Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(2)

After three tries, Nate managed to knock out a tail light.

“One more,” Shay said. He lifted a large rock.

“Not a chance,” Gaige said. “You can’t throw a rock that big that far.”

“Want to bet?” Shay asked.

“Yeah, what?”

“Give me a night with Emily.”

Gaige made a fist. “Bro…”

“You sound like Blaine now,” Nate said and laughed.

“I’m joking,” Shay said. “well, half joking.”

“Throw the f*cking rock,” Gaige said.

Shay grunted as he threw the rock. It smashed right through the back window.

“Oh, shit,” Nate said. “Nice shot.”

“Well, it didn’t blow up,” Gaige said.

That was good enough for Shay. He started walking toward the car. He looked around again. He couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched. He took a deep breath and chalked it up to feeling guilty about what was happening. Shay shoved the thoughts away and walked to the car. Reaching for the door handle, he let out a breath and closed his eyes.

“Shay,” Gaige growled. “Be car…”

Shay opened the door and jumped back. Nothing happened. He looked around the inside of the car and it seemed normal, so he reached down and pulled the lever to pop the trunk. Again he closed his eyes and winced, waiting for the explosion. But the only thing close to exploding was his heart from racing and pounding so hard.

Shay walked to the trunk and expecting to see a dead body inside. Hell, he half expected to find Jonesy in the trunk. The last communication the MC received from their hired man was when they received the second of Jonesy’s fingers.

The trunk was empty except for a half empty bottle of windshield washer fluid, a small kit with jumper cables, a white sock with blue stitching across the toes, and an atlas.

“Fucking nothing,” Gaige said. “What a waste of time.”

“Better than a bomb,” Nate said, standing like he was ten feet tall in the night.

“We’re going to need Strokner again,” Gaige said.

“That man is a swine,” Shay said. “He wants in on the MC.”

“Yeah, I know that now. He still has those eyes I delivered.”

“Sick man,” Shay said with a smile.

“A clear message,” Nate added.

“It put us in a corner though,” Gaige said. “Fuck.” He threw his cigarette to the road and it rolled, glowing in the night. “Let me call Miller.”

“I’m going to check up here a little,” Shay said. “This doesn’t feel right.”

“I’ll go with you,” Nate said.

Gaige took out his cell and walked the opposite way of Shay and Nate.

In silence, Shay walked ahead of Nate along the dusty side of the road. They climbed a small hill and stood there. To their left was complete darkness. To their right were the faint lights of Frelen. The town was mostly asleep, resting for another day.

Shay scanned the horizon and something caught his eye.

“Hey, get down,” he whispered to Nate.

“Why?”

Shay pointed.

Straight ahead there were four motorcycles. All of them side by side. One of them had its headlight turned on.

“What the f*ck is that?” Nate whispered.

“Eight Under. I bet it. What the hell are they doing out here so late?”

“Think it has to do with the car?”

“I don’t know.”

A few seconds went by and then the faint echo of an engine sounded. It wasn’t a motorcycle engine though. A set of dim lights suddenly appeared and Shay watched as a car pulled up to the motorcycles. The passenger door opened and when Shay saw who got out, his hands balled into fists.

“Holy shit,” Nate whispered. “That’s our guy. He’s right here. Right under our f*cking nose.”

“Talking to the enemy,” Shay said.

Shay watched as his brother approached the guys in Eight Under. There was conversation, but none of it could be heard. He then heard a rustling sound and looked over to see Nate pulling out a gun.

“What the f*ck?” Shay growled.

“I’ll take him out right now,” Nate said.

“You can’t make the shot.”

“Then we scare the shit out of them. Let them know who’s watching…”

Shay pulled out his gun. “If you shoot like you throw rocks…”

“Fuck off,” Nate said.

“It’s my shot, brother,” Shay said. “He tried to blow up my car. Only fair, right?”

Nate looked at Shay and nodded.

Shay lifted his gun, his hand slightly shaking with nerves. There was a chance that a shot from here would reach his brother. Whether it would be a fatal shot or not wasn’t known. With his finger on the trigger, Shay suddenly felt himself being sucked into the past. And just like the past, he couldn’t pull the trigger.

He simply froze.

“Shay…,” Nate said. “Are you…”

Shay watched his brother reach into his pocket and pull something out. He made a hand gesture and then a split second later, there was an explosion.

The entire ground shook and Shay dropped to the ground and covered his head, waiting for something to come crashing down onto him. He gave it a few seconds and then rolled to his back. He sat up and saw that the car they were just inspecting was blown to pieces.