Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(24)

Nate ripped open the driver’s door and pulled the hunk of muscle driver and threw him to the ground. The Coast Road MC member fought his way up and pushed back at Nate. Always being a fighter, Nate threw the first punch. He hit the guy in the jaw and sent him back against the van. The guy pushed off the van and attacked Nate. He wrapped his arms around Nate and squeezed. Lifting Nate, he turned and threw Nate. Nate hit the van and pain shot through his shoulder. The Coast Road guy came at him and Nate made a fist and swung with a wicked backhand. It hurt Nate’s hand, but the Coast Road guy collapsed to the ground.

A second later Griffin came rushing around the van, gun drawn. The Coast Road guy was on his elbows, face bleeding.

“Don’t f*cking move!” Griffin growled.

Nate stretched his shoulder and walked to the back of the van. He opened it. The back was full of white containers. And just like what Jace had previously said, and what Nate f*cking knew was going to be there, he opened one of the containers which had seafood on top and drugs underneath. That’s how Coast Road was moving things.

“Fuck,” Nate said.

Nate backed up and checked the other side of the van. The other Coast Road MC member was on the ground, holding his shoulder, crying. Actually crying. Blaine stood with his foot between the guy’s legs, crushing his balls.

“What the f*ck do we do now?” Blaine called out.

Nate looked back and saw two police cars flying up on them. One cruiser had lights and sirens, the other was just an unmarked black car. An officer came out of one car and had his gun drawn, unsure who to point the weapon at.

The other vehicle came up next to the van and stopped.

It was Chief Jerry.

Nate instantly thought about the cellphone. The driver had been on the phone and then threw it out of the window. That was the call to Chief Jerry. To let him know what was happening.

“What’s wrong?” Chief Jerry asked.

“Come back here,” Nate said. “Now.”

Chief Jerry walked slowly to the back of the van. He looked, saw the drugs, and nodded. Then he looked at Nate. “How’d you know?”

“Know what?”

“This…”

“We’ve told you before about it.”

“The last time it was empty.”

“Now it’s not,” Nate said. “And one of the guys is shot.”

Chief Jerry gritted his teeth. He turned and pointed to the officer. “Malone. Put your f*cking gun away. Go take the shot one to the hospital. Ask for Peters. They’ll know. I want him patched up and quiet until I get my hands on him.”

“What are you doing?” Nate asked.

“Hey,” Chief Jerry said. “This is my investigation now. Got it?”

“Investigation… Coast Road MC is moving drugs. Like we’ve been saying.”

“I see that,” Chief Jerry said. “I have sight now. I f*cking see it. I know it’s there. You all need to get out of here.”

“Why?” Blaine asked as he approached.

The officer was helping the shot guy to the police cruiser.

Nate watched the scene with cautious eyes. Nothing seemed right. Nothing felt right.

“You want to be dragged into this?” Chief Jerry asked. “As far as I can see… you’re all carrying illegal weapons. Those weapons were used on the van. Two blown out tires. One guy shot. Another one attacked.”

Nate looked at the other Coast Road MC guy. He was just sitting there on the ground. Too quiet. Looking f*cking guilty as hell.

“Do you want to be here for this?” Chief Jerry asked. “That’s what you want? Stay.”

“How are you going to cover all this up?” Griffin asked.

“That’s my f*cking job,” Chief Jerry said. “You guys did good. Did great.”

Chief Jerry walked to the guy on the ground. He shook his head and reached for his cuffs. He made a head nod and the Coast Road MC guy stood up. Hands behind his back. Accepting to be arrested.

There was no way this was normal.

Chief Jerry cuffed the guy and walked him to the undercover car. He put the guy in the backseat.

“There,” Chief Jerry said. “Two pieces of shit taken off the street. I’ll have the other guy patched up and brought down to the station. Then I’ll pit these two against each other and see what happens.”

“What about the van?” Nate asked.

“I’ll take care of it. We’ll try and see if we can find out where the drugs came from. You know? Hand it off and see what kicks down. You guys said it’s coming in via the water, right? If that’s so, that’s way beyond Frelen. That’s serious heat. That brings a lot of attention and eyes.”

“So you don’t want to report the drugs,” Griffin said. “Jesus Christ.”

“This is why I deal with Miller,” Chief Jerry said. “You can’t see the bigger picture.”

Nate stepped toward the chief. “And just what is the bigger picture?”

Chief Jerry stared him down. “How’s your headaches? You remember anything that could be of use?”

“I don’t need anymore serious heat,” Nate said. “But when I see Coast Road MC cruising through Frelen like they own the town, something’s going to happen.”

“Brother, stand down,” Blaine said. He inched his way between Chief Jerry and Nate. “Everyone take a breath.”