OWNED & UNTAMED (Back Down Devil MC #11) - London Casey Page 0,15
it?”
“No.”
“Fair enough.” Trev put his hand forward. “Fresh beer?”
“No.”
Trev kept the beer for himself. He stepped up next to me. He was the same height as me. I probably had a few extra pounds of earned muscle than he had. Yet he stood there so calm. Staring out into the night. It pissed me off.
“Whatever the fuck you think you have to do tonight, I would just go with it,” Trev said. “As long as you’re not going to hurt yourself physically. Or wind up in jail. But even if you do, we’ll back you up, Duke.”
Jesus Christ… did this guy really have to be that good of a President?
“Anything else, Prez?” I asked.
Trev put a hand to my shoulder; my torn up shoulder. His thumb dug into the wound and I stood there, accepting the pain.
“Your brothers have your back,” he said. “Never forget that. But don’t ever put a broken bottle to another brother’s throat without good cause. We all know your dick is huge. No need to act like some fucking dumb ass high school jock.”
Trev walked away.
That was true command. I respected him for that. Coming up to Daurian and taking over the mess Ripper left.
If I wasn’t going to fuck Cassie… or drink beer… there was only one thing to do.
Ride.
And I knew where I would end up if I got on that open road.
I had to see Belle.
eight.
(belle)
I heard Jim’s voice mumbling from the kitchen. It wasn’t my place to just barge in and snoop on him. Yeah, it was one big house but I did try my best to respect privacy. But I just had to make sure he was okay. I snuck into his bathroom and opened the cabinet. I counted the pill bottles.
All good.
I grabbed the heaviest pain killer and twisted off the cap. I looked inside and tried to do my best mental count. It didn’t look like there was a lot missing. Other than his normal dosage.
I put the cap back on and stuck it in the cabinet. I shut the door and saw the reflection of Jim as he stood behind me.
I let out a loud scream and jumped.
When I spun around, Jim was still there, his phone to his ear.
“We’ll finish up tomorrow,” he said and ended the call.
“Jim,” I said.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“You know what I’m doing.”
“Making sure I’m not trying to kill myself?” Jim asked.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered. “I have to…”
“Yeah, right,” Jim said.
He turned and walked away. I went after him. “Who were you talking to?”
“Just taking care of myself, sis. Just like you wanted me to do.”
“What does that mean?”
Jim paused and looked over his shoulder. “My business. Not yours.”
I followed him to the kitchen and I saw a bottle of whiskey on the table. There was a folder open with papers in it. Jim closed the folder and grabbed the bottle of whiskey. He drank from it and walked away with the folder.
I considered pestering Jim but I took it for face value. If he was doing something on his own for himself that had to be a good thing. A good sign. So I left it be.
My plans shifted. I wanted a hot bath, a glass of wine, and a good night of sleep. I had a meeting the next day at one of the properties. At least it was something to do.
I made it to the steps when I heard an all too familiar sound. My hand on the post, one foot on the first step. I shut my eyes and shook my head, telling myself it was impossible. No way a motorcycle was coming anywhere near our road. Hell, the last time a motorcycle was here…
The sound got louder.
I turned and saw a flash of light through the glass of the front door. I hurried to tear it open as the motorcycle came to a stop. I flicked on the porch light, which didn’t help me see any better, and I opened the door.
My foot touched the porch as a towering figure climbed off the motorcycle. He took off his helmet and started to walk forward, without fear, like he owned the house.
I tried to find something to say but the second I actually saw him in the pale light of the porch, I lost my breath.
Duke was here.
**
I thought I was going to collapse. I put my hands to the doorway as Duke stopped at the second step. Even there he was already taller than