Riding Darkness (Back Down Devil MC #4.5)(22)

“I know that, brother,” Miller said. “But you have to wear the patch. Or it’s all going to hell.”

“What do you have for me, Miller?”

“Armen is a very bad person,” Miller said.

“I figured that out.”

“No. I’m talking bad. His parents were murdered.”

“I know. Brooke told me. She said they run because the people who killed their parents are coming to get them. That’s why he does the gambling thing. To save up cash and get ready for a fight.”

“Poor woman,” Miller said. “That’s not the case at all. Armen was in debt with a few people. He needed cash. He went to his parents and they wouldn’t give it up. Armen killed them. He shot his own damn parents and robbed their safe. How do I know this?”

“How?” Ares asked through gritted teeth.

“Chief Jerry dug into the reports and made some phone calls. Forensics painted the picture pretty easily. He freaked the f*ck out and killed his own parents. Then he took Brooke and hit the road. Lying to her. Dragging her along. Putting her in these situations.”

“Is it safe for me to take her out there then?” Ares asked. “Are we better off leaving her here? Let us deal with Armen and then come back… and deal with her…”

Miller put a hand to Ares’s shoulder. “What do you want to do with her?”

“It’s been pretty clear she’s going to be sent away and set up, right?”

“Nothing is ever etched in stone, Ares.”

“I’m not thinking about that right now,” Ares said. “We have to kill Armen first.”

“Then get the information,” Miller said. “Do whatever you want with what I just told you.”

Miller walked away and Ares stood at the pool table. He grabbed the edge of the table and looked around the clubhouse. It was alive for another day. The guys at the table had their own shit to settle. The prospects were hard at work, doing everything the patched in guys wanted done. And then there was Ares. Somewhere stuck in the middle of it all.

He pushed from the table and walked to the bedroom. He opened the door and Brooke spun around, her cellphone in her hand. She looked at Ares and her face was white, full of fear. Her hands shaking.

“What is it?” Ares asked.

“Armen finally texted me. He’s in town. He’s hiding.”

Ares shut the door and ran to Brooke. She quickly put the cellphone behind her back and shook her head. “You can’t hurt him, Ares. You can’t kill him. Just let him run.”

Ares stopped and made fists. “What did you just say?”

“Just let him run. Let him go. He’s scared. He’s confused.”

“He’s f*cking lying to you,” Ares growled. “He’s trying to use you, again. Can’t you see that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Where is he?”

“He didn’t say.”

“Give me the phone.”

“Ares…”

“I’m not playing f*cking games,” Ares said. “Give me the f*cking phone, Brooke. Right now.”

“If I don’t? Are you going to kill me?”

Ares stepped closer to Brooke. He looked down at Brooke. “Do you really want to do this? Do you really want to tempt this? Do you really want to…”

Don’t tell her. Give the truth later…

Ares stepped back and turned around. He wanted to tell Brooke the truth but he feared what would happen then. He wanted to make this right with the club and somehow he wanted to make it all right with Brooke. That was impossible though. She would need the truth.

It took Ares back to when he made an emotional decision in his life. When Buzz was left to be killed. That was the biggest changing point of his life, it seemed until now. Ares looked over his shoulder and saw tears in Brooke’s eyes.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Just give me the f*cking phone,” Ares said. “I don’t want you hurt.”

“I already am. I’m lost here, with you. I’m trying to understand everything.”

Ares closed his eyes and turned back around. “I have something to tell you. You have to hear me. You have to believe me. And if you need proof after what I say… I can get it.”

Ares approached Brooke again and he touched her arms. He would get the cellphone in a few minutes. First, the truth. Even if it sent her over the edge. Even if she didn’t believe him. Even if she ran to her brother and ended up getting herself killed.

“I know the truth about your parents,” Ares said. “It’s not what you think.”

“They were shot and killed,” Brooke said.

“But I know who did it.”

Brooke’s eyes went wide. “Who?”

Ares actually felt a little nervous. Stop being a *. Man up.

Ares took a deep breath. “Your brother… Armen… he killed your parents.”





sixteen.



“I don’t believe that,” Brooke said.

“I have no reason to lie.”

“You want to kill my brother. You’ll say anything.”