Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(103)

“You have to stall him,” Gaige said. “Keep him happy with something.”

“Why?” Jerry asked. “The bikers are going to solve the crime?”

Miller put a hand up. “No need to get heated here.”

“That dead girl’s best friend just climbed off the back of your motorcycle, Gaige. What does that say?”

“That says nothing,” Gaige said. “Our business is private.”

Chief Jerry nodded. He pushed from the car. “Well, Strokner wants a bigger investigation on this. I can’t speculate much but if he pulls in bigger power…”

“We get it,” Gaige said.

“We appreciate your concern,” Miller said. “But I feel our consciences are clear right now.”

The chief let out a laugh. He tossed his cigarette to the ground and then pulled a mint from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.

“Gentlemen,” he said. “Have a good day.”

Once Jerry was in his cruiser, Miller leaned down and smiled. “Just to let you know… we were on a nice ride near the beach and I heard some gunshots. You might want to check that out.”

Miller patted the roof of the cruiser and walked away. He smiled and then Gaige smiled too. They walked back to the clubhouse together. Gaige looked over his shoulder and saw the chief peeling out of the parking lot.

Good luck, Chief.





nineteen.



Emily’s hands kept shaking. She was stuck between two bikers and she didn’t feel safe. She couldn’t help but feel like someone was going to just walk up and put a gun to her head. In her heart she swore she trusted Gaige and she trusted Back Down Devil MC, but a guy like Max would sacrifice his own life just to make sure Emily was dead.

“Drink up, babe,” Blaine said. “I’m telling you, it’ll calm your nerves.”

Emily lifted the shot glass and the whiskey burned her lips the second the liquid touched her. She shook her head.

“I can’t.”

“Sure you can,” Blaine said. “It’ll go down hard but that’s just life.”

“Cheers,” Emily whispered.

“Cheers, babe,” Blaine said.

Emily closed her eyes and took the shot. It was horrific and it burned all the way down to her stomach. She groaned and started to cough. Blaine gave her his beer. Emily drank from the bottle and then put it down. She blinked through the tears and looked at a smiling Blaine. There was actually a sense of sincerity in his eyes, for as sick as the man was.

“I don’t blame you for Rachel dying,” Emily said.

“Whoa,” Blaine said. “We need another shot.”

Two fresh shots were placed in front of Emily and Blaine. Emily took the glass and held it up. “Did you hear me?”

“I heard, baby.”

Emily took the second shot and it didn’t burn as bad.

“A third?” Blaine asked as he wiped his mouth.

“No. No. I can’t.”

There was a little silence and then Blaine sighed. “You know, I usually don’t give a f*ck about much, but I am sorry for what happened. I carried her to her car and set her up. I looked at her. Touched her cheek.” Blaine smiled. “I even cupped one of her breasts, which got me hard.”

“Fuck,” Nate said. “What’s wrong with you?”

“I’m being honest,” Blaine said. “The point is… I looked at her and I felt bad for you, Emily. I’m glad you’re here with us. Whatever Gaige promises, he will make good on it.”

“I believe that,” Emily said.

“Good. He’s a good f*cking guy. I’d take a bullet for him.”

“I think he’d take one for you.”

“We’d all take bullets for each other,” Nate said. “That’s what the outside world doesn’t get about it. It’s not about the leather, the motorcycles, the guns, the money… or even the *.”

“Hey, wait a second,” Blaine said.

Emily laughed.

“It’s about a brotherhood,” Nate said. He stared down at Emily. “It’s a deep connection.”

Emily took a shaky breath and flicked the empty shot glass. “One more.”

“There’s a girl,” Blaine called out and clapped.

He whistled and then two more shots were poured. Emily grabbed the shot glass and threw it back. Blaine cheered and whistled for her. It was the exact moment when all the shots started to hit her. She let out a deep breath and everything around her looked fuzzy.

Nate put one of his giant hands over the empty shot glass and put it to the end of the bar. “That’s enough for now.”

Emily looked at Nate. “You’re not that tough, you know?”

“Whoa,” Blaine said. “She’s a tough drunk.”

Nate smiled at Emily. “You’re lucky Gaige has you.”

“Why’s that?” Emily teased.

Nate stood up and walked away without responding.

“Don’t mind him,” Blaine said. “He’s stuck somewhere between here and hell.”

“Aren’t we all?”

Blaine laughed.

Gaige and Miller came into the clubhouse. Miller headed right to the bar while Gaige headed for Emily.