Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(8)

Fuck that, he thought.

At the gates, he throttled his motorcycle and shot forward, almost taking Gaige and Blaine out. They hurried to move to the left and right, giving Miller a path. He shot out of the lot and took the lead.

The way a President should be.

He didn’t need to f*cking hide from a thing. Hell, in some ways, he’d spent years now hiding. Hiding behind his own heart and a choice he made a long time ago. A night when the entire world waited in his damn pocket. A night that got so f*cked up, it changed too many lives to count.

The thundering roar of his motorcycle and smack of wind helped to chase away the thoughts. The freedom was short lived as he led the way to the east side of Frelen, where old factories stood as rusted and crippled skeletons. There had been lots of talks about turning it into something, but guys like Chief Jerry and Miller worked hard to keep politics and businessmen out of Frelen.

Now Miller felt more alone than ever in this war. Especially if Frelen ended up developed into some shithole suburbia lifestyle complete with retail shops, car dealerships, and everything to give the illusion of a safe and good life.

Miller gritted his teeth as he turned off the main road to a side road. He spotted Chief Jerry’s SUV up ahead, parked along the side of a building. He put up a fist, ordering Gaige and Blaine to stop. This was going to be face to face and that was it.

When Miller stopped and climbed off the motorcycle, he felt his heart beating a little faster than normal. There was a chance that he could walk around the side of the building and another ambush would be waiting. This time, however, there would be no warning and no plan.

Miller made fists and walked toward the SUV. As he turned the corner, the door to the police vehicle shot open and Chief Jerry climbed out. The first thing he did was draw his service weapon and put it on the hood.

“No guns,” Jerry called out.

“Fair enough,” Miller said.

He took out one of his guns and put it on the ground. Miller knew damn well that the chief was packing more than just one gun.

Jerry touched his breast, at his badge. “Pretend this isn’t here.”

“I’m not pretending a damn thing,” Miller said. He stepped forward. “You took out one of my guys. A f*cking table member. A man that put his ass on the line for the MC and for you. A man that helped you with finances when your department was struggling. A smart man. A good man. A f*cking loyal man.”

“And let me guess,” Jerry said. “You’re thinking about killing me.”

“Oh, I’m not thinking about it,” Miller said. “I’m going to do it.”

They now stood just feet apart. Chief Jerry slipped his hands into his pockets. So cocky. So confident. It was the reason why Miller hated that right side of wrong and justice. It gave guys like Jerry power they didn’t deserve.

“You’ll never take me out, Miller. I know it. You need me. I need you.”

“I thought you were cashing out? Wasn’t that the plan?”

“Yeah, it was. But since you took out Jake…”

“What? You needed the judge to suck your dick?”

“That’s why I have my wife. Sweet and perfect Ella.”

Miller felt his blood boiling now.

“What the f*ck do you want?” Miller asked. “I have a club to go take care of. Guys are on edge. Guys are mourning. Guys are ready to lose their minds.”

“Sad,” Jerry said. “Such a tragic thing. I mean, it’s what happens though, right? When people poke around and they’re not supposed to.”

Miller grabbed Jerry by the shirt and put him against the building. “And what about putting a hit on me? Trying to have Coast Road take me out?”

“I had nothing to do with that,” Jerry said. “I heard about it. I wanted to see you, to make sure you were okay.”

“Fuck you, pig.”

Jerry laughed. “Calling me a pig doesn’t offend me.”

Miller pushed away from Jerry. “You can’t defeat us. I don’t care about your badge. Your department. It’s all bullshit. You’re in as deep as we are. Everything is tied to you, Jerry.”

“I can get out of anything.”

“And what? Take your family on the run?”

“No. I’m not interested in that. I’m going for a fresh and clean slate.”

“So you’re going to leave your wife and kid behind to suffer?”

“Suffer,” Jerry said. “I’m on my own. It’s the only way to be, Miller. You know that. That’s why you never showed up that night. You knew better than to take it somewhere else with her. So I took control. I had the balls to do it.”

“You f*cking piece of shit,” Miller said. “You brought me here to talk about the past?”

“Boo-f*cking-hoo,” Jerry said.

“Hey, Chief?”

Miller turned his head and saw a woman standing there. Short shorts, a tight black top, her hair pulled back and messy. Everything about her screamed southside drug induced slut.

“Get in the f*cking SUV,” Jerry ordered.

“That guy is making noise. I’m trying to sleep. This is when I sleep.”

“How about you spend the next six months in prison, bitch.”

“Next time you need your dick sucked, good luck.”