Ruthless Hold (Back Down Devil MC #9)(55)

Trev didn’t respond right away.

Eden shook her head and slowly turned around. “No. Don’t…”

“It has to be.”

“Tonight?”

“Ripper can’t have time to process anything. The story I tell has to be believable.”

“You’re leaving tonight.”

“Yes, beautiful. Tonight.”

Eden felt her heart twisting, crushing.

Trev walked her from the bedroom back to the kitchen. There waited Jenn with open arms.

“Come here, sweetie. Let Momma take care of you.”

Eden went to her mother and wept.

_



twenty-two.



Trev reached for Eden’s back and Jenn waved him off. Just go… she’ll be fine.

Jenn mouthed the words and then smiled.

Trev turned and left the apartment. He stood at the railing and looked across the entire lot. This was all supposed to be temporary. But it became home. Same thing with Eden. She was supposed to be temporary. But she became home.

As Trev walked the steps to go to the clubhouse, his heart pounded hard in his chest. He touched his chest and thought about the ink Eden had given him. Christ, she had given him so much more than just that.

For the first time ever, Trev was nervous about a mission… because now he had something to lose.

*

The table was solemn. Everyone understood the decision and understood the risk. More than that, Trev knew it was a hard thing for everyone to accept to put the seat back in risk of being empty again. Trev was prepared for death, even if he hated it now because of Eden. At the door to the conference room, that’s where all emotion and romance was stripped away. This was about business. The survival of the MC and the future of the MC.

“Jenn has made it very clear we have a problem,” Gaige said. “Ripper is working behind the MC. She’s heard conversations of guns, talks with the O’Nuall family, and she heard a confrontation between Ripper and Giovanni. It looks like Ripper took out his own guy and is pushing down on the Frelen charter.”

“Aye,” Shay said, raising his hand. “Not to go against anything we’re saying, but is it wise to take the words of a beaten up old lady?”

“Fuck, bro,” Erik said. “Do you get…”

“He’s right,” Miller said. “We’re not going to start navigating these waters with the words of an old lady.” Miller put a hand up as Trev was about to explode. “But we have a plan. And we have a vote to take.”

Miller gave a nod to Trev.

All eyes were on him.

“I’m going to give up my cut,” Trev said.

Everyone murmured.

“What are you talking about?” Shay asked.

“I’m going to give up my cut and head north. I can convince Ripper shit is bad here. He’s after this club. He doesn’t want Miller as President. He wants one big charter and he wants to run it through a deal with the O’Nuall family. Now, I don’t have proof of that. It’s all words. Shay and Miller bring up points about that with old ladies. But something bad is going to happen if we don’t act. I’ll go north and give everything Ripper wants. I’ll stand by him and watch as he makes the calls. I’ll see the proof.”

“Jesus Christ, brother,” Blaine said. “That’s sabotage. I mean, the risk of yourself…” Blaine looked at Miller. “This risk here for us. Trying to set up not just another brother but a charter President.”

“A President who has lost his mind,” Gaige said.

“Maybe he has the right,” Landon said. “Shit. Jenn got pregnant by Griffin. I mean, do we know what Ripper actually knows? He’s been living with that…”

“Griffin is dead,” Trev said. “Let’s not forget that. If his name is f*cked in all this, then we deal with that later. If his name is clear, then he rests peacefully as is. This is about Ripper. Giovanni’s death doesn’t add up. There’s proof that he had a problem with Giovanni. The rest of his table is unsure of who to believe. This is our chance to figure it out.”

“And if Ripper is clear?” Erik asked. “I mean, that will put a target on us. Charter to charter. A war.”

“That’s a risk I’m going to take,” Miller said. “And if that risk causes a war and I’m wrong, then I will give up my patch. I’ll cut it off and hand it to my VP. Then you can vote on my fate. Reaper or outlaw. How’s that for f*cking proof?”

The table went silent again.

“That’s not going to happen though,” Gaige said. “I’ve talked to Jasper. He’s convinced something is wrong.”

“Then let it be his problem,” Jace said.

“It’s our goddamn problem,” Miller said. “When he’s up there making this charter look bad. When he’s trying to turn the charter against its own club. And if he’s dealing with the Irish and he killed Giovanni…”

“We vote for the reaper right now,” Gaige said. “If Trev finds that Ripper has been dealing with the O’Nuall family and killed Giovanni, he meets the reaper.”

“We vote now,” Miller said. “Trev is leaving soon. Tonight.”

“Christ,” Blaine said. “Tonight, brother?”