Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(7)

“Jake,” Uncle Jake said. “You may speak.”

“I’m asking for permission to go to Andy’s house. His mother is making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch.”

“I love PB n’ J’s,” Mia said. “Bring me one back.”

“Excuse me,” Uncle Jake said. “Let me address my son.”

Mia stiffened. She kept her eyes on Jake, smiling, hoping he would feel relaxed at some point. Probably not until he left the house though. She felt bad for Jake, but then again, she felt bad for herself. The world could be a cruel and crazy mess.

All you could do was find a way to survive.

“Jake, you may go,” Uncle Jake said. “Don’t make me come find out. Punishment, son, understand?”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

Jake turned and left the house.

Mia looked at Uncle Jake. “He doesn’t call you Dad?”

“He’s not my friend,” Uncle Jake said. “Neither are you.”

Mia nodded. She reminded herself to keep calm. Focus on what Uncle Jake needed and make sure it was done right.

“Back to business,” Uncle Jake said.

“Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

“You’re broke.”

“I’m always broke.”

“You still work at the strip club?”

“Yes.”

“You strip?”

“Never.”

“You’d probably make a good paycheck doing it,” Uncle Jake said.

His eyes creepily moved down and up Mia’s body.

She stirred in her seat, feeling very uncomfortable.

“What do you need from me?” Mia asked.

Uncle Jake leaned back and took out a wad of cash. He unfolded it and spread it across the table.

“This should fill your gas tank. A few times, right?”

There had to be a thousand dollars there, if not more. Mia nodded. “Yeah.”

“Good,” Uncle Jake said. “Go fill your tank. You’re on the hunt, starting now.”

“The hunt? For what?”

Uncle Jake folded his hands. “I’m going to take down Back Down Devil. I have resources you wouldn’t believe. And your job is to follow them. Find out what they know about me and my friends. So I can make my next move.”

Mia looked at the cash, then looked at Uncle Jake.

Follow Back Down Devil MC?

This wasn’t a job… it was a death wish.





four.



Outside in the sun, they stood there trying to chase away the hangovers. Blaine laid on a table, one leg up, sunglasses on his face, rubbing his forehead. His other hand was off the table, limp.

Miller stood with his back to Nate.

Griffin leaned against a post. Gaige had his arms crossed. Jace had a bottle of beer in his hand, a little remedy to take care of a hangover.

“It goes deep,” Nate said. “It goes really deep, Miller.”

Miller turned his head, his lip curling. “And you didn’t find it f*cking convenient to bring it to the table sooner?”

“Look, I know how it goes around here,” Nate said. “We just got done taking care of bullshit. I didn’t want to just jump. Or have someone not believe me.”

“Trust,” Gaige said. “You think it’s a trust thing?”

“Everyone pushed back at Jace,” Nate said. “Not that I’m calling anyone out here.”

“Fuck,” Gaige growled.

“Fuck is right,” Miller said.

He walked forward, going to a railing. He gripped it tight and stared out at the junkyard that gave the MC a front to cover up their real purpose and activity.

“He’s pissed,” Jace said.

“Of course he is,” Griffin said. “We’ve been working with Chief Jerry for a long time. We built Frelen…”

“We protected Frelen,” Gaige said. “Chief Jerry is an image. We’re the muscle.”

“Muscle,” Blaine called out. He lifted his ass off the table and grabbed it. “I feel sore and tight. Like something…” He sat up and tore off his sunglasses. “Hey. Did I stick something up my ass last night?”

“What the f*ck are you talking about?” Gaige asked.

“My ass, man. My f*cking ass hurts.”

Griffin started to laugh.

Nate looked back at Blaine. “Sorry, brother, we’re not in charge of looking after your ass. Holy shit, man.”

Blaine nodded. “You’re right. It’ll go away.” He put his sunglasses back on. “My advice, Nate? Go talk to Miller right now. If this shit is happening, which you say it is and I believe you, then we need to act on it. I mean, this is huge. Chief Jerry, the shithead judge, and Coast Road? Not good.”

Nate started to move and Blaine whistled.

“What?” Nate asked.

“We have to move softly,” Blaine said. “Think about what could happen.”

“Shit,” Gaige said.

“Yeah,” Griffin said. “Blaine’s actually right. If we spook Chief Jerry he’ll come down on us hard. He can’t defeat us, but he can cripple us. Put us in jail for something, I’m sure. He doesn’t want that though.”