Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(61)

The voices all quickly became nothing but echoes around him. When he got to the bodies there was a sick sense of relief for a moment. The bodies were the prospects. Meaning Mia was still alive.

Alive, but taken.

One of the prospects was missing most of his face and head. The other had a bullet wound to the shoulder and chest. At least that guy could get an open casket for any family that came to say goodbye.

“Holy f*ck,” Blaine said as he rushed next to Nate.

“Mia’s gone,” Nate said.

“Miller has Erik and Landon looking for anything else.”

“Nothing else to see,” Nate said. “He hit the gate, killed the prospects, and took her.”

“Who?” Blaine asked.

Nate looked at Blaine. “The judge. Her step uncle. He’s taking the war to a personal level now.”

“Fuck, bro. You have to keep your head straight, okay?”

Griffin and Gaige came next.

“Oh, f*ck,” Griffin said.

“Get tarps and cover them up,” Gaige said. “We’ll get prospects to clean this up.”

“I have to go find her,” Nate said. He took a step and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and shoved Blaine away. “Fuck off, man.”

“Wait a second,” Gaige said. “This is all a set up. We have to pace ourselves.”

“Fuck that,” Nate said. “I’m going to go kill him. Right now.”

“Nate…”

“Gaige, shut up,” Miller said. He pointed to Nate. “You and Blaine take off.”

Nate didn’t want anyone with him, but he just needed to go.

Not even taking two steps, Nate heard the sound of a police siren. He looked back and saw a police SUV darting at the gate, breaking it open even more. The vehicle lumbered forward, into the lot. The door opened and Chief Jerry came out, an automatic machine gun in his arms.

The back doors to the SUV opened and two men in black outfits came out, holding handguns.

Nate wasn’t sure the guys were police or part of something else.

“Everyone on their f*cking knees,” Chief Jerry bellowed. “Right now!”

Nobody moved at first. Chief Jerry let out a growling sound and then pointed his gun at one of the prospects. It was the one shot in the chest and shoulder. Chief Jerry shot, bullets tearing through the dead body. In a matter of a second, half the prospect’s face was missing.

So much for the open casket.

That’s when Miller yelled, “Listen!” and everyone got on their knees. They all put their hands up.

Chief Jerry stood back a little, gun moving back and forth. “Two dead bodies here. That should be enough to shut this place down. Take you all in.”

“We didn’t hurt our own,” Nate said. “You know who did that.”

“Did I talk to you?” Chief Jerry asked.

He then nodded to the man on his right. The man rushed forward and punched Nate in the jaw with a heavy left fist. Nate absorbed the punch with a groan, pain rippling through his face and neck.

“Don’t talk,” Chief Jerry said. “You’re saying Jake did this?”

“Yeah,” Miller said. “Kidnapped Mia, his niece. Looking to rattle our chains.”

“Goddamn him!” Chief Jerry yelled. “I told him not to do that. We had a f*cking plan.”

“How’s that working for you?” Miller asked.

Chief Jerry lunged at Miller, putting the automatic firearm between his eyes. “Fuck you.”

“This is what it comes to? All these years…”

“Fuck off, Miller. I got what you wanted. I got your life. And I’m cashing it all in now. I’m done. I’m done with it all, okay? I want to just go. Ride that sunset. Find fresh *. Never hear anyone complain again. No more shit.”

“Then go,” Miller said. “Just give it up and go, Jerry. Why do you need this?”

“So I can cash out in style,” Chief Jerry said. “I’ve got my cut of the shipments. Now I take down Back Down Devil and retire in style. Live off my pension and my millions stashed away. I’ll live until I die. And the rest of you will be f*cking long gone.”

“You want to kill us?” Gaige called out. “Then just f*cking do it.”

“You’re an accomplice to murder,” Nate said. The guy in front of him brought a fist back. “Come on, hit me again.”

“I didn’t murder anyone,” Chief Jerry said. “Yet.”

“That boy… the judge’s kid… you took part in it,” Nate said.

“That was your warning!” Chief Jerry yelled. “To stay the f*ck away. Let me handle my business.”

“Then handle it,” Miller said. “We’re on our knees. Our prospects are dead.”

“Yeah… yeah… and Jake f*cked me…”

Nate saw from the corner of his eye as Erik and Landon looked up from the ramp to the underground garages. There was a sliver of hope and opportunity.

“The war,” Miller said. He got up on one knee. “The war is almost over… FIRE!”

Miller’s voice boomed and carried.

A second later, Erik and Landon took their shots.

That’s when all hell broke loose in the lot.