“We got this place from a drug dealer who tried to cheat us,” he continued. “It’s isolated and big enough to accommodate the club, so we decided to fix it up. It’s not so pretty inside. Get a buncha brothers together, and you’re not gonna get any fancy decorating.”
After helping Ty out of the vehicle, Zane put an arm around Evie’s waist and led her up the steps. He hadn’t said a word since they’d found each other outside the café, and she was glad for the chance to collect her thoughts. She couldn’t get Viper’s words out of her head. She’d sensed Zane was holding something back when he told her about her father’s death, but had he lied? And what about the other men he allegedly killed? And the woman in the dungeon? Had she been naive about the Sinners and what they did? And what about the Jacks? Who were the monsters and who were the men?
“Stop.” She paused on the threshold. “Is it … kid friendly inside?”
Tank laughed. “I called ahead. Made sure Sherry, our house mama, understood we needed a PG environment. She sent all the girls home, cleaned up the booze, disposed of the … wrappers. We’re good.”
Evie supposed that should make her feel better, but the thought of Zane hanging out here where girls, booze and “wrappers” made it a constant non-PG environment, sent a strange flutter through her belly. How many women had he been with? How many biker parties had he attended where he’d taken women into the shadowy corners and—
“None,” he whispered, his voice a sensual rumble in her ear.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” She didn’t even pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about because she wanted the answer.
“Because I know you.” His arm tightened around her, and his words spilled out. “I spent a lifetime learning everything about you, the way you tense when you’re stressed, the way your brow crinkles when you’re confused, and how your lips tighten when you’re jealous. Good thing we don’t have any pink soda in the kitchen, or any girls named Melissa.”
Shocked that he remembered the isolated incident, surprised he was talking at all, she pulled up short. “That was an accident.” But his smirk told her he knew she was lying. Melissa Parker, destined to be prom queen from the moment she set foot in Stanton High School, had been after Zane from day one. And when he took her to the school spring dance, the year Evie turned sixteen, and put his arms around her slim athletic body, Evie knew it was time to leave.
But of course, she didn’t listen to the tiny voice of warning. Although she and Zane had an unspoken agreement not to acknowledge their feelings, there was something between them that went beyond friendship. And that night it was Melissa. At least it was until Evie “accidentally” spilled pink soda on Melissa’s almost-see-through white dress. Who knew it would stain? She hadn’t been able to read Zane’s expression as he watched a shrieking Melissa run for the restroom. But she didn’t need to. Melissa was gone, and that was all she cared about.
“I waited for you to come back that night,” he said softly. “I couldn’t understand why you went to so much trouble, and then left the dance.”
“I was scared.” She leaned her forehead against his shoulder, unable to meet his gaze. “I thought if you touched me like that, we could never be friends again.”
Zane gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her head back, then gave her a long, lingering kiss. “You were right.”
“Ewwwww. That’s gross.” Ty broke away and ran down the hallway, pulling up short when a biker with a thick, matted gray beard stepped out of a side room, filling the hallway with his bulk.
“Hey kid.”
“Mom.” Ty took one step back, and then another. Evie broke away from Zane, and put a hand on his head. “It’s okay.”
“This is Shaggy,” Tank said, coming to the rescue. “He’s the oldest member of the club and he hasn’t washed his beard in twenty years.”
Ty gave him an appraising look. “Cool.”
“Kid thinks I’m cool.” Shaggy snorted a laugh. “Now I’m not gonna wash it for another twenty years.”
“You’re not gonna live another fucking twenty years, old-timer.” Tank ushered Ty into the living area. “That’s why T-Rex and I both got seats on the executive board. We’re waiting for you to kick the shit bucket.”
“I’ll kick your ass, junior patch, how about that for some damn kicking?”
“Mom, can I go get the swear jar?” Ty turned to Evie, his eyes wide. “We’re going to be rich!”
*
Zane left Evie and Ty with Tank and headed for the kitchen. Jagger had called an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning, but Zane couldn’t wait that long. He wanted Viper dead. And he wanted it done tonight.
“We were waiting for you.” Cade waved him in and held up a beer. Zane shook his head. He had only just started coming down from the adrenaline rush of the afternoon, and a beer would knock him out.