Page 17 of Single Mom for the Bikers

My head aches like a bitch, enough that I almost take him up on it. He’s right. I could kill him and he’d just be one more ghost in the choir at my back. “Fuck you, Grinder. I'm outta here.”

“Jesus fucking Christ. All that for nothing. You're lucky I’m an upstanding citizen now.”

I don't fucking believe that for a second.

“And that I don't have my piece on me.”

Now that I'll believe.

I ride away, feeling Grinder's glare burrowing into my back. Some days I can almost forget that I had a life before joining the Eagles. I was born into the Pit Vipers. There was never another choice for me. It gave me everything I needed, but the cost was bits and pieces of my soul until it felt like there was nothing left. Razor helped get me out, but I was already too broken to ever fit in on the outside.

Am I judging Grinder because I know I could never do what he’s doing?

If it wasn’t for Shelby and Mia living right around the corner, I could ride away and chalk what happened to me up to a random hit and run, but she feels like our responsibility. If she was messed up with Dodger?—

My phone rings. Eagle-eye. What's he want? I pull over to take it. “What’s up, boss man?”

“Phoenix, get your ass back to the compound. We just got a message from the Outlaw Sons.”

“What did they want?”

“They’ve claimed Park Glen, all the way up to the highway. Said they hoped I got the message and if they see more of my boys in their territory, they’ll get worse than the warning you got. I don't know what the fuck they think they’re doing, but stay close until we figure out what the hell’s going on.”

“The Outlaw Sons? You sure?”

A baby cries in the background. “Fuck, need to check on Damien. Yeah, I’m sure that’s what they said. If it’s the whole story or not, who the fuck knows yet?”

“Alright. Thanks for the heads up. On my way.”

11

HAVOC

Send a message of our own,Eagle-eye said.

Well, we're fucking gonna.

Dark fell a good while ago, but the road's well lit up by headlights. Me, Phoenix and Sledge, of course. But also Reaper, Shrapnel, Wild Child, Shadow and Wraith. The bestial roar of engines bounces off the buildings as we ride to our destination.

Up ahead is the Burnout. It’s a bar right in the heart of Outlaw Sons territory, and from what we’ve heard, one of their favorite hangouts. If we're going to deliver a message, we're not going to follow their lead and do it like fucking pussies, taking potshots for no damn reason before disappearing in the night.

We’re gonna do it face-to-face.

Shrapnel pulls a little ahead, waving for us to follow. He grew up near here, so he knows his way around town. We turn into a side street that isn’t a dead end to trap us later. There’s plenty of room to park our bikes pointing front out, just in case shit goes south.

“You good, man?” I put my hand on Phoenix’s arm, and he shrugs it off with a grunt. “It’s been a rough week. Maybe you should be wearing a helmet so you don’t end up even more scrambled.”

“Hilarious. You couldn't keep me away if you fucking tried. These cowards left me for dead, I'm not gonna let that pass, and I'm not gonna sit at home while you get all the fun.” His expression is grim, and his dark eyes hard as an executioner's.

“We doing this? Kaylee’s home tonight and the only thing better than a good fight is what comes after.” Wraith punches his fist into palm and flicks his long hair out of his face.

“Fuck yeah! Ain’t that the truth,” Wild Child says with a laugh.

Shadow grins. “Then let’s go, brothers. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we can celebrate.”

The image of riding back to Shelby’s house and her opening the door in something sexy flashes through my brain. I’ve never really been jealous of the guys in the club with old ladies, but what would it be like to sink into a woman who actually fucking meant something, while still riding the high that comes from pitting myself against someone and coming out on top?

I don’t hate the thought.

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