Sinister Knights MC #1-3

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

S aint

Several hours after Adelina and I said I do , I cut the engine on my bike when I neared the end of the main road. I hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary yet, but I knew this was the only way in or out of this country. There had to be a sign of that fucker around here somewhere.

I walked my bike slowly, eyes trained for lights or tracks, when I heard the engine of a bike roar to life and shoot out of a pull-off just a hundred yards ahead of me.

I started the engine on mine, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I gained on the distance between us. I got close enough to see an Outlaws emblem on his license plate cover.

The bastard wore an ICE jacket. He sure as shit was planning to shake down Adelina again, maybe right under my nose.

Hell, he was probably planning on snatching her tonight.

My blood ran cold as I twisted the throttle, edging my front tire closer to his back one. That one very quick, very precise move was designed to run him into the loose gravel at the side of the old highway.

The fucker freaked, riding down the hill on his bike, then abandoning it and scrambling over a ditch before turning back, Glock aimed at my forehead.

I threw my own bike to the ground, ducking under it just as a bullet skidded off the tailpipe.

I growled, angrier than ever that this motherfucker thought he was going to take everything that mattered away from me.

I wanted to kill him for fucking with Prez.

For aiming guns at innocent women at the ranch.

For even thinking to kidnap someone so innocent and to sell them into the sex trade.

I grabbed my second, smaller revolver, aiming to nick his throat when I pulled the trigger, and he lunged at the same time.

The bullet splintered his shoulder, and the fucker howled as he rolled over and squirmed.

“Shut the fuck up,” I growled, pressing the tip of my steel-toed boot onto the wound that was flowing with blood.

“Gonna call Prez and see what he wants done with you. But if it were up to me, you'd be bleeding out in that stream.” I nodded to the ditch we’d crossed. “I’ve got a wife to take care of—no time to rot in a jail cell over your useless ass.”

I pressed the toe of my boot in deeper, and his eyes widened as his eyelids began to flutter closed softly.

“Chickenshit,” I muttered when he finally passed out.

His chest moved up and down steadily, my toe blocking the loss of too much blood.

He only had a flesh wound anyway, so I took my time as I dialed Prez, assessing the damage to my own bike from this distance.

Just as the sun was streaking shades of orange across the horizon, a figure appeared from down the road, moving slowly toward me. I could make out fluffy boots and earmuffs and a curtain of dark hair in a windstorm around her face.

“Adelina,” I grunted.

She picked up speed and ran full tilt to me, launching herself into my arms when she was close enough.

“Only thing keeping me warm out here was the thought of you snuggled up and happy as a baby in front of the fire.”

“Happy? Without you?” She shook her head, tear-stained cheeks stealing my heart once and for all.

“What are you thinking, woman?”

“Heard the gunshots and thought I could help.”

“You’re a terrible liar, little one.” I caught her chin, indulgent grin turning up my lips.

“Fine. I was terrified for your life. All right? I didn’t want to lose my husband on my wedding day.” She twisted behind her and pulled out the Glock I'd left her. “I brought this just in case. I was prepared.”

A laugh tore through my diaphragm. “You sure were.”

A roar of engines came over the hill moments later, Prez, Ryker, and King appearing like a band of wild brothers.

I loved each of them so much at that moment.

I hugged Adelina a little closer, finally taking my boot off the bastard that had dared to cross the Sinister Knights, and waved down the guys as they approached.

“We’ll handle that,” Prez muttered. “Just get her back to the cabin.”

I nodded, eyes catching Prez’s and giving him a silent thank you.

“And congratulations, son.” Prez’s hand landed at my back. “Proud of what you did.” He nodded, turning to watch Ryker and King zip-tie the Outlaw’s wrists and ankles, then push him over the back of Ryker’s bike. “And proud of what you didn't do. Gonna go tie him to the chair in my office and drill him for info on his boss.”

“You think this is bigger?” I murmured, dreading the idea of a full-blown war.

“Doubt it. But it’ll be fun to knock him around a bit.” He sent me a grin. “Go take care of that wife of yours.”

“Thanks, Prez.” I swallowed the ball of emotion temporarily clogging my throat. “Thanks for everything.”

“Thank you, son.” Prez’s own eyes warmed with emotion. “Having the three of you in my life has given this old man purpose. Best retirement I could have dreamed of.”

“Retirement? I just assumed you’d always done this,” Adelina chimed in, smiling up at Prez.

“Nah, had a real job once. Was captain of the Falcon Valley PD for a while.”

Adelina’s eyes grew wide. He caught her expression and waved her off. “Been a long time. Didn’t like the job as much as I thought I would, so I took the pension and bought Falcon’s Nest. Best decision of my life.”

“Best decision of my life too.” Adelina’s hand rested on Prez’s arm. “Thank you for sending Ryker down to intercept that truck. If you don’t mind, I’d like to help you save women. There are so many more like me. So many more that never make it out. I think I can slip in, help you get information like a double agent?—”

“Whoa, whoa, mi vida , one step at a time!” I hugged her tighter to me, not liking the idea of my girl in harm’s way at all.

“Can we at least talk about it? I have some ideas…”

I shook my head, flabbergasted by this woman all over again. “I can’t wait to hear all about them.”

“Are you mocking me?” she huffed, crossing her arms.

“Never would I ever.” I set her on my bike, kissed the tip of her cherubic nose, and thanked my lucky stars I’d found this woman.

“Saint Rossi!”

“Mmm…I can’t wait to get you home, Mrs. Rossi.”

“I’m still de los Angeles for now. And if you make me mad, maybe I won’t change it.”

A guffaw of laughter left my chest. “I’ll just have to tie you up and force it out of you, then.” I turned, adjusting the helmet on her head. “But something tells me you’d enjoy that.”

Adelina’s middle finger shot up in the air, a cocky grin turning up her lips. The memory of it made me laugh all the way back to our little cabin in the woods. Our heaven.