RIDING DARKNESS (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novella) (10 page)

eighteen.

They were a large group. The sight
alone was scary, but to be on one of the motorcycles, holding tight to Ares
’
s leather was something else.
She counted eight rides. Miller had been barking orders from the second they
got outside. He was pissed off that Brooke was there, but she refused to leave.
Miller made it very clear that her death was on Ares
’
s hands and nobody else
’
s. Ares argued back with the President of Back Down
Devil, making it known that if Brooke didn
’
t
go, then Armen would run.

The plan was pretty simple. They
were going to ride toward the warehouse. Everyone but Ares and Brooke would cut
off the road and come up through the back of the warehouse. Ares and Brooke
would approach the warehouse and make it seem like Brooke had set him up.

Brooke
’
s heart pounded. The plan seemed too easy and calm.
Bullets were going to fly. People were going to get hurt.
Armen was going to
die.

The motorcycles thundered through
Frelen and beyond the main part of town. It quickly went from a busy little
town to desolate areas. There were buildings in the distance and plenty of
forgotten about properties.

The ride felt longer than it
probably was. Brooke wondered what would happen if Armen was able to escape.
Would he leave? Would he come back and try to kidnap Brooke? For a second,
Brooke wondered if she could help her brother. Let him run until it all caught
up to him. But then she remembered the sight of her parents on the floor. Her
dear parents. They were good people. Honest people. They worked hard. They
loved their kids. And Armen took all that away. Because of his stupidity and
greed. His need to gamble and always come up big. But he always came up short
and then cheated to get away from it all.

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 falling. 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.