Devil May Care (Four Horsemen MC Book 4) (27 page)

 “Oh, fuck. I never wanted this for you, I’m not worth it. Eddie, I know I’m the last person in the world you’d listen to right now, but you can’t tie yourself to this man. He’ll get you killed.”

Beauregard leaned up against the wall, looking Captain up and down, like he was for sale.  “Bondage is a good look for you. Maybe you and the little lady should try it out now and then?”

“Fuck you.”

“Here I am, ridin’ to your rescue like some sort of white hat hero in a Western and you’re castin’ aspersions on my character?”

“Shut up! Both of you,” she growled.  Right now, she felt like blowing a hole in Beauregard.

“I know you hate me,” Captain asked. “But—"

Eddie seized his shoulders. “I don’t hate you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pissed at you. But I…love you.” She wished she hated him. It would be so much easier, cleaner.

He stared at her, his mouth hanging open. “You love me?”

 “Yeah,” she said softly. “I love you, you ass. Despite everythin’. We’ve been friends forever, and now we’re lovers. Hell, I think I’ve loved you for years and just couldn’t see it.”

“And what about my fuck up?” he asked, eyeing Beauregard.

“A fuck up is putting it mildly.  So you aren’t taking the easy way out . You don’t get to go out a willing victim for your cause. You have to make this up to me and keep on living. For me and for your daughter.” She bit the inside of her cheek.  “But I get why you did it. You were a kid doin’ the best you could under the circumstances. Though, I’m less forgiving about the rest. You should have told me all this sooner.  And I don’t trust you the way I used to.”

His face fell. “You don’t?”

“No, that’s somethin’ you’ll have to earn back. Piece by piece. And it won’t be easy, it might be months or years before I trust you again.”

Beauregard watched everything, not even bothering to disguise his interest. All that was missing was a bowl of popcorn in his grasp. Eddie did her best to ignore him.

Captain stared at the ground. “I don’t blame you and I deserve that. But I turned myself into the club, confessed everything, and got all this shit out in the open. I can’t live with it hangin’ over my head anymore.”

She really wished he hadn’t. “Yeah? Well, it won’t be. They’re gonna vote to kill you.”

He looked her in the eye. “I know.”

She sighed. “What’s the point? It won’t bring back Joker. It won’t restore the old club, and frankly, I don’t want it back. Most of those guys were dicks.”

He nodded. “But I still betrayed them.”

“To save them,” she said. “From Joker, maybe from themselves. Who knows how many of them would have overdosed or gotten killed in a gun battle?”

“I don’t have any proof, Eddie. Just my word and I’ve already established myself as a liar.”

“Yeah, well, I found someone with evidence.” She nodded in Beauregard’s direction.

He smoothed his hair back. “And I think that’s my cue. Are we gonna stand out in the hall all day while you two whisper sweet nothings, or are we gonna do this?”

Eddie glared at him. “Fuck off.”

The man had the audacity to laugh. “Is that any way to talk to your knight in shining armor?”

“You’ve lost your fuckin’ mind. You extorted an agreement out of me. You’re not heroic. Not even remotely.”

“I’m still the hero of this piece.”

Eddie shrugged. She supposed, in his really twisted way, he was. At the very least, he’d save Captain. “Let’s do this, before I lose my nerve.”

“Please don’t!” Captain said. “Don’t tie yourself to this man. I’m not worth it!”

“I told you, it’s already done. I’ve made my choice.”

He shook his head. “What do you mean?”

Beauregard smirked. “It means I’ve got her over a DNA barrel, so back off, boyfriend. She and I are about to ride to your rescue.”

Eddie sucked in a deep breath, knocked briefly on the boardroom door, and turned to Beauregard. “Wait for me.”

Then, she walked in.

Eddie found Shep seated at the head of the table, where Captain would have normally been and his face was a grim mask. 

He glanced at her. “We’re about to make a decision. You can’t be here.”

 “I’m sorry about barging in, but I have some info you need before you vote.”

He sighed, then waved his hand. “Okay then. Tell us.”

“Actually, its somethin’ you gotta see and I’m sorry about this, but Beauregard is gonna be conducting this show and tell.”

There was a general uproar in the room – chairs slid back, muttered curses, and Coyote was shoutin’ something about Harry Potter.

Beauregard sauntered in, head held high, a smirk on his handsome face.
Asshole.
  He ambled over to Shepherd. “Evenin, Shep’.” Then, he tapped the book. “In my hot little hand, is my mother’s journal. The one she kept the year your uncle and the rest of the club got into some trouble with the authorities,” he drawled.

Shep reached for it, but Beauregard held it just out of his grasp. “Not so fast. I need to know you’ll honor the agreement I made with Eddie.”

“I told you
, we have a deal,” she reminded him through clenched teeth.

“As I said, I’m gonna need some assurances.” He scanned the table. “Which one of you boys is takin’ over for Captain?”

Cowboy spoke up. “We ain’t exactly decided, but it’s most likely Shep.”

“That so?” Beauregard turned to Shep. “You the new sheriff?”

“You can just consider me judge, jury, and executioner for now.” Shep stood, going-to-toe with Beauregard. “What deal?”

 Eddie held her breath.

Beauregard watched her. It was predatory, the kind a fox gave a hen before he chomped down on the eggs she’d been protecting. “Trust me. If you care about your auntie at all, you’ll honor our deal.”

Silence. And then a chorus of clicks as the boys cocked their weapons.

Byron laughed, holding up his hands. “Easy now. I came here as a courtesy, to help Eddie here out.”

“What. Fucking. Deal,” Shep gritted out.

“We made a bargain,” Beauregard hedged.

“It’s more like blackmail than a deal,” Eddie explained. “I came to the manor to bargain for the journal and one thing led to another.  It ended with him shooting an FBI agent with my gun.”

Without warning, Shep backed Beauregard against the wall, his forearm pressed hard against the other man’s windpipe. “You’re tryin’ to set her up for murder, you piece of shit? I’ll—“

“What?” Byron choked out. “You can’t do a fuckin’ thing about it. The gun’s safe in my vault and the body is hidden by now.”

“You'd do well to remember what I told you about wrath." Shep smiled and Eddie hadn't seen so much malice in an expression since Joker had been alive. "My guns are right here and I don't care if they find
your
body."

Axel and Ryker stood, weapons raised as if to emphasize his point.

 “If I don’t walk out of here, my people will make sure the FBI gets all the evidence. So basically? Your ass is mine,” Beauregard said.  “You’ll cooperate, or she’ll go down for murder.” He paused. “Of a fed.” Yet, another dramatic pause. “In Texas.”

Lone Star juries weren’t exactly known for their leniency when it came to imposing a death sentence. In fact, if they had DNA evidence, the kind you might find on a bullet or a body, you went straight to the front of the line.

Axel cleared his throat. “Shep!”

“Fuck,” Shep said. He glanced at Axel and Ryker who looked stricken. Yeah, she’d really fucked up this time.

 Shep released Beauregard, who sucked in air like an Olympic swimmer.

Beauregard gestured to the book. “Read ‘em and weep.”

Shep picked it up, flipped it open.

“I took the liberty of markin’ some pages you might find interestin’,” Beauregard muttered. “I hope you ain’t the shy sort, because my momma held nothin’ back.”

Grimly, the VP began to read aloud and Eddie plugged her ears. Yes, part of her was really curious. What the fuck had possessed Joker? But hearing a smutty version of events from his mistress would only bring her pain. She’d probably never get the answers she deserved.  

When Shep finished, the brothers all got real quiet, evidently lettin’ it sink in.

“We gotta vote now,” Shep said. He glanced at Eddie and Beauregard. “You two wait outside.”

“Actually, I’ll be on my merry,” Byron said. “Once I know we’re all squared away?”

“We gotta vote that out, too, but I don’t think we got much of a choice,” Shep said, glancing at the brothers.

All the men at the table nodded. Shit. Whatever fallout resulted from this alliance with Beauregard would be all her fault. She should have been more careful.

Well, shoulda, woulda, coulda.

No sense in cryin’ over it now. It was done and they were fucked. She’d worry about this another time. For now, she just hoped she saved Captain’s life.

Shep caught Beauregard's eyes. "You and me, we got a reckoning coming."

He smiled. "Looking forward to it.”

Beauregard held the door for her and once more they stood in the hallway on opposite sides. Captain still sat on the bench and he was busy glaring at Beauregard.

“Well, hot damn,” Byron said, clasping his hands together. “Looks like we’re in business.” He raised a brow at Eddie. “All thanks to you.”

She ran a palm down her face. “I hate you so much.”

He chuckled. “And here I was thinkin’ about how much I like you.”

“Before he went in, he told me about the deal you made,” Captain said, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry, Eddie.”

“Shh. Don’t be,” she said softly. “It’s worth it, if it saves you.”

Beauregard prowled towards her, but she refused to budge from the spot. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of looking even remotely nervous.

“Stay the fuck away from her,” Captain ordered.

“Little late now, don’t you think?” He got closer to her, almost whispering.  “I told you the very first time we talked, you’d be making a deal with the devil. And I was right.” He gave her a mocking bow, before he sauntered away from them.  “See you real soon, partner,” he called over his shoulder.

Shit. He’s the only one in the whole situation, who came out a winner.

W
hat a bastard.

 “Thanks for the warning!” she called, before turning her attention back to Captain.

“I can’t stand it. You’re in this mess because of me,” Captain said. “This is a fuck up of monumental proportions.”

“No, this isn’t just you. The whole thing is messed up. Lots of people had a part in it. Nothin’ any of us could have done about it.” She offered him a smile. “But if it helps at all, I think they’re voting in there to save your life.”

He sank to the bench and his shoulders drooped.

Eddie hit her knees in front of him, pressed her forehead against his. “And whatever the cost? To me, or to the club? It’s worth it. I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.”

“How can you say that? After what I did?”

“Because you’re a good man and you spent the years at my side, makin’ this club a better place.”

Just then, Axel opened the door and motioned them in.

They did, taking seats at the end of the table. Eddie wondered what that was like for Captain. He’d spent so many years at the head of the table. As president. And now, he was here trying to stay alive.

Axel now sat at the head. “I was just voted in as president.”

“Congratulations,” Captain whispered.

“Congratulations,” she said. Eddie couldn’t help but be proud of her son.

And while Captain had wanted to step down, she knew he hadn’t wanted it like this. She squeezed his hand under the table. “And Captain?” she asked, holding her breath for the answer.

“Is still a member.” Axel stared at Captain, hard. “We decided busting your rank was enough of a punishment for your actions. We still feel you should have tried everything else before approaching the feds. But, we ultimately can’t be sorry for how the club changed. We’re better, stronger than we were, thanks to you. For that, we owe you a debt.”

Captain leaned back in his chair, and the tension left his shoulders and back.  He nearly looked boneless.

“I call this meeting to an end,” Axel said, smacking the gavel against it with a finality that didn’t escape her. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Duke rounded the table and removed the ties, then clapped Captain on the shoulder. “Glad I didn’t have to corpsify you, brother.”

 Captain grabbed his wrists, rubbing at the pink lines on them. “Yeah, me, too.”

“Don’t betray us again. Ain’t gonna be no more chances.” Duke’s eyes were flat and black, bereft of any kindness.

Eddie tensed, a chill running down her spine.

 “I won’t,” Captain said, bowing his head. “I promise.”

Duke shuffled off and then Steele stopped at his chair, as well.

“You wanna play some pool? Ain’t our boss no more, no need to be standoffish.”

“Yeah, I’m just one of the brothers, now.” A pleased smile curled Captain’s lips. “I can’t today, Steele, but we’ll play soon. I promise.”

Seemingly satisfied, Steele filed out with the rest of the brothers. Eddie wrapped an arm around Captain and they ambled out together.

Dear God, what a tumultuous day. 

In the parking lot, he grasped her by the waist and pulled her into a bear hug, as he peppered kisses on her cheeks and then her mouth. “You saved my life, woman.”

“My pleasure.” She grinned. “Since you’ll be around for the next couple of decades, what are you gonna do with yourself? Because you aren’t president, you might actually get to have a life of your own.”

He thought about it a moment. “Well, first things first. I need to see Lex and let her know I’m okay.”

“Good idea. She was worried about you.”

“And then, I’m taking some time off. I have a need to get the hell out of Hell for a few days.”

“God, that sounds good.” After the warehouse and the bombshell he dropped, the FBI agent, and a near death scare for Captain, she needed a vacation.

“I was hopin’ you’d say that.  Because I promised to take you on a date. So, pack your bags, we’re going to Corpus Christi together.”

Hmm. Just the sand and the sea and uninterrupted time with Captain. It sounded like heaven. “Let’s go.”