Ruthless Hold (Back Down Devil MC #9)(49)

“Bite your f*cking tongue, Landon,” Trev growled.

“Fuck you, bro. It’s the truth. We gave him an honorable burial. Cut and all.”

“What do you want?” Trev asked. “Dig him up and take it back?”

“Why not?” Landon asked.

Trev jumped at the table. Landon kicked back and Shay and Gaige were there to grab Trev off the table before something crazy happened.

“This is what we don’t need,” Miller bellowed. “Landon, shut your f*cking mouth. Trev, stand down about Griffin. I know you’re hitting his daughter, which is f*cking romantic, but if Griffin had a bad name, then he’s got to grapple with that on the other side. Now can we get back to business?”

The table fell silent.

Trev ripped himself free and combed his hands through his hair. “Sure, Miller.”

“Eight Under has been knocking off some gas stations and liquor stores. Petty stuff, but they knocked off two in Frelen.”

“Kill anyone?” Blaine asked.

“No. They either tie the clerk up or just beat him up. Not good in this town. At least it’s keeping Ethan busy. Keeping him off our back.” Miller shook his head. “But it still can’t happen.”

“Ethan will twist that to us,” Blaine said. “He’ll take it to the papers. He’s ruthless.”

“Then we cut that off,” Gaige said.

“How?” Erik asked.

“Simple,” Trev said. “Two prospects at each gas station and liquor store in Frelen. We show force to the PD and when Eight Under tries something, we get the f*cking guys. We can give them up to Ethan to show good faith. Or we can cut the f*ckers hands off and send them back to whoever the hell is running Eight Under.”

“I like that idea,” Blaine said. He waved a finger. “I really like when Trev gets regular *.”

“Okay,” Gaige said. “Enough of the * talk for a second. That’s a good idea though.”

“Then let’s list names,” Miller said. “This will give them a chance to get out of their…”

There was a heavy thud at the door.

Miller nodded to Landon.

Landon opened the door.

One of the prospects stood there.

“What do you want?” Trev called.

“I’m sorry to bother you all.”

“Make it f*cking quick,” Landon said.

“There’s a woman here.”

“Again?” Gaige asked.

“She’s hurt… beat up… she’s asking for her daughter.”

Trev looked at Miller.

Fuck.

*

Like daughter, like mother.

Jenn took out a handgun and wiggled it in her hand way too freely. Her left eye was bleeding pretty badly. Her right eye was black and blue. Blood on her lips and her shirt was almost torn off her body. She had one high heel on at a time. She looked drunk, beat up, ready to kill.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Trev said as he approached.

Miller tried to breeze by. “Tell me Ripper did this.”

Trev grabbed Miller. “Hey, Prez. Kindness for a second. Let me talk to her. Go inside and get shit set up for her, okay? We have to clean up these cuts and find out what’s going on. Get the guys in line and get the prospects spread out across the lot. Just in case.”

“Fuck,” Miller said.

“I know,” Trev said. “You said it yourself… act smart, right?”

Miller turned and started barking orders.

“There, Jenn,” Trev said. “It’s just us. You and me.”

“Why’d you bring her there?” Jenn asked. She broke down in tears.

Trev took a step closer. When Jenn looked down, Trev made his move. He grabbed the gun and easily twisted it from Jenn’s hand.

“No!” she screamed.

A second later, nails scratched across his face. It hurt like goddamn fire. Trev grabbed for Jenn’s arms and turned her, walking back to a car, putting her on the hood. He needed to be aggressive but he didn’t want to scare her any more than she already was.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” Trev said. “I need you to believe me. Christ, Jenn, what the hell happened.”

“Get away from me,” she said.

Trev backed up and unloaded the gun. He put the gun and the clip on the ground.

“Look. It’s just us talking.”

“You f*cking brought my daughter up there.”

“Yeah, I did. She’s terrified right now. She was almost killed. Then she came here thinking her father was alive.”

“Oh, Griffin,” Jenn said. She started to weep harder. She lowered her head and lost all control.

Trev looked to his left and saw Blaine standing at a distance.

Blaine mouthed What the f*ck?

Trev waved him off.

“Look,” Trev said. “Nobody here is going to hurt you. Whatever happened in the past is done. You and Griffin had a thing and it was… whatever.”

“It was real,” Jenn said. “It just couldn’t come out.”

“Okay. That’s something to talk about with Eden. She was really hurt that you pretended like you didn’t know her.”

“What was I supposed to?” Jenn asked. “Look at my face.”