Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(56)

He walked down the hall and met with Nate and Blaine.

“What’s the plan?” Blaine asked.

“Did he bring help?” Miller asked.

“Yeah. Two unmarked cars. Big guys,” Nate said.

“Could be another gang or club,” Blaine said.

“No identification on them?” Miller asked.

“Nothing,” Blaine said.

“What about Jerry? What’s he wearing?” Miller asked.

“Full uniform,” Nate said.

“Good,” Miller said.

Around the bar, Jace and Landon were waiting.

“Weapons?” Jace asked.

“Leave everything,” Miller said. “We go civil here and let the rest work itself out.”

“Jesus Christ,” Nate said. “I don’t like this.”

“Neither do I,” Miller said.

He opened the door to the clubhouse and went outside.

Jerry stood in the middle of the lot, holding pieces of paper. He had a gun in his other hand, pointed right between Gaige’s eyes.

“Good morning!” Jerry yelled.





twenty.



Ella paced the room while Beck was on the bed, trying to rip off one of his socks. He’d roll to the left, grabbing at it. When he couldn’t get the sock off, he’d groan, cry, and roll to his other side. Back and forth, no idea what was going on in the world. Beck’s world was trying to get the sock off his foot. Trying to figure out what the sock was, why it was there, and why the hell he had a foot and toes on it.

Rushing to the bathroom, Ella splashed water on her face and took a deep breath.

What was the worst Jerry could do right now? Bust into the clubhouse. Charge down to the room. Order Ella and Beck to leave. Then it put everything on Ella. To go with Jerry and just keep the peace, for Beck’s sake. (And the sake of Back Down Devil MC.) Or she could be defiant and try to fight for herself. But that would instantly put everyone in danger.

Beck let out a yell.

Ella sat on the bed and then fell back, turning, facing the baby. He reached for her face, eyes wide, always a grin on his perfect little face. She touched his cheek and smiled back.

“I don’t know,” Ella said. “But I’ll figure it out, Beck.”

He smacked his lips together and made noises.

“You like Miller, don’t you?”

Beck didn’t respond. Of course he didn’t respond. He made noises.

“Come here,” Ella said.

She sat up and grabbed the baby. She slid off the bed to the floor and sat with her legs open. She put Beck on his feet and held his waist. As she twisted him back and forth, he nibbled on his fingers and let out giggling groans.

“I want you to walk,” Ella said. “Get those legs strong. So then you can learn to run. And then you can just go. Be free, little Beck.”

Ella lifted Beck and put him at arms length. She then took his hands and watched him try to walk toward her. He stumbled but moved fast. Over and over, Ella kept watching her son, keeping her mind away from whatever the hell was happening outside the clubhouse.

Finally, Ella decided to get bold.

She put Beck at arms length and then let him go. She kept her hands close to him though. The first couple times, Beck just fell to the left, right, forward. But then he took a step before falling. Ella felt her heart melting.

“Come on,” Ella whispered. “You can do this.”

Ella put Beck out again and this time he took two steps before falling. When he fell, he propped himself up and started to crawl. He pulled himself up on Ella and smiled.

“That’s cheating,” she said and laughed. “Let’s do it one more time.”

Ella put Beck out and let him go. He stood there, looking amazed at what he had done. Then his right foot slid forward, followed by his left. He remained balanced, his knees bending a little. But then he started to move. One step after another, Beck walked to Ella. Sure, it was only four big steps, but it was walking!

Beck had taken his true first steps… in Miller’s room… in the clubhouse of Back Down Devil MC…

“You did it!” Ella said. She lifted up Beck and tickled him, making him explode with giggles. “You did it, Beck. You are amazing.” She then hugged the baby and stood up.

Ella took it as a sign.

They’d fight through anything. They’d be just fine.

Just fine.

The door then exploded open and Ella stepped back.

She stared at Jerry as he stood in the doorway.

“There she is,” Jerry said. “With that f*cking kid.”

Ella shook her head.

No… no, no, no…





twenty-one.



“Put that f*cking gun down,” Miller said. “Or I’ll have one of my guys blow your f*cking head off, *.”

“Hear that?” Jerry asked. “He threatened me.”

“You’re on my property. You don’t know what we have waiting.”

“Maybe I should call someone in to search,” Jerry said. “I can bring heat, Miller. I can f*cking burn it all to the ground.”

“Along with yourself,” Miller said. “Remember that, Jerry. Remember everything we’ve ever done.”