by London Casey
“Where is he? Tell me. What the fuck did you do?”
Emily shook her head.
Miller and Nate came to Emily’s aid while Blaine held Gaige back from attacking the chief.
“Come on, Jerry,” Miller said. “Damn.”
Chief Jerry released his hold on Emily. He stuck his hand in his pocket and took out a piece of paper and gave it to Emily.
“What is this?” she asked.
“I found it… in an empty fucking crib.”
Jerry hung his head and began to cry.
“What the fuck is this?” Gaige asked.
Blaine sighed. “Someone took his baby.”
“What?” Emily asked.
“Yeah,” Blaine said. “Someone broke into his house and took his baby. Read the note, Emily.”
Emily opened the piece of paper.
There’s no ransom, I just took what was mine. Emily took my son when she left me. She won’t give him back… so I need a son to raise. It’s nothing personal, just business. Tell the MC and Emily that when she brings me my son, you can have yours back. If you get your officers involved, I’ll put a bullet in your son’s head.
Emily dropped the paper and started to cry.
“Where’s your son?” Chief Jerry asked.
“You have a son?” Blaine asked.
“Jesus Christ,” Miller growled.
“There’s no fucking kid,” Gaige yelled. “She told her ex that because he was going to beat her death. She told him she was pregnant and then she split. I’ll take care of this.”
“My son is gone,” the chief said, staring at Emily. “In the hands of someone else…”
Gaige hugged Emily tight. “I will take care of this. I promise.”
“What are you going to do?” Chief Jerry asked.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” Gaige said.
“Shit,” Miller said. “Gaige…”
“Good,” the chief said. “But mark my words. If my son is hurt… or…” His bottom lip quivered. “… dead… I’ll take this entire MC down. I’ll team up with Strokner and put all you fucking assholes behind bars.”
“That won’t happen,” Miller said. He put a hand to Chief Jerry’s back. “Go home, Jerry. Comfort your wife. Give us a chance here, okay?”
“A chance,” the chief said.
“I can call him,” Emily said. “Arrange to meet.”
“To exchange kids,” Gaige said.
“I thought you said she didn’t have a kid?” Blaine asked.
“She doesn’t,” Gaige said. “But we’ll fucking kill him before he knows what’s happening.”
“Not now,” Miller growled. He put an arm around Chief Jerry and walked him to his car.
Gaige looked at Emily.
“I’m so sorry,” Emily said. “I’m a fucking mess…”
“We all are,” Blaine said.
“We’re all in this together,” Gaige said. “Okay? You need to calm down and make the phone call.”
Emily took a deep breath. She reached for her cell and then made a startling realization.
She was about to become an accomplice to murder.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Gaige sat at the table, his hands folded as the rest of the members placed their votes on the protection of Emily, the death of Max, and making sure the chief got his son back before all hell broke loose for Back Down Devil MC.
“We’re not going to discuss how or why,” Miller started. “I hear that once and you’re out of here. Got that?”
Everyone nodded.
“Aye,” Shay whispered.
“Emily made the phone call,” Gaige said. “I listened to it. This Max guy is alone and he’s an asshole. His mind is fucked. He was running with a crew in northern California that fell apart. He’s been looking for Emily since she left. Like I said, he used to beat the fuck out of her, okay? One night he went after her and she told him she was pregnant. It was the only way she managed to save her life. She took off and he kept chasing her, looking for their child.”
“And he doesn’t believe there’s no kid?” Blaine asked.
“No,” Gaige said. “He’s going to be out at the edge of town. Right where Strokner wants to poach our land. He said he’s there now, waiting.”
“For what?” Nate asked.
“For Emily to show up with their son,” Gaige said. He took a deep breath. “Or for a semi truck to pass by so he could throw the chief’s baby in front of it.”
“Dammit,” Miller said.
“What do we do?” Griffin asked. “Seems sitting here is a waste of fucking time.”
“Vote,” Miller said. “Anyone against this?”
Nobody protested.
“Get it straight,” Gaige said. “We’re going out there to face this guy. Emily and I take the lead with Miller and Blaine for protection. The rest of you create an ambush. I get the kill shot on him.”
“What if it goes bad?” Jace asked.
“I get the fucking kill shot,” Gaige said. “I made a promise to Emily. She and I will do it. We get the baby from him and then let us take care of him.”
“Anyone against killing this guy?” Miller asked. Silence filled the room. “Okay then. Let’s get moving.”
“Shay, bring the ride. We need to make sure he thinks there’s a kid with us.”
“Aye,” Shay said.
The room cleared out. Gaige finished his smoke and found Emily waiting at the bar for him. He took her hand and didn’t say a word. There was nothing left to say. Either this would go right or it would go very wrong. Death would be dealt; Gaige just hoped it was at the hands of Back Down Devil.
The crew loaded up on their motorcycles and set off. Miller and Gaige were side by side, leading the rest of the crew. Gaige didn’t like the idea of Emily sitting behind him. He worried she would feel too vulnerable, but there was no other option. It was risky going out like this, considering Gaige had killed a member of Eight Under and had another member alive in the underground garage. But if they couldn’t save the chief’s baby, then Back Down Devil would have to face investigations from the police and from Strokner.
All the thoughts caused Gaige to grip the handlebars of the motorcycle tighter. The ride felt like days, chasing the horizon with two wheels and the open road.
Once they started to approach the bend where Max said he would be, everyone except Gaige, Miller, Blaine, and Shay took a left and went up into the bare land. They knew where to go, when to stop, and how to approach Max with caution.
Soon Miller and Blaine began to slow down, hanging back so Gaige and Emily could take the lead. Shay stayed close to Gaige. The dark car windows would keep Max from seeing that nobody was actually in the car with Shay.
This would have to somehow work.
Gaige rode alone with Emily. It felt right, even if they were moving straight into a dangerous situation. Once around the long bend, Gaige saw a figure standing on the side of the quiet road. Gaige went to the opposite side of the road and stopped the motorcycle. He climbed off and Emily handed him the helmet. He looked at her and gave a quick nod indicating it was Max. There was no opportunity now for words of hopefulness. It was time to end it all.
As they crossed road, Max stood holding the baby in one hand and a gun in the other. He bounced the blue bundle in his arm, his eyes wide and bloodshot. This guy was high. Really high. The situation was much more dangerous now. A clouded fuck of a mind would only make Max act crazier.
Max pointed the gun at Gaige. Gaige put his hands up.
“Take out your gun,” Max ordered. “Your knife, too.”
Gaige moved slow, reaching into his leather. He took out his gun and put it to the ground. He then took out his long knife and placed it next to the gun.
“What about you?” Max asked Emily.
“Max, I don’t carry anything,” Emily said.
“Come here, baby, I want to feel.”
Emily swallowed and sidestepped near Gaige.
; “Go,” Gaige whispered. “Now.”
“Come on,” Max yelled. “I’d hate for something to happen here…”
He looked at the bundled blanket in his arms and smiled.
Emily stepped forward and stared at Max. Gaige wanted to ambush the scene. But he couldn’t. Even if Max just dropped the infant, he could be hurt. Gaige didn’t want that on his soul and he wanted to prove to the chief that Back Down Devil could take care of the outlaw justice that was sometimes needed in life.
“I’m going to put my gun in my back pocket,” Max said. “Then I’m going to search you, baby. If anyone dares to try a fucking thing, I’ll blow this baby’s head off.”
“I thought you wanted to be a father,” Emily said. “Is this how you treat…”
Max put the gun to Emily’s forehead. Gaige jumped forward and Max met eyes with him.
“Come on,” Max said. “Walk one more fucking step. I’ll paint you with her brains.”
Gaige curled his lip and stayed put.
Max put the gun behind him and then ordered Emily to turn around. Gaige then endured the sight of Max rubbing Emily with his free hand. Her shoulders, her arms, and waist. He touched her ass and smiled, making Gaige’s blood boil. Max continued down to her ankles and then up between her legs, making it obvious he was rubbing Emily.
“Hey!” Gaige yelled.
“Oh, is that wrong?” Max laughed.
He stood and moved his hand along Emily’s side. When he touched her breast, he groaned.
Gaige took a step and said, “No more. We’re here for a trade.”
Max put his nose to Emily’s hair and inhaled. “Yes, we are.”
Max pushed Emily forward and hurried to take the gun out of his back pocket. He pointed it at Gaige and Emily.
“Where’s the fucking kid?” Max asked. “Our kid.”
“Coming right now,” Gaige said.
Gaige pointed and Shay came up the road in the black car. Max’s eyes lit up. He wiped his face with the back of his hand holding the gun.
“Windows down,” Max said. “I want to see…”
Gaige backed up and knocked on the driver’s window. It slowly came down, revealing Shay.
“Everything good?” Shay asked.
“Perfect,” Gaige said.
“Show me my son!” Max yelled. “I’m getting… it ain’t good here, man.”
“Okay,” Gaige said. “Put the windows down, Shay.”
Shay gave Gaige a look. Gaige made his way around Emily. Max’s eyes were glued to the car. Gaige would have one shot at this.
The back window came down and showed nothing.
“Where is he?” Max called out.
“He must be afraid,” Emily said. “Let me check on him. He’s probably hiding on the floor. He does that when he’s afraid, Max.”
“Why’s he afraid of me? I’m his fucking father!”
“Maybe it’s the gun,” Emily said.
“It’s not for him. It’s to protect him. Help him.”
Gaige smiled. Emily was doing this perfectly. Gaige was almost next to Max. Again, if Max wasn’t holding the baby, this would have been simple. Gaige could easily tackle him and beat the fucking piss out of him. But Gaige needed to protect the baby.
Emily walked to the car and looked inside. “Hey buddy. Can you sit up for me?”
“He’s really there,” Max said. “He really is…”
Gaige saw Max lower the gun and this was his opportunity to move. Gaige kicked Max’s hand, sending the gun to the ground. When Max turned his head, Gaige threw a timed fist, connecting with his jaw. It sent Max spinning and when he opened his arms, Gaige caught the blue bundled blanket. Gaige was on his knees and Max was on his ass.
“Liars,” Max said. “I knew it. Now we all can die.”
Gaige heard cries in the distance and looked to see Griffin holding a baby. Landon and Erik had their guns drawn as they rushed through the bushy area.
Gaige’s head spun. When he put the blanket down and opened it, everything came together.
It wasn’t a baby in the blanket… it was a bomb.
Chapter Twenty-Five
When Gaige looked at Max, the crazy asshole was smiling. He then rolled and made a move for the gun Gaige had kicked out his hand. Gaige lunged forward and managed to get Max by his foot. He pulled him back and kicked him in the ribs.
Landon and Erik were there, guns on Max.
“Don’t fucking kill him,” Gaige said. “He had a fucking bomb in his hands.” Gaige pointed to Griffin and waved. “Hang back!”
Gaige looked at the bomb and saw the counter. There was less than a minute left before the damn thing would blow up. This was all a fucking rouse. Max wanted to blow everyone up. He was insane, just like Emily had warned.
“Fuck!” Gaige yelled.
He bent and lifted the bomb in the blanket. He ran to the car and threw the bomb in the backseat.
“What the fuck?” Shay yelled.
“Put a rock on the gas pedal and let it go,” Gaige said. “He had a fucking bomb. We’ve got seconds here, bro.”
“My car…”
“I’ll buy you a new one, man. Come on.”
“Jesus Christ,” Shay said.
Gaige ran to the side of the road and found a rock that he hoped would do the job. He came back to the car where Shay stood with a look of disbelief on his face.
“It’s a fucking car, bro,” Gaige said. “It’ll be fine.”
Gaige put the rock on the gas pedal. The engine roared. Gaige got into the driver’s seat with one foot hanging out of the car. He hit the brake pedal and pulled the car into drive. The vehicle jumped, demanding to take off. Taking a deep breath, Gaige counted to three, took his foot off the brake pedal, and then rolled from the car. He hit the ground with a thud.
Shay’s car sped off into the distance. Emily ran to Gaige and he took her hand.
When the bomb finally went off, the car exploded into a ball of fire. The thundering boom shook the ground for a few seconds.
Gaige put a hand to Shay’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, bro.”
“Fuck it,” Shay said. “It’s just a car. Is that baby okay?”
Gaige turned and Griffin was walking toward them, holding Chief Jerry’s infant son.
“What the fuck,” Griffin whispered. The baby let out a cry. Griffin touched the baby’s head and bounced gently.
“We should call the chief,” Shay said.
Miller and Blaine arrived to the scene. Blaine pointed to the fire and smokey mess of what used to be Shay’s car.
“It was a bomb,” Shay said. “I’ll explain.”
“I’ll make the call,” Miller said.
“Tell him to wait a few minutes,” Gaige said. “Emily and I have to finish this together.”
Miller stared at Gaige and then nodded. “We’ll go down the road a little bit.”
“Thank you,” Gaige said.
Miller welcomed Gaige with open arms and they hugged. “It’s done for now, okay? Eight Under revenge. This bullshit. It’s done. Make it quick and get back to the clubhouse.”
“Take care of that baby,” Gaige said. “That’s… going to seal the deal with Jerry.”
“Let’s not worry about that right now,” Miller said. “Do what you have to do here.”
Miller nodded and waved for the crew to follow him.
Gaige took Emily by the hand again and walked her toward Max. He stopped where he put his gun and knife on the ground. He took his weapons back and opened Emily’s hand. He put the gun in her hand and looked at her.
“No,” she said. “I won’t… I can’t…”
“You’re not,” Gaige said. “I want you to just feel it. To understand why we do what we do. He had a fucking bomb, beautiful. He wanted all of us to die.”
Gaige took Emily to Max. He nodded to Landon and Erik, who slowly backed away and then left the scene. Gaige took the gun from Emily’s hand and pointed it at Max. He was sitting with his knees to
his chest.
“You killed our son,” he whispered.
“There was never a baby,” Emily said. “You fucking hurt me, Max.”
“You tried to kill me,” Gaige said. “That doesn’t fly with me.”
Max looked at Gaige. Then at Emily.
“Look at him,” Gaige ordered Emily. “Stare into his fucking eyes, beautiful. Understand it…”
“Do it,” Emily said. “Kill him.”
Gaige smiled. He fucking loved hearing that.
Max started to close his eyes and Gaige pulled the trigger.
One bullet. One shot. Justice properly served.
Max’s head snapped back and he was gone.
Gaige touched Emily and she jumped. Tears filled her eyes and Gaige pulled her close. “Hey, it’s fucking done now. There’s no more, okay? He’s gone. We’re here. Now we have to go.”
“What about…”
“It’ll work out,” Gaige said.
Gaige wanted Miller to show Chief Jerry Max’s dead body as proof that revenge was dealt. That’s how everything was meant to come together.
At the motorcycle, Gaige took Emily by her face and looked into her eyes. “I fucking love you, Emily. All this was for you. I give my love, to you.”
Emily nodded. “I’m in love with you too, Gaige. I don’t know what else to say.”
“There’s nothing else that needs to be said. Stay with me, beautiful, and I’ll keep you safe. Roads twist and turn, but we always have a destination in mind.”
Gaige kissed Emily, savoring her gentle lips and sweet tongue.
They got on the motorcycle and started to ride. Gaige slowed when he saw the crew on the side of the road. Griffin looked so happy holding the chief’s baby. It made Gaige smile.
Miller approached the motorcycle. “How are we?”
“All set,” Gaige said. “You can show him and let him deal with it.”
“I called and he’s on his way. We’re good in all this now. In fact, I just talked to Johnny at the yard and there’s a fight next week. He wants us there. Appreciation for taking care of business around here.”
“Good to know,” Gaige said. “Listen, Miller, I’ve got one more thing I need to do. I gotta get back.”