Riding Darkness (Back Down Devil MC #4.5)(27)

Brooke turned and ran. She got to the door and opened it. Her shoes smacked against the pavement of the warehouse with a hollow sound.

“Armen!” she called out. “Armen, I’m here! I brought Ares… but he…”

A shot rang out next to Brooke. She halted and fell to the ground. She looked around and saw a figure approaching. She looked to her hands and saw that the gun Ares gave her was too far out of reach now.

“It’s just me,” Brooke said.

“Get up,” Armen said. “Get up now.”

Brooke hurried to her feet. Armen approached with gun in hand. “What happened out there?”

“We… we were followed,” Brooke said. “They’re fighting out there. We can run…”

Armen put the gun to Brooke’s head. She shivered and shook her head. “Let me do it, Armen. Let me shoot Ares. He took me from you…”

Armen was shaking. He was so disoriented. He knew his time was up. Things were at their apex and there was no turning back and no escaping.

Slowly, Brooke lifted her hand and wrapped it around the gun. She pulled and it slid from Armen’s hand. She then hurried and turned it around, pointing it to Armen’s gut.

“What did you do?” she whispered. “I want the truth.”

“The truth… you want the truth…”

“Yes.”

“What’s the truth out there? You brought men with you. Why? Don’t you want to be with me? I love you, Brooke. You’re all I have in this life. We have to keep running. Soon…”

“You killed them, Armen,” Brooke said. “I know the truth. I should have seen it a long time ago, but I was too afraid. Now I’m not. I have protection.”

“Where is it? Where’s your protection?”

“Just tell me the f*cking truth,” Brooke said. “From your mouth. I want to hear it.”

“Yeah? You want… f*ck you, sister.”

Armen swung his hand and smacked Brooke. She felt him pull the gun from her hand as she fell. Her face stung and she was defenseless on the ground.

“You want the truth?” Armen yelled. “I did it. I killed them. I shot both of them. Her first. Him second. I needed the goddamn money. They knew it. They didn’t love me like they loved you. I had no idea you’d be coming home right after. So I took you with me. And now I’m going to finish the job. I should have killed you that same day too.”

Armen pointed the gun.

Brooke shut her eyes.

Where are you, Ares? Why…

The gun went off.

Brooke sucked in a breath. Then she exhaled. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Armen on the ground in front of her. His body was twisted, not moving. Brooke turned her head and saw Ares standing there.

A second later Miller, Gaige, and Blaine came rushing into the warehouse.

“Fuck,” Miller said.

“He’s dead,” Ares said.

“Bro, go get your woman,” Gaige said. “She needs you.”





nineteen.



Ares carried Brooke from the warehouse to his motorcycle. And then he carried her into the clubhouse and back to his room. He put her on the bed and dropped to his knees before her. He took her hands and kissed them.

“Christ,” he whispered. “That’s why I didn’t want you there.”

“He was going to hurt me,” Brooke said.

“He had been. But he can’t anymore.”

Brooke nodded. She lifted her hands, with Ares still touching her. “You killed him.”

“I told you…”

Brooke looked at Ares. “You did it to save me. To protect me.”

“Yes. He’s gone now. But you’re not. You’re right here.”

“What happens next?” Brooke asked. “What happens to me? Am I leaving?”

Ares stroked Brooke’s hair and face. “No. You’re not going anywhere. You want to be in this clubhouse, then be here.”

Brooke touched Ares’s face. Her small fingers ran along his cheek and scruff. “I know it’s going to sound crazy, but I’m… I’m falling for you. I think.”

“Don’t think. Know.”

“Then I know. I’m falling for you.”

“That’s good.” Ares leaned forward and kissed Brooke. “Because I’m falling too. And I don’t fall. I hate f*cking falling. But for you, it’s worth it.”

They slowly started to kiss and then the front door flew open.

“Whoa, again?” Miller asked.

“Is her pants off?” Ares asked.

“I guess not. Get out here. Brooke too. We need to talk.”

Miller disappeared and Ares stood up. He took Brooke by the hand and led her from the room. When they got to the main part of the hallway, the walls were lined with the patched in members of Back Down Devil MC. They all nodded to Ares as he walked. At the end of the hallway stood Miller and Gaige. President and VP.

“What the hell is this?” Ares asked. “Am I getting married or something?”

Miller looked at Brooke. “What’s the verdict on her? She staying here?”

“I’d like that,” Ares said.