Page 40 of Shine: Sins of the Father (Evil Dead MC: Second Generation #8)

I shake my head. “I can’t ask that of you. This is my mess.”

“Bullshit,” Cody snaps. “I’m not letting you leave Fiona. No way.”

“We’re wasting time. If I didn’t hit the son-of-a-bitch,” Reckless says, “he could be closing in on us right now.”

“You’re right. Fuck, I hate to split up.”

Cody shrugs. “We could all go the long way and just leave his ass here. Get the club and come back up.”

“He’ll be long gone by then. This is my one chance to finish this; otherwise, I’m looking over my shoulder forever, worried he’s going to take my family out.”

“I get that, but—”

“Christ, Reckless. Did I just do exactly what I said I wouldn’t and put my girl and child in danger? It’s my sister all over again. I couldn’t keep her safe, and now I’m endangering Fiona and Dylan.”

“Shine, quit thinking that shit. This guy’s a maniac who needs to be put down like a dog. None of this is your fault.”

“You sure?”

“Fuck that bullshit.” Cody pulls the slide back on his 9mm. “Let’s end this.”

“You keep your promise to Fiona, Shine. Stay by her side and get her the fuck out of here. Cody and I have got this.”

I glance back and find her staring at me through the parted doorway. I can’t let her down. So, I nod. “All right. You keep me informed, understand?”

“You got it. Get moving. We’re losing daylight to find the motherfucker,” Reckless says.

I load my family into the SUV and pull out, taking the long way around. Reckless and Cody pull out behind me and roar off in the other direction.

I get us miles away and finally pull over at a motel, and we get a room on the second floor. It’s got a view of the four-lane highway, and I stand outside smoking while Fiona puts Dylan to bed. The last glimmer of daylight fades as the sun sinks behind the mountains.

A minute later she joins me outside at the railing, slipping her arm through mine.

“Thank you for not leaving us. I’d be a nervous wreck if you sent me off with Cody.”

“Heard all that, did you?”

“Yes. Have they contacted you?”

I shake my head. “I think I need to call in the club.”

“Which one? California or Nevada?”

“Probably both.” I pull my phone out to do just that, and it goes off.

It’s Reckless, and I press it to my ear. “You okay?”

“Yeah. We got him. I was right. He’d been hit.

Found the blood trail. We tracked him like an animal deep into the woods.

He was curled up against a tree. He’d already about bled out when I put a bullet between his eyes.

It’s over, brother. You, Crissy, Fiona… none of you will ever have to worry about that son-of-a-bitch again. ”

My eyes slide closed. “Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

“No, you don’t. We have each other’s backs. That’s what this club is about.”

“What is it?” Fiona asks.

“They got him. He’s dead.”

Her body visibly relaxes. “Oh, thank God.”

“We’re at the Big Bear Lodge on Hwy 203. I’ll get you a room.”

“Nah. I think Cody and I will just stay at the cabin tonight. If you’re good with that.”

“There’s no way anyone can trace any of this to you, right? You left no fingerprints on his vehicle?”

“Nope, and we did one better. We pushed it into the lake. Sank like a tank.”

“Anyone see you?”

“It was already dark. We didn’t see any other lights anywhere around the lake. It’s pretty deserted up here. And you took those guns with you, so really that’s the only thing that can trace back to him.”

“Right. I’ll dispose of them when we get to San Jose.”

“The animals will finish off Donnie Ray.”

“Be careful. We’ll see you at the clubhouse tomorrow.”

“Right.”

I disconnect, and Fiona moves into my arms, pressing her head to my chest. I hold her for a minute, and then we go inside and stare at our sleeping child.

“You kept your word, Shine. You don’t know how much that means to me.

Now I know I’ll always be safe with you, that Dylan will always be safe with you, because you put us first over any vengeance you might have felt for that man.

I know that wasn’t easy. I know you wanted to be the one to finish him off. I know you felt you owed your sister.”

“All that is true, sweetness. But ending his life, feeling that satisfaction, would have been a selfish motivation. You and our child are the most important things in my life. I will always put you first. Trust me?”

She nods. “Completely.”

“Good. Now let’s get some sleep. I’ve got to talk San Jose into letting me join their chapter tomorrow.”

She grins and rolls her eyes. “Like there’s any chance of that not happening.”

I shrug. “Well, I’ll need your father’s vote.”

She pulls back. “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.”

She looks worried, and I frown. “You really think he’d go against his own daughter?”

“You’re right. If he did, we’d just move to Vegas.”

“Well, we wouldn’t, but he wouldn’t know that.”

“You’d honestly give up your colors?”

“Babe, have I not just proved it to you? You come first.”

She grins and tugs me down onto the bed. Our son lies on the other one, surrounded by pillows.

“Well, actually, tonight, you come first,” Fiona says, then undoes my jeans.

I cock a brow. “If you insist, sweetness. Maybe just this once.”