Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(27)

Mia felt tears fill her eyes. The stinging of having her hair pulled and the rush of emotion, knowing Uncle Jake had to have killed Aunt Theresa, was just too much.

“Go,” Uncle Jake said.

He let Mia go. She stumbled down two steps and caught herself on the railing. She looked back and saw Uncle Jake reaching into his pocket. She feared he was going to produce a gun and kill her. Then again, would that be a bad thing?

Uncle Jake took out another wad of cash. He counted off five bills and stuck his hand out. “Take it. It’s two-fifty. That should let you get a bite, more gas, and find somewhere to take a shower. Clean up. Change. Don’t go to your place. You stay right here local so I can keep my eyes on you.”

Uncle Jake turned and walked down the hallway.

Mia took the money and felt like a whore. Tears filled her eyes again as she walked down the stairs. She came to just work an illegal gambling night. Pick up some extra cash, pay some bills, get caught up on the rent and stuff. That was it.

Now she was being followed and watched. Stuck between her step uncle and Back Down Devil MC. A pawn, constantly threatened by death.

Mia left the house and when she got to her car, she looked in the mirrors. She couldn’t see anyone around her, but she felt it.

That’s when a wave of anger crested and crashed into her. She looked at the money on the seat next to her. Bottom line now was that if she wasn’t here… what would it matter? Everyone else could just f*cking fight for themselves now.

“Fuck it,” Mia whispered.

She started the car and drove.

Away.

Away from Uncle Jake’s.

Away from Frelen.

She wanted to see who could catch her and kill her first.





twelve.



The car crossed out of Frelen. A sense of terrible freedom ran through Mia’s body. She checked her mirrors once, twice, and actually started to believe she could just go.

Go where?

It didn’t matter.

The cash Uncle Jake had given her was enough to get somewhere. Spend a couple nights in a cheap motel and then figure out the next part of the plan. Maybe she could just keep going east. Go until there was no more Back Down Devil MC.

Then again… didn’t Uncle Jake say something to Mia’s fake story? Of how the MC had met with another charter?

A charter?

What the hell did that mean, really? More guys?

Mia slammed on the brakes. Her car skidded to a halt right in the middle of the damn road. She left the keys in the ignition and opened the door. She got out and climbed on the hood.

She sat there, looking to the late afternoon sky.

Shaking her head, she wondered how long this was going to take.

The answer?

Two minutes.

That’s when she heard the rumbling of the engines. She didn’t even bother to look over her shoulder. They were coming and they were going to kill her. She wasn’t even going to bother to lie either. What good would that do? Straight up and honest, tell them what the hell she was doing out here.

The thundering sound got closer and Mia shut her eyes. She waited for the bullet. She hoped it wouldn’t hurt. It would just… happen.

When someone touched her, she jumped and yelled.

“Fucking hell, babe.”

Mia opened her eyes.

Nate.

A feeling kicked up inside her and she lunged from the hood of the car at him. Hugging him. Needing him to protect her. Just like he did before.

But Nate wasn’t having it. His hands grabbed at her sides, squeezing, tickling her into a paralyzed feeling so that she let him go. He then pinned her down to the hood of the car.

“What the f*ck are you doing?” Nate growled.

“It’s over,” another voice said.

“Wait,” Nate yelled.

Mia turned her head and saw Griffin approaching, gun drawn.

“We had one rule,” Griffin said. “Miller…”

“He’s not here,” Nate said. “Back the f*ck up for a second, bro.”

Mia stretched her neck and saw Blaine and Gaige on their motorcycles.

“Griffin!” Gaige yelled and then whistled. “That's enough. Let him talk to her.”

“Big mistake,” Griffin said. “Someone is going to pay for this shit.”

Griffin walked away. Nate backed up and gave Mia a chance to sit up.

“One rule,” he said. “You broke it. You tried running.”

“I didn’t try. I ran. I stopped. Here I am.”

“Why?”

“Just shoot me.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

“Then give me your gun… I’ll…”

Nate came forward and grabbed her mouth. The sudden move shocked Mia. His grip was tight, too tight.

“Never f*cking say that again,” Nate growled. “You understand me? Ever. Now you take a second and then tell me what you’re doing out here.”

Mia shuddered and fought back tears. “I’m stuck in the middle of this.”

“Of what?”

“Whatever you have with my uncle. I want nothing to do with it.”

“Too late,” Nate said. “He pulled you in. I’m trying to f*cking help you.”

Mia stood up and slammed a fist off Nate’s hard chest. He barely moved. “I hate it all. My entire life has been a f*cking joke. Okay? I think my uncle did something to Jacob. And he tried to make a move at me.”