Sinner's Steel (Sinner's Tribe Motorcycle Club #3)(44)

He brushed past her and jerked his chin at the remaining Jacks. “Burn the shop down.”

“No!” She stared at him aghast. “Please. It’s all I have to make a living.”

“After tomorrow, you won’t need a job.” Viper licked his lips and the darkness in his eyes made her skin crawl.

“You’ll be making a living pleasuring me.”





TWELVE

When repairing a bike, always expect the unexpected. This goes for life, too.

—SINNER’S TRIBE MOTORCYCLE REPAIR MANUAL

Zane saw the smoke before he saw the flames, a great pillar of black rising up into the clear blue sky. Already pushing one hundred miles an hour, he accelerated his bike down the highway and prayed they weren’t too late. Jagger matched his speed, and in the distance he could hear the rumble of the Sinner bikes behind them.

Thank f*ck for T-Rex. He had been the first to volunteer when Zane had put out a call for brothers to watch Evie’s house last night, and he must have followed her to the shop. How else would he have been able to send that warning text?

Viper and 6 Jacks at Big Bill’s. Evie in danger.

Within minutes, Zane had rounded up every brother in the clubhouse and then he hit the road at full throttle. He could only hope T-Rex hadn’t done anything rash. The junior patch had courage beyond his years but often his sense of honor and duty were misguided in the context of the biker world. More than once he’d questioned T-Rex’s decision to follow the outlaw life.

The world became a blur as he raced toward the burning shop. Was this Viper’s payback for the restaurant, or something else? The Sinners had no ties to Big Bill’s business except through Evie.

A wave of heat hit him as they pulled into the parking lot. The fire was well and truly out of control, no doubt accelerated by the gasoline in the bikes, and the various paints and lubricants in Evie’s shop. Sirens wailed in the distance, and Zane’s heart thrummed in his chest. Evie’s car was at the far end of the parking lot alongside T-Rex’s bike, safe from the flames. But where were they?

“Evie!” He parked his bike and ran toward the burning building.

“T-Rex!” Jagger headed to the back of the garage at a safe distance from the flames.

Zane took a step forward with every intention of running inside, but the flames surged as he approached and part of the roof caved in, crashing into the building.

“Evie.” Over and over again, he called her name, until his voice was hoarse and his face singed with soot. Jagger emerged from the opposite side of the building, just as the rest of the Sinners pulled into the parking lot.

“I didn’t see anyone, and the fire is spreading into the trees,” he said. “Too hot to get in. Maybe she left with Connie.”

“What about T-Rex?” Zane scrubbed his hands over his face. “He would never go anywhere without his bike.”

Two fire engines pulled up across the street and Zane ran over to the driver. “You got a spare suit? I worked for the fire department in Sioux Falls. There may be people inside. I’ll go take a look.”

“No extra suits, and even if we did, we couldn’t let you go in.” The fireman gave him a sympathetic look. “Legal issues, first of all, and it’s too far gone. You wouldn’t make it.”

“Gimme a f*cking suit.” Zane grabbed the firefighter by the throat and pushed him against the engine. “I’m not giving up. I’m gonna go in.”

Strong hands clamped around his shoulders and Gunner and Cade pulled him away from the firefighter.

“C’mon man,” Sparky said. “Let him do his job. If he says they wouldn’t have made it …

“Fuck.” Zane fought their hold. “It’s my choice. I’m willing to take the risk.”

“But I’m not.” Jagger came up behind him. “I almost lost you once. I’m not losing you again. She was my friend, too, Zane, and T-Rex is our brother, but even I can see there’s no chance.”

As if on cue, the rest of the roof fell in, the building imploding in a burst of flame. The police arrived and cordoned off the area, forcing the Sinners back and across the street.

“I’m sorry, man.” The firefighter Zane had assaulted ushered him back from the raging inferno. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Noooooooooooooo.

Pain suffused Zane’s body, filling his lungs until he thought he would drown in anguish. Blind with panic, he stumbled across the street, feeling for his bike, his only port in the storm of regret and longing that swept through his soul. He slid onto the seat, clutched the handlebars, doubled over, and let himself go. If he could do it all again, he would tell her what really happened that night he left. He would tell her his feelings had never changed, not even when he’d seen her with Mark. He’d tell her that he’d never had a serious relationship because every woman reminded him of her—every face, every laugh, every smile. And if she was with someone else, he would win her back. Or die trying.

Maybe it wasn’t too late. Maybe he was giving up too soon. He’d made that mistake back in Stanton. He wouldn’t make it again.

He shot up in his seat, saw Jagger standing beside him. “I’m here, brother. Whatever you need.”

Zane drew in a ragged breath, forced himself to get it together. “Gonna drive around town in case we missed something. Maybe they found another way out, or they’re sitting at the restaurant down the road havin’ a coffee.”