Page 69 of Single Mom's Biker Brigade
“That’s me.” I almost smiled, but it came out more of a grimace than the victory I’d expected. “You heard it straight from Diesel. I’m the reason they’re coming here.”
“No.”
An engine roared from the front of the house, the sound coming hard and fast along the fence line in the high-pitched scream of a throttle pushed beyond reason.
Glass shattered across the room, followed by a wave of heat and orange fire.
“Molotov.” Diesel dove for me, both arms going around my waist. He hoisted me off my feet.
Colt had Cody against his chest, one broad hand on the back of Cody’s head. “Got you. You’re going to be okay.”
Cody’s wail wrenched my chest, but Colt ran him from the room before I had a chance to even take a breath.
Flames licked across the roof in an ugly stream. Diesel dragged us behind the kitchen island and pushed me to the floor. “Don’t move.”
Colt and Cody were in the corner, tucked far enough into the shadows that I only saw glimpses of their eyes.
“We have to get out of here.” I struggled against Diesel’s hold.
“No.” He held on tighter and pressed his mouth to my ear. “They might be trying to flush us out. We have to stay inside. The men will take care of it.”
As though summoned by the mere thought, several men rushed the room. Voices clanged outside, and the sound of streaming water hitting the side of the house calmed my racing heartbeat. The flames continued to flicker, but the single bottle of flaming alcohol hadn’t been given a chance to spread.
Cody whimpered. “That wasn’t a firecracker.”
I bent double and reached across the empty space to take his hand. “Hey, bud. Look at me.” His eyes lifted, but he kept his face pressed tight to Colt’s chest. “It’s going to be okay. We won’t let anything happen to you.” One look at Colt’s fierce gaze and I knew he’d die for the boy in his arms. His hold tightened and he rocked Cody side to side.
Hawk’s men flooded into the room and finished putting out the last of the blaze trying to sneak along the ceiling.
Diesel tracked their movements and the busted out window without letting me go. A hiss of the fire extinguisher followed a terse order to watch the corner, and then Hawk’s voice coming from far away. “Clear. Single incendiary extinguished. Fire’s out.”
Diesel stood, bringing me up with him.
My legs wobbled, but I steeled my spine and focused on breathing. Smoke drifted in lazy curls that burned when I sucked air through clenched teeth.
Colt remained crouched with Cody in his arms. I crossed to them and hugged Cody from behind, wrapping my arms around him and Colt at the same time. Cody trembled from head to toe, his breathing as ragged as mine.
He’d probably have nightmares again. We both would. But we were still alive. I held my son and caught Colt’s quick shudder and the spasm of his hands when he swallowed.
Hawk strode through the kitchen, pausing behind me to talk to Diesel. I listened in and realized that was why Hawk stopped where he did. He was letting me in, letting me understand what happened. “They wanted us to know they could still reach us. That’s why we have to take care of this in-house. This is the kind of pressure they use to get what they want. Pressure aimed at a kid works faster than bullets. This is their end game. They’ll keep coming after him to get what they want from you.”
I had to come clean with them once and for all. It was time. I kissed Cody’s temple and jerked my chin toward the counter where we’d be far enough away Cody wouldn’t overhear. “It’s because of my stepfather. It all goes back to that damned ledger.” I rubbed the ache in my throat, my fingertips skimming over the gold chain. My skin warmed with the reminder of what I had to lose, and I raised my chin. “Wade ran with a crew that overlapped Vulture business years ago. He collected debts and kept a ledger of men who owed and men who could be squeezed. I knew he ran with a rough crew, but I didn’t know how bad until after they took him.”
Diesel put a hand on the small of my back, and I realized I’d started shaking again.
Hawk brushed my hair away from my cheek. “That’s the ledger they’ve been talking about. The one you said you don’t have.”
“I don’t have it.” I squeezed my eyes shut as memories of that night flashed through my mind. I did not want to relive that night, but I’d started my confession and I’d see it through. “I took it the night he was arrested because it seemed like the smart thing to do.”
“What crew?” Diesel stroked my spine.
They already knew, but they needed me to say it. “The Hellhounds. It was the same crew that’s after me.”
Hawk rested his closed fist on the counter.
“Wade wrote down everything in that ledger. Names and routes. Payoffs. He even had a list of people’s kids and whether they’d be good leverage.” I tripped over the word as anger surged. “I took it as insurance against him coming back for us.”
“How would Wade know you have it?” Hawk kept his fist on the counter, and his other hand settled on my shoulder.
