AN OUTLAW MONSTER (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (13 page)

seventeen.

(trent)

“
Rocco
’
s been in touch,
”
Trev said as he sat at
the head of the table.
“
Night
Soul is shaken up bad over this.
”

“
They
know about Mays?
”
I
asked.

“
They
left May
’
s body
outside the clubhouse,
”
Jasper said.
“
So they
fucking knew.
”

“
I
told them we have the head,
”
Trev said.
“
They can
come get it and make arrangements to bury their brother as needed.
”

“
Seems
a little nice, Prez,
”
Xavier said.

“
No
matter what, having those close to you fall, it hurts,
”
Trev said.
“
We
didn
’
t order that hit
on Mays. I made that clear to Rocco. I also made it clear that Ripper was far
out of his element when he was dealing and that the O
’
Nuall family is one you don
’
t fuck with.
”

“
What
’
s the next play?
”
Austin asked.

“
Rocco
wants his guns,
”
Trev
said.
“
More than
ever. I
’
ve been
arranging more meets and something was brought to the table.
”

“
Jesus
Christ,
”
Jasper said.
He looked right at me. Then to Trev.
“
Right
now with this?
”

“
It
’
s a play,
”
Trev said.

“
What
is this?
”
I asked.
“
Is this about Harlee?
Because if it is
…”

“
It
has nothing to do with Harlee,
”
Jasper said.
“
It
’
s about your father.
”

“
Shit,
”
I said.
“
What did he do now?
”

Trev stood up.
“
Our play is to keep both
sides of this transaction happy until we can strike. That means Night Soul has
to think they
’
re
getting guns. And it means the O
’
Nuall
family needs to think they
’
re
getting paid for guns. We
’
re
in between holding all of this together.
”

“
Why
not let the O
’
Nuall
just wipe out Night Soul?
”
Duke asked.
“
They
take out our enemy, then we make arrangements for payment. We get the guns,
Night Soul is gone, and we can start small dealing on the side and earn back
and then some. Shit, it could let us take a breather up here, Prez.
”

“
That
’
s not a bad idea,
”
I said.

“
I
would vote on that,
”
Hudson said.

“
Me
too,
”
Cash said.

Trev just stood in silence. He
slowly nodded.
“
Tell
you what. There
’
s a
lot of emotion and opinion flying around here right now. I said I wouldn
’
t drop my dick on the
table and command too much. I respect all of you up here and all you
’
ve done, even when Ripper
was trying to destroy all of this. Let
’
s
take a break and think all this out. Everyone think about what they feel is
right for the club. Right now, we
’
re
in a small bit of calmness and all parties accept what
’
s going on. Take advantage for the moment. I
’
m calling this dead for
now.
”

Trev quickly smacked the gavel off
the table.

To put it simply: it was fucking
weird.

Trev wasn
’
t the type to just end a meeting. And he wasn
’
t really the type to talk
about respect. He showed it.

The room slowly started to clear
out, but I kept my outlaw ass right in my seat. I wanted to know what the fuck
was going on with my father.

Trev and Jasper sat in their seats
also. They knew what they were doing by clearing the table. They were giving me
the respect to some privacy to talk about my old man.

“
Want
a beer?
”
Jasper
asked.

“
No,
”
I said.
“
I want the truth. Right
now. What the hell is going on?
”

“
Bringing
you to the O
’
Nuall
meeting was a mistake,
”
Trev said.
“
I should
have done more intel on everyone.
”

“
Why?
”
I asked.

“
Garvan
and Bryant pegged you the second they saw you,
”
Trev said.
“
They made
a connection and knew how to dig their claws in us.
”

“
I
’
ll keep it simple,
”
Jasper said.
“
Your old man still has
some bad habits.
”

“
Drugs
or gambling?
”
I
asked.

“
Everything.
He
’
s in debt.
”

“
Shit,
”
I said.
“
Shit.
”

I quickly stood up, sending the
chair flying behind me. I rubbed my forehead and came to a swift decision on
it. A decision I made a long time ago when it came to him. He never took care
of me. He let me get my ass beat up. Shit, I was lucky nothing else happened to
me with some of the people that showed up.

“
Just
let them do it,
”
I
said.

“
Do
what?
”
Trev asked.

I looked back.
“
Let them kill him. I don
’
t care. I
’
m not going to be cornered
by some Irish mobsters. We
’
ll
show a greater force of power by not helping him. Think about that for a
second. It
’
ll put
Garvan and Bryant in their place. Just to show how fucked up we are. As long as
they don
’
t go near
your old lady, Prez. Or your baby.
”

Jasper glanced at Trev.

Trev shut his eyes for a second. He
put his hands to the table and stood.
“
Trent,
it
’
s not that easy.
”

“
Yeah,
it is,
”
I said.
“
I don
’
t give a shit about my
father. I know you
’
re
new up here, Prez. We can grab a beer and I can tell you some shit that will
make you want to put a bullet in his head.
”

“
Trent,
it
’
s the three of us
alone for a reason,
”
he said.
“
I
’
m telling you it
’
s not that simple. Garvan
and Bryant don
’
t want
to kill your father.
”

“
Then
what the fuck do they want with him?
”
I asked.
“
He doesn
’
t know shit about the MC.
He doesn
’
t know shit
about me.
”

“
Goddammit,
”
Jasper said.
“
Trent, just listen for a
fucking second.
”

That second turned into two and
turned into another ten.

Trev stared me down. I waited for
an answer.

There was no answer.

Instead, the door to the meeting
room busted open and Tristan came rushing in.
“
I
’
m sorry, brothers, but we
have a big problem.
”

“
What?
”
Trev asked.

“
That
chick Trent brought
…”

“
Harlee?
”
I asked, my mind
instantly shifting gears. I was already running around the table.
“
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
Trent,
”
Jasper called out.
“
Wait.
”

I wasn
’
t waiting for anything or anyone.

Tristan put a hand out.
“
Whoa. Brother. She
’
s outside looking for you.
”

“
She
’
s here now?
”
I asked.

“
What
the fuck is she doing here?
”
Trev growled.

“
That
’
s not it,
”
Tristan said.

“
What
do you mean?
”
I
asked.

“
She
’
s got a gun,
”
Tristan said.
“
She
’
s holding a
prospect hostage.
”

**

I couldn
’
t believe my eyes. Harlee stood at the gate
with a gun to a prospect
’
s
head. The poor guy looked terrified and ready to cry. She was in a terrible
position too. The prospect could have easily gotten out of the situation but he
just sat there on his motorcycle with his hands up in the air.

I put my arms around her and told
everyone to stand the fuck down and stay the fuck away from her. Nobody knew
what I had proposed to Harlee.
Literally.
The plan was for her to stay
put in the apartment until after our meetings and then handle our business. I
needed to walk this thing lightly to make sure the MC didn
’
t want my head cut off
next.

When I got close enough, I grabbed
Harlee
’
s wrist and
lowered the weapon.
“
What
the hell are you trying to prove?
”

“
I
need to talk to you,
”
she said.

“
Give
me the gun.
”

I took the gun and gave it back to
the prospect. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him away, letting him stumble as I
kept walking. When I was far enough away I swung him around to face me. I
pulled him close, putting us nose to nose.

“
She
was supposed to stay,
”
I growled.

“
She
pulled a knife on me, Trent. She demanded. I was worried she would sneak out
and try running. I figured it was easier to bring her. To keep her safe, like
you wanted. I had four of us and made sure nobody was going to hurt her.
”

“
You
let her put that gun to your head, didn
’
t
you?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Why?
”

“
My
only move was to attack,
”
he said.
“
I
’
m not going to attack a
member
’
s old lady. I
’
m not going to touch her.
”

“
She
could have shot you.
”

“
That
was a risk worth taking.
”

“
Why,
prospect?
”

“
Because
she seems scared and pissed off,
”
he said.

“
Maybe
she
’
s coming to shoot
me.
”

“
If
so, then there
’
ll be
an opening at the table.
”

“
Are
you being a fucking smart ass with me?
”

“
Yes,
I am, sir.
”

I pushed the prospect away.
“
Thank you for keeping her
safe. Thank you for not making her jumpy. Now go inside and get a beer. Get
your dick sucked by a
reliever
. You did good, prospect. You have a
thirty minute break. Move.
”

I never saw a prospect run so fast
in my life.

I set my sights back on Harlee. I
walked right up to her and grabbed her by the waist. I lifted her up and walked
her to the gate. Her back hit against it and she gasped. I could feel the
monster building from deep inside me.

“
Are
you serious?
”
I
asked.

“
Are
you?
”
she asked back.
“
That
’
s your plan?
”

“
I
gave you two choices, darling,
”
I said.
“
I
’
m not being kind here. I
’
m not trying to be your
knight in shining armor. I
’
m
a dirty fucking outlaw. I
’
ll
never be anything but that. But you can stay and become my old lady for real
and have protection and family or you could ship your ass into Canada and hide
out. That
’
s what you
’
ve done to yourself. Not
me.
”