Page 64 of Single Mom for the Bikers

“Yeah, and big prize that was,” Ginger says, rolling her eyes.

“I dare you to fucking say that again, but to my face,” Grinder growls. He's pissed. Really really pissed. Someone's gonna die, pissed. Shit.

“Mia,” I whisper. “Come here. I want you to hug me tight, okay? Up in my lap and I want you to press your face into my chest and close your eyes. Hug me as hard as you can. Can you do that?”

She looks a little confused, probably because I don't sound at all like I'm looking to cuddle, but on the other hand, she really likes cuddles. And I think we could both use some right now. “K.”

“I said what I said. You heard me. At least Badger isn’t getting led around by his dick. No, sorry. His dead friend’s dick.”

I can see the exact moment Grinder decides that whatever talents Ginger has that have kept her around so far, they are no longer impressive enough.

“You're forgetting who's in charge here, Ginger.” Badger's tone turns ugly.

“Fucking men,” Ginger whispers under her breath, which right now is the first thing we can agree on. If I’m lucky, maybe they’ll take each other out.

“They're angry, Mommy,” Mia whispers.

“I know, honey. Just stay real close, okay?”

“K.”

I don't think either of them are stable in any way. Were all the Pit Vipers insane? Maybe they built their clubhouse over a toxic spill or something. But for as long as they keep arguing, maybe that'll help give the Eagles enough time to find us.

“I wasted so many years on you and all you can think about is her!” Ginger screams, pointing my way. “You going to shoot me? Go ahead and do it! I’m too fucking old to start over again and I refuse to be one of those old hags who bend over for anyone just to keep?—”

Her tirade is cut off by a gunshot, way closer than the ones going on outside.

“Oh God. Mia, keep hugging me.”

“But Mommy?—”

“I said, hug me. Mommy needs cuddles.”

It's difficult to keep my voice even while Ginger is collapsing right in front of me, her glassy eyes still open, like she’s still trying to figure out where her life went wrong. Grinder might be obsessed to the point of crazy with his promise to Dodger, but I can’t let myself forget that he’s a real danger to me and Mia. He shot her fast. Faster than I would've given him credit for.

“Bitch,” Grinder says before he gives her body a kick. “Let’s go?—”

The whole building rumbles with the force of something big, much bigger than what took out the front of the Eagles’ Roost.

37

SLEDGE

A tank?They've got a fucking tank?

There's no denying my own damn eyes though. Armored and on treads, the thing comes rolling out of the utility building behind the church after they throw the barn-style doors open. It crunches forward on the gravel, the fucking turret swiveling back and forth as it looks for a target.

“Get down! Get the fuck down!” I scream to cut through the gunfire, as I run for cover.

The courtyard clears almost immediately. Nobody wants to mess around with something that doesn’t care if you’re friend or foe. That thing's hard to ignore, not to mention stupid.

The turret locks with a soft click, and then the cannon fucking booms, pushing the tank backwards as a burst of fire and a thick cloud of dark smoke shoots out of the barrel. Jesus fucking Christ.

Immediately afterwards, a massive fire spout shoots up as a whole mess of bikes are hit, including a lot of our own, and the gas in the tanks ignites. Twisted pieces of what used to besome of the finest motorcycles in the country rain down around us, hissing as they hit the ground. Someone swears as they get burned.

“What the fuck are we gonna do about that?” yells Phoenix, joining me up against the wall and out of sight of the tank. Not that it probably can't blow right through the fucking wall here, but hopefully they're not looking to destroy their own clubhouse in the process. If they even care. Maybe they just want the members and the business and don’t give a shit about the clubhouse.

“It's gotta have some kind of weakness.” Havoc yells as he runs up to us, joined by Hellfire.

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