Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(62)

Nate lunged forward and took out the guy’s legs. He pulled him to the ground and unleashed a few hard punches to his face.

Handguns were exploding. The automatic gun went off again and again. Miller and Chief Jerry’s voices carried all around.

All Nate could do was think about Mia.

He had to get to her and save her.

Nate got to his motorcycle and started it. He took out his gun and just started shooting, throttling the ride, racing forward. He managed to get a path out of the broken gate and onto the road. Behind him, it was a war zone. He hated himself for leaving, but it had to be done.

To his shock he saw a second motorcycle come out of the compound lot. It was Blaine.

Both motorcycles screamed thunder and tore up the pavement as they raced.

There was only one place Nate could possibly think of going. If Judge Jake wanted Nate to come after Mia, there was one place they had in common.

The van.

The same place where the van had been.

Nate moved in and out of the busy residential traffic. Cares beeped at him, people jumped out of the way on the sidewalks when he got too close, and the existence of stop signs and red lights were only in the minds of those who followed the laws. That didn’t include Nate.

He knew each time he barreled through an intersection he was putting lives at risk. But his heart swelled with fear and love. Nothing was going to stop him from getting to Mia. Except death. But if it was his time to take a bullet and say goodbye, at least he could do it with the intentions of saving the woman he loved. Dying with honor and love.

The ride felt like it was going to take hours. Once they were within distance of the old warehouses, Nate had to slow down. He had to take into account the sound of his motorcycle. He and Blaine couldn’t just sneak up on things with two motorcycles roaring. Plus, logic and experience told Nate that Judge Jake wasn’t going to be alone. He’d have protection. He expected Nate to run right into the trap. And then Coast Road MC would light him up.

That’s probably what he and Chief Jerry had been planning. Divide and conquer. Split the MC up and confuse them so that when they attacked, it would go flawless. The difference was that Jake had something out for Mia. His urges…

Fuck.

Images flashed in Nate’s mind. Images he never wanted to think about again as he stopped his motorcycle.

“Up there,” he said to Blaine. “On the side of that narrow building. That’s where the van was. I bet he has her there. Waiting for us to bust in. There’s going to be Coast Road protection. We need to take them out. Then the judge.”

“We got this,” Blaine said. “Let’s go save your girl.”

“Yeah, my girl…” Blaine started to move and Nate grabbed his arm. “Hey. Listen to me. He’s got to stay alive.”

“What?”

“The judge. He has to be alive. Okay?”

“Why, bro, why?” Blaine asked.

“Personal, Blaine. Okay? Just do this for me. Take out the Coast Road guys. And then get the judge but don’t kill him. Let me handle it. I have something I need to do. For the club, for me, for Mia.”

“Okay. Let’s f*cking move. We need to get back to the clubhouse, Nate. It’s going to be…”

Nate put a hand out and Blaine took it. “Brothers. That’s what we are. The patch, the life, the freedom. They can take our lives, but they can never take our cuts.”

“Fucking right,” Blaine said. “We ain’t going anywhere, man. The * I had last night was not my last go around. Fuck, it can’t be. The woman pissed on me when she came. She was on top of me… I thought she was just squirting… but it was piss…”

“That’s wrong,” Nate said. “You’re wrong… goddamn, Blaine…”

Blaine grinned and then started to run.

Nate hesitated for a few seconds, realizing everything was on his back.

To keep himself alive. To save the MC. To save Mia.

“Fuck,” Nate whispered.

Love made people do some crazy shit, didn’t it?





twenty-six.



Mia’s wrists hurt, again. This time it was from the scratchy, tearing feeling from the rope Uncle Jake had put on her wrists. She was against the back of the van. Her heart raced and tears were still streaming down her face. Right behind her in the van was the body of Jacob. And somewhere out there in Frelen was Nate and Back Down Devil MC. Mia had no idea if they’d ever find her. If Miller would allow Nate to try and find her.

Uncle Jake ended a call on his cell, talking so calm and normal, rescheduling some appointments, saying he needed a couple days off for personal reasons.

Twenty feet away from him stood three men with guns. They had no shirts on but leather cuts were on their wide bodies.

Coast Road MC

Uncle Jake walked to Mia, smiling. He touched her cheek for the tenth time since they got there. And, yes, Mia had been counting. Because she knew that eventually touching her cheek wouldn’t be good enough. That he’d want more from her and he would f*cking take it.

“Oh, be still,” Uncle Jake whispered. “I took a few days off for us. So I can take you home and take care of you. I’ll start with you in my bed. That big bed I used to share with that cunt of woman you called an aunt. Maybe we’ll even play a little in Jacob’s room, just for fun.”