Savage Love (Back Down Devil MC #7)(91)

She reached for her cell phone and froze.

What was she going to do? Did this really involve Gaige? He and the MC were already busy enough looking for the shooters. Dragging them into the business of Mr. Strokner would only make things worse.

She could not believe this was happening. It was the exact reason why Emily kept to herself all the time. Why she liked to stay hidden. The second she showed up to a biker fight, her entire life changed.

Yet it wasn’t all bad.

Emily’s body warmed thinking about her and Gaige together the night before. Maybe that was a big mistake and maybe it would ultimately be something she would regret, but she needed it. She succumbed to Gaige not only because he was hot and commanding, but because she wanted that protected feeling again. To be in the arms of someone who could and would kill for her. That meant something.

When Emily returned to the office, she had to hurry back to the bathroom. Her emotions were now winning the battle. She was back at the same sink but this time, she was crying.

One of the stalls opened and she saw the reflection of one of the women adjusting her short skirt. She touched her nose and smiled. She had been getting drugged up before going to work. The woman left the bathroom and a second later, Janine came walking in. Emily tried to wipe her eyes to hide the fact she had been crying, but it was to late.

“Oh, no… what happened?”

“Nothing,” Emily said. “Just nothing.”

“You don’t have to lie to me.”

Emily looked at Janine. Maybe it would do good to get some truth off her chest. “My best friend was murdered yesterday. That was her father who came to see me.”

Janine rushed to Emily and hugged her. Emily lost it again. She cried, finally able to really let it out. She was hugging someone who was, more than anything else, a stranger. Yet it felt good to be hugged like this. To be able to cry.

“I’m so sorry, Emily,” Janine said. “You should go home. You shouldn’t be here like this. Do you have someone to call?”

Emily nodded. “I do.”

“Good.”

Janine looked at Emily and handed her a paper towel to wipe her eyes. Emily took a deep breath. She washed her face, again, and took out her cell. She sent a text to Gaige to come get her.

“Okay, are you good now?” Janine asked.

“Yeah, I think so. Why?”

“There’s a client out there looking for you. He’s here to pick up Belle. But he wants to see you first thank you for setting up his meeting.”

Emily took a breath and nodded. “Okay. That’s fine.”

“Are you sure? I could go lie to him…”

“No. I don’t want to hurt business.” Emily wiped her face. “I can do this. It’s okay.”

“Let me take you home,” Janine offered. “We’ll sneak out the back. I’ll use my lunch break. Okay?”

“Thank you but I don’t need that.”

Emily sucked in a breath. She left the bathroom and went to her desk. When Janine walked by, she nodded. Emily then went back to work, waiting for the client. There was a need of discretion and secrecy to make the business work and to keep clients happy. Quite often, these were married men who wanted something on the side. It also meant leaving a lot of moral and ethic beliefs at the door.

As Emily worked, she heard Janine direct the client to her desk. When she heard the words, “Thank you, love”, Emily froze. She sat straight up and watched as the client walked toward her desk. She blinked a few times, waiting for the image to change. But it didn’t change.

He was here.

“Emily, look at you.”

Emily was so cold she started to shiver.

“Speechless, I’m sure.”

Belle came walking from the back, her long legs strutting to perfection. He looked at her and took Belle’s hand.

“As beautiful as I thought,” he whispered. “Let’s get out of here, love.”

Emily slowly stood, her mouth dry.

He looked at her and smiled. “Don’t worry, this is just for fun. Just to take the edge off. I’ll be back… for you. For what you took.”

He winked and walked out of the office.

Emily grabbed her bag and her cell. She hadn’t blinked yet even though her mind was screaming at her.

He was here… Max found her…

And Emily hadn’t forgotten his last promise to her years ago.

“I’ll find you and I’ll f*cking kill you.”





thirteen.



Gaige got the text while sitting on a pool table next to Nate. They were sharing a joint because Gaige needed to really clear his mind. They had run recon on Eight Under, going toward the junkyard but not getting too close. They were officially in hiding, which was expected for the moment. Being the pussies they were, they’d hide for a day or two, celebrate their little victory in ambushing a fight, but soon they would need their fix for money, *, and drugs. That’s when Back Down Devil would be waiting.

Within minutes Gaige was on his motorcycle speeding toward the building. He couldn't wait to get Emily back in his arms. She was still in a state of shock, even if she wouldn’t admit it. Gaige knew the feeling Emily had rolling through her body. She needed to toughen up though and realize death was at everyone’s door.