Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(109)

“Fuck this,” Jace called out.

He threw an elbow and hit one of the men in the face. The man dropped his gun and Jace lunged forward and grabbed Mr. Strokner by the collar. He threw him backward to his ass. The other man with a gun put it to Griffin’s chest and pushed him against the wall. Emily couldn’t stand the idea of someone else being hurt because of her so she acted with the first thing that came to mind. She made a fist and swung, hitting the man in the face. The man turned and then the gun was at Emily.

“Whore…”

“Stop it!” Mr. Strokner ordered.

The other man got his gun back and hit Jace across the face, causing Jace to spin and crash into the wall. When Jace turned, he walked right into the gun, blood running down his face.

“Do it,” he taunted. “Fucking blow my heart out. You f*cking *.”

“I said stop!” Mr. Strokner yelled.

Miller offered a hand and helped Mr. Strokner back to his feet.

“Take the gun off Emily,” Mr. Strokner said.

The man listened and lowered his weapon.

“Let’s all stay within reason here,” Mr. Strokner said. “I just want it to be known that I’m digging. I’ll find it all.” He looked at Miller. “That land has all the secrets, doesn’t it?”

“There are no secrets,” Miller said. “You got the wrong group of guys.”

“You’re an *,” Mr. Strokner said. “And if Gaige doesn’t fulfill what I want… this club will be gone. Your land will be mine. And all of you can rot in prison for the rest of your lives.”

Mr. Strokner smiled at Emily and then turned. He and his two guys slowly walked away. Jace and Shay drew their weapons but Miller quickly grabbed them by the shoulders to stop anything from happening. Emily understood it. There was an image to keep up right now. They needed to play it all off and take their hits.

When Jace turned and looked at Emily, she wasn’t sure what to do. The blood on his face reminded Emily that he had helped her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Jace walked away.

“You okay?” Shay asked Griffin.

Griffin wiped his forehead. “Fucking great.”

Emily felt like the center of it all. The problem.

Miller looked at her, his eyes confirming it. “This needs to end.”

“Gaige is doing it now,” Emily said.

“Shit,” Griffin whispered.

“What did you say?” Miller asked.

“Gaige. He and Nate and Blaine… they went to Eight Under…”

“Fuck,” Miller said. he looked at Griffin. “You know about this?”

“I’m just doing my paperwork,” Griffin said.

“Goddamn,” Miller said again. “Shay, ride with me. We need to end this bullshit.”

“I really hope Gaige knows what the f*ck he’s doing,” Griffin said. “Because if he doesn’t, he’s going to end up getting himself killed… or someone close to him.”

Griffin walked away, punching the wall and mumbling f*ck.

Alone, Emily never felt so out of place in her life. She reached into her pocket and felt Rachel’s necklace. She closed her eyes and tried to picture a way she could have forced Rachel not to go to that fight… but if Rachel hadn’t gone then Gaige would have never entered Emily’s life.





twenty-two.



Gaige pulled up at the gas station and stopped in front of a pump. Nate and Blaine came next and they all shut their motorcycles off. A man came out of the store, lifted his sunglasses, saw the guys from Back Down Devil, and hurried back in. He locked the door and charged through the small store to the back.

“Not very subtle,” Nate said.

“They f*cking know,” Gaige said. “This isn’t going to go away.”

“What’s the plan?”

“Call for a ride,” Gaige said. “We’re taking Vinny alive. Like I said.”

“Fuck, Gaige,” Nate said.

“Alive,” Gaige yelled.

He climbed off his motorcycle and heard Blaine make the call.

“Shay, it’s Blaine. Listen. We need a ride. Oh… okay, bro.” Blaine closed his cell and said, “Company is on the way. Miller knows we’re here.”

“How?” Gaige asked.

“Strokner was just at the clubhouse. You have a deal with him?”

“I have no deals,” Gaige said. “My promise is to settle this score. And we do it right now.”

Gaige walked and Nate and Blaine followed. Gaige eyed the building. There were cameras in each corner. They were watching the guys as they approached. It was a risky move, but Gaige had been around long enough to know what would happen next. Eight Under was try an ambush. Gaige went to the front door and pulled on it.

“What are you doing?” Nate asked. “You saw him lock the f*cking door.”

“I did,” Gaige said.

He turned and ran back to his motorcycle. He started the bike and cut around the gas pumps. Gaige set his sights on the large glass window. Nate and Blaine rushed out of the way as Gaige cut the motorcycle and let the ass end smack into the front window. Gaige dropped the motorcycle as the front window shattered into pieces.