were his for the taking. He put his thumbs on the keypad and started firing.
“You’re dead.”
“What?” He glared at Ty and Evie, both laughing now.
“Mom killed you. She’s a tenth level Feline. You need to stay away from her claws.”
“Roawr.” Evie made a mock swipe at him with her fingers and he caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, brushing his lips over her knuckles until her eyes darkened with arousal.
“Just wait, Feline,” he murmured. “And I’ll show you how I deal with those little claws.”
“You’re dead, too, Mom. You got distracted.” Ty bounced on the couch. “I win. I’ll reset.”
Evie glanced over at the screen. “I’ve got three power bars left. I’m very much alive, my feeble human friend.” With one hand still in Zane’s grasp, she leaned over and tickled Ty and they both fell back on the couch laughing.
Alive.
He’d never felt as alive as he did right now, with his Evie beside him doing what they’d always loved to do, and his son—his son—laughing on the couch. Yeah, he loved the Sinners, and he would never leave them. But he’d been living in the shadows since he left Stanton, and now it was time to come into the light.
Only one thing stood in his way.
He dropped Evie’s hand and picked up the controller. “Where’s the bad guy? It’s time he got a taste of Sinner’s steel.”
And when he was done with that bad guy, Viper would be next.
SEVENTEEN
Don’t sweat it if you don’t have formal motorcycle repair training. Experience and the desire to do a good job win out every time.
—SINNER’S TRIBE MOTORCYCLE REPAIR MANUAL
“Seriously?”
Zane looked over his shoulder long enough to raise his eyebrow, then resumed his guard position at the window in the coffee shop. “Whipped cream on black coffee?”
“Seriously.” Evie squirted an extra inch of whipped cream on her large Americano. Her coffee headache had hit her hard after they finished their video game—no wonder since she hadn’t had any coffee since yesterday morning, and she hadn’t slept last night after the most thrilling sexual experience of her life—and Zane had made a reluctant stop at the coffee shop on their way to the clubhouse.
She shivered, remembering their encounter in the forest: the rasp of Zane’s breath behind her; the potent mix of fear and excitement; and the feel of his hand around her neck when he finally caught her.
But more than that, she had been moved by his tenderness. Despite her emotional retreat, he carried her back to the clubhouse, washed and bandaged her feet, and then left her in the apartment without saying a word, as if he knew she needed to be alone.
And he was right. The intensity of their encounter had scared her, just as Zane scared her. And for all that she kept telling herself he was going to leave, no matter how hard she pushed, he wouldn’t go away.
“You should try it.” She offered him the cream-laden cup.
“Thanks, but I like my coffee black.” Zane sipped his filter coffee. “Pure. And I can think of better uses for a can of whipped cream.”
Desire flared white-hot inside her and her cheeks heated. She dipped her head and handed the canister to Ty, then glanced up again through the curtain of her lashes.
Zane caught her gaze, his sensuous lips parting in an erotically charged smile. Yes, she could imagine what he’d do with a bottle of whipped cream. And despite all her protests last night, she would be fully on board.
While Ty smothered his hot chocolate with cream, Evie took the first sip of her coffee, letting the mixture of bitter liquid and thick sweetness slide over her tongue. Ah. So good. She needed the kick. Hopefully one would be enough.
“Should we go?” She took the canister from Ty and placed it on the counter.
“Fuck.” Zane stiffened, pulled out his phone. “Drop the drinks. Take Ty out the back. Buncha Jacks outside. Don’t know if they were tailing us or if it’s just a coincidence, but they’re not supposed to be in Conundrum. I’ll be right behind you. I’m gonna call Jagger and clear everyone outta the shop in case things go bad.”
“Zane … don’t…”
“Go, Evie.”
She dumped the drinks and grabbed Ty’s hand, pulling him into the back hallway. Behind her she could hear Zane yelling for everyone to leave.
Her heart pounded in warning, and her walk turned into a run. But just as she neared the exit door, she heard gunshots, a muffled explosion, and then the