Viper's Kiss (Back Down Devil MC #8)(52)

“I saw what that law did to good people. Like you. Like my family.”

Petey went to a cabinet and opened it.

Blaine readied himself as Petey reached into the cabinet.

But Petey took out a bottle of whiskey. He reached again and took out two shot glasses.

“Old times,” Petey said. “Just one, okay?”

“Okay, Petey.”

Petey poured the shots. “Blaine, we had some crazy nights. Working those streets was like being in a different world. It left you disconnected from the real world. You know? A playground during the day was for the kids. I’d stand there and watch kids go down slides, struggle with the monkey bars, everything. Then at night, it was a different world. This one time… I saw a kid drop a toy car, right? He left it there. He forgot about it. Twelve hours later, someone was shot in the same spot. The bullet casing was an inch from the toy car. That’s our life.”

Petey handed Blaine the shot glass.

“It was our life,” Blaine said. “We saw good guys, bad guys, in between guys. A lot of those guys were us. Right? Good, bad, in between. Never knowing who the enemy was or why.”

“Cheers,” Petey said.

They each took their drink.

“Here, I’ll take that,” Petey said.

“I’ll keep it,” Blaine said.

Petey was setting up the scene.

Blaine wasn’t stupid.

Petey nodded. “Okay, Blaine. Your intel is better than mine. Good for you. Whatever you think you’re going to stop, you won’t. It’s too deep. It’s too far.”

Blaine stepped toward Petey. He grabbed the guy’s shoulder. “But I’d rather be dying for what I believe in, Petey, than die for what I’m told.”

With that, Petey shut his eyes.

Blaine stepped back, took out a gun, and pulled the trigger.

***

Blaine had nothing to say. He appreciated that Miller and Gaige didn’t feel the need to go in and check to make sure Petey was dead. As far as Blaine was concerned, all old ties were gone now. The facts were simple. Petey, his old partner, was dead. Vin, the man who murdered Meghan and Janey was out for blood still. As far as Meghan and Janey went? They were dead. The guilt would never go away, more for Janey because Blaine just wanted to do good by her. Yet he should have just let Meghan take Janey and go. How bad would it have been for Janey? Yeah, some shitty situations and a tough life, but hell, she’d have a f*cking life.

What about Jessa?

That was present and future.

She was going to be the mother of Blaine’s child. Nothing else mattered but that. Did he love her? Yeah, he loved her. Enough to commit to her? That was still for the taking. The last person Blaine tried to commit to ended up with a bullet in her head. He’d rather hurt Jessa by not loving her than find her dead because of his existence.

If the day couldn’t get anymore twisted, the second Blaine turned to pull into the lot, he saw Chief Ethan and two officers waiting.

Miller throttled and sped forward.

All the guys were outside waiting as Ethan leaned against the side of his SUV, arms crossed.

“Well, well, well,” Ethan said as Blaine climbed off his motorcycle. “How convenient for the rest of you to show up.”

“Why’s that?” Blaine asked.

“We’ve got dead bodies,” Ethan said. “One shot between the eyes. One shot in the chest. Mother. Daughter.”

The words punched Blaine in the gut.

Just like Meghan and Janey…

Vin.

Ethan stared at Blaine. “Sound familiar?”

“I was out on a ride,” Blaine said.

“Where?”

“None of your goddamn business,” Blaine said.

“The way I see it…,” Ethan rubbed his chin. “I have almost a dozen open murder cases on my desk. All from the same part in Frelen. Part of me wants to call in some backup. But then I look weak in my new position.”

“I don’t care,” Blaine said.

He started to walk and Ethan grabbed Blaine’s arm. Blaine spun, fist tightened up.

“That’s right,” Ethan said. “Hit me. I would love to take you in.”

Think bigger.

Blaine fought against his urge to attack.

“Interesting, right?” Ethan asked. “I mean, the other murders were just drug shit. Deals gone bad. Money. *. Booze. Whatever. I’m sure your crew has their hands covered in that blood. But these two… damn, Blaine. It seemed very familiar to me. I’ll say that again for you. One bullet through the head, of the mother. One bullet through the heart, of the daughter. And she was clutching her favorite stuffed…”

Blaine felt himself snap. He didn’t punch Ethan but he put Ethan against the SUV.

“You f*ck,” Blaine growled.

“You look ready to snap, Blaine,” Ethan said. “Two murders that look awfully familiar. And then I got a call about someone else you know.”

“Who?”

“Your old partner. He’s been murdered.”

“What?” Blaine asked.

“Don’t look so surprised, Blaine. That’s out of my jurisdiction. What are you trying to prove here? You going outlaw on your outlaw friends?”

Blaine threw a fist forward and hit the window of Ethan’s SUV. His fist hit with a thud.