SAVAGE LOVE (A Back Down Devil MC Romance Novel) (9 page)

But Jerry was right there, right on
top of her. His hands clawing at her shoulders, the weight of his body crushing
her to the floor.

“
You
like this?
”
he asked.
“
You like me holding you down?
You fuck. You want to fucking leave me?
”

“
Yes,
”
Ella said. She threw her head
back, smashing into Jerry
’
s
mouth.
“
I hate you!
”

Jerry groaned again.

For a second, Ella thought she had
a chance. She felt Jerry
’
s
body lift off her.

“
You
’
re going to pay for that. You
’
re going to pay for everything.
”

Ella started to turn her head and
caught sight of Jerry
’
s
boot. She tried to scream but had no chance. Jerry
’
s boot hit the back of her head, driving her face
to the hard, tiled floor.

All Ella could remember was some
kind of
pop
sound.

Then there was complete silence.
Complete darkness.

When Ella could move again, she
popped up and let out a cry. She looked at the floor and saw blood. Her hands
shook and she put them to the floor and pushed up. She got to her knees, trying
to brace herself, balance herself.

“
No,
”
she whispered.

She touched her face and it hurt.
Reaching up, she grabbed the counter and pulled herself up. She was able to
keep her balance, which was good. Her face throbbed but there wasn
’
t blood dripping. As Ella
stepped forward, she let go of the counter. Her legs almost gave out, but she
demanded her body to work. Instinct had kicked in and she knew that Jerry had
Beck.

He has my baby. My son.

Ella got to the stairs and climbed
them. The room on the right at the end of the hall was Beck
’
s room. The door had been shut;
now it was open a crack. Just seeing that gave Ella a sudden burst of strength
and extreme willpower. She ran to the room and grabbed the door, opening it the
rest of the way.

There was Jerry, sitting in the
rocking chair. Beck cradled in his arms.

Ella couldn
’
t remember the last time Jerry held Beck.

But there he was, rocking Beck back
and forth.

When he looked at Ella, his eyes
were dark, evil, sick. He was a far changed man and now he was holding the
baby.

“
Your
face is bleeding,
”
Jerry
said with a grin.

“
You
can go to jail for what you did.
”

“
Seriously?
You really think anyone would believe you? Or give a damn?
”

“
Give
me Beck.
”

“
It
’
s my son, right?
”

“
It?
Beck is not an
it
.
”

“
So
cute and innocent,
”
Jerry
said.
“
Kind of like what
you used to be. Right, Ella?
”

“
Stop
this,
”
Ella said.
“
Beck has nothing to do with
this. This is between us. You
’
re
mad at me for filing papers. I never
…”

“
That
’
s what you want,
”
Jerry said. He slowly stood.
“
After everything I
’
ve done for you. Given to you.
This house. A marriage. The front yard and back yard bullshit. The neighborhood
where there
’
s no fucking
crime. I even gave you a baby.
”

“
You
gave me a baby?
”
Ella
asked.
“
We had a baby.
”

“
No,
Ella. You had a baby. And if I knew you were going to close up on me and turn
into this, I would have pulled out or made you take care of this a long time
ago.
”

Ella gasped. She felt like someone
had punched her in the stomach.

“
Get
out of here,
”
Ella said.

“
This
is my house.
”

“
Then
I
’
ll leave you.
”

“
You
want to go that bad?
”
Jerry
asked.
“
Pack a bag, bitch.
”

“
Give
me my son.
”

Jerry looked down at Beck and
grinned.
“
I guess it
’
s for the better. He is kind of
ugly.
”

Beck let out a little wail and
Jerry held him out. Gently, Ella took the baby. She pulled him tight to her
chest, feeling relieved. She could take the abuse, but Beck deserved nothing of
the like.

Jerry then stroked Ella
’
s cheek. Her good cheek, the one
that wasn
’
t swollen. His fingers
slipped behind her neck and he pulled her forward. Ella tried to resist for a
few seconds but Jerry was too strong. He pulled her forehead to his lips.

He kissed her.
“
Ella. What the fuck happened?
”

“
I
don
’
t know who you are,
”
Ella whispered.
“
You
’
re so hidden, Jerry. You
’
re lost. I
…”

“
No,
no, no,
”
Jerry whispered.
“
You stop talking right now.
Because I
’
m going to
explain very clearly.
”

Just like that, Jerry tightened his
grip on the back of Ella
’
s
neck. He showed his teeth like a vicious animal, ready to attack. More than
once Ella feared Jerry would have a way to kill her and get rid of her and be
able to get away with it. He had the job, the power, and worse than that, he
had the connections to make that happen.

“
You
’
re going to walk out of this room
with that baby. You
’
re
going to pack a bag. Hell, make it two. Whatever you can fucking carry out of
here. While you do that I
’
m
going to double check my gun, make sure it
’
s
ready. You know why?
”

Ella didn
’
t respond.

“
Because
if you don
’
t have yourself
and that baby out of here in five minutes, I
’
ll
kill you. And
it
.
”

Jerry kissed Ella
’
s forehead again and then broke
away from her. He walked away slow, going down the stairs, disappearing.

Ella didn
’
t waste a second because she knew Jerry wasn
’
t joking.

Charging into the master bedroom,
she put Beck on the bed. Her heart wanted to weep but her mind knew there wasn
’
t time now for that. She grabbed
a bag from the closet.
It was already packed.
She had packed it weeks
ago and left it there, hidden. It had enough clothing for her and for Beck to
last a long while. She then ran to Beck
’
s
nursery to get diapers, wipes, powder, bottles, and his diaper bag. There were
some toys and a blanket or two.

Carrying a baby in one arm and bags
in the other, Ella nibbled on her tongue as she took down the stairs, trying to
keep her emotions in check, along with her balance. She walked to the door and
looked back, once, and saw Jerry standing there with his gun. The keys to the
car were hung up.

Ella shut the door and felt her
eyes fill with tears.

Her mind asked,
has it been five
minutes yet?

She didn
’
t know and wasn
’
t
going to test the waters. She hurried to the car.

Ella backed down the driveway and
drove away, knowing she would probably never see the house again. At the first
stop sign, she sat there longer than the required two seconds. She gripped the
wheel tight and wept as silent as she could. In the backseat, baby Beck kicked
and played with a toy, making baby noises.

He knows nothing but innocence.

Yet the only place Ella knew to go
right now was anything but innocent.

nine.

Blaine tied the final piece of rope
around the Coast Road MC member
’
s
hand. Gaige stood behind the chair with a gun to the guy
’
s head. Miller finished a smoke and tossed it to
the concrete floor, scattering glowing embers. Nate made fists, standing next
to Jace and Landon.

They caught the fucking prick less
than a quarter mile from the south side of the lot. Lots of junker cars and
whatnot back there. Lots of bodies buried there too. No reason for anyone to be
there. Especially a guy running around in a black t-shirt.

Nate found the Coast Road MC cut
under the hood of a car.

The guy sat there, rope in his
mouth, eyes wide. The veins in his arms were thick like pipes, throbbing with
fear and whatever drugs the asshole pumped into himself to look so big and
tough.

Miller made a fist and released it.
“
I have to say
…
for all the
‘
roids you take, you fell hard,
man. Really fucking hard. One punch from a guy like me.
”

“
Let
me do it,
”
Gaige said.
“
Let me fucking do it, Miller.
”

“
Hold
up,
”
Miller said. He
grabbed a chair and sat down. He was just a few feet away from the guy.
“
Take the rope out of his mouth.
”

Gaige loosened the rope and let it
fall down the guy
’
s neck.

“
That
better?
”
Miller asked.

“
Fuck
you,
”
the guy said.

“
Tell
me your name.
”

“
Fuck
you.
”

“
Fuck
me,
”
Miller said.
“
They all say that. Fuck me. Fuck
me. Fuck me.
”
Miller put
his hand out and nodded to Landon.
“
Give
me the cut.
”

Landon handed Miller the Coast Road
MC leather cut. It was complete disrespect to touch another man
’
s cut. It was even worse to
touch another MC
’
s cut.

“
Smells
like shit,
”
Miller said.
“
Smells like scum.
”
Miller dropped the cut and then
put a foot on it.

“
You
fucking piece of shit,
”
the
guy said.
“
You step on my cut?
I
’
ll step on your fucking
throat.
”

Miller grinned.
“
Tough guy. You were fucking
around my lot. My territory. I bet you have others waiting, huh? Coming around
in the dark. Taking off your cut so we wouldn
’
t
know. The fake biceps gave it away, asshole.
”

Miller stood up. He walked to the
table and grabbed a can of gasoline and a lighter. He poured gas on the leather
cut and made a small line. He lit the gasoline on fire and the leather cut
burst into flames.

The Coast Road MC guy started to
yell and thrash.
“
Let me
go! I
’
ll fucking kill you!
”

“
Blaine, put this out,
”
Miller said.

Blaine stepped to the fire and
unzipped his jeans. He started to piss on the fire, putting it out with a
sizzle sound and smoke climbing.

“
There
’
s your cut,
”
Miller said.
“
Your guys will appreciate that.
Along with your fucking head, because that
’
s
all they
’
re going to get
back.
”

Miller hurried forward and took out
a knife. He put it to the guy
’
s
throat and started to cut.

“
Miller!
Miller!
”

Miller looked back and gritted his
teeth. It was Erik standing in the doorway.

“
What
the hell do you want?
”
Miller asked.

“
There
’
s someone here for you.
”

“
What?
”

“
A
woman is here.
”

“
For
me?
”

“
Yeah.
She
’
s at the gate. She
’
s crying, man.
”

“
Who
is it?
”

“
I
don
’
t know,
”
Erik said.
“
But she
’
s got a baby with her.
”

Miller backed away from the Coast
Road MC guy. He just stared at Erik.

A woman. With a baby.

A hand touched Miller
’
s shoulder.
“
Hey, brother, go to it.
”
Blaine put a hand to Miller
’
s wrist.
“
Give me the knife. I
’
ll
wrap this up here.
”

Miller let the knife go and Blaine took it. He then moved forward, eyes on Erik, on the door. Behind him, he heard Blaine.

“
Okay,
motherfucker, I
’
m going to
fuck you with this knife.
”

Then came the sound of skin being
cut and the guy screaming.

But that all slipped away for
Miller.

He left the garage and started to
run. The front of the lot felt like a mile from where they were taking care of
business.

Erik stayed with him.
“
Hey. Talk to me. What is this?
”

“
It
’
s Jerry
’
s
…
the chief
’
s family.
”

Erik then cut in front of Miller.
“
Whoa. Wait a second. You
’
re going to let them here? What
if it
’
s a set up?
”

“
It
’
s not,
”
Miller said and shoved Erik out of the way.

When the gates came into view,
Miller bellowed, ordering the prospects to open the gates. There was no reason
for Ella and the baby to be stuck outside.

Miller stopped running and watched
as the car crept forward. He put a hand to the hood and the car stopped.
Through the windshield, he saw Ella. Their eyes met and Miller rushed to the
door. He tore it open and gave Ella his hand. He pulled her from the car and
before even saying a word, he saw her face. The swollen cheek on the left side
of her face.

“
No,
”
he said.
“
Fuck no.
”

“
I
didn
’
t know where to go,
”
Ella whispered.
“
I
’
m
sorry I didn
’
t call. I don
’
t know if I should be here.
”

Miller touched Ella
’
s face.
“
You belong here, darling. Jesus Christ, Ella. He
did this?
”

Ella nodded.
“
He found out about the papers. I
…”

A baby cried.

Miller let Ella
’
s face go and opened the back
door. There was the baby.
Beck.
Miller stared for a few seconds. The
baby kicked its little legs and waved its helpless arms. Beck turned his head
and looked at Miller, crying out again. Miller climbed into the car and grabbed
the car seat. He fumbled around until it became unhooked from the base. He slid
out and held the car seat in one hand.

“
I
was able to grab some stuff,
”
Ella said.

Miller looked at the prospects.
“
Both of you. Get her shit and
follow me. Right now.
”
Miller then looked at Erik.
“
Hide
her car. Put it around back.
”

“
On
it, brother,
”
Erik said.

Miller started to walk.

Shay came walking up to him, a lit
cigarette hanging from his lips.
“
Holy
Christ. What the fuck is this?
”

“
Hey,
”
Miller growled. He plucked the
cigarette from Shay
’
s
mouth. He dropped it and crushed it.
“
There
’
s a fucking baby right here. No
smoking. Goddammit. Show some respect.
”

“
Aye,
”
Shay said.
“
My apologies.
”

“
Come
on,
”
Miller said and put a
hand to Ella
’
s back.
“
Let
’
s get inside and figure this out.
”

“
Miller,
if you
’
re busy
…”

“
No,
darling. I
’
m not busy.
”

Just a second away from slitting
a guy
’
s
throat. Then I planned on cutting his head off. I was then going to leave his
burned leather cut and head near the edge of my lot so his guys would find it
and know not to fuck with me. Oh, and besides that, darling, I
’
m going to find a way to
kill your fucking husband.

Miller led the way into the
clubhouse. With a commanding order, all smoking was to be taken outside. Little
lungs didn
’
t need that
shit.

Miller put the car seat up on the
bar and looked at the baby. The baby
’
s
eyes were wide. There was a flicker of a smile.

“
He
’
s so confused right now,
”
Ella said.

Beck
’
s
head turned and he smiled big when he saw Ella.

“
Ah,
he knows his mother,
”
Miller said.

“
Of
course he does,
”
Ella said.

“
Can
I get you a drink? Beer? Whiskey? Something to eat?
”

“
No
alcohol right now.
”

“
You
’
re not leaving tonight,
”
Miller said.

“
Not
because of that,
”
Ella
said. Her cheeks turned red.

“
Then
what?
”

She looked down, then back up.
“
I breastfeed Beck.
”

“
Oh,
”
Miller said.

His eyes couldn
’
t help but look down at her. Her
breasts pressing against her shirt. Full and swollen. Miller knew her tit felt
different the other night when he touched her. When she took his hand and made
him touch her.

“
Food
then?
”
Miller said.

“
No.
We
’
re good. He was sleeping
when
…”

Ella lost her breath and started to
get shaky.

“
Okay,
don
’
t talk about it right
now,
”
Miller said.
“
Come on, let
’
s go to the room. You guys can
have my room. Get some rest and we
’
ll
figure this out in the morning.
”

“
I
can go to a hotel,
”
Ella
said.
“
If you can just get
me there. Safely.
”

Miller put his thumb to Ella
’
s chin and stroked.
“
You
’
re safe here. So is Beck. I swear on it, darling.
”

Ella nodded.
“
Okay, Miller. I trust you.
”

Damn, those words were like poetry
to his outlaw ears. His other hand came forward, memories jogging strong in his
mind, making him want to grab Ella by the hand and walk her down to his room.

But at the last second, Miller
’
s hand changed course and he
grabbed the car seat from the bar. He snapped his fingers and a prospect behind
the bar gave him a couple beers.

It was going to be an interesting
night for sure.

The other prospects were in the
clubhouse now, following Miller, Ella, and Beck down the hall. When they got to
Miller
’
s room, they put the
bags down.

“
Anything
else?
”
one asked.

“
No,
”
Miller said.
“
Get back to the fucking gate and
watch it. We
’
ve had a
…”
Miller glanced at Ella then
back to the prospect.
“…
situation tonight. Eyes open. I
’
ll
have the guys taking turns on a night watch.
”

The prospects nodded and hurried
away.

Miller opened the door and Ella put
a hand to his wrist. Her small hand, delicate fingers, beautiful touch. It set
Miller on fire. His cock instantly became thick, full, pressing inside his
jeans, seeking out more room.

“
What
kind of situation?
”
Ella
asked.

Miller looked at her and smiled.
“
Thirty seconds in the clubhouse
and you
’
re going to ask
about club business? I guess some things never change.
”