Page 12 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Shine—

When I roll into the lot, my eyes scan the old brick manufacturing building turned clubhouse. We’ve got nothing like this place in Nevada. This is huge compared to our clubhouse.

I’ve never been here, but as a patched member, I’m welcome at any Evil Dead clubhouse in the country.

Dropping my kickstand, I settle my bike and stand. Two men are outside smoking. One lifts his chin.

“You’re a long way from home. Cole expecting you?”

I extend my hand. “Name’s Shine.”

The man shakes my hand. “Wolf.” Then he indicates the other man. “This is Green. Welcome.”

“I was in the area and thought I’d drop by and see Reckless. He around?”

“Yeah, he’s inside. Come on.” Wolf leads the way through the door and emits a sharp whistle. Every brother in the place looks toward us. “Reckless. You know this bum?”

Everyone knows he’s ribbing me.

I spot Reckless across the room about to make a shot at a pool table. When he sees me, a huge grin breaks across his face, and he tosses his cue on the felt, then makes a beeline to me, capturing me in a big bear hug.

“Shine. Brother. Goddamn.”

It’s good to see him again. So fucking good.

“What the hell are you doing here? Why didn’t you call me?” he asks.

“It wasn’t exactly planned. Daytona arranged for me to stay up at that cabin on Lake Mary. I needed to get away and clear my head. I had a fucking great surprise when I walked in that place.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?” Reckless asks, and the other men all stand around to hear the story.

“I find a pretty little thing waiting in nothing but an Evil Dead t-shirt. Guess they arranged a gift for me. Shocked the shit out of me.”

Reckless laughs and slams a hand on my shoulder. “You dawg.”

Wolf holds up his palm for a high-five, and I slap it.

“Yeah, she’s one of Sonny’s girls. She said a friend dropped her off. I don’t know how my prez pulled it off, but goddamn, I’m gonna have to thank him.”

“Come on,” Reckless says. “Let’s get a beer. Catch me up on what’s been going on in Vegas.” He leads me to the bar, and the others drift off, giving us privacy to catch up.

“Goddamn, it’s good to see you, Reckless. The Nevada chapter isn’t the same without you, man.”

“I miss all you guys, too. More than you know,” he replies.

“So, how’s life in Cali? You and Harley Jean doing good?”

“Life’s great here. I have to tell you… I was nervous about making the move, but I love it. Best decision I’ve ever made, brother.”

“That’s good to hear, though I miss the hell out of you.”

“How are things in Nevada? How’s your mom and sister doing?”

“Ma’s good. She’s getting old. Wants grandkids, and that’s not happening anytime soon.”

“What about you and Becca?”

“She took off a month ago. Had enough of the life, I guess.”

“Oh, man. Sorry to hear that.”

I shrug. “Can’t force something that just isn’t right, ya know?”

He nods. “Yeah. I suppose not. How’s your sister? She doin’ any better?”

I shake my head and take a sip from my longneck, then scratch my thumbnail down the wet label. Reckless’ hand lands on my shoulder.

“You okay?”

“It’s been rough. She hasn’t been the same since the attack. Not sure she ever will be.” I chug another sip. “Got some news, though.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“That son of a bitch was released yesterday.”

“No shit? How’d you find that out?”

“The club still has connections at the prison. Got a guard we pay off for info. He gave me a heads up. Said Donnie Ray’s brother picked him up.”

“You goin’ after him?”

I nod, deciding not to tell him I already made one attempt.

I do that, I’d end up telling him the rest, and I’m not ready to talk about the fact that Donnie Ray’s brother is dead and buried up at this chapter’s cabin.

God, I don’t even want to think about how that goes over when they find out.

If they find out. Keepin’ shit from my brothers is not something I’ve ever done, and I’m really struggling with this, but I see no good outcome if I tell them.

I need to think it through before I tell that story.

“It’s really good to see you, brother,” Reckless says. “Let me call and tell Harley to make up the guest room for you.”

I shake my head. “Nah. I think I’ll just stay here for tonight.”

“At the clubhouse? You sure?” His phone dings with a text, and he checks it.

“Oh, damn. The dogs got out, and I’ve got to go help Harley with that.” He stands and finishes his beer. “I’ll come by first thing in the morning, and I’ll show you the town. How about it?”

“Sure.” I stand and give him a backslap hug.

After he leaves, I finish my beer, watching the brothers in this clubhouse.

They have an easy joking way between them, and I can see why Reckless fits in.

I’m glad for him. Still, the news that he’s so happy here shoots down any plans I had of trying to convince him and his ol’ lady to move home to Vegas.

Sucks for me.

I twirl the bottom of my bottle in a slow circle around the coaster. It’s got the logo of Sonny’s on it, and I smile. There’s one bright spot in this bullshit day.

I check the time. Maybe I should go back up there and catch her show.

Making the decision, I finish my beer and walk out.

***

The lot is full when I return to Sonny’s, but I find a spot up by the door and park my bike.

There’s a large man doing security at the door. He sees my cut and motions me in.

When I dig in my wallet to pay, he waves me off.

“No charge, sir.”

“Thanks. Has Desiree gone on yet?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure one of the waitresses could tell you.”

“Thanks, man.” I wander past the dividing wall and take in the place. It’s nice with a stage and a bunch of tables. A bar runs along the right wall with a hallway toward the back of house.

I find an open table, and it isn’t long before a waitress comes over.

“What can I get you, sweetie?”

“I’ll have a bourbon on the rocks.”

“Coming right up.”

“Has Desiree been up yet?”

“No, sir. She’s the headliner. She won’t be up for a while.”

“Could you get her a message for me?”

Her eyes drop to my cut. “She’s in the dressing room. If you’re with the club, you’re allowed back.”

“Can you show me where it is?”

“Sure. Follow me.” She leads me across the room and down the hall, pausing at a door, and tapping, then pushing the door open. “MC in the house, ladies.”

Half a dozen women sit, applying makeup in front of a mirror.

“Desiree,” the waitress calls. “This gentleman would like to see you.”

A beauty at the end of the row rolls her stool out, her eyes sweeping over me.

“Well, hello sugar. Come on over.”

I frown; this is not Desiree. Walking in, I check out every one of the girls, and she’s not among them.

“You wanted to see me, honey?”

“I’m looking for Desiree,” I clarify.

“Well, you found her. What can I do for you?”

My chin pulls to the side. “You’re Desiree?”

The girl next to her gets up to leave, and I steal her stool, settling next to this dancer. I pull my phone out of my pocket, find the photo, and turn it toward her.

“You know this girl?”

She leans to look, then grins. “I’m not sure, exactly, but I think she’s one of the club’s ol’ ladies. That photo was taken when the girls came up here for a bachelorette party. I’m pretty sure they were all ol’ ladies of the club, but who she belongs to, I do not know. Why?”

“Never mind. Thanks for your time.” I stand and walk down the hall and out the door to my bike. I need air and suck in a lungful.

Holy shit.

A brother’s ol’ lady?

My God, I fucked up.

Big time.

I fucked a brother’s ol’ lady? But didn’t my club set this all up? Didn’t they arrange for her to be there? None of this makes any fucking sense.

I debate in my head what to do. I contemplate whether I should come clean and take the consequences. But then I consider the consequences to the girl. It could be very bad for her, and I don’t want to be responsible for that.

The only thing I can think of is to ask Reckless exactly who she is before I decide what to do. I text him the photo I have.

ME: Who is this girl?

It only takes a split second for him to call me back.

“Where the hell did you get that photo?”

“Doesn’t matter. I just need to know who the hell she is.”

“Why are you asking? Listen to me, Shine. Undo that text right now. You’ve only got two minutes to do it.”

I undo it, like he advised.

“Is she a brother’s ol’ lady? Damn it, I need to know, Reckless. Right now.”

“She’s not anyone’s ol’ lady.”

“Thank fuck.”

“She’s worse.”

“Worse?”

“She’s Wolf’s daughter.”

“Wolf? Oh, Christ.” I rake my hand through my hair, thinking of how he high-fived me for fucking his own daughter at the cabin.

“Shine, why the hell are you asking about Fiona?”

“Fiona? Is that her name?” I commit it to memory.

“Yeah. What’s the fucking deal?”

“Because she was the woman waiting at the cabin. The one I thought was waiting for me .”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Fiona was the girl at the cabin?”

“Swear to God, Reckless. It was her. She gave me a different name.”

“And she told you she was there for you ?”

I think back over the moment, trying to recall the exact exchange of words. Did I bring it up first? I think I did. “Brother, I don’t remember exactly what I said, but she played along with it. Why would she do that?”

“Hell, I don’t know. I have no idea why she’d even be up at the cabin. And I can tell you… I’m pretty sure Wolf had no idea she was up there.”

I’m quiet for a long time, trying to make sense of everything.

“Shine? You there?”

“Yeah.”

“Listen to me. What’s done is done. But now you need to get any ideas about this girl out of your damn head. If I were you, I’d head home first thing tomorrow and forget this weekend ever happened.”

Forget this weekend ever happened? Forget about the connection she and I shared? Not a chance.

I think about telling Reckless about the murder at the cabin. Christ, I involved the daughter of a brother in a murder. Holy fuck. It just adds to the weight of this albatross around my neck.

Instead, I stay quiet.

“Shine?”

“You’re right, brother. Thanks. It was good seeing you, Reckless.” I’m about to disconnect, but he stops me.

“Hey, Shine?”

“Yeah, brother?”

“I won’t say a fucking word about this. This conversation never happened, and I’d delete that photo. Understand?”

“Got it.”

“Take care, Shine.”

“You too.”

I disconnect and pull up the photo of Fiona. I think about deleting it, but can’t bring myself to do it. It may be the only thing I’ll ever have from this weekend with her. But one piece of advice I do agree with.

I need to get the hell out of this town.

Climbing on my bike, I roar off the lot and head to Nevada.