Steel Temptation (Back Down Devil MC #6)(9)

Nate felt his chest tighten. Chief Jerry stared at him, judging him. Trying to break Nate down. Christ, any kind of slip up would now put the entire MC in danger.

This was just what the f*cking club needed.

As Chief Jerry approached, he moved Miller’s hand out of the way. He reached up and put a hand to Nate’s shoulder.

“Nothing?” he asked.

“I gave you a f*cking answer. I was standing there one second and then I wasn’t.”

“If I hadn’t responded so quick, it could have been worse. You could have bled out.”

Nate gritted his teeth. “Yeah. Could have been worse.”

“Just making sure that if those memories come back you don’t mix things up. I was there to help you, Nate. Help the MC. Shit, losing a member…” Chief Jerry looked at Miller. “It’s been a while. Hard to imagine it, right?”

“We’re all good,” Miller said. “Tough as nails.”

“Not stronger than bullets,” Chief Jerry said.

“Are you threatening my President?” Blaine asked, standing next to Nate, arms crossed.

“No need to threaten,” Chief Jerry said. “Just need you all to stay put. You all have eyes on you as it is. I’m sure the attack on Nate was retaliation for some shit. But I’m doing the town a service by closing the beaches for now. I have to send my own messages. Can’t have this overrun. No wars in Frelen.”

“Yeah, we’ve got that,” Nate said. “Thanks for your concern.”

“Hey, I’m just checking. You were pretty banged up on the beach, Nate. Pointing to the water and mumbling some strange shit.”

“I don’t remember,” Nate said. “I have a headache.”

“Hungover?”

“You checked on things,” Miller said. “Go home to your family. Enjoy them.”

Chief Jerry backed up to his cruiser. He looked around. “Wish there was more I could do.”

The chief got into his car and backed out of the compound.

Nate stood, nostrils flaring, eyes wide.

“Tell the truth,” Nate growled.

“What?” Gaige asked.

“Chief said he wished there was more he could do. He could tell the f*cking truth. Be a f*cking man.”

“Nate, take a ride,” Miller said.

“What?”

“I said, take a ride. Get the f*ck out of here for a minute. You need to step away. Blaine, go with him.”

“Are you kicking me out of here?” Nate asked.

Miller turned and put his hands to Nate’s shoulders. “Brother, I’m not kicking you out. I’m telling you to take a ride. I know how hard this is for you. I know how hard it is for all of you.” Miller’s eyes looked to everyone else for a second. “We have to be right on this all around. There’s no room for f*cking up. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe you, Nate. That means we need to get this in order. Because… how do we fight it?”

Such a simple question posed by the Back Down Devil President, but it was hard to swallow down and take. The truth hurt sometimes, Nate knew that firsthand.

How do we fight it?

That was it.

How do you fight the authoritative ally that’s been with the MC for years? How do you take down a powerful judge who had already f*cked with the club once before? How do you go after Coast Road MC without kicking the hornet’s nest?

“Shit,” Nate growled.

“You need the open road for a minute. Clear your mind. Then come back, grab a drink, and we’ll start working on this.”

“How do you plan on working on this?” Nate asked.

“Bro, don’t,” Gaige said.

“Nate,” Miller said. “Look at my patch. I’m being patient. I’d like to put your f*cking head through the wall right now for not telling me this sooner. Okay? That’s a form of treason to me. You put the entire MC in danger. We’re trying to catch our breath, enjoy a little entertainment…”

“Me getting something shoved up my ass,” Blaine said.

Miller lifted a fist and smacked Blaine in the nose.

“We could have been attacked and hurt,” Miller said. “So you need the road for freedom for a minute and I need freedom from you. Because I should take your cut, Nate. Do you understand that?”

Nate hated this shit. He hated being called out in front of everyone. In a different life he wouldn’t have taken it. That different life left him physically scarred and everything and everyone non-existent in his life.

In other words, Nate had to back down from Miller.

He nodded and turned to look at Blaine. Blaine held the bridge of his nose and gave it twist. There was a pop sound and Blaine groaned, putting his nose back in place. He used his t-shirt to wipe up some blood and then let out a breath.

“Let’s ride, motherf*cker,” he said to Nate.

“Is your ass going to be able to handle it?” Nate asked.

“My ass can handle anything,” Blaine announced.

“Jesus Christ,” Miller said. “I need a drink.”

When Nate got on his ride and fired up the roaring engine, it made him instantly start to feel better.

Goddamn Miller was always right.

He took off, Blaine trailing a little behind.