RUTHLESS HOLD (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (29 page)

Then there was silence. Nobody
responded to the question.

Eden started to cry.

Bad enough she had been forced into
this life, she now had to face the possibility of losing someone she loved.

Her mother went to her side and
rubbed her back.
“
It
’
s what we all do, sweetie. We
all know the risk of survival. I
’
m
sorry it has to be this way.
”

Trev came forward. He took Eden
’
s hand and kissed it.
“
I
’
m
not going to get killed.
”

“
You
can
’
t promise me that.
”

“
Of
course I can
’
t. But I
’
m not going up there with that
fucking thought in my head. And you
’
re
not going to wait down here thinking the same. You
’
re going to spend time with Jenn, your mother. You
’
re going to wait for me. And I
’
m going to come back and this
club is going to be on the right path again. No bullshit here. No bullshit up
north.
”

“
Who
’
s going to run the club then?
”
Eden asked.

Trev smiled. He touched Eden
’
s cheek.
“
I don
’
t
know and I don
’
t care. That
’
s up to Miller and Gaige to
decide. Maybe he
’
ll move
Gaige up north. Maybe he
’
ll
give the patch to someone up in Daurian that
’
s
worthy. Jasper, maybe. That
’
s
not my problem. I promised Miller I would be on the front line for this thing.
”

“
Send
someone else!
”
Eden cried
out.
“
You
’
ve done enough.
”

“
Eden,
”
Jenn whispered.

“
No,
”
Eden said. She broke away.
“
Fuck you. You
’
re not my mother. You abandoned
me. You couldn
’
t even stand
up for yourself!
”

Eden ran from the kitchen, a fiery
anger in her heart. She ran toward the bedroom and tried to slam the door. Trev
was there, catching the door.

“
Go
away,
”
Eden said.

“
That
I won
’
t do,
”
Trev said.

“
That
’
s exactly what you
’
re going to do. You
’
re leaving me.
”

Trev stepped up behind Eden. He put
his hands to her hips. His body touched hers. She was still angry, but his
touch was soothing. Very soothing.

“
I
’
m the only one who can do this,
”
Trev said.
“
I
’
ve
been outlaw before. It makes sense. Everyone knows I
’
m a transplant. Everyone knows I
’
m a hot head. Anyone else it
looks funny. With me, I can sell it. I will sell it. I
’
m doing this for the MC. For you and me, beautiful.
I
’
m also doing it for your
parents. Okay?
”

Eden looked back at Trev.
“
Why?
”

“
Because
if someone told me I couldn
’
t
love you the way I want, I wouldn
’
t
want to live. Yet that
’
s
what happened to Griffin and Jenn. And they created life and had no real choice
but to give you up to protect you. I want to avenge that feeling. I don
’
t believe for a second that
Griffin was trying to hurt the club. I want to clear his name and I want Ripper
to suffer for all he
’
s
done.
”

Trev slid a hand around to Eden
’
s stomach. She put her hand to
his.
“
Trev, it
’
s so dangerous.
”

“
Everything
in life is dangerous. Falling in love with you is dangerous. I
’
m not afraid of danger,
beautiful. I
’
m not afraid
of falling in love with you either. Your mother needs you right now.
”

“
I
said some bad stuff to her.
”

“
So
what? It
’
s just words.
Prove your actions. That
’
s
what I
’
m doing.
”
Trev kissed Eden.
“
I have to go to a meeting. Then
I
’
ll be back.
”

“
Trev,
when is this happening?
”

Trev didn
’
t respond right away.

Eden shook her head and slowly
turned around.
“
No. Don
’
t
…”

“
It
has to be.
”

“
Tonight?
”

“
Ripper
can
’
t have time to process
anything. The story I tell has to be believable.
”

“
You
’
re leaving tonight.
”

“
Yes,
beautiful. Tonight.
”

Eden felt her heart twisting,
crushing.

Trev walked her from the bedroom
back to the kitchen. There waited Jenn with open arms.

“
Come
here, sweetie. Let Momma take care of you.
”

Eden went to her mother and
wept.

_

twenty-two.

Trev reached for Eden
’
s back and Jenn waved him off.
Just
go
…
she
’
ll be fine.

Jenn mouthed the words and then
smiled.

Trev turned and left the apartment.
He stood at the railing and looked across the entire lot. This was all supposed
to be temporary. But it became home. Same thing with Eden. She was supposed to
be temporary. But she became home.

As Trev walked the steps to go to
the clubhouse, his heart pounded hard in his chest. He touched his chest and
thought about the ink Eden had given him. Christ, she had given him so much
more than just that.

For the first time ever, Trev
was nervous about a mission
…
because now he had something to lose.

*

The table was solemn. Everyone
understood the decision and understood the risk. More than that, Trev knew it
was a hard thing for everyone to accept to put the seat back in risk of being
empty again. Trev was prepared for death, even if he hated it now because of
Eden. At the door to the conference room, that
’
s
where all emotion and romance was stripped away. This was about business. The
survival of the MC and the future of the MC.

“
Jenn
has made it very clear we have a problem,
”
Gaige said.
“
Ripper is
working behind the MC. She
’
s
heard conversations of guns, talks with the O
’
Nuall
family, and she heard a confrontation between Ripper and Giovanni. It looks
like Ripper took out his own guy and is pushing down on the Frelen charter.
”

“
Aye,
”
Shay said, raising his hand.
“
Not to go against anything we
’
re saying, but is it wise to
take the words of a beaten up old lady?
”

“
Fuck,
bro,
”
Erik said.
“
Do you get
…”

“
He
’
s right,
”
Miller said.
“
We
’
re not going to start navigating
these waters with the words of an old lady.
”
Miller put a hand up as Trev was about to explode.
“
But we have a plan. And we have a vote to take.
”

Miller gave a nod to Trev.

All eyes were on him.

“
I
’
m going to give up my cut,
”
Trev said.

Everyone murmured.

“
What
are you talking about?
”
Shay asked.

“
I
’
m going to give up my cut and
head north. I can convince Ripper shit is bad here. He
’
s after this club. He doesn
’
t want Miller as President. He wants one big
charter and he wants to run it through a deal with the O
’
Nuall family. Now, I don
’
t have proof of that. It
’
s all words. Shay and Miller bring up points about
that with old ladies. But something bad is going to happen if we don
’
t act. I
’
ll go north and give everything Ripper wants. I
’
ll stand by him and watch as he
makes the calls. I
’
ll see
the proof.
”

“
Jesus
Christ, brother,
”
Blaine
said.
“
That
’
s sabotage. I mean, the risk of
yourself
…”
Blaine looked at
Miller.
“
This risk here for
us. Trying to set up not just another brother but a charter President.
”

“
A
President who has lost his mind,
”
Gaige said.

“
Maybe
he has the right,
”
Landon
said.
“
Shit. Jenn got
pregnant by Griffin. I mean, do we know what Ripper actually knows? He
’
s been living with that
…”

“
Griffin
is dead,
”
Trev said.
“
Let
’
s not forget that. If his name is fucked in all
this, then we deal with that later. If his name is clear, then he rests
peacefully as is. This is about Ripper. Giovanni
’
s
death doesn
’
t add up. There
’
s proof that he had a problem
with Giovanni. The rest of his table is unsure of who to believe. This is our
chance to figure it out.
”

“
And
if Ripper is clear?
”
Erik
asked.
“
I mean, that will
put a target on us. Charter to charter. A war.
”

“
That
’
s a risk I
’
m going to take,
”
Miller said.
“
And if that risk causes a war
and I
’
m wrong, then I will
give up my patch. I
’
ll cut
it off and hand it to my VP. Then you can vote on my fate. Reaper or outlaw.
How
’
s that for fucking
proof?
”

The table went silent again.

“
That
’
s not going to happen though,
”
Gaige said.
“
I
’
ve
talked to Jasper. He
’
s
convinced something is wrong.
”

“
Then
let it be his problem,
”
Jace said.

“
It
’
s our goddamn problem,
”
Miller said.
“
When he
’
s up there making this charter look bad. When he
’
s trying to turn the charter
against its own club. And if he
’
s
dealing with the Irish and he killed Giovanni
…”

“
We
vote for the reaper right now,
”
Gaige said.
“
If Trev finds
that Ripper has been dealing with the O
’
Nuall
family and killed Giovanni, he meets the reaper.
”

“
We
vote now,
”
Miller said.
“
Trev is leaving soon. Tonight.
”

“
Christ,
”
Blaine said.
“
Tonight, brother?
”

“
Has
to look legit,
”
Trev said.
“
I make it look like that when
Jenn showed up and I learned of who Eden was, I threw a fit. I took on Miller
and Gaige and they stripped me, kicking me out. I have to sell this hard. I
believe in this, guys. I
’
m
willing to be there alone to prove this. To prove I deserve this seat. And,
shit, this is my way of honoring Griffin.
”

“
I
vote yes,
”
Gaige said.

“
Yes,
”
Trev said.

“
Okay,
”
Nate said.

“
Fucking
hell,
”
Shay said.
“
Aye. For the MC.
”

“
Yes,
”
Erik said.

Landon rubbed his chin. He looked
at Trev. Slowly, he nodded.
“
Okay,
yeah.
”

“
Fine,
”
Jace said.
“
Yes.
”

Blaine was last. He pointed to
Trev.
“
You better come back
here in one piece. I am not watching your ass get tossed into a hole. You got
me?
”