Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(55)

They backed away. Chief Jerry looked at Nate. “I can’t speak to what you think you saw. The MC had reported drugs before and I was just investigating.”

“They were moving drugs then,” Nate spat.

“And maybe we’re building a case,” Chief Jerry said. He looked to all three of them. “You ever think that? That we have our own thing going on?”

“Then you should tell us,” Miller said. “So we can act accordingly. Right now Coast Road MC is driving through Frelen like they own the town. Moving drugs. Lots of drugs. The kind of drugs that can make very easy money, very fast.”

“A ton of it,” Nate said. “Looking to leave, Chief?”

“Fuck every one of you,” Chief Jerry said. “You don’t understand what it’s like on my end. I’m pulling double duty. Keeping deals alive and keeping honor for the badge. I watch you pieces of shit ride all over Frelen without a care. Each time there’s a fight, I have to clean it up. Each time there’s a murder, I have to take care of it. You all should be rotting in a cell…”

“And you shouldn’t be the chief,” Miller growled. “You know that. We’re all in this together.”

“Not anymore,” Chief Jerry said.

Two little words that shook the ground.

“So that’s it,” Nate said. “You get in bed with that judge that f*cked with Jace. You get in bed with Coast Road MC. The dumbest group of people I’ve ever met.”

“So dumb that they’re raking in cash,” Chief Jerry said. “Doing what you refuse to do.”

“There will never be drugs in Frelen,” Gaige said.

Chief Jerry smirked. “Watch yourself. You never know when that clubhouse will end up in different hands.”

“You threatening us?” Miller asked.

“Maybe I am. What are you going to do? Kill me? Like you killed those Coast Road guys? Rocked that poker game, huh? Didn’t get what you wanted, huh, Miller?”

Nate gritted his teeth. Chief Jerry was really trying to get to him. He really wanted Miller to attack. Either that or he just wanted to f*ck with his head bad. Make it so that Miller would be off his game a little.

All part of a greater setup.

Nate began to think of Mia. His phone hadn’t gone off just yet. The prospects were following her. If they let anything happen to her, Nate was going to chain them from the ceiling and gut them.

“And you support illegal poker games in town?” Gaige asked. “After all we’ve done to keep things clean around here.”

“They don’t hurt anyone,” Chief Jerry said. “What you did really hurt.”

“Fuck you,” Miller said. He then turned and started to walk away.

Chief Jerry stiffened. He slowly unfolded the piece of paper. It was a picture of a person. “I came by to check on things. I’m warning you right now - any unusual MC activity and I’m busting this place up. My advice is to hang back and wait. Okay?”

“So you don’t give a damn about my memory, huh?” Nate asked. “My injuries. The attack.”

“I looked into it.”

“You were part of it.”

Chief Jerry turned the piece of paper around. “See this boy? He’s missing.”

Nate looked at the picture. Young looking kid. Round face. Dirty blonde hair. Blue eyes. Looking like any other kid in the world.

“What the hell do we care about that?” Gaige asked. “We have nothing to do with kids. Christ, Chief…”

“It’s the judge’s son,” Chief Jerry said.

It instantly made Nate’s blood run cold.

“That’s Jacob?” Nate asked.

“You know his name.”

“I remember what Jace told me…”

“That’s right,” Chief Jerry said. “Jace taught the kid how to try and murder other people.”

“Bullies.”

“People,” Chief Jerry said. “And now with his father trying to help him clean that up, the kid goes missing. Leaves a note. Saying he’s running away. The boy’s had a tough go. His mother left and Jake is trying his best to be a good father to Jacob.”

“I’m sure,” Nate said.

“You look like you know something,” Chief Jerry said. “Should I get a warrant and search the clubhouse?”

“You look like you know something,” Nate replied.

“The boy. He’s missing.”

“You said he ran away,” Nate said.

“Doesn’t matter. He’s not where he’s supposed to be. My eyes are on you.”

That’s when Nate’s phone beeped. He turned and hurried away, leaving Chief Jerry behind. Disrespectful move? Yeah. But oh well.

It was one of the prospects.

Mia was at the judge’s house. There was a police cruiser circling the street. They were waiting for her to do something. Nate wrote back to tell the prospect to stay on her and if something goes down to step in. To put his ass on the line for Mia.

Nate then started to run toward his ride.

“Nate!” Miller yelled.

“I wasn’t done!” Chief Jerry said.

Nate got on his motorcycle and walked it toward the chief. He stared at him. “What?”