Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(14)

six.



Ava stood behind Shay and her heart raced. She was afraid of Shay, but it wasn't the terrifying fear that she felt knowing the Lost Men would take her life without a second thought. No. Her fear of Shay came from his unexplainable ability to see through her facade that none of the others had been able to.

Now was the time and the opportunity to break free of all this. If she could stick with Shay, she could stay right here with the MC. When whatever they were doing there in Frelen was done, the other guys would leave and she could take off. Disappear. Change her hair color, again. Change her name. Find somewhere else to hide to create even more distance from her * husband.

Everyone headed inside, leaving nothing but motorcycles in the parking lot of the compound. Ava still couldn’t get the images of the fight out of her mind. The way they all just attacked each other. Punching, kicking, people getting stabbed. And then they all just…

“They just stopped,” Ava whispered.

“What was that?” Shay asked as he turned around.

“Nothing.”

“No. Talk to me. Nobody’s around. You look like you're about to pass out.”

“I just never saw something like that.”

“That was just a welcoming,” Shay said. “A sign of respect.”

“Oh, that’s all?” Ava asked, sarcastically.

Shay smiled. “Hey, we’re men here. We have to take our stand. We have guns, knives, and cocks. I sure as hell ain’t taking my cock out in front of a bunch of guys.”

“Why not?” Ava asked. “Afraid it’s too small?”

Ava bit her lip, regretting the question. She had learned that sometimes it was okay to push back. To make comments. To try to take her own stand. But that was only because the Lost Men thought she was Stein's old lady, and if they did anything to Ava, there'd be hell to pay. But Shay knew nothing of that and he wouldn’t care even if he did.

Shay moved closer to Ava, his body touching hers. “You couldn’t handle my cock, love. I’d make you scream so loud you wouldn’t talk for days. I’d f*ck you so hard you wouldn’t walk for days.”

Ava swallowed hard. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’ve got time to waste…”

Ava was shocking herself. Why couldn't she stop talking? She was definitely overstepping a line of respect somewhere, but when she looked up at Shay, she couldn't help herself. She wanted to push at him. She wanted to tempt him. She wanted to anger him. It was crazy, but Ava couldn’t stop. She reached out and touched Shay’s leather cut. Her fingers were shaking as she ran them over the sewn on patches.

“You like those?” Shay asked.

“I'm just used to seeing the outlines.”

“Yeah. Well, that’s what happens when you bail on your club. When you can’t function under authority or handle the realities of life.”

“And what are the realities of life?”

Shay smiled and touched Ava’s face. “Are you going tell me why you’re so afraid to be here? What are you hiding behind that dyed hair and those pretty eyes?”

Ava looked away. “I think you’re supposed to be inside there with your friends.”

“Not friends, Ava. Brothers. There’s a difference. Learn it.”

“Sorry.”

Ava suddenly moved to her toes and pressed her lips to Shay’s neck, twice, before Shay's hands clamped down on her shoulders. He moved her away and stared at her.

“You were on the back of a ride,” Shay said. “Trev’s ride.”

“I’m not with him. Not even close.”

“He said you were an old lady.”

“Stein,” Ava said. “He was the unspoken leader for the guys. They’re grieving. Mourning. Whatever. Trev is just protecting me for a little while. That’s why I’m here.”

“What a world we live in then. It's no safer for you here, I don’t know what to tell you. You need to earn your keep around here, and there’s only one real way to do it. Sorry, love.”

Shay turned and Ava licked her lips. She tasted Shay on her lips. If earning her keep meant what she thought Shay meant, she could handle that with Shay. If he wanted her...

The clubhouse was just a bunch of men talking, laughing, and arguing. Setting up pool games. Grabbing bottles of whiskey. Carrying six packs of beers in one hand. Throwing darts. It was the same scene she had grown used to, but now there were twice the amount of men, and she could see trouble escalating very quickly.

“Let me get us a drink,” Shay said.

He knocked on the bar and put up two fingers. The guy behind bar got two beers. Shay gave a bottle to Ava and then they sat down next to each other.

Ava looked around and spotted Nile. He was next to the guy who everyone called Blaine. Blaine was a good looking guy, but he was scary too. The way he talked. The way he handled getting stabbed like it was no big deal. Ava was realizing that these men - all of them - were of a different world and mindset.

“How good can you be with one f*cking eye?” Blaine asked. “Look at you, man. How the hell do you get *?”

“I take what I want,” Nile said.

Ava caught herself standing from her barstool and moving closer to Shay.