Viper's Kiss (Back Down Devil MC #8)(66)

Let’s find out…

Blaine landed ten blows before Nate came into the room.

“What did I tell you?” Blaine snapped.

“It’s not about this,” Nate said. “Just wanted to let you know that we got the car. The prospects took it to the warehouse. It’s full of guns. Deep trunk, brother. And cash under the seat. Half a million.”

“Good,” Blaine said.

“It’s all worked out, Blaine. Like we said. The MC took out all of Eight Under. Using their own guns. It’s a mess out there. But it’s not in Frelen.”

Blaine nodded. “Even better.”

“Just wanted you to know. We did it, brother. So take your time here. There’s no rush.”

Nate shut the door.

Blaine looked at Vin. His eyes were swollen, face bloody.

“See that?” he asked Vin. “You lose now. And my club…”

Blaine closed his mouth. He turned his back on Vin.

The cartel would come looking. They’d know about Eight Under getting wiped out. Vin missing. Maybe they’d blame Vin, right? Vin took the guns and money. But the cartel would search. They’d come to the MC over and over, waiting to find a crack and then rip it open. The MC would never be in bed with the cartel. But they would want to know what happened to their guns and their cash.

Blaine gritted his teeth.

Think bigger, brother. Think bigger.

Slicing up Vin would be good for Blaine. It would be good for Jessa, too.

Blaine pushed from the table and walked to the door. He opened it and saw Jessa standing a few feet away.

“What’s wrong, brother?” Nate asked.

Blaine stared at Jessa. “Go get Vin off the table. I have a plan.”

Blaine rushed to Jessa and scooped her up.

Jessa started to weep.

Blaine felt another tear fall from his eye.

It was over now. It had to be over now. The past was done. It was gone. It couldn’t return. The proof? Because in between Jessa and Blaine was the future. Their future. Their baby.

***

Blaine leaned against the trunk as two black SUV’s approached. They turned sideways and the backdoor of one opened. A man climbed out with two towering men behind him. They were equipped with machine guns and looked totally okay with killing anyone for any reason at all.

“Arms out,” the man yelled.

“Do it,” Miller said.

Miller, Gaige, Shay, and Blaine listened.

They were then patted down, their guns taken and put on the ground.

The man then stood there, looking at each one. “We’ve never conducted business before.”

“Never had a need,” Blaine said. “Until bodies started piling up in our town.”

“What the f*ck does that have to do with us?”

“You’re missing some guns and money, aren’t you?” Gaige asked.

The two men lifted their guns.

“Hey,” Miller said. “We’re trying to help here.”

“What’s your name?” Blaine asked.

“Pick one,” the man said.

“I’m going to call you Ed then.”

“Fair enough,” Ed said.

“You were selling weapons to a man named Vin. He was using those weapons to rebuild a rival crew. They were pushing hard into town and bringing heat on our club.”

“If you tell me you took our guns and cash,” Ed said, “I’m going to have my men shoot you. Then I’m going to cut out your eyes and keep them. Then you’re going to be buried in a shallow grave. Then I’ll piss on the grave.”

“You see the car I’m leaning on,” Blaine said. “I have something for you.”

“I don’t do games,” Ed said.

“Neither do we,” Miller said. “Our MC wants nothing to do with your cartel. We keep separate. We know you have deals and run-ins with other clubs around here, that’s fine. But this ends now.”

“How much is Vin worth to you?” Blaine asked.

Ed smirked. “You mean besides skipping on orders, payments, and f*cking with my family?”

“That’s exactly what I needed to hear,” Blaine said. He moved from the trunk and then opened it. “Here you go, Ed.”

Vin was in the trunk, alive. He was tied up. Blaine sacrificed his need to kill for the greater good of the MC.

“You did this?” Ed asked.

“We took out Eight Under,” Blaine said. “No more business there. But this guy has his hands everywhere. He owes you. He owes us. He owes a lot of people.”

“Consider this a peace offering,” Gaige said. “Before there’s any beef between us.”

“I’ll consider it,” Ed said. “Now where’s my f*cking guns and money?”

Right on cue, a car came forward. One of the prospect’s drove the car right up next to the motorcycles.

“There are your guns and cash,” Blaine said. “You can check all you want. You can count all you want. It’s all there.”

“Fuck me,” Ed said. “This is really a gesture.”

“No more wars,” Miller said. “Not near our town.”

Ed looked right at Blaine. “You’re the one running this. What’s Vin mean to you?”