Page 16 of Sinner's Storm

Bane sighed. “This goes against every law I’m sworn to uphold, but if it can help my patient, I’ll take the hit. About a week ago, a young mother brought her very sick little girl into the emergency room. I knew right away it wasn’t the flu. The little girl was small for her age. Like really small. That was a major indicator, and when I started running tests, Tess and I knew it was something more. The little girl, Harlow, has been diagnosed with Thalassemia, a rare genetic disorder that affects her red blood cells. She needs a bone marrow transplant. Her mother can’t because she is a carrier. The only hope is her biological father.”

“Don’t hospitals have databases for shit like this?” Montana asked.

“They do, yes, and Tess has been checking, but no one is a match. Harlow has a rare enzyme in her blood that makes it difficult. Only a perfect match will save this girl.”

Finley nodded as she added, “And you two assholes were the only bikers at the bar that day.”

“Jesus fuck,” Montana groaned, rubbing his hands down his face. “Tess is going to cut my balls off.”

“Only if you are the father,” Bane snickered as Montana flipped him the one-finger bird.

“Don’t worry. It’s not you, Montana,” Finley said, glaring at me.

“How can you be sure?” Montana asked.

“Because Harlow looks just like dickcheese. Same hair and eyes. They could be twins.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Bane smiled, grabbing two sterile needles before saying, “Blood time, boys.”

Montana and I groaned.

Late in the evening, Montana and I, accompanied by a few of our brothers, emerged from the elevators onto the pediatric ward of St. John’s Presbyterian Hospital. Neither of us wanted to be there, but it was about a little kid. The Soulless Sinners were about many things, but we didn’t fuck around when it came to kids.

After Bane took fresh samples of our blood, he had them couriered over to his lab upstate for DNA testing. Since he already had a sample of Harlow’s blood, he said it would be at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours before he got the preliminary results.

However, it was Finley who suggested that both Montana and I go visit Harlow and see how the mother reacted.

Maybe jog a memory apparently none of us had.

Despite my reluctance to interrupt a worried mother with a sick child, I was willing to participate if it meant resolving the situation more swiftly.

I still remembered a little from that day, just bits and pieces, but I remembered being there. So did Montana.

“Hey, guys,” Tessa greeted softly, walking over, hugging her husband. “How are you both holding up?”

“Fucking nervous as hell,” I muttered, wiping my sweaty palms against my jeans.

“So, Harlow and Delany are asleep. It wasn’t a good day. But if you give me a minute, I will go wake up Delany. I don’t want to overwhelm Harlow.”

Tess didn’t wait for Montana or me to respond as she entered the room, only to reappear moments later with a beautiful brunette woman behind her. The second the woman looked up and I stared into her dreamy caramel eyes, everything came rushing back.

Chapter Five

Storm

Almost three years ago...

I watched her at the bar, my dark eyes following her every move. I was on the prowl tonight. A predator, dangerous, desperately looking for something, someone particular to fulfill my specific needs, and she checked all the damn boxes.

Any other time and I wouldn’t be scoping out the general population, not when I typically kept a piece at the club for my deviant desires, but my latest piece went and fucked everything up by getting herself pregnant.

Wasn’t fucking proud of what I did, but the rules were clear.

No fucking piece was ever going to trap me.

Bitch fucking knew what would happen. Well, the joke was on her. Because when she told me, I didn’t give her a chance to explain as I forced her to take the pills that would get rid of it. Then I fucking dragged her ass down into the mailroom until I fucking knew for certain nothing remained.

Kids were a complication I wanted no part of. Ever.

---