Page 11 of Sinners MC: A MC Anthology

He led Bonnie to the couch and wrapped one of the afghans around her. She was shivering and no doubt going into shock. He went back to his father and little brother. “Thank you for your help.”

His brother beamed with pride. “My first arrest.”

Jimmy had just graduated the academy two weeks ago. He didn’t know it yet, but his classmates would give him a ton of shit for this. Having family in high places wasn’t easy on the force. Any competition would use it against him. Joshua wasn’t going to tell him that now. Let him enjoy the ride tonight.

“Help me get Malone upstairs. We don’t need anyone else knowing about the bunker.”

Jimmy followed him down the stairs where Lloyd Malone lay. His stomach wound was bleeding again. Probably from the fireman’s carry he used to get him down here. He had Jimmy take his shoulders while Joshua carried him by the legs. That way, if LB woke up, he’d see a familiar face first.

They laid him on the bed. Joshua closed the trap door and moved the hanging clothes to front. It looked like a normal closet. Unless you knew what you were looking for, you’d never find the control panel.

The local police department and paramedics arrived faster than Joshua would have thought, but when the Special Agent-in-Charge calls for back up, it probably lights a fire under you. Teams came swarming in. He came out of the room to meet them, pointing one of the paramedic teams to where LB was; the other followed him to Bonnie.

“You’re a dead man,” Preacher spat at him as his brother and another officer led him out the door.

His dad patted him on the shoulder. “Good work, son. Time for you to take a vacation.”

“Three years. What do I even do with myself now?”

“Your first undercover assignment is always the hardest. You take time off. Remember who Joshua is. Leave Huffy behind.”

“Dad…” He trailed off. His dad knew him well enough. He didn’t press him to go on. He waited patiently. Joshua took a deep breath. His dad wasn’t going to be happy. “I don’t want to leave her behind.”

“Son?”

“Listen, she’s not like them. She’s a good woman. A nurse. I can’t shake her.”

“May I finish?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Son, you’ve always made the right decisions. They are your decisions to make.”

Joshua nodded. He looked over toward the couch. Bonnie wasn’t there. He made his way through the crowd of officers outside. He took in the scene outside. Multiple police cars. Two ambulances, the coroner’s van, and a handful of sheet-covered corpses.

Bonnie was sitting in the back of an ambulance. EMTs were taking vitals and patching up her face. He slowly walked over to her. He wasn’t sure if she would even talk to him. He lied to her. He couldn’t just let her go without trying. She teased him about marriage, and he definitely wasn’t ready for anything like that, but he wanted to spend time with her. He wanted to know her, and he wanted her to know him. The real him. Not the persona he created.

“Bonnie, I’m sorry.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “For lying to me or fucking me?”

The EMTs exchanged a look before exiting the rig. At least they no longer had an audience.

“For meeting you under these circumstances.” He sat down next to her. “Look, the truth is this: I couldn’t tell you who I was. This is my job. It was important. I won’t apologize for that. As for the sex, I’m not sorry that happened either. I like you, Bonnie. I think if you get to know me, you might like me too.”

“So.” She smiled at him. “What do you propose we do about it?”

“Dinner.”

“Are you asking me on a date?”

“Damn right I am.”

“I can’t wait.” Bonnie caressed his cheek with her hand as she leaned in. She kissed him as if she’d kissed him a million times. It was sweet and intimate.

The same medic and her partner came back over. “Agent, we should get her to the hospital.”

“Of course.”

“Will you come with me?” He helped her into the rig. As the doors were closing, Joshua noticed his dad and brother standing on the porch smiling.

“There’s no place else I’d rather be.”

The End

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