Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(34)

“Look,” Shay said, “this could help us a lot. Okay? It could keep more heat from coming into town.”

“More heat?” the chief asked and laughed. He looked at Ava. “What’s your story? How does a beautiful woman like you end up here, on this fine line between right and wrong?”

“Same line as you, Chief,” Shay said.

Chief Jerry gently ran his fingertips along his gun. The gesture was to make sure both Ava and Shay knew who had the power.

“Ava is married,” Shay said.

Ava looked at Shay. Her face burned red. “Shay…”

“It's a long story that means nothing to you. But I need to know everything about her husband. Where he is. What he’s doing.”

“Because you think he’s going to come to town to find his wife,” Chief Jerry said. “And his wife is going to be in bed with a biker. How f*cking romantic.”

“It’s not like that,” Shay said. “I need to know so I can be ready for him. Just in case. It’s not fair to Ava. She can’t be in this mess and then have to look over her shoulder for two reasons.”

Chief Jerry raised and eyebrow. He looked at Ava. Then he looked at Shay. “No offense to the pretty lady here, but what the hell do I care?”

“You care because of what could be coming,” Shay said. “You think the MC is a rough crowd? Even the guys we brought to town are saints compared to the company her husband will bring to Frelen when he finds out where she is. All I’m asking is for you to run a name. Can you do that?”

“For you? No.” Chief Jerry looked at Ava. “Is your husband dangerous?”

“If he wasn't, do you think I would have chosen this life of running and hiding out with a MC?”

“The fact that you ran into this guy's arms here, tells me all I need to know,” Chief Jerry said.

Ava watched the chief shake his head. Then he clicked his pen. “I’m only doing this because of what your club did for my son. My wife. My family. The last thing I need is some crazed man charging into town again because their wife wanted to shack up with a biker.” The chief looked at Ava again. “Give me all the information you’ve got.”

Ava rattled off Todd’s name and spoke the address she used to call home as ice ran through her veins. All she could picture was the bedroom. All the things she and Todd did. Things that were meant to be private between a husband and wife, not sold for movie rights and public humiliation.

Ava felt like she was going to throw up. She wished Todd was dead. But at the very least, she would take divorce and a promise to never speak to her again. Chief Jerry took all the information and then gave Shay back his ID. He clicked his pen shut and tucked it into his pocket.

“I’ll do what I can,” he said as he closed his notebook. “I’ll make sure I get in contact with you, Shay.”

“Do you have my number?”

“Don’t need it. I’ll just make a routine traffic stop again. Make sure you’re not up to no good.”

“Am I in the clear now, Chief?” Shay asked with a grin.

Ava saw the chief’s nostrils flare. “You’re all set, Shay. Ride safe. Protect this pretty lady here. The last thing your club needs is more death and bloodshed.”

Shay slowly crept his hand to the back of Ava’s shirt and held it. He pulled her close and they stood there. Chief Jerry got into his car, turned off the flashing light, and then cut the wheel and turned hard. A small cloud of dust kicked up and dissipated.

Shay looked at Ava. “What did you think I was going to do?”

Ava froze. Her face reddened. “I… I honestly didn’t know. I’m sorry, Shay.”

“Fuck, love, you have to trust me. I want to know where your husband is and what he is up to.”

“Why?”

“So I can stop anything from happening to you.” Shay touched Ava’s cheek. “I have to protect you from my enemies… and yours."

“I just thought… because I tried to run out… and if I’m in the way…”

“What? You think I was going to kick you out of town? Punish you? Kill you?”

Ava shrugged her shoulders.

Shay pulled at her lower back until their bodies were touching. “Christ, Ava. Whatever you lived through is done. You’re here now. With me.”

“I wish we weren’t here.”

“Why?”

Ava bit her lip. She was really turned on. But they were out in the middle of nowhere. Shay had just sought help from the chief to help with finding her husband. And there was still an enemy out there lurking. Waiting.

“We don’t need the bedroom,” Shay said with a grin. He pressed his lips to Ava’s mouth, then gently kissed down her neck.

A fresh wetness escaped Ava’s body. Before she could react, Shay had both hands on her ass and lifted her off the ground. She managed to let out a weak cry as Shay walked her to the motorcycle. He put her back on her feet and turned her around.

His hands immediately went everywhere. They were sliding up and down her body over her clothes. She was desperate to be naked. When Shay stopped moving, one hand cupped her breast and the other held between her legs.

“You ready for this?” Shay asked. “Right here in the open. For the world to see.”