Authors: London Casey
Landon simply nodded.
He couldn
’
t
believe what he had just done. He just threw Avery right into a fire. But maybe
that
’
s what she needed. The
MC life was simple, you were either, in, out, or dead.
twenty-one.
Miller got the call and it was time to get Erik. The entire
bar erupted into cheers. Everyone was instructed to get their motorcycles ready
and load up within the next hour. Landon went to his room to get ready, and to
get Avery. Whether she knew it or not, she was coming for the ride.
Halfway down the hall, Landon heard Gaige yelling his name.
When he stopped, Gaige was whispering something to Emily. He squeezed her ass,
she giggled, turned red, and walked away.
“
You
ready to go soon?
”
Gaige
asked.
“
Always,
”
Landon said.
“
Hey,
are you nervous at all? Or at least thinking anything?
”
“
Yeah,
”
Landon said.
“
I
’
m
bringing Avery with me. Just in case.
”
“
What
did Miller
…
?
”
“
I
’
m not going to worry about that.
I have to keep her safe.
”
“
You don
’
t think she
’
ll be safe here?
”
“
I don
’
t know what to think anymore. I
just know that if Avery is on the back of my motorcycle, I
’
ll be able to keep her safe.
”
“
Okay,
”
Gaige said.
“
I was thinking the same for
Emily.
”
They bumped fists and went to get ready.
Landon found Avery sitting on the edge of the bed in his
room. When she saw him, she stood up and wrapped her arms around him. Landon
held Avery for a little bit, taking deep breaths, inhaling her scent.
“
What
’
s wrong?
”
he finally asked.
“
I can
’
t stop thinking about it,
”
Avery admitted.
“
After what happened in that
alley, I just know something else will happen.
”
“
And if
it does, would you rather be alone? Or with me?
”
Landon looked down at Avery. She touched his face, her thumb
grazing his bottom lip.
“
I want
to be with you,
”
Avery said.
“
But what if he just starts
shooting? What if he hurts someone in the MC?
”
Landon put a hand to Avery
’
s
face.
“
That
’
s the kind of shit that gets
people killed. Don
’
t worry,
sweetheart. Nothing is going to happen. You
’
re
riding with me today, okay? We
’
re
going to get Erik from the hospital. I promise you, once Erik is back and we
get a plan to get revenge on who tried to kill him, I
’
m going to personally find Bry and settle this.
”
“
Kill
him?
”
“
If that
’
s what you would want me to do,
”
Landon said.
“
Or I can take some guys with me
and trash his dive bar.
”
“
No,
”
Avery said.
“
I don
’
t ever want anyone to go in there. That
’
s where he
…
to me
…
all the time
…”
Landon saw tears well up in Avery
’
s pretty eyes. He wiped a thumb under her eye just
in time to catch a tear. He
’
d
never really seen a woman in pain or fear like this before. And if he had, he
never cared enough to remember it. But this hurt him, too. His mind flashed
images that he knew he shouldn
’
t
have allowed. He saw Avery on a bed, held down, forced to give herself to a
man. That not only angered Landon but it made him writhe with jealousy. He was
the only one who could command Avery now, especially in bed. The difference was
that Avery wanted him to fuck her, wanted him to order her to her knees to suck
him, because he was the one who protected and loved her.
Loved her.
That thought crashed hard.
Landon moved from Avery. He couldn
’
t look at her right now for a moment or else he
’
d slip and tell her.
“
Let
’
s just get through today,
”
Landon said.
“
I
’
m
sorry that you
’
re still
hurting from him. But I
’
m
right here, sweetheart. I
’
ll
give you a gun if you would feel safer. But I don
’
t
want you here while the rest of us are going to get Erik. There
’
s too much shit waiting to
happen. Come with me to pick up my brother, and then we can talk. Okay?
”
“
Okay.
”
Avery put her hands to Landon
’
s
back. It made Landon
’
s lip
curl because Avery posed a power threat to him.
“
Hey,
listen, there
’
s something
else I need,
”
Landon said,
trying to sound tough again.
“
What is
it?
”
Avery asked.
Landon looked over his shoulder.
“
I need you to pay off that debt you owe me and the
club. For Pop?
”
“
Okay
…”
“
There
’
s a guy we need to speak with,
”
Landon said.
“
But he
’
ll only travel alone if he
’
s within the company of a woman. He likes to pay
for strippers and pussy. Get my drift?
”
Avery
’
s
face looked a little pale.
“
You
want me
…”
“
I want
you to seduce him. Beg him to take you home to fuck you. Then when you get into
the car with him, you just have to keep him on a leash.
”
“
What if
he touches me?
”
Avery
asked.
Landon turned his head and closed his eyes.
Of course she would ask that fucking question.
Landon hadn
’
t
thought about Avery
’
s past
until now. What it would be like for her to have someone touching her. Grabbing
her. To have someone trying to force themselves on her.
“
He
’
s going to touch you,
”
Landon said.
“
He
’
s
going to make advances. You have to keep him happy but don
’
t let him do anything.
”
Landon made fists, trying not
to think about some fat businessman touching Avery.
“
You
’
re angry right now,
”
Avery said.
“
Your hands are in fists. Why?
What are you hiding?
”
Landon spun around and took Avery by the arms.
“
I
’
m
not hiding a fucking thing, sweetheart. Okay? I
’
m
telling you what you
’
re
going to do. I
’
m sorry for
what happened to you, but today is reality. Today matters. Without today, there
’
s no tomorrow. You want to be
here, sweetheart? Then you do this. You
’
ll
show your respect for the MC, and that goes a long way around here.
”
Landon hated the look of fear in Avery
’
s eyes. He hated himself for building
a wall like this. But what choice did he have right now? This was his life and if
Avery was going to be part of it then, this was simply the journey.
“
Whatever
you need,
”
Avery said.
“
I
’
ll
do it. I
’
ll help.
”
“
Good.
”
Landon went to his nightstand and made sure his guns were
loaded and that he was ready to go. With such a large crew riding to get Erik,
it sent with a message but it also left made them a large target. It would take
a complete and total idiot to try and take out the MC while they rode in a
large group, but that didn
’
t
mean it wouldn
’
t happen. However,
Eight Under hadn
’
t exactly
been making the smartest decisions lately.
“
Let
’
s go,
”
Landon said as he pulled on his leather cut.
He put a hand out for Avery. He led her through the clubhouse,
through the crowd of bikers as they finished their drinks, smokes, and stories.
Landon skipped all that bullshit and went right outside. That
’
s where the core of the MC
waited.
Miller, Gaige, Griffin, Nate, Shay, Jace, and Blaine. They
were all on their motorcycles, helmets on, faces stern. This was a celebration,
but it was a protection run at the same time. They needed to get Erik safely to
the clubhouse and then everyone could celebrate.
Landon walked to Miller and before he could say a word about
Avery, Landon noticed Emily on the back of Gaige
’
s
motorcycle.
“
You
good with this?
”
Landon
asked, nodding to Emily.
“
I need
everyone safe,
”
Miller
said.
“
If she
’
s going to help the MC, then we
all need to keep her safe.
”
“
She
wants to help, so it
’
s all
good.
”
“
Good.
We talked to Jonesy again and he
’
s
digging into that dump house. There
’
s
a lot there, brother. This thing isn
’
t
just a simple car bombing meant for Shay. I think it
’
s more. Much more. We need our last brother at the
table so we can prepare.
”
“
For
what?
”
Landon asked.
“
War,
”
Miller said
He started his motorcycle and the rest of the guys followed.
Landon got on his motorcycle, Avery behind him, and soon the
clubhouse started to empty out. These runs were done with a system in place.
The main table would ride first and in front of everyone else. The rest of the
guys would from a long line behind them. They were more for show, but if
something went down, the MC would have numbers.
The guys from the table rode side by side in rows of two.
Miller and Blaine.
Gaige and Nate.
Landon and Griffin.
Jace was the tail, solo.
Shay drove the car so he could take Erik back to the
clubhouse.
The ride through town was loud and fast. Landon looked down
more than once and saw Avery
’
s
fingers interlocked. He had fallen for her. Beyond fallen for her. Landon loved
Avery. And now he needed all this little shit to work out. He needed Erik back
with the MC. He needed Avery to prove to the MC what she could do. Then all
focus could be on revenge, and Landon could have Avery to himself forever.
Landon couldn
’
t
stop looking around, waiting for a mess to present itself. The last time Landon
was at the hospital, those punks from Eight Under had taken shots at them. This
time, however, there was nothing. Not even any traffic. Things never went this
smoothly.
At the hospital, they made a line with their motorcycles
basically almost on top of the front doors. Miller and Blaine got off their
motorcycles and went inside. Everyone else sat and waited, their engines
rumbling, waiting for their brother. When the doors opened and Erik came
walking out on his own, they all cheered and clapped. Erik had a visible limp
and his face still looked like hell, but damn, it was good to see him in his
leather cut. He was tall and thick. He could definitely take a beating
…
and a bombing.
Miller hugged Erik and pointed to the car. The look on Erik
’
s face wasn
’
t very happy right then, but he
knew there wasn
’
t a
motorcycle for him. Landon would have given up his ride for Erik, but he wasn
’
t sure if Erik had been
medically cleared to ride yet.
Shay rushed out of the car and hugged Erik, patting his
back. Erik spotted Landon and Landon gave a thumbs up. Erik nodded but didn
’
t smile. There was still a lot
of emotion and shit running through his head. That would begin to end when they
find who did this and gut the son of a bitch.
Erik slowly got into the car as Miller and Blaine got back
on their motorcycles. Miller gave the signal and it was time to travel back to
the MC lot. He and Blaine started up and Gaige and Nate rode next. This time, as
a sign of protection and love, Shay
’
s
car went next, followed by Landon, Griffin, and Jace. As they rode, Landon
found himself slipping back into thoughts about Avery. She had a fierce grip
around him. She unlocked her fingers and had one hand on his stomach and her
other hand just a little bit too far down. Landon was hard and it was
uncomfortable in his jeans while trying to ride. Landon gripped his motorcycle
tight and stared straight ahead. He couldn
’
t
ignore the thought in his head.