Brooke knew deep down that she should have been killed a long time ago, one of the nights when things went bad, but Armen always knew a way out. It was scary, risky, and he lived looking over his shoulder.
That would be no more after today.
When the time came, Miller made a hand signal and the group cut to the left. Ares throttled his ride and sped up. He powered down the road and hung a wide left. Up ahead was the warehouse where everything had happened. It was still taped off with police tape. Brooke feared the police would be lurking, but she remembered Miller saying something to Ares that someone named Jerry (or was it Chief Jerry?) would have the area open for them for about an hour.
That was their window.
To get in, fix the mess, and get the hell out.
As they rode toward the warehouse, Brooke saw three men near the door. They were big, in leather cuts, and there was three motorcycles near them.
Ares turned to the right and gave a wave, then threw the middle finger. All three men quickly drew their weapons.
Ares stopped his ride and turned his head. “Stay calm, darling. They won’t hurt you. They want me. But they won’t hurt you.”
As Ares stepped off the motorcycle one of the guys came charging toward him.
“Don’t move!” the man yelled.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ares asked. “I thought Eight Under had learned their lesson…”
The man was close enough and swung his gun, smacking Ares in the mouth. He spun and fell. Brooke let out a scream.
“Come here,” the man growled and grabbed at Brooke’s arm.
She watched Ares rub his mouth and stand up. “Motherfuckers. What is this?”
The man laughed. “She’s coming with me. And then we’re going to take you into that warehouse and cut you limb by limb. You fucking punk. You’re not even patched in…”
Brooke was then dragged away from Ares. He started to come forward but the Eight Under guy lifted his gun again and Ares threw his hands up and remained still.
All of a sudden, everything felt wrong.
Brooke tried to plant her feet to the ground, but she was still moving.
“Don’t fucking fight me,” the guy yelled in her ear. “I’m saving you.”
Brooke looked at Ares, unsure what to do. She then caught him giving a nod.
What the hell does that mean?
For a second she thought maybe it was a signal to the other Back Down Devil guys. Or maybe it was her cue to do something. Brooke knew that if she was taken into the warehouse alone, Ares would be shot dead.
Taking a chance, Brooke lifted her left foot. She brought it back and then down, hitting the Eight Under guy in the leg and then stomping his foot. He screamed and Brooke dropped to her knees. She looked at Ares and watched him scramble to grab his gun and shoot.
Brooke flinched and the man behind her fell to the ground. She turned around, still crouching and a second later there were more shots fired. The other Eight Under guys fell to the ground, dead.
“What the hell?” Ares bellowed as he grabbed Brooke and lifted her. “You weren’t…”
“Give me your gun,” Brooke yelled. “I’m going inside there.”
The Back Down Devil riders came into view, Miller and Blaine with guns at their sides. They had been the ones who shot the other Eight Under men.
Everything was moving fast now.
“Christ, Brooke,” Ares said. “We have a plan…”
“And it’s fucked up now,” Brooke said. “He’s in there. He’s going to run.”
The motorcycles roared close and Brooke saw Ares curl his lip.
He put his gun into her hand and kissed her forehead. “Don’t get killed.”
Brooke turned and ran. She got to the door and opened it. Her shoes smacked against the pavement of the warehouse with a hollow sound.
“Armen!” she called out. “Armen, I’m here! I brought Ares… but he…”
A shot rang out next to Brooke. She halted and fell to the ground. She looked around and saw a figure approaching. She looked to her hands and saw that the gun Ares gave her was too far out of reach now.
“It’s just me,” Brooke said.
“Get up,” Armen said. “Get up now.”
Brooke hurried to her feet. Armen approached with gun in hand. “What happened out there?”
“We… we were followed,” Brooke said. “They’re fighting out there. We can run…”
Armen put the gun to Brooke’s head. She shivered and shook her head. “Let me do it, Armen. Let me shoot Ares. He took me from you…”
Armen was shaking. He was so disoriented. He knew his time was up. Things were at their apex and there was no turning back and no escaping.
Slowly, Brooke lifted her hand and wrapped it around the gun. She pulled and it slid from Armen’s hand. She then hurried and turned it around, pointing it to Armen’s gut.
“What did you do?” she whispered. “I want the truth.”
“The truth… you want the truth…”
“Yes.”
“What’s the truth out there? You brought men with you. Why? Don’t you want to be with me? I love you, Brooke. You’re all I have in this life. We have to keep running. Soon…”
“You killed them, Armen,” Brooke said. “I know the truth. I should have seen it a long time ago, but I was too afraid. Now I’m not. I have protection.”
“Where is it? Where’s your protection?”
“Just tell me the fucking truth,” Brooke said. “From your mouth. I want to hear it.”
“Yeah? You want… fuck you, sister.”
Armen swung his hand and smacked Brooke. She felt him pull the gun from her hand as she fell. Her face stung and she was defenseless on the ground.
“You want the truth?” Armen yelled. “I did it. I killed them. I shot both of them. Her first. Him second. I needed the goddamn money. They knew it. They didn’t love me like they loved you. I had no idea you’d be coming home right after. So I took you with me. And now I’m going to finish the job. I should have killed you that same day too.”
Armen pointed the gun.
Brooke shut her eyes.
Where are you, Ares? Why…
The gun went off.
Brooke sucked in a breath. Then she exhaled. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Armen on the ground in front of her. His body was twisted, not moving. Brooke turned her head and saw Ares standing there.
A second later Miller, Gaige, and Blaine came rushing into the warehouse.
“Fuck,” Miller said.
“He’s dead,” Ares said.
“Bro, go get your woman,” Gaige said. “She needs you.”
nineteen.
Ares carried Brooke from the warehouse to his motorcycle. And then he carried her into the clubhouse and back to his room. He put her on the bed and dropped to his knees before her. He took her hands and kissed them.
“Christ,” he whispered. “That’s why I didn’t want you there.”
“He was going to hurt me,” Brooke said.
“He had been. But he can’t anymore.”
Brooke nodded. She lifted her hands, with Ares still touching her. “You killed him.”
“I told you…”
Brooke looked at Ares. “You did it to save me. To protect me.”
“Yes. He’s gone now. But you’re not. You’re right here.”
“What happens next?” Brooke asked. “What happens to me? Am I leaving?”
Ares stroked Brooke’s hair and face. “No. You’re not going anywhere. You want to be in this clubhouse, then be here.”
Brooke touched Ares’s face. Her small fingers ran along his cheek and scruff. “I know it’s going to sound crazy, but I’m… I’m falling for you. I think.”
“Don’t think. Know.”
“Then I know. I’m falling for you.”
“That’s good.” Ares leaned forward and kissed Brooke. “Because I’m falling too. And I don’t fall. I hate fucking fal
ling. But for you, it’s worth it.”
They slowly started to kiss and then the front door flew open.
“Whoa, again?” Miller asked.
“Is her pants off?” Ares asked.
“I guess not. Get out here. Brooke too. We need to talk.”
Miller disappeared and Ares stood up. He took Brooke by the hand and led her from the room. When they got to the main part of the hallway, the walls were lined with the patched in members of Back Down Devil MC. They all nodded to Ares as he walked. At the end of the hallway stood Miller and Gaige. President and VP.
“What the hell is this?” Ares asked. “Am I getting married or something?”
Miller looked at Brooke. “What’s the verdict on her? She staying here?”
“I’d like that,” Ares said.
“What if we said no?” Gaige asked.
Brooke’s hand squeezed Ares’s tighter.
“Then I’ll leave with her,” Ares said. “She’s worth that much.”
Miller nodded. “Well, I’ve seen her pussy… and I can’t argue that…”
Everyone let out a laugh.
“Bro, it’s time,” Gaige said. He opened his leather cut and pulled something out. It was a patch. A few of them. The patches that would make up the Back Down Devil name and logo.
“Take that cut off,” Miller said.
Ares stripped it off. He held it out. Miller grabbed it and then opened his arms. Ares hugged the President and then went to Gaige. Gaige gave him the patches and then hugged him.
“Congrats,” Gaige said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Ares nodded.
“I’ll get your cut fixed up in a few minutes,” Miller said. “One of the prospects will do it. Let the bitches do the bitch work. You, Ares, are meant to be in this club. Full member. Congrats.”
The entire room erupted in cheers and yells.
Everyone came up to Ares and wanted to shake his hand. He left his other hand holding tight to Brooke’s.
When the room calmed down, Gaige was left and put a hand to Ares’s shoulder. “Bro, we’re going to fight tonight. Time to cut loose and swing a little. You’re in if you want.”
“No,” Ares said. “I’m good here. I have business to tend to.”
Gaige grinned and eyed Brooke. “Yeah, I agree with that.”
Gaige patted Ares’s shoulder and then walked away.
Ares turned and faced Brooke. “I told you I’d protect you.”
“I never doubted you,” Brooke said. “And it’s still crazy to me.”
“Get used to crazy, darling. That’s my life. And that’s what you make my heart… crazy…”
Ares slid a hand to the small of Brooke’s back and pulled. She let out a yell and laughed. She reached and took handfuls of Ares’s black shirt.
Their lips came together and Ares took a deep breath, tasting and loving Brooke’s mouth.
There would come a day when they’d share a last kiss… but this day… this wasn’t it. And Ares had a plan for Brooke tonight that involved a lot more than just kissing.
Ready for more BACK DOWN DEVIL MC?
Read the entire series today!
(Note: all the books are stand alone novels and do not have to be read in order!)
Novels
OUTLAW REVENGE
CRASH & BURN
DARK FALL
SECRET MAYHEM
TWISTED PIECES
STEEL TEMPTATION
SAVAGE LOVE
VIPER’S KISS
Novellas
RIDING DARKNESS
WILD BLAZE
EMPTY SECRETS
BROKEN ROAD
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
First electronic edition December 2014
Copyright © 2014 by London Casey
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part of any form.
BROKEN ROAD (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novella) Page 18
