Viper's Kiss (Back Down Devil MC #8)(35)

Focus, brother, focus.

Blaine pointed to the prospect behind the bar. “She gets whatever she wants. Drink. Food. I don’t care. If anyone looks at her, you tell them to f*ck off. Anyone comes within ten feet of her, you shoot them.”

“I don’t have a gun,” the prospect said.

Blaine reached behind him and took out a gun. “Now you do.”

“Blaine,” Jessa said.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. These guys get drunk and rowdy.”

“Like you?” she asked.

“Just like me. And if someone like me is going to approach you, they need to be shot. You’ve been through enough for now. Eat and drink. Relax. You’re not going anywhere tonight. You’re all mine.”

Blaine saw Jessa’s eyes light up. He hurried to back away from the bar. He couldn’t have this temptation bothering him.

Before pleasure or regret… there was business.

Blaine went into the room and it was yet again a full table. He took his seat and looked right at Gaige. Then he looked away.

“What’s wrong?” Trev asked. “No * jokes today?”

“Haven’t had any yet,” Blaine said.

“What?” Jace asked. “You… none… it might snow tonight.”

Everyone laughed.

“Fuck yourself, Jace,” Blaine said. “If I get desperate I know where your mother lives.”

“Yeah?” Jace asked. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Blaine said. “You look like a parrot right now with your head bobbing.”

“How about a bob over you?” Jace asked.

“How about I take my balls and bob them over your mother…”

“Jesus Christ,” Miller said. “Enough of the mother and balls talk. Can we get serious.”

“I am serious,” Blaine said.

“We have a f*cking problem.” Miller said. He then slowly sat down.

“A big one,” Gaige said. He looked right at Blaine.

“I, uh, had intel that Vin was dead,” Blaine said. “An old friend… or I thought he was a friend.”

“A cop?” Shay asked.

“Yeah.”

“You f*ck… you said you didn’t…”

“I haven’t seen Petey since the day I left. I didn’t even know if he had the same number. Obviously, Petey is in Vin’s hand.”

“That’s why that woman is here again, huh?” Nate asked.

“Got a problem with it?” Blaine asked.

“What does she know?” Nate asked.

“Nothing,” Blaine said. “She’s in danger. Vin went to see her as soon as he got out. I told her he was dead. When I saw him standing there, I had to go save her.”

“She means something to you, brother,” Gaige said.

“No. I’m just trying not to get someone innocent killed again.”

The table fell silent for a few seconds.

“Well,” Miller said, “we know that Vin is alive. We know that he’s financing Eight Under. They were able to rebuild, recruit, and get weapons. We know that he has ties from inside to out. And it’s obvious he has some of those justice badge holders under his control.”

“What are your feelings on this Petey guy, Blaine?” Gaige asked.

“I’m debating on whether to shoot him in the throat and let him bleed out… or just put a bullet right between his eyes.”

“Good answer,” Shay said.

“Hey,” Blaine said. “I have no connection. I have no compassion. Vin is a dangerous person. He works with one foot on each side. He’s not afraid to kill. He’s not afraid to lie. He’s not afraid to be shot at. He’s not afraid to do time either.”

“So how do we stop him?” Landon asked.

“If we keep this war with Eight Under…,” Gaige said.

“He’ll keep recruiting,” Blaine said. “He wants us to push at him. Because he’ll keep fighting. He’ll work at us, into us. Ethan is the thorn in our side.”

“Speaking of which,” Shay said. “How did our prospects fair in jail?”

“They’re fine,” Miller said. “They’re already out. Our diversion worked. But I’m sure we have eyes on us even more now.”

“Ethan has nothing on us,” Nate said. “He won’t find anything either.”

“He’ll just sniff our ass until we shit,” Blaine said.

“So then we shit right on him,” Gaige said.

“We have to keep our eyes open,” Miller said. “We have that run to make from Reno still. It has to be done. We have to supply and protect our other charters.”

“Jesus,” Blaine said. “Vin is going to be all over that.”

“Then we take a stand,” Gaige said. “What if we call up the other charters and show the true numbers and strength of the MC?”

“That’s risky,” Miller said. “That’s a lot of heat.”

“If it’s the only choice?” Blaine asked.

Miller nodded. “I have it in the back of my mind.” He rubbed his chin. “Where would Vin get his money?”