Page 25 of Sweet Revenge for the Bikers

“I’m sorry.”

‘Your daddy must be so fucking proud.’ That’s what they taunted her with, back at the house. The only parent she has left.

He’s gotta either be in a club, or associated somehow. One more reason to keep family out of club business if you ask me. Sure it’s tempting when I see the guys making it work. I’d lay down my life to protect what they have, but isn’t it better if they never get mixed up with us in the first place?

“Melody?” I keep my voice low. She’s been quiet long enough that I’m not sure if she’s still awake and I don’t want to wake her up if she’s able to sleep.

The blankets move. “Yeah?”

“I know you have no reason to believe me right now, but we’ll get you out of this.”

She scooches to the end of the cot and rests her hand on the bars. I move my chair closer and put my fingers on top of hers. It’s not a lot, but for the moment, it’s enough.

14

MAD DOG

There’s a gun sitting in the middle of the table. An ugly slab of cheap metal with the numbers filed off, if they were ever really there in the first place. We pulled it out of Melody’s bag last night.

Quickshot, our resident firearms guy, picks up the gun, examining it closely. “Look, this isn’t fucking CSI or whatever. I can tell you that it’s been fired recently and there’s three rounds missing. From what Doc found in the medical notes, the bullets match the one they pulled out of Lightning. Kind of an unusual off-brand ammo, but not unique enough to give us a clear answer on its own.”

“She was at the rally. Is there any chance she carries for self-defense?” I have to ask.

Shadow snorts. “Really? I get why you want to defend her, but she’s up to her eyeballs in this shit.”

As if on cue, Rebel opens the door and guides Melody in. She’s wearing the same clothes she’s been using since we met, and there’s dark circles under her eyes to match her bruises. Rebel doesn’t look much better.

Shadow takes it all in, watching her with thinly veiled anger.

“Uh… hi.” She shrinks under Shadow’s glower, and when her eyes land on the gun, she looks more resigned than surprised.

“Hey.” I pull out a chair. “You want coffee?”

She nods. “Yes, please.”

“I got it.” Rebel grabs a couple mugs and pours from the carafe on the table.

“Melody, this is Shadow. He’s one of Harper’s old men, and he’s an officer, so he can make calls we can’t,” I explain.

“You’re fucking lucky it’s me in here and not Thunder,” he says under his breath.

“How many old men…”

“Four. It’s not important right now.”

She nods, gathering herself a little. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know, but on one condition.”

“You’re not the one calling the shots here,” Shadow snarls. “My old lady slept in a fucking chair last night while one of us has a breathing tube down his throat.”

She flinches. “I know, okay? I know. But it’s not that simple.”

“Then make it simple,” Shadow snaps. He’s normally very level-headed, but today he’s on his last nerve and the scar on his jaw stands out starkly against his overgrown stubble.

I get it. Hell, if Melody was our old lady, we’d be acting the same. “We can’t promise anything until we know more. What’s your condition, Melody?”

“I need your word that you won’t hurt my father.”

Shadow, Rebel and I exchange a loaded glance.