Sinner's Steel (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #3)(108)

“I guess I can’t really say no since I did buy us a house in Oak Village right next door to Ty’s best friend.”

“This is the best day ever.” Ty raced over to hug them both, before returning to inspect his bike.

“I got something for you, too.” Zane reached for the bag Jagger had left on the workbench in the corner, but as he pulled the zipper, memories assailed him: the frame he had worked so hard to perfect, the picture that had been so hard to part with, Evie and Jagger in the kitchen, and the pain that had sent him running into the forest. He pushed back the memories and focused on what came after: Evie’s tears when she saw the picture, their night together, and Ty. They had been through hell, but now they were back together. Loved and forgiven. A family.

With only one thing missing.

He pulled the cut from the bag and handed it to her, his mouth going dry when she opened it and spun it around so she could read the back.

“Property of Zane.” A smile spread across her face. “I’ve waited eighteen years to be yours.”

“You were always mine. Ever since that day on the playground.”

He reached into the bag again and pulled out a second cut, then called Ty over. “We don’t usually give prospect cuts to kids, but what you did at Viper’s place—protecting your mom, and helping out your old man—Ty, you made me damn proud. The executive board agreed that showing courage like that deserves a reward.” He held out the small prospect vest with the Sinner’s Tribe logo emblazoned across the back, and slid it over Ty’s shoulders.

A grin spread across Ty’s face and he posed in front of his new bike. “How do I look, Dad?”

“Like my son.” He put his arm around his Evie and pulled her close. “Our son.”





EPILOGUE

Three Months Later

“Zane. Stop. Please.”

Evie’s voice rang out in the forest, and Zane slowed his pace. He’d never felt such joy as he did today, save for the last time he had been to Stanton Creek.

He stopped under the willow tree and sucked the warm Montana summer air into his lungs. He would do anything for her, even if it meant his heart bursting all over again.

Evie heaved in a breath as she came up behind him, her steps barely audible in the soft grass. “What’s wrong? Why did you leave? Jagger said you bolted out of the courthouse and didn’t even tell him what happened. I was so worried. I didn’t know where you were. And then I figured you might come here. What did the judge say? I won’t lose you, Zane. If we have to, we’ll go on the run.”

For a moment, he couldn’t speak. How could he explain the emotions he’d kept bottled up inside for the last few months, the hopes and dreams that had come true when the judge dismissed the case?

“I’m free.” He braced himself, and turned to face her. “All the charges have been dropped.”

“Oh.” She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh Zane. I’m so happy.” She threw herself into his arms, her new riding leathers creaking. He’d bought her a full set of leathers for the trip to Stanton. And after she’d tried them on in their bedroom, he stripped them right off her. He had a wild streak when it came to his old lady, and the sight of her in leather had given him all sorts of ideas.

He was having those ideas right now. His Evie was beautiful in the twilight, her hair shining to gold, almost the same color as the late summer leaves of the willow tree.

“Come sit with me.” She pulled away. “Here by the creek like we used to do. Tell me all about it.”

Zane shook his head. “I promised if this day came, I would give you a choice. I need to know, Evie. Do we live or leave the life? It’s up to you.”

Her beautiful face softened. “I made my choice a long time ago. Wherever you go, whatever you do, however you live your life, I want to be with you”

Zane’s heart squeezed in his chest. He was nothing and came from nothing. And yet, he had made something of his life. He had a family now, and enough money that assured they would want for nothing. He had his brothers, a home, a kick-ass bike, and an embarrassing, but safe, Volvo. And he had dared to hope. Twenty-eight years old and he still wanted the girl he’d met when he was ten.

“It’s always been you,” she said. “Ever since the day we first met. I’ve loved you since I was eight years old and I’ll love you always.”

His world shifted, darkness becoming light, despair turning to desire. Although he had dreamed of this moment, wanted her with an intensity that took his breath away, he reigned it all in and kissed her with a gentleness that belied the torrent of emotions flooding through his body.

She sighed into his mouth and he crushed her against him as he had last night when they thought it might be their last time together. Sensation overwhelmed him: the coffee and cream taste on her lips, her scent of jasmine and the open road, the warm summer breeze, the softness of her body beneath her leathers.

“I have a present for you.” She handed him a package wrapped in pink tissue paper. “It’s nothing big. I’m sure what Jagger got you…”

“Jagger got me a custom set of pipes that he was planning to take back if I wound up in jail.” He gave her a wry smile. “So unless you got the same thing, I’ll love it. And even if it is, I’ll love it, because it came from you.”