Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(44)

Shay flickered a quick smile and then kissed Ava.

With hell all around them, Shay thrusting inside her and kissing her was all the heaven Ava needed.





nineteen.



When Shay emerged into the clubhouse, it seemed all activity stopped. The Lost Men lined the back wall and stood as though they were ordered to do so. The guys of Back Down Devil at the bar stood. The meeting room door opened and Miller stepped out. Behind him came Griffin, Gaige, and Erik. Shay made eye contact with Erik and his stare was cold and guilty, much like Shay’s.

“We’re gearing up,” Miller called out. “Get ready to leave in a little bit. We’re bringing bodies but nothing else. This meeting is to prove a point. We’re not using our weapons or our fists. That’s what they want. That’s what he wants. And it’s not going to happen.”

Murmurs broke out amongst everyone. Miller ignored them all and turned his attention to Shay. He pointed toward the meeting room and Shay knew he was about to face the heat from his dumb decision. He followed Miller into the meeting room and was surprised to find Erik following too.

The door was shut and Shay turned, keeping his hands at his sides. He was willing to take whatever else Erik felt he needed to do.

“Where’s your weapons?” Miller asked.

“I’m holstered. Why?” Shay questioned.

“Give me your gun.”

Shay did as he was told and offered his gun to Miller. He put it on the table and then stood to the side as Erik stepped forward.

“You deserved getting the shit beat out of you,” Erik said.

“I know I did.”

“But the bombs aren't your fault. I’m angry at the world, Shay. Even Kaity hasn't been able to take these feelings away.”

“I had no idea Caius was coming back for me. I take all the blame for the mechanic, for Kaity almost getting killed, for the prospect. For everything.”

“No,” Miller said. He reached out and touched Shay’s shoulder. “We’re a brotherhood here. There should be no secrets. You did the wrong thing. The time will come and we will handle it, Shay. But for now, we act as one. Nothing less than that.”

“I didn’t want to be pulled away from it,” Shay said.

“You keep saying that,” Erik said. “Makes you sound full of shit.”

“It's the truth. This has been so hard on me. And I've been trying to protect Ava from everything.”

“Again, with the *,” Miller said. He grabbed Shay’s gun and put it back into his hand. “Remember why you have this gun and why you're allowed to wear that cut.”

“I think about that all the time,” Shay said. “I would never forget.”

“Look at my face,” Erik said. “Don't forget what happened.”

Erik stepped forward until he and Shay were nose to nose.

“Time to ride,” Miller said. “We are going to end this, one way or another."

The feeling of being alienated from his club only motivated him more to find Caius. When he climbed on his motorcycle and started it, he looked to the clubhouse. There was no choice now but to leave Ava behind. She had already seen too much. And if Caius was going to have his way, Shay couldn't bear to have Ava there to witness it.

Miller gave a hand signal and he pulled forward. He pointed to Trev and offered him the second spot in line. It was a sign of respect and Trev accepted it. Then the entire Back Down Devil crew and the Lost Men made their way out of the compound. As they rode, Shay wondered how and when Miller set all this up. He got the feeling that he was being left out of something. As much as he deserved to be left out, the club could not survive a war if they weren't all on the same page.

Miller and Trev led the long line of motorcycles to a desolate place outside Frelen. They were about ten miles west of their usual meeting land. It was best that they avoided there since Strokner figured out what they used the land for. The Eight Under crew was lined up with a quick count of at least fifty men.

Not once since Shay was patched in with Back Down Devil had there ever been a meeting like this. Not only was it larger than most, this time there was more tension within Back Down Devil than there was between them and the enemy.

They all parked and Miller stepped off his ride first. He pointed to his VP, Gaige, and then nodded to Nate, Erik, Landon, Blaine, and Shay. It surprised Shay. He knew Miller said they needed to be a united front, but he figured he would have been sat out of this meeting as punishment.

Miller took his sunglasses off and looked at the group of men in front of him. The rest of the guys, including Shay, crossed their arms. A sign that they weren’t going to draw their weapons.

“Where’s your leader?” Miller asked.

The two front men stepped to the side, opening a path. A large men sat on his motorcycle. It was a beautiful ride, all chrome, perfectly clean. High handlebars with weeping skulls on it. When the man stood up, he seemed to be the same height as Miller, but he was definitely thicker and covered in more tattoos.

“I guess that’s our guy,” Miller said with a smile. “Little Jimmie.”

The Eight Under crew started to stir.

“Not called that anymore,” the man said as he stepped forward. “It's Jimmie. Or President, if you’re in my club.”