by London Casey
I really fucking love this woman.
twenty-two.
Avery was moved by the scene of Erik leaving the hospital. This was what a real MC was about. They weren’t just bullies or drunks or pigs looking for a fuck. They were real men who treated each other with love and respect. They were indeed a brotherhood. It was the kind of place Avery wanted to be even if that meant doing something that scared the hell out of her. She couldn’t put her finger on what was happening with Landon, but she couldn’t leave. That much she knew. Even when he pulled her close and then pushed her away, Avery knew it had to have more meaning. It wasn’t Landon just being a dick to her. It was so much more.
Maybe he was nervous for her. Maybe he felt guilty about asking her to help the MC. Whatever it was, Avery wanted to make sure she could do it. She would show Landon and the MC that she could help them. More so, she wanted to show herself that what Bry had done to her wasn’t going to stay with her forever.
Holding Landon’s body turned Avery on. Even though they were just on a ride, it didn’t matter. She wondered what it would be like to touch his cock while he rode. Could it work? Could she stroke him hard and fast? How dangerous was it?
Her mind wouldn’t stop. Her panties clung to her body as she began to think about all the sexual favors she and Landon had done for each other. From that first time she sucked him dry to their wild episodes in the shower where they fucked so hard and so long that they used all the hot water in the entire clubhouse. And even then, when the water ran cold, Landon just carried her to the bed and kept fucking her.
One thing that struck Avery was how peaceful and soothing the motorcycle was. The rumbling of the motor and the fresh air were a great freedom. Avery understood what it meant and how it felt. She sat up as straight as she could to look over Landon’s shoulder and watch the world before her. There was a large curve ahead and from the distance, it looked like the road came to an end. The illusion was pretty cool until they made it around the curve.
There was a biker on each side of the road, standing there with guns up, pointed, and eager to shoot.
Everyone began to hold up, turning their motorcycles, trying to shield themselves from the bullets that started to fly. Avery watched Gaige get in front of Miller to protect him. Shay cut the wheel on the car and swerved off the side of the road. Bullets flew and hit the back windows of the car. The rest of the crew did their best to avoid being shot as Avery screamed one thing into Landon’s ear.
“Bry!”
He stood there on the right side of the road, unloading his gun. The one good thing about him being a drunk asshole was that he couldn’t really shoot.
“Help me,” Avery yelled. “Landon…”
The motorcycle didn’t come to stop. Instead, the engine roared even more. Landon sped up and went straight at Bry. It was a goddamn suicide attempt, only Bry didn’t have the balls to stand there and shoot at Landon. He jumped out of the way and fell to his ass. The guy across the street was the same one from the alley. Avery couldn’t remember his name. Dave? Lenny?
Landon spun the motorcycle around and killed the engine. He got off and pulled at Avery. She crashed to the ground, the dirt and rocks cutting her hands.
“Stay the fuck down,” Landon said.
Landon pulled a gun and Bry put his hands out. Avery was on her knees, looking over the motorcycle. The rest of the MC was starting to gather themselves and Avery feared the worst for Bry. Then again, she wanted to see it. For all those times he attacked her. All those times he hit her. All those times he forced himself upon her.
The bleep of a siren made Avery jump and she looked back to see a police car pulling up to the scene. And there was Landon with a gun in his hand. Bry on the ground. The MC scattered around the road.
“Fuck,” Avery whispered.
The door to the cop car opened and a man jumped out, gun drawn, ordering Bry’s man across the street to drop his gun and kick it away. He listened and then dropped to his knees. Avery watched Miller running toward Bry’s man on his knees. Miller stood with his hand on his gun, nodding at the officer. When the officer turned, Avery saw the word Chief on his uniform.
Oh… shit…
“Landon!” the chief yelled. “Stand down.”
Landon didn’t move. The rest of the MC stood around, waiting for something to happen. Avery slowly rose to her feet.
“This isn’t about you,” Bry said. “It’s about the girl. Let me do what I have to do.”
“What’s that?” Landon asked. “Beat her? Rape her?”
Bry looked at Avery and Avery’s blood ran cold. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself.
“Fuck you,” Bry said to Avery.
Landon took a step and everyone yelled his name.
“Whoa, whoa,” Blaine said stepping from the crowd. He walked up to Landon with his hands out, trying to keep him calm.
“Come on,” the chief yelled. “Everyone needs to stand down so I can do my job.”
“Give him a minute,” Miller yelled.
“What the fuck is this?” Bry’s guy yelled.
“Shut up,” the chief said as he pointed his gun at him.
Bry stared at Avery. It was damn impossible to not feel wobbly. This was the man that had hurt her so much. The man who would continue to do so unless something happened right now.
And arresting Bry would do nothing.
“Listen, bro,” Blaine said to Landon. “Just calm down. Talk to me.”
“She stole my fucking motorcycle,” Bry yelled. “You hear that, Officer?”
“It’s Chief, asshole,” the chief said.
“Sorry,” Bry said. “That woman, Avery, she stole my motorcycle. Arrest her.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Landon said. He tried to push forward, but Blaine stopped him.
“Come on, talk to me,” Blaine said.
Landon looked back at Avery. His eyes were beyond fire. They were full of rage.
“He hurt her,” Landon said. “Like I said. He hit her, raped her, kept her afraid. She took off from him and crashed here. Literally crashed. She had nothing to do with what happened to Erik, but I can’t send her away, bro. I just… I fucking love her, man.”
Avery’s mouth fell open.
Landon loved her.
“Christ,” Blaine said. “That’s a shit ton of weight to carry.”
“Last warning,” the chief called. “I want everyone to stand down. I’ll call this in…”
“Hold on,” Miller yelled.
“Brother, this ain’t the time or place,” Blaine said.
“He raped her,” Landon said. “Imagine that. If he walks, he’ll come back. He’s a fucking idiot. Just look at him. He took a shot at Erik, too. He has no idea what he’s up against…”
Blaine pulled out his own gun. Avery’s body tensed. She didn’t want to imagine Bry having the chance to walk away from this.
Blaine leaned into Landon and whispered something to him. He then kissed Landon’s cheek and put the gun in Landon’s hand. Blaine backed up and put his arms out.
“No!” the chief yelled.
“Landon!” Miller cried out.
“Fuck,” Bry said.
Landon hurried up to him and smashed the gun off his face. Bry fell back with blood pouring from his face. Landon stood over him, smashing him with the gun again and again. From the corner of her eye, Avery saw the chief running toward them. Blaine turned and stopped him.
“Remember what we did for you,” Blaine said. “Okay, Chief?”
“Not like this…,” the chief said.
Landon’s hands were covered in blood. Bry was on the ground, almost lifeless. His fingers twitched and even the sight of that made Avery shake.
Landon pointed the gun and everyone yelled for him to stop. To stand down. Don’t fucking do it. What the fuck are you doing? Landon! Landon!
Avery’s lips moved. She could yell for him, but she didn’t. And to her, that was just about the same as pulling the trigger.
; The gun went off and Bry’s body jumped. The gun went off again, and again, and again…
Landon tucked the weapon away and turned.
“Fuck,” the chief yelled. “Get the fuck over here, Landon. Now.”
“Jerry,” Landon said.
“Fuck you,” Chief said. “Look what you fucking did. Right in front of me.”
Avery was shocked that Landon hadn’t been arrested.
“You sort this shit out with your MC,” Chief Jerry said. “But I have to take that other piece of shit in, okay? And I might have to call the dead one in. How’s that going to play out? Asshole.”
Chief Jerry walked from Landon. Landon looked at Avery. His eyes were the same. Dark and beautiful. His lip was still curled. Avery knew Landon was the only one who really understood her pain. The only one she could ever trust and relate to. Yet he had just murdered a man, and in front of the chief of police.
Chief Jerry said something to Miller and then arrested Bry’s man.
“What the fuck is this?” he screamed.
“You’re under arrest, asshole,” Chief Jerry said. “For firing a weapon.”
“That guy killed Bry…”
“He’ll be dealt with next,” Chief Jerry said.
Avery’s head spun as she watched Bry’s man get loaded into the back of the police cruiser, and then it sped away. Miller then approached Landon and before Avery could process a thought, Miller swung and punched Landon in the face. Landon stumbled back but didn’t fall.
The tension was instant.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Miller bellowed. “Execution style? Right in front of Chief Jerry?”
“I’m sorry,” Landon said. “I had to. For Avery…”
Avery hurried to Landon’s side and stepped in before Miller could hit Landon again.
“Please,” Avery whispered. “I asked him to…”
“Just fucking great,” Miller said. “This shit is a real mess. Jerry calls in the body on the ground and we’re all going in for questions. And you, Landon, are hauled off for murder.”
“He hurt Avery,” Landon said. “He needed to die.”
Miller bumped his chest into Landon and took off his sunglasses. “Look in my eyes, Landon. There were two fucking men here. One is dead. One is a witness and is off to jail. Fix this shit.” Miller put his sunglasses back on and turned. He walked to Bry’s body and kicked it. “Fuck!” he yelled. Then he said, “Load back up. We have to get to the table and sort this out.”
Slowly, the MC started to compose itself again. Everyone lined up with Miller in front. Landon put his hands to Avery’s waist. In that moment, Avery felt like she and Landon were the only two people in the world. The motorcycles started to ride by, but all Avery could do was stare into Landon’s eyes.
“It’s done now, Avery. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“But I am afraid,” Avery said, “because I’m in love with you.”
Landon pulled her close and kissed her. “Don’t be afraid. I’m in love with you too.”
twenty-three.
The celebration started right in the lot the moment Shay pulled in with Erik. Erik climbed from the car and looked around. Miller took Erik’s helmet off his motorcycle and walked it to him. The table crew gathered around Erik, Landon barely making it in time. He didn’t have to say a word to Avery, she knew to hang back at the motorcycle. Things were tense as it was because of her and what had just happened.
But fuck that guy. That fucking asshole that hurt Avery. Nobody rapes and beats a woman without proper punishment. That wasn’t the problem though. The problem was the other guy that Jerry took away. That asshole had seen everything and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that the chief of police in town worked very close with the MC.
“They tried to take one of our brothers down,” Miller said. “They tried to blow up Shay but hit Erik instead. Yet, whoever did this forgot one important thing…” Miller held the helmet up. “We’re Back Down Devil and we don’t fucking die.”
The club cheered and whistled.
Erik finally smiled.
Landon did his best not to look at Erik’s face, but the poor guy was all sorts of fucked up. Most of it was fresh wounds and scabs, but damn, he was going to have some wicked looking scars.
Miller handed Erik the helmet. “You’ll be riding with us again soon enough, brother. I know it.”
“Thank you,” Erik said. “Thanks to everyone for giving a shit about me. And for that nurse. She cleaned me out.”
Blaine clapped. “There’s more waiting inside.”
“Strippers,” Jace said.
“Strippers that fuck,” Blaine corrected.
“Then why the fuck am I surrounded by a bunch of guys?” Erik asked.
Everyone laughed and Miller hugged Erik.
Then, one by one, everyone properly welcomed Erik back to the clubhouse. Landon waited until last and when he shook Erik’s hand, he pulled him in.
“I’m sorry for that out there, bro,” Landon said.
“Wasn’t expecting that as part of my homecoming,” Erik said.
Landon nodded and looked at Erik. “I wasn’t either. I’m sorry if I fucked up your homecoming.”
“Hey… guns, bullets, death, and police. That’s about right for us, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Landon said. He patted Erik’s face. “You look good.”
“I look like I got blown up.”
“You’re alive.”
Erik grabbed Landon’s leather cut. “Who did it, man?”
“We’re getting close,” Landon said. “We hired someone to find everything out. You’ll get your revenge.”
Erik touched Landon’s cheek and said, “Heard you fought to earn some cash to help out.”
“Anything for the club,” Landon said. “And you, brother. Whoever hurt you will pay. They will suffer.”
“Thank you,” Erik said. “And judging by the pretty eyes at your back, you’re not getting your dick sucked by a stripper tonight, are you?”
“Not quite,” Landon said.
“Landon, I need you,” Miller’s voice boomed.
“I have to face this shit,” Landon said.
“Good luck,” Erik said.
Landon walked over to Miller and Erik went into the clubhouse. Miller leaned against his motorcycle with his arms crossed.
“Shit got intense out there,” Miller said.
“I shouldn’t have done it like that,” Landon said. “But the shit Avery told me that guy did to her… I kept picturing it. No matter what I did…”
“It’s okay,” Miller said. “Christ, Landon, you have a fucking heart after all.”
“Yeah, thanks. But I made a mess.”
“It’ll get cleaned up,” Miller said. “The question here though is how committed is your woman? Can she handle her own?”
“She’s good with what we need from her. I talked to her. I promise.”
“Okay,” Miller said. “Because you’re going for a ride.” Miller pointed.
Landon looked back and saw the flashing lights of a police car as it pulled into the lot.
“What the…”
Miller clamped a hand on Landon’s shoulder. “Punishment, brother. You have to clean up your mess. Finish the job you started.”
“In jail?” Landon asked.
“That’s where the mess waits,” Miller said. “Tell your woman to come with me. I’ll keep her safe while you’re on the inside.”
Landon hated the look on Miller’s face, but he had no choice but to respect it. On top of that, he had to trust that Avery would be able to handle herself. But as Landon approached Avery, all he could imagine was her being forced to a bed. Her clothes ripped off as she thrashed. Bry getting on top of her.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Landon chased the thoughts away.
What happened is done. Bry is dead. It’s over. OVER.
Landon opened his eyes and Avery was inches away.
“What’s
happening?” she asked.
The cruiser came to a stop and an officer climbed out. He pointed to Landon and drew his weapon.
“Let’s go, asshole,” the officer said.
“The name is Landon.”
“How about fuck you?” the officer asked with a smile. “Get on your fucking knees.”
“Landon…,” Avery said.
“It’s okay,” Landon said. “I have to go. Just routine questioning.”
“You won’t see him for a long time,” the officer said as he approached Landon.
“Hey, I bet this isn’t the first time you’ve had a guy on his knees in front of you,” Landon said.
“Yeah?” the officer asked.
He swung his knee up and connected with Landon’s jaw. The pain surged and he tasted blood. Landon coughed and spit blood to the ground.
“Got anything else to say?” the officer asked.
“Nope,” Landon said. “I won’t beg to suck your dick.”
The officer put the gun between Landon’s eyes. “You’re fucking scum.”
“Yes I am,” Landon said.
The officer then cuffed Landon and walked him to the cruiser. Landon sat in the backseat and looked at Avery. She would need to do this on her own to prove to herself she could be part of the club.
The cruiser started to back up and then swung a hard turn and peeled away.
“Don’t get sick,” the officer cackled.
“Fucking tough with that badge on,” Landon said.
“Fucking tough with that leather on,” the officer said. “Authority wins over bullshit.”
Landon nodded. That much he could agree with. The thing the police officer didn’t realize was that it was Landon and Back Down Devil that had the authority.
twenty-four.
Avery slowly walked toward Miller. This guy was the president of the MC. His orders were final, weren’t they? What would happen if Miller ordered her to do something to him or forced Avery into submission? If it was for the sake of the MC, Avery wouldn’t know what to do. The thoughts made her feel sick. She touched her stomach and tried to control her breathing.
“I don’t bite,” Miller said. “But I am going to put my hand to your back to guide you through the bar. You get special privilege tonight.”