RUTHLESS HOLD (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel)

Miller walked behind the prospects and gave a nod to Trev.

“Let’s make it very clear,” Trev called out, “what happens to anyone who fucks with this club. I don’t want any doubts. I don’t want any questions. There are three things I love in this world. I love to eat. I love to fuck *. And I love to kill.”

Trev slashed the knife down the other hanging prospect’s shirt. The guy let out a weak yell and Trev ripped his shirt open, showing the open wound. He then sliced the knife up and down, shaking, almost hating himself for what had to be done. All he could think about was Eden and how innocent she still was. The outlaw life wasn’t for her. She needed to be saved and then she needed to get the hell out.

When Trev stopped, he turned and looked at the prospects. They were all in shock. One coughed and vomit shot from his mouth. That led to two more throwing up before Miller ordered the door to be open.

“Christ, it smells like the shit Blaine likes at night,” Miller said.

“Hey!” Blaine said. “That was before. I’m a changed man.”

Everyone laughed except the prospects.

Trev stepped forward and held the knife out to a prospect. “Lick the blood off the blade right now.”

The prospect licked his lips. He slowly opened his mouth.

“Hurry the fuck up, kid,” Trev growled. “We don’t have all goddamn day around here.”

The prospect stuck his tongue out and aimed it for the bloody blade of the knife. The tip of his tongue came within a centimeter of touching the blade and Trev took the knife away. He put a hand to the prospect’s chest and pushed him away.

“We’re not doing this again,” Trev said. “This life isn’t about looking cool. This life isn’t about getting laid. This life isn’t about riding a motorcycle and throwing the finger to police officers because you want to be tough. This life is about survival. We live on a different side of the law. We abide by our own justice. If you fuck with that, there’s no arrests. There’s no lawyers. There’s no judge. No jury. No fucking peers.” Trev held up the knife. “This knife is the judge. I’m the goddamn jury. And behind me…” Trev pointed the knife behind him at the two dead prospects. “… this is our justice. This is our proof of action. There’s no appeal. There’s no questioning. There’s no rehabilitation into becoming something different. You either handle this life or you handle our death.”

Trev grabbed the chair he’d been sitting in and took a seat. He cleaned off the blade with his t-shirt and then tucked it away.

“Now,” Blaine said, “you motherfuckers get to unchain these two traitors and prep them for their final resting place.”

“Come with us,” Jace said. “We’ll take those cuffs off you.”

Everyone left the room except Miller. He shut the door and stared right at Trev.

“What?” Trev asked.

“That was deep, brother.”

“Deep?”

“Yeah,” Miller said. “I didn’t expect that. I figured we’d scare them. But you went deep. That’s the kind of speech I’d give when patching prospects in.”

“Whatever,” Trev said. “I just can’t take anymore bullshit within this clubhouse. You know? I’m already prepping my mind for what’s going to happen with the Daurian charter. It’s going to get nasty as fuck with Rippy.”

“Yeah,” Miller said. “I said it before, Trev, and I mean it… you’d make a hell of a President.”

Trev rose up, blood on him still. “And I’ll ask it again… you giving up your patch, Miller?”

“Not unless I’m dead,” Miller said.

“I can chain you up and slit your throat,” Trev said and smiled.

“Anyone else in the world says something like that to me and I’d put a bullet between their eyes.”

Trev dipped his finger into a chunk of blood on his arm and then touched his forehead. “Aim for the red dot.”

Miller started to laugh. “This is why I need you around. You keep the rest of us on the edge of outlaw. Go clean yourself up, Trev.”

Miller opened the door and Trev whistled.

“Miller. Thanks for trusting me with this shit. The prospects. Eden. Everything. I’ll do whatever you need done to help with the charter bullshit. I’m not afraid to die, Miller. I visit Griffin’s grave a few times a week. I’m not afraid to be there. Don’t be afraid to put me on the front line of this.”

“Okay, Trev.”

“I’m serious. Everyone at the table has something or someone to lose. Christ, you have a kid and the woman of your dreams. The woman you’d been waiting for for years. Blaine has a woman and a baby. I’ve always run outlaw. From the time I was a kid until now. Put me up front, Miller. I’ll do anything to protect this charter, to protect you, and to protect everyone’s family.”

Miller grinned like a guy seeing his first set of tits. “Spoken like a true President.”

With that, Miller walked away.

Trev looked over his shoulder and admired his work. Then he shook his head.

No fucking way in hell I’ll ever be a President… unless it fell into my lap…

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