by London Casey
“They also attacked my girl,” Erik said. “Made her face look like mine.”
“That’s harsh,” Trev said. “That’s what respect and structure gets you though.”
Erik started to stand, but Miller called him off. “We’re not here to discuss politics and how the laws of a MC work. We’re here to work together. Because if this MC goes down, it will be trouble for everyone. Including you guys.” Miller paused and looked around. “We’re not dealing with bikers right now. We’re dealing with men in expensive suits who have the mind of outlaws. That’s scary shit to me. And it should be to you. But we will end this. The way it needs to be done.”
“I was the target,” Shay said. “But I got out of the car and Erik stuck his head in to check it out. Then the bomb went off. There was another attack that killed a mechanic who was helping us. Then, at a fight, Erik’s woman was attacked. They’re coming after the MC and hard. Now they have teamed with one of our local rivals. These guys aren’t going to stop until they get what they want.” Shay cleared his throat, trying to keep himself straight. It wasn’t a group of guys. It was one guy. His brother. Caius. “This fight will be violent and deadly. Be prepared.”
“It’s a true war,” Gaige said. “We have a friend of the club who is a wealthy businessman. He can give us some insight on things, but we have to show our presence and prove we have no fear.”
“But that means all our lives are on the line,” Miller said. “So I’m going to make this clear just once. Anyone who wants out, go now. You came down here. I thank you for that. But if you don’t want this, then leave. It’s going to be bad.”
Miller folded his arms. He looked around the room. Not a single person moved. Shay’s heart pounded in his chest. These Lost Men were definitely out of their minds. They had no reason to stay and help them fight. But they were going to, and whether they wanted to admit it or not, that was the respect each of their own clubs had instilled in them.
“Then it’s settled,” Miller said. “We move forward. The second you go out in those streets, you are marked men. You are allies to Back Down Devil which makes you targets to our enemies.”
“The world is our enemy,” Trev said with a grin. “I’d rather walk the streets with a target on my forehead than ride into the sunset with my balls tucked between my legs.”
The Lost Men started to cheer. Their fists pounded against the walls. It sounded like wild thunder. Shay looked around the table at his closet brothers. Everyone had a little concern on their face, but that was okay. This was a time to be concerned. This was a time to be afraid. But it was time to fight. To prove what the MC was made of.
“I appreciate that, Trev,” Miller said. “At one point or another, all of you had to take orders. I’m not giving orders, but you have to respect what I say. The last thing I want on my watch, on my hands, or in my clubhouse, is the death of those not patched in.”
“We handle death our own way,” Trev said. “It’s the end of life. Nothing else. And you’re right, Miller, at some point we were all with a club. We had rules. But… we’re here. Enough bullshit talk. Talk business.”
“Here, here!” Shay yelled as he slammed a fist to the table.
Miller nodded and smiled. “Fair enough then. We have two things that need to happen right now. A good, honest man is coming through Frelen and he needs protection on his trip south. You’ve all heard of Jakey, right?”
Everyone nodded. Anyone with a leather cut knew Jakey. Hell, all law enforcement from the Oregon coast down to Tijuana knew Jakey.
“That’s who we need to help,” Miller said. “He cannot get wrapped up in any of this bullshit. This has to be done quietly and done right. I want a mix of Back Down Devil and Lost Men involved in this. Okay?”
Everyone nodded.
“Our second line of business is to confront the asshole club that is tying themselves to the guy or group that wants us dead. The Eight Under crew are scum. They do what they feel they need to do to survive, like the rest of us, but they do not have the town’s best interest at heart like we do. Eight Under wants to run through and destroy it. That will never be allowed under my watch. They have no idea what they’re doing. So I want them to understand who they are getting involved with.”
“What’s the call then?” Nate asked. “How are we splitting this?”
“I need to be there for Jakey,” Miller said. “So I’m going to trust Gaige, Nate, Blaine, Erik, Landon, and Shay to go find Eight Under. See what you can dig up. Don’t start a fight. Don’t pour gasoline on the fire. There’s a right and wrong way to do this.”
Shay cracked his knuckles. “If they look at me the wrong way…”
“I’ll fucking kill them,” Blaine said. “I don’t care.”
“You will care!” Miller bellowed, slamming a hand down on the table. He pointed to the fingers on the table. “You will… care…”
Miller then gave the pairings from the Lost Men. Trev was going to ride with Miller to get Jakey. Protecting Jakey meant keeping him comfortable, safe, and getting him where he needed to go.
Shay knew what their role was going to be about. They were to keep tabs on Eight Under while Miller and Trev moved Jakey. It was just about protection for right now. The calm before the storm. The silence before the war.
The second Shay left the meeting room, he went to the bar and got a beer. He drank it leaning against the bar, his head spinning. So much going on and the last thing he needed was to worry about a woman in his bed. But then Shay watched Nile walk out of the room and Shay knew that if he pushed Ava away. She’d end up hurt and dead.
Nile was riding with Miller and Trev. Which meant Shay wouldn’t have to deal with Nile. Which was good. Because part of Shay wanted to take Nile somewhere secluded and put a fucking bullet in his head.
As Nile walked away to leave the clubhouse, Shay focused back on his beer. Gaige and Erik stepped up to the bar. Erik threw a punch at Shay’s shoulder and nodded.
“All good?”
“We’re good, brother. Always.”
Erik put his hand out and Shay took it.
“Good,” Gaige said. “Finding Eight Under is going to be easy. Resisting the urge to fucking light them up is going to be hard.”
“We’ll manage,” Shay said. “Just make our presence known. When we ride up with the Lost Men behind us, it’ll make them shit their pants. They’ll run crying to… whoever is doing this.”
They’ll run to Caius. They’ll tell him what’s going on. He’ll get even more pissed. Things will get even worse. And it’s my fault.
“You okay?” Erik asked. “You look lost.”
For a split second Shay considered telling Gaige and Erik the truth. That their newest and greatest enemy was his brother.
“Hey, love,” a voice purred.
Erik turned and Shay saw that Kaity was standing behind them.
“Hey,” Erik said with a smile.
“Sorry to bother you…”
“Never,” Erik said.
He put an arm around Kaity and pulled her close. The scars on Kaity’s face angered Shay. He felt so guilty. Kaity had fought a woman twice her size and managed to win, only to have Caius cut her so she would scar like Erik. Too many people were getting hurt because of this secret, but he had no idea how to tell the club without getting himself killed.
“We’re getting ready to ride,” Erik said. “Just trying to pull the stick out of Shay’s ass.”
“Because of Ava leaving?” Kaity asked.
Shay spun around. “What did you just say?”
“What…?”
“Where the hell is Ava?” Shay asked.
“I’m sorry,” Kaity said. “Oh, shit. She was in the hall. Avery and I were talking to her. She said she was going for a walk or something. We tried to stop her…”
“You didn’t fucking try hard enough I guess,” Shay spat.
Erik grabbed Shay by the shirt. “Talk to her like that again … I dare you.”
“H
old up,” Gaige said, pulling Erik’s hand away from Shay. “Ava just walked out?”
“Yeah,” Kaity said. “She was acting weird. I don’t know. I never met her before.”
“Fucking hell,” Shay said. He took a step and then stopped. He touched Kaity’s arm. “I’m sorry for yelling, Kaity. I owe you more respect, considering what you did for us. It’s just… she’s not safe out there. There’s more to her than meets the eye.”
Kaity nodded. “I kind of picked up on that. I should have run after her.”
“Like hell,” Erik said. “Nobody leaves this clubhouse.”
“Okay,” Kaity said.
Shay looked at Gaige, then to Erik. “I have to find her.”
“Christ, man,” Gaige said. “If she’s gone…”
“She’s not far. I know it. She wouldn’t just leave. I have to fucking find her.”
“Oh man, you really like her,” Erik said.
Blaine stepped up to the group. “Hey, Kaity. My baby love.” Blaine puckered his lips.
Kaity shook her head. “Nasty.”
“Yeah, I am,” Blaine said. “Hey, who do we like?”
“Shay and Ava,” Gaige said.
“Oh, that sweet thing,” Blaine said. “You see her eyes? She’s not a biker chick. She’s like… like an innocent outsider. Lost. She needs a guiding hand. A man. A big cock…”
“I’m leaving,” Kaity said. “I need to throw up.”
“Fuck, Blaine,” Erik said.
“I have to find her,” Shay said again. “Here’s what we do. Erik, Gaige, you guys get everyone ready. Stay local if you can. Blaine, will you come with me?”
“Yeah, bro,” Blaine said. “I’m always ready. Riding. Fucking. Drinking. Fighting. It’s what I do.” Blaine put his fingers up. “Wait, did I get that list right?”
“Stay right here,” Shay said.
He ran down the hall to his bedroom. He opened the door and saw Ava’s bag on the floor. He grabbed it and looked inside. It didn’t appear as though anything was taken from it.
Why would she leave without taking her shit?
Shay dropped the bag and charged from the room. When he spotted Blaine, he had a reliever pinned against the wall. He was thrusting at her, making her giggle.
“I swear on it,” he said with a grin. “It’ll wrap around your wrist. Like a snake.”
“Can it choke me?” the reliever asked.
Blaine laughed. “Yeah, it can choke you. And fill your belly up. One stop shop…”
“Let’s move,” Shay yelled. “Right now.”
Blaine kissed the reliever and said, “I’ll be back later. You better be hungry.”
Shay and Blaine ran from the clubhouse. The parking lot was filled with bikers all gearing up for their rides. Shay and Blaine were the first to start their motorcycles and take off. Shay knew there would lots of eyes on him as they sped out of the compound. But this was his business. He needed to find Ava. Before Nile did something to her. Before his goddamn brother did something to her.
As they rode down the main strip in town, Shay kept his eyes moving left to right. She couldn’t have gotten far unless she hailed a cab. If she did, she could be anywhere. If she really wanted to be gone, she would be gone. But she left her bag in the room. That meant something.
At a red light, Shay looked at Blaine.
“Hey,” Blaine yelled. “Got any ideas?”
“None,” Shay said. “Where would she walk?”
“What does she want?” Blaine yelled. “What’s her… thing?”
Shay shook his head. He had no idea. The only real information he knew about her was the way her body hadn’t been touched in a long time. And he knew she was running from something, but he knew nothing about it. The only reason he would run would be for freedom. Freedom from guilt and bad choices.
The light turned green and Shay made a quick left. Blaine hurried to follow, darting between two cars, narrowly missing getting clipped and dropping his motorcycle. Shay knew where to go. He sped up. He was going to go where the road ended. The ocean was the end of the world in some sense, and perhaps the beginning of a new journey.
When Shay stopped his ride, he climbed off and grabbed Blaine by the shoulder. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back. I want to see if she’s on the beach.”
“I won’t move, brother,” Blaine said. “Unless I see something worth chasing.”
Blaine smiled and Shay ran to the beach. The paved road quickly turned to sand. He climbed over a small dune and looked down the beach. Families played happily, completely unaware that danger lurked around the corner almost daily and that he was the one who kept them safe. It didn’t bother him though, he didn’t do it for recognition.
When Shay looked to his right, he saw her. He saw Ava. Sitting there on the sand, her shoes next to her, her feet buried. She stared out to the water. Her hair danced in the breeze and she looked incredibly gorgeous. Shay took two steps and then hesitated. Maybe Ava didn’t want this. Maybe she preferred running, hiding. Hell, maybe she wanted to die.
But Shay didn’t care what she wanted. He had told her to stay put so that he could protect her, and that’s what he was going to do. He was not going to let her get hurt or killed on his watch. He would keep her safe until it all blew over and then she could leave and go anywhere she wanted.
When he got to Ava, he was pissed off. Care for her twisted with anger. He looked down at her and when she looked up at him, her eyes went wide.
“What are you looking for?” Shay asked. “What is this?”
“Nothing,” Ava said. “I went for a walk. How did you know…”
“I can see through it all,” Shay said. “You’re not meant to be here. You were not Stein’s old lady. Fuck, you don’t even know what a MC is. Or what it’s about. The violence in your memory is fresh from the Lost Men. And I bet that bag of yours has secrets that could be found in a second.”
Ava’s chin started to quiver. Shay didn’t want to scare Ava, but he needed to cut through her fake wall before something bad happened to her.
“You want to just up and run? Then just up and run. But don’t leave your shit behind and want me to track you down. Because you know what? I did track you down. And I’d do it again. But every second we’re wasting right now is a second I’m not out there finding the man who tried to kill me. The man who almost killed one of my brothers. The man who hurt Kaity.” Shay took his sunglasses off and made damn sure Ava was staring him in the eyes. “And that man… would think nothing of killing you, Ava, for the simple fact that you’re talking to me. This isn’t a game. This is dangerous.”
“I know,” Ava said. “I know dangerous very well. I’ve been trying to get away from the danger. And I’m trying to keep it away from you.”
“You can’t keep danger away from me, love,” Shay said. He put his sunglasses back on and offered his hand to Ava. He pulled her to her feet and looked at her. “What did you want to find out here?”
“Nothing,” Ava said. “Just wanted to look and wonder what’s out there.”
“Fucking water,” Shay said. “And some land… but you’d never get there. You want to live in a fantasy? Go swim in the ocean and become a shark’s dinner.”
Ava smiled. “I’m sorry, okay? Nile cornered me. He’s going to hurt me. And when Trev finds out…” Ava turned her head. “Just, it’s not good. You are right. I’m not who anyone thinks.”
Shay put a finger to Ava’s chin and turned her head so they were looking at each other again. “Is your name really Ava?”
“Yes.”
“Swear on it?”
“I swear. I wouldn’t hide my name. It’s all I have I guess.”
“No. You still have those eyes. They cut through me, love.”
Ava smiled again. “Thanks.”
He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to throw her right down on the sand and take her. Tear all those clothes off her and see those hips and perfect little breasts again. He wanted to nibble on
her nipples until she screamed and clawed his back.
Fuck.
“You have to ride with me,” Shay said. “We’re on a run to track down some guys.”
“Seriously?”
Shay nodded. “Can’t take you back now. I don’t trust it. Half the guys are on a protection run with Miller and Trev. And Nile. The rest of us have to keep shit from stirring up.”
“Is that possible?” Ava asked.
“I doubt it. But you want to see how real and dangerous things can be? Follow me.”
Shay walked and Ava was by his side. He reached for her hand. He had no idea why but he just wanted to touch her. Once they hit pavement, Ava brushed off her feet the best she could before putting her shoes back on.
“Ready?” Shay asked.
“You’re taking the sexy lady?” Blaine asked.
“Yeah,” Shay said. “She’s all mine, Blaine. I’ll protect her.”
Blaine nodded and Shay looked down at Ava. The way she looked up at him drove him mad. This woman was more dangerous than the war waiting to be fought.
ten.
Ava wrapped her arms around Shay and held on tight. The motorcycle rumbled. The road twisted and turned. The town of Frelen soon thinned out until it was a few scattered businesses, random buildings, and then just land. Members of both Back Down Devil and Lost Men surrounded them on bikes. They all looked pissed off and ready to fight and kill without warning. The anticipation of something happening was what stirred in Ava the most. She could have been comfortably back at the clubhouse, locked in Shay’s room, figuring things out. She could have been planning right now.
Instead, she held onto Shay’s strong stomach as she anxiously wondered where they were going and what was going to happen when they got there.
Riding at the front of the group was Shay with Blaine and Nate on his right and Gaige, Landon, and Erik on his left. They took up both lanes of the road. They were on the hunt right now.
Gaige reached pointed forward and then gave a thumbs up before lifting his hand in the air. Every biker throttled their ride and the thundering screams grew louder. Their speed grew faster. And Ava’s heart was about to jump from her chest.