through the dark, their taillights glowing a steady red. Behind her, Jax and Cole shadowed

s reminded her of the gunfire, of the screaming tires. The desert felt even bi

ard a cluster of distant lights. She caught a glimpse of a hand-painted sign, l

at had been running on adrenaline for months-felt a flicker of... relief? The

f bikes shining under yellow floodlights, and a small building wit

d of oil, smo

ng his shoulders, his blond hair catching the light. Jax stalked past her bumper, tattoos twisting over his forearm

y legs. The night was suddenly too quie

his calm voice leavi

ed. "Wait-I

er. "You can just nothing.

h his eyes. "Better to listen to th

teel shed. The place felt both homey and guarded-built to shut the world out. A shiver ran through her when she

scarred wooden bar, and walls lined with framed photos of grinning bikers beside their ri

ue ball frozen mid-roll, like the players had been interrupted. Ashley's hands twitche

le with a dull clack. His gray eyes locked onto her, stead

ch droppe

ive off, they'll track you. And if they think you're talking to the co

t dry. "I don't wan

atly. He leaned against the wall, cros

h, still wearing that lazy grin.

back. "Fear kee

d with guilt. "Boss, maybe we can... I don't know...

ence overwhelming. "The Iron Fangs don't let things go. If you're n

the bruises she'd hidden, the threats whispered in her ear. She'd sworn never to l

r problem,"

ed just a fraction.

e stre

whistling low. "Gues

argue. Cole offered a tentative, reassuri

flashes still haunted Ashley's thoughts, and she

rie and the bloodshed she'd just seen made her dizzy. Through a dirty window, she glimpsed another Viper slap a co

then set it down again. "Get some rest while

at the end. Lock the door if you want-it won't do much good, but i

ld wood. She found a small room with a cot, a dresser, and a barred window. She dro

d at the four men... their scars, their sharp edges, their quiet watchfulness...

ymore-and that scar