Page 31 of Sinner's Steel
Repairing a bike is a long, arduous process. You will require patience, skill, and the proper tools. But mostly patience.
—SINNER’S TRIBE MOTORCYCLE REPAIR MANUAL
“I’m gonna kill him.”
“Hold back, brother.” Jagger put out an arm to stop Zane from drawing his weapon in the middle of the crowded bar. “She came here by choice. Nobody forced her.”
“Fuck, Jag. She just tried to slap him. You saw what he did to her.” He shook off Jagger’s arm and slid his hand into his cut.
“And then she kissed him,” Jagger said, his voice cold. “She’s not screaming for help, brother. Not like when we saved her from Derek the Dick.”
“You’re the one being a dick.” He had never spoken to Jagger that way before, and if they hadn’t been alone, he wouldn’t have dared. But goddamnit. This was Evie. Their Evie. No.HisEvie. The mother of his son. And she was in danger.
“Maybe you suddenly got tired of living.” Jagger’s hand tightened on Zane’s arm. “Friend or not, you don’t speak to your president that way, and your president is saying we’re not taking Viper out tonight. Too many witnesses. And Benson texted to warn me the cops are on their way. Despite the disrespect, I’ve gotten used to having you around. You still got a warrant on your head. I don’t want to see you spending the rest of your life in jail.”
Zane’s blood pounded in his ears so loud he could barely hear. Of all the men Evie could have chosen… Or maybe it wasn’t a choice. Maybe Viper had forced her to go out with him. Maybe he was blackmailing her, or worse, threatening her life. There would be no other reason why she would want to be with that evil cockfucking piece of bastard slime who had to be twice her age.
As if he knew what Zane was thinking, Viper locked gazes with Zane over Evie’s head and brushed his lips over her ear. It was a challenge Zane couldn’t ignore.
“This is worse than the night with Derek the Dick.” He closed his hand around the smooth, cool steel of his weapon. He had never understood Evie’s interest in Derek, a high school dropout who fronted a heavy metal band in town. But when she’d blown him and Jagger off to go on a band road trip with Derek and his pals, he hadn’t hesitated to hunt Jagger down and convince him to go after them. They’d almost been too late, and it was the first time in his life he realized he could cross a line not many would cross. Only Evie’s intervention had saved Derek’s life, but he spent three months in the hospital and never played guitar again.
“You think she knows he’s using her as a shield?”
Viper stroked his thumb along the underside of Evie’s breast, and Zane slid the gun from its holster.
“She looks mighty pissed off,” Jagger said. “But I’m not sure if that’s ’cause we’ve caught them together or because he’s feeling her up in front of us.”
Tables emptied around them as the bar owner and his bouncers encouraged people to make use of the back exit so they didn’t get caught in the middle of a biker showdown. The band scurried off the stage. Over in the far corner, a few civilians, most likely off-duty law enforcement from their posture, fatigues, and disregard for the danger of the situation, watched with interest as Viper’s bodyguards fell into position behind him.
“How many brothers we got outside?”
“Five,” Jagger said. “And Tank didn’t see any other Jacks outside, so we’re evenly matched. Your choice, brother. If you want to fight, we got your back, but put the gun away.”
“You aren’t fighting in my bar.” A short, stocky man in a Riverside Bar T-shirt strode into the center of the bar as Zane tucked his gun into his holster. “I’ve already called the cops. Last time we had bikers here, I was shut down for three months. You want to have a shoot-out, take it outside.”
“Not here to fight,” Viper said. “Just here enjoying the music withmy girl.”
Mine. In that moment the choice became no choice. Zane couldn’t stand by and watch Evie be manhandled by any man, much less Viper. He closed the distance between them in three quick strides and ripped Viper’s hand away.
Although braced for the intervention of Viper’s bodyguards, he wasn’t prepared when the biggest and ugliest brute lifted him as if he weighed nothing and tossed him across the bar.
“Fuck.” Jagger yanked open the door and yelled for Sinners who had accompanied them to the Riverside Bar. “We got a fight.”
“Evie. Come.” Zane pushed himself to his feet, keeping some distance between him and the monolith in front of him as he held out one hand and drew his weapon with the other.
If he thought she’d throw herself sobbing into his arms with gratitude like she’d done when he saved her from Derek, her livid expression quickly dissuaded him of that notion.
“I’ve got this, Zane. Thanks. This isn’t high school. I don’t need you running to my rescue.”
“You gotta respect a woman with her own mind, Sinner. She wants to be with me.” Viper nuzzled her neck. “Let’s go, kitten. Your new chariot awaits.”
“I’m not going with you either.” She twisted out of Viper’s grasp. “I’m not a damn chew toy to be fought over. Give me my keys. I’m going home.”
Zane saw the flash of a blade, felt the slight disturbance in the air. Adrenaline surged through his body and he mentally kicked himself for not seeing the danger. While Viper kept him distracted, he’d left Jagger unprotected and at the mercy of the bodyguards who had taken the advantage of the cleared-out bar. Viper had baited a trap and Zane had fallen right in.
With a shout of warning, he flung himself to the side. The blade sliced through the sleeve of his shirt, cutting his arm, before it deflected and hit the wall only inches from where Jagger stood.
Jagger drew his weapon just as the door slammed open and Sinners poured into the bar. T-Rex fired a warning shot at the ceiling, covering Jagger while Gunner and Sparky pulled him to safety, despite his growled protests. The club was nothing without their president, and for all Jagger wanted to have his back, Zane would do anything to protect him.
