Twisted Pieces (Back Down Devil MC #5)(38)

Jace turned and grabbed his gun. “Let’s just make sure all of this is clear.”

Mutty started to take a step, but Jace was done with talking. He pointed his gun at the man who shot Blaine. The man put his hands up and Jace smirked. He aimed the gun at the man’s knee and shot once.

Now it was definitely time to go.

Back on the road, Jace didn’t think about the mess of a world around him. He could only think about Jordyn.

He hoped she was okay.





sixteen.



Jordyn showered twice and changed. She sat on the edge of her bed and put her face in her hands. She was an emotional mess. A call from a nurse informed Jordyn that her grandmother wasn’t doing well. Her prognosis was limited to weeks, maybe even days, instead of years. Jordyn was so upset over it. And yet, in an ironic twist, she was falling for a man who had the same fate as her grandmother, or so it seemed.

Jace wasn’t promised years. Hell, he wasn't even promised days. He made that very clear. There was a good chance he’d end up dead or back in prison.

It was life. It was Jordyn's life right now. Jace was lodged in her mind and heart, even after everything Mr. Strokner had showed her. It was completely out of character for her to learn something so horrific and then try to justify it so that she didn't have to give Jace up. Who in their right mind learns that someone they are sleeping with is a long time murderer, but then continues to want to sleep with them? What was wrong with her?

Her body longed for Jace. Outside her apartment building, she heard the echo of a motorcycle. It grew louder and Jordyn’s heart beat faster. It meant that maybe Jace had survived today. Jordyn went to the window and the motorcycle was pulling into the lot. He parked and climbed off, and Jordyn anxiously waited for him to take his helmet and sunglasses off. When he did, her body reacted in all the right ways.

She had the front door open before Jace was even in the building. As soon as he saw her, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close. First, a hug. Second, a kiss. A deep and delicious kiss, one that left Jordyn desperate for air and for more of Jace’s mouth.

He was f*cking amazing.

Jace put his hands to Jordyn’s face and pulled back from her.

“How was your day?” he asked.

There was sadness in his blue eyes. Jordyn knew how much it bothered Jace that she was with Mr. Strokner. But she couldn’t walk away now. She was too close to getting down to the truth.

Of everything.

“He’s insane, Jace,” Jordyn whispered. She closed her eyes. “Absolutely insane. He had a meeting with some big wig guys that want him to take land from the club. They’re adamant and Mr. Strokner is enjoying messing with them. But at the end of the meeting… he told me something...”

“Like what?”

She stared into his eyes. “He told me there’s bodies buried all over the land. And that you guys put them all there."

“Christ,” Jace whispered. “I’m sorry. Did he… touch you?”

“Of course he did.”

“I f*cking hate it,” Jace said. “We’re ending this. No more.”

“I have to,” Jordyn said. “I have to know more.”

“Why?”

“Am I… am I with a murderer? Am I going to end up losing everyone in my life?”

Jace swallowed hard and gritted his teeth to keep from yelling. “I warned you what will happen if you ride with me. Now I can’t let you go. I have to protect you until this is over.”

“Then I need you to do something for me,” Jordyn said.

An idea had been in her mind for a while now. After what happened today and the phone call about her grandmother, Jordyn needed to take action. Even if Jace was going to hurt her or end up dead, she couldn’t get enough of him.

Jordyn closed her eyes and buried her face into Jace’s hard chest. He didn’t smell like soap or cologne. He smelled of sweat, steel, exhaust, and danger. But it was the hottest smell Jordyn could ever imagine. The attraction she had to Jace was exactly what she had wished for her life. Now all she needed was her dream job and forever with Jace.

Unfortunately, there was no blanket of time with Jace. It was one breath at a time, never knowing whether the next breath would come.

“I don’t want to be here,” Jordyn said.

“I didn’t come here to f*cking hang around, babe,” Jace said with a grin.

They kissed again, Jordyn getting carried away with her passion as she worried that it could end up being their last one.

Once he assured her that all was okay, they left on his motorcycle and she let the breeze take the day away. They arrived at the clubhouse and it was probably the quietest Jordyn had ever seen it. Just a handful of guys hung around. Jace had her by the hand and walked around the corner to go down the hall when Miller appeared. He pointed at Jace.

“I have to talk to Miller,” Jace said to Jordyn.

“About today?”

“Business.”

“Are you going to tell him about Mr. Strokner?”

“Fuck, I hate when you say his name like that. He doesn’t deserve respect from anyone.”

“Sorry.”

Jace turned Jordyn to face him. “Hey, listen to me. I have to talk to Miller. The more I tell him the easier this all gets. Soon enough, it’ll be over. I’m telling you, babe. I’ve seen it my entire life in this club. The storms come and never stop. They get worse by the day - sometimes by the second - but we’re strong enough to get through them all. And I believe you’re strong enough too, Jordyn.” Jace kissed her forehead and then added, “Go down to the room. Wait for me. Hell, get naked and either be under the covers or in the shower.”