he wants,” Nate said. “We have his sister.”

“Ares has his sister,” Miller said. Miller looked at Ares. “What did you get out of her?”

“Got a cellphone,” Ares said. “She’s been trying to get a hold of him. He’s not replying just yet.”

“The second he does, get that phone to Griffin,” Miller said. “Maybe he can track the messages or something.”

“Okay, so let’s stay in Frelen,” Gaige said. “What’s the plan? Where could he be? Where would he hide?”

“He’s not from around here,” Blaine said. “Could be in any of the warehouses out there, right?”

“Christ, that would take days,” Nate said. “And if we got close and he knew it, he’d move. He’s not going to hang out long. He’s going to get hungry. He’s going to get nervous.”

“Think he’d leave Brooke?” Blaine asked, looking right at Ares.

“He used her to start that shootout,” Ares said. “He forces her in these situations over and over. He uses her. I think he’d bail on her. If he wants her, he has to come through here.”

“Ares, why don’t you hit the streets with Brooke?” Miller asked. “Just ride around. Let Brooke search her mind. Let her really think about what she wants to do in all this. There has to be more she can do.”

“If someone else picks up Armen before we do…,” Gaige said and shook his head.

“I don’t want to think about that,” Miller said. “Let’s split up now and start searching. Make some phone calls. Call in some owed favors. This * is in town. He’s lingering. He’s hiding. He knows we have power, but I want to show him how much.”

“Think one of the other clubs is hiding him?” Nate asked.

“I don’t know,” Ares said. “Coast Road and Eight Under were shot at too. If Armen went to one of them and tried to push the night on us… maybe.”

“That’s where Gaige and I will travel,” Miller said. “We have enough of a war brewing in all this already. Don’t need to push everything over just yet.”

“Fair enough,” Gaige said.

Everyone started to move from the pool table. Miller shot an arm out and grabbed Ares. He nodded. “Stay put for a second.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I have more for you. Wanted to tell you this one on one.”

“Okay.”

“I want you to want this one,” Miller said. “I want you to do what you do best and find that fire again.”

“It’s there. Just because I don’t wear a patch doesn’t mean it’s not there.”