Ruthless Hold (Back Down Devil MC #9)(41)

“Jesus Christ,” Ripper said. He looked at Miller.

“Give her some respect, Ripper,” Miller said.

“Sweetheart, go to the bar. The guy running it is named West. Tell him who you are. He’ll get you a drink and make sure nobody bothers you.”

Trev gave a nod to Eden. He kissed her cheek. “You’ll be safe. Anything happens, scream your heart out, beautiful.”

“Protecting, huh?” Ripper asked.

Trev looked at Ripper. “Let it go, brother.”

Eden walked away and Ripper opened the door.

The Daurian charter took their seats at the table, with the exception of one. The Frelen guys all stood at the back of the room, all lined up.

Ripper stood at the head of the table. “Let’s start by giving our friends a warm welcome.”

The entire table clapped and smacked the table, letting out yells and cheers.

“Okay, okay,” Ripper said. “We know why they’re here. They’re here to help us say goodbye to our fallen brother. Giovanni was a great man. He rode by my side into the night and he didn’t come back home. He didn’t get to have a shot and let some reliever take care of his tension. We all know that risk. When we take to the road. It could have been me. You all could be voting in a new President. But Giovanni made that not so. So we go to say goodbye to him. I’m sure wherever the hell he is right now - heaven, hell, somewhere - he’s got a shot in one hand and his other hand pulling the hair of some chick as she’s on her knees. Right?”

The table exploded again with cheers.

Ripper smacked the gavel and got the table to quiet down again.

“Now, let me introduce you to my crew here,” Ripper said. “For those who haven’t met up. To my left is Jasper. To my right, Duke. Best two and three I’ve ever had in my life. The rest of the guys… Cade, Xavier, Kye, Tristan, Cash, Max, Austin, Hudson, and Trent.”

Gaige said, “I’m Gaige. VP. We’ve got our table here. Miller, Blaine, Jace, Landon, Nate, Shay, Erik, and Trev.”

Then Miller stepped forward. “If there’s anything we can do to help with the retaliation for whoever did this, you tell us.”

“Do you have any idea who it was?” Trev asked, speaking out of line and knowing it was a big risk to do so.

“We’ve had some deals and beefs go bad,” Jasper said. “Crews north, south, east, west. Drugs, guns, *, everything. Typical bullshit. Everyone reaching for the same power. We had a falling out with the local PD and they’ve been taking us in one at a time for dumb shit. It’s just a lot to sort through.”

“Seems like a lot to handle,” Miller said. “We’re here to help.”

“Amen, brother,” Ripper said. “Me and G were out on a run. Moving some heavy artillery for a friend. Securing some protection on the inside in case someone had to go back in. We were on a bend… and all hell broke loose.”

“What happened to the guns?” Trev asked.

Ripper looked right at him. “I’m more concerned with the dead member of my charter.”

“Fair enough,” Miller said.

“If you guys pull any intel and need something,” Gaige said, “you call me personally. I can send guys up here. I can send prospects. Shit, any of us would come up here. Nobody takes out a brother and lives to see another day. Agreed?”

“Aye,” Shay yelled.

“Aye!” the table yelled.

The room got loud again and Ripper cracked the gavel again.

“Let’s do this in order,” he said. “It’s time to ride. Let’s honor Giovanni. When we get back here, the whiskey will be room temperature. The beer will be ice cold. The women will be naked. And we’ll have our tattoo guys up here, spilling ink to anyone who wants some. Tomorrow we can start dealing with the retaliation.”

Ripper hit the gavel one last time and motioned toward the door.

They all started to leave and Miller grabbed for Trev and held him back. He had a handful of Trev’s shirt and put him against the wall.

“You don’t talk out of line up here,” Miller said. “You’re not outlaw anymore. You’re in a cut. Remember that.”

“He’s full of shit,” Trev said. “Something bad is going on up here. And it’s going to filter down into us. You remember that.”

Miller showed his teeth and looked ready to strike.

“You two okay?” Ripper asked as he came back into the room.

“Fine,” Miller said. “Just keeping my men in check.”

Miller broke away and Trev adjusted his leather cut. He looked at Ripper and saw the President eyeing him.

“Got something to say?” Trev asked.

“No. You just don’t seem like you fit in here.”

“I’m filling a seat,” Trev said. “I used to run with The Lost Men.”

“Thought you looked familiar,” Ripper said. “You ever want to run outlaw again, you give me a call.”

Ripper winked and walked away.

Trev worked his way to the bar and found Eden sitting there. The guy behind the bar - West - had a shotgun up on the bar and stood there.

“Protection?” Trev asked and pointed to the gun.

“She’s Griffin’s daughter?” West asked.