Page 2 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Shine—

The amber whiskey in my glass reflects on the bar top. It’s the same whiskey I’ve been nursing for an hour. The prospect got tired of asking if I wanted another and just left the bottle in front of me.

My reflection in the mirror behind the clubhouse bar stares back at me.

I feel way older than I look. Someone slides onto the stool next to me.

“What’s bothering you, brother?”

I peer to my right to find my president, Daytona, and shake my head.

“Tell me,” he adds, and I know I might as well. Daytona’s a persistent motherfucker when he wants to be.

“You sure you want to hear this?”

“Wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

Well, if I know one thing about the man, it's that’s a true fucking statement.

“All right, then.” I toss back my drink.

“Things in my life were supposed to be more settled by the time I reached this age. I know thirty-three isn’t old, but it’s not young, either.

I’m not a kid anymore. I feel like time is flying by, and there’s so much I’ve missed. So many milestones I haven’t reached.”

“Like what?” he asks, motioning the prospect over. “Give me a glass.”

The prospect sets one on the bar, and Daytona takes the bottle in front of me and fills it.

“There were supposed to be kids, a house, a fucking family. But when Becca walked out last month, she took any hope of that with her. Not that I blame her. This life isn’t for everyone.”

“True. There are few women who can deal with the demands an MC makes on a relationship. Some say the best ones who deal with it are the women born to it. One’s who’ve grown up in the club, but that’s a rare find, especially as isolated as our chapter is.”

I huff a wry laugh. “It’s not like I meet a bunch of club princesses, and if I did, I’d no doubt be warned off them.”

He grins. “Most likely.”

“Prez, you got lucky with Charlotte, and Trick got lucky with Anna. Even Lobo found a good woman in Hope. But…”

“But what?” he prods.

“You know what really killed me? It was when Reckless left our chapter to transfer to San Jose and be with Harley Jean. He and I were tight.” I hold up my crossed fingers.

Daytona nods. “You two came up in the club together, didn’t you?”

“Yep. He was my closest brother.” I stare at my drink, knowing I won’t find the answers in the bottom of a bottle. “Maybe I’m being a fool, wishing for things that just don’t seem to be in the cards.” My phone dings with a text, and I pull it out. “Shit.”

“What is it?” Prez asks.

“My mother wants to know if Becca and I are coming for dinner on Sunday. I haven’t told her the news. I’ve put her off every week since Becca split. I know I have to tell her the truth. Ma liked Becca, and this is going to be hard.”

“Bet she wants grandkids, huh?”

“Yeah. And I don’t blame her. Since my father passed, she’s been alone, and she’s not getting any younger. She had me and my sister late in life.”

“How is your sister doing?” he asks.

I know why he’s asking. The club knows what happened to her five years ago.

“She’s never been the same, Prez. That attack changed her.

It’s like all the life went out of her. She used to be so vibrant, you know?

So full of joy. Now she barely leaves the house.

I don’t know if she’ll ever marry and have kids.

And you know what? She would have been the best goddamn mother. That motherfucker stole that from her.”

“I’m sorry the law got a hold of him before we did. We’d have taken care of him for you. You know that, right?”

I nod, a lump in my throat.

“We’d have cut his junk off and buried him with it stuffed in his fucking mouth. Rapists are the bottom feeders of this world.”

I appreciate his words, and I know without a doubt they are the unconditional truth. But taking care of that motherfucker is my job.

“Someday, that fucker is going to be released, and I’ll be right there waiting, Daytona.”

He meets my eyes, and I know he reads the absolute determination in them. His slow nod says it all. I’ve got the club’s backing in anything I need to do.

“You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, Shine. How about you take off for a few days and get away from it all? Clear your head of all that shit.”

I shrug. “And go where?”

“You like the mountains? Maybe get out of this heat for a while.”

“Sounds fucking fantastic. You know a place?”

He grins. “Let me make a call.”

***

An hour later, I’ve got my pack shoved in my hard-side saddlebags, and I’m on the road headed out of town. I like Las Vegas, but I’m glad our clubhouse is miles out of town and away from the lights and craziness of the Strip.

Rolling through it now reminds me of that fact. The strip is packed with tourists in town for conventions, bachelor and bachelorette parties, nightlife and gambling. The heat from the pavement radiates through my boots as I sit parked at a stoplight, even now as the sun is setting.

Daytona is right. It’ll do me good to get away for a while.

Before I pulled out, Lobo promised to check in on Ma for me while I’m gone. It takes the worry off my shoulders, knowing he’ll take care of anything she needs.

Once I’m out of the city, the drive into the mountains is beautiful, and the higher I climb, the cooler it gets.

The air is fresh with the scent of pine, and the dips and valleys have a light mist hanging in them when I blast through.

The road has a lot of twists and turns—the perfect things to get me out of my head and just enjoy the ride and the bike under me.

It’s a long ride up to where I’m going—over five hours, and I’m ready for it to be over with by the time I come around a curve and see Lake Mary sparkling in the moonlight, the hulking dark shape of Mammoth Mountain looming in the distance.

Turning in and slowing as I roll along the lakeside road, I find the red mailbox with the address and pull in, my tires crunching on the gravel drive. I coast to a stop and shut the bike off, the hot engine ticking as it cools.

Swinging my leg over, I stand and stretch, my muscles tight from the ride.

A groan escapes me, and I take in the quiet night.

There are a million stars overhead and nothing but the sound of a distant frog croaking and some crickets, and an owl hooting across the lake, its sound carrying across the glassy water.

The peacefulness of the place envelopes me, and I drag in a deep breath of fresh mountain air.

Hiking the strap of my pack over my shoulder, I trudge to the door and dig in my pocket for my phone to pull up the code Daytona gave me for the lock on the door.

Punching it in by the light of my phone, I hear the lock turning, then twist the knob, and it swings open.

It’s dark inside except for a single lamp across the room, and I wonder if it’s on a timer to deter break-ins.

I drop my pack on the floor, lock the door, and turn at the sound of a creak behind me.

The instincts that have kept me alive through numerous fights kick in, and my hand instantly wraps around the butt of the pistol under my cut.

But what I turn to find has my mouth dropping open.

I’m face to face with a beautiful girl standing across the room in the doorway to what I can only imagine is one of the bedrooms. My eyes sweep over her.

She’s wearing nothing but a white Evil Dead tank top that reveals the nipples of her bare breasts beneath the soft fabric and barely covers her ass, exposing long stunning legs.

Dark hair hangs in messy curls to her waist, like she just crawled out of a warm bed, and my dick instantly hardens.

The first thought that crosses my mind is that my club somehow arranged this. She’s one hell of a gift, and I make a note to thank Daytona tomorrow.

“Name’s Shine, beautiful. I’ll have to thank my brothers for this sweet surprise. I’m assuming they sent you, right?”