Page 20 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

Shine—

Daytona, Trick, and I head to the office while the rest hang outside.

The young guy behind the counter is playing on his phone until he looks up and sees us, then gets wide-eyed. He nervously gets to his feet and backs up a step, his eyes on our leather cuts. The place smells of burnt coffee and mold.

Daytona approaches the counter, leaning his hands on it. “Lookin’ for this guy.”

Trick flashes the mug shot he’s pulled up on his phone. “His name’s Donnie Ray Sidler.”

“Had a tip he was in the area. You seen him?” Daytona continues.

The kid leans to get a closer look. “I think he’s here.”

“What room?” Daytona snaps.

The boy’s shaking hands move over the keyboard, and a sweat breaks out on his forehead.

“Sidler. Room 118. He checked in yesterday.”

“When does he check out?”

“He paid for two nights. So, tomorrow.”

“Call and tell him there’s a water leak in the next room and the maintenance guy has to come down to his room.”

The boy reaches for the phone and nervously stares at us. “He… he’s not answering.”

“Give me a keycard.” Daytona holds out his hand.

“I… I can’t do that, sir. It’s against the rules.”

I grab a handful of the kid’s t-shirt and haul him halfway across the counter. “Did you hear what the man said? Do it now. Or would you rather we boot the fucking door?”

He reaches into a drawer and passes us one. “That’s the master.”

I release him, and we exit the office. We troop down the walkway, the rest falling in behind us, and search out room 118.

We pass 110, 112, 114, and Trick holds up his arm when we get to 116. He creeps forward and peers through the crack in the drapes, a slice of flickering light falling across his face, like the light from a television left on in a dark room.

I scan the lot, but don’t see the burgundy sedan. Doesn’t mean he’s not here. He could have switched for a different ride.

Trick slinks back, his voice hushed. “I didn’t see him on the bed, but he could be in the bathroom.”

“Let’s go,” Daytona orders.

“Let me do the honors,” I say and swipe the keycard, dropping to a knee and pulling my gun. We all rush in. Trick checks the john, but he’s not in there.

“Goddamn it,” I hiss. Glancing around, there’s not a trace of the son-of-a-bitch. This is the third time we’ve closed in on him only to have him get away. “We’re always one step behind this motherfucker.”

Daytona claps a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find him. Don’t worry.”

“It’s been five months, prez.”

“Maybe we need to stake out his mother’s place. We could try bugging it. Maybe we’d find out something.”

I nod because I’m out of ideas.

“If that doesn’t work, we could take his mother.” Trick crosses his arms, and I know he’s dead serious.

“Maybe we should have done that to begin with,” Lobo replies.

“Let’s not get into the abduction business just yet. But I like the idea of bugging her place.”

“Think the kid gave us the wrong room number?” Trick asks.

“I don’t think so. I didn’t see his car in the lot,” I reply, dragging a frustrated hand through my hair. How many times will this asshole slip through our fingers? Maybe I need to start hunting him on my own.

“Let’s roll out,” Daytona orders.

We head to our bikes, where a prospect is standing watch. Mounting up, we roar onto the street for the forty-minute ride to our clubhouse. I think about stopping off at the house where my sister and mother have been staying, but decide it’s too late for a visit.

They’ve been happy staying at the house Trick found them.

When we finally get to our clubhouse in the foothills of the Spring Mountains, I’m exhausted. Climbing from my bike, I stretch, my spine popping. The rest of the guys troop inside, but my phone rings, and I stay outside to take the call.

A full moon hangs over the desert and mountains in the distance.

“Yeah?”

“It’s Reckless. We need to talk.”

I immediately go on full alert. He sounds pissed. “What’s wrong?”

“You neglected to tell me about killing Donnie Ray’s brother.”

My eyes slide closed, and I know there’s only one place he could have found that out. Her name has whispered through my brain a million times since I left San Jose.

“Fiona.”

“Yeah. She told me everything. How she shot him. How you buried him at the cabin. What the fuck, Shine?”

“I thought she’d keep her mouth shut. Guess I was wrong.”

“I dragged it out of her. This isn’t on her. You’re my fucking brother. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to get into the fact that I left a dead body buried at that cabin your chapter was nice enough to let me use. I know I should have gone straight to Cole, but it’s a fucking mess. I was hoping to get rid of Donnie Ray before I came clean with the whole story. He’s still a loose end.”

“You haven’t been able to track him down?”

“We had a tip and followed up on it tonight. He was checked into a motel in Henderson, but when we got there, he was gone. It’s like he knows our movements or some shit. It’s fucking pissing me off.”

“So, what’s your plan?”

“Daytona had me move Ma and my sister into a safe house months ago. They’re doing okay there. The latest idea we’re tossing around is bugging Donnie Ray’s mom’s place. See if we can get a lead on him.”

“Maybe that’ll turn up something.”

“There was also the idea tossed around of taking his mother, but Daytona’s not ready to go as far as abducting the woman. That kind of hits a nerve with him after what happened with his Cherry. Her abduction really hit him hard. He about lost his mind over it before we found her.”

“Yeah, I remember. I don’t blame him. Harley Jean means everything to me. I lost her, I’d be a walking shell of a man.”

“I get that, bro. Hell, I’m still kicking myself over putting Fiona in danger.”

“I know I warned you off her, but did you have feelings for her, brother? Seems you were pretty torn up about the lies she told.”

I huff a laugh. “You know, before I found out everything she told me was a lie, before I found out who she was, I really thought we had a connection. I mean, I know I thought she was a dancer, but she was smart and fun. I don’t know, there was just something about her.

Guess I was all wrong. I think I’ve given up on ever figuring out women. ”

“She wasn’t supposed to be up at that cabin. I managed to find out why she was there, though.”

“Yeah?” I stare at the horizon. “And what was the reason, Reckless?”

“She and a friend were going to throw a party. Wolf and the club knew nothing about it. She certainly didn’t have permission. Her friend left her up there to get the place cleaned up and was coming back the next day. I guess she called off the party when you showed.”

“No shit? So that’s why she let me believe she was there for me.”

“She figured you’d tell the club and her father would find out.”

“Does he know she was up there?” My throat closes. If he did, I imagine he’d already be here looking to beat the shit out of me.

“No. He doesn’t know she was up there. I should probably tell him; he is my brother, but so are you. I’m in a real spot here, Shine. But until it becomes necessary or someone flat-out asks, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Can I ask you something, Shine?”

“Yeah. Shoot.”

“You got feelings for this girl? If she wasn’t who she was, you think the two of you would get together?”

“If I could get past the lies, yeah. Absolutely. Hell, if she wasn’t Wolf’s daughter, I’d have already made a trip over there to see her. Hell, I might have brought her here and moved her in with me. Why?”

“I think she still thinks about you. Maybe you could get Wolf’s blessing. Hell, I’m with Harley Jean. She’s Crash’s daughter. How is that any different from you and Fiona?”

“II guess it isn’t. You’re the one who warned me off her, bro.”

“Yeah, I know. Wolf’s got a wild temper, and he’s real protective of Fiona, especially after…”

I press the phone tighter to my ear. “Especially after what?”

“Nothing, man. Hey, keep your eyes peeled for Donnie Ray. Don’t let him get the drop on you. I’ve got to go. Keep in touch, okay?”

With that, the line goes dead.

“Son of a bitch. What the fuck was he going to say about Fiona?” I text him to ask, but he never responds.

Tired, I trudge into the clubhouse, and go to the room in the back I keep here. I fall on the bed and stare at the ceiling, thinking about everything Reckless said.

***

Reckless—

After I disconnect, I find Harley Jean in the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror, smoothing lotion on her bare arms.

Walking up behind her, I clasp her waist and nibble on her neck.

“Did you talk to him?” she asks.

“Yep.”

“What’d he say?”

“I think he’s into her. He said if she weren’t who she was, he’d have come to visit her—and get this—he even said he’d probably have brought her to Vegas and moved her in with him.”

“Wow. Really?”

“Yep.”

“So, now what? We really need to get those two together somehow.”

I shrug. “I don’t think it’s up to us. I planted the seed. Gave him something to think about. Now we’ll just have to wait and see what he does.”

“I don’t like that plan,” Harley Jean says, turning in my arms and sliding her hands up my chest.

I chuckle. “I’m guessing you have a better one.”

“We need to get Shine to town. I may have an idea on how to do that.”

“Oh, really? What’s that?”

“Let me think on it. It could take some planning.”

“Well, it’s not going to happen anyway… not until he takes care of the guy who raped his sister. I know Shine. There’s no way he’s leading that asshole here. Not when he already put Fiona in danger once.”

“Put Fiona in danger? What are you talking about?”

“Shit. Forget I said that.”

She folds her arms. “Not a chance. Spill.”

“I can’t. It's club-related. She was just somewhere she shouldn’t have been.”

“I hate when you do that, but I know the drill.”

“Enough talk about them.” I hoist her over my shoulder, and she shrieks. “Hush, woman.” I smack her ass and carry her to bed.