Secret Mayhem (Back Down Devil MC #4)(45)

“Well, I’m not in your club.”

“Makes me wonder what you want then. You call me desperate for a meeting and then bring a bunch of goons with you.”

“Those guys?” Miller asked. “That’s protection. An insurance policy. Pretend they’re not there.”

“Hard to do. Lots of angry looking men there, Miller.”

“That’s because we are angry. Someone has been trying to blow us all up lately.”

“So I’ve heard,” Jimmie said. He made fists and cracked his knuckles. “Damn shame what happened to your prospect last night.”

“How’d you know about that?” Gaige asked. “You weren’t at the fights.”

Jimmie smiled. “I know everything. We’ve lost our fair share of prospects. At your hands, Miller.”

“Stay out of our business,” Miller said. “Stop sending your punks around…”

“One tried to f*cking kill me,” Landon said. “So I gutted him.”

Jimmie stepped toward Landon. “How about I gut you right now, son?”

“Show me your f*cking knife.”

“Hold up,” Miller said. “I called this meeting to explain who you’ve climbed into bed with.”

“Oh, this a friendly meeting? We’re good now?” Jimmie asked.

“Fuck no,” Blaine said.

“We’ll settle our personal war when the time comes,” Gaige said.

“This is business,” Miller said. “This is for the greater good of our clubs and our towns. The man you’re making deals with…”

“He’s my brother,” Shay cut in.

Jimmie let out a laugh. “Ah, so that explains it. My good friend, Caius, did tell me he had ties to Back Down Devil. In fact, he told me he knew exactly how to bring your club down."

“You’ll all end up dead,” Shay said. “You’ve seen what he’s capable of.”

“Oh, but our new arsenal is so worth it,” Jimmie laughed. “And my ride… she’s a beauty.”

“That’s a nice bike,” Blaine said. “Good luck riding it when you’re dead.”

“Oh, I didn't mean that ride,” Jimmie said. “You should see the women. I’ve never seen my guys so happy before. Women that will do anything.” Jimmie looked at Blaine. “I mean anything. Fuck, man, maybe you want to trade in that cut for something better?”

“You'll have to kill me to get this leather off my back,” Blaine said.

Jimmie laughed again. “Sounds like a plan then.”

“Listen to me,” Miller said, stepping forward. “Bullshit aside, what you’re messing with is bad for business and bad for your club. You need to get that. This guy is going to tear it all apart, and you’re paving the way for him. For what? Some cash, guns, *? He’s going to f*cking turn on you. Listen to Shay. Help us get to him and then we can call a truce for now."

“A truce?” Jimmie asked. “How many men have I had to bury recently?”

“That was your doing,” Gaige said. “Our beef can stop for a minute.”

“You don’t get how much Caius has to offer,” Jimmie said.

“You don’t get what he’ll do,” Shay shouted. He stepped out of line and at Jimmie. “He’ll f*cking…”

Jimmie gave a nod and two guys grabbed Shay.

A small fight ensued as fists were thrown. Shay connected a couple times, and he took a couple. Nate broke it up and Miller pointed to Shay.

“Back down,” he bellowed. “Go to your ride and wait for us. Goddamnit.”

It killed Shay to back up, but he had to do as told. He licked his lip and tasted fresh blood. He was sick of tasting his own blood. If he didn't find Caius soon, he was going to snap and start making anyone who got in his way regret it.

“What I have with Caius is business. You have your goons behind you, Miller, and I have my associates everywhere. Watching you. Every day. And when you least expect it… boom.”

Jimmie laughed a deep laugh.

Shay gripped the handlebars of his motorcycle so he wouldn't reach for his gun.

There was silence for a few seconds and then Miller spoke.

“Boom,” Miller said. “What happens when it’s you, Jimmie?”

Jimmie opened his mouth and nothing came out. Instead, Shay heard the soft sound of a zing and the head of the man standing next to Jimmie exploded. Blood and brain matter sprayed Jimmie. He hurried to wipe his face just as everyone realized what had just happened.

“Fucking hell!” Miller bellowed.

Everyone drew their weapons, but nobody knew what to do. Shay looked to his right and off in the distance he saw a small cloud of dust. Caius had been there, waiting to make that kill on the Eight Under.

Shay didn’t know who took the first shot, but one of the Lost Men bounced off his motorcycle, and just like that, Back Down Devil opened fire on Eight Under. Bullets zinged by as men screamed, desperate to get the scene under control.

“I f*cking told you!” Miller yelled as he crouched next to his motorcycle.

“You did that,” Jimmie said. “You set us up. You’ll burn for this, Miller. Your club will be mine.”