Ten seconds later, Ty sighed. “You’re dead. Even mom plays better than you.”

“Even mom?” Evie walked into the living room, her hair damp and curled slightly at the edges. She wore a green dress that hugged every curve and highlighted the emerald of her eyes. So damn beautiful. And last night had gone so damn wrong, although he was still trying to figure out why.

“Gimme a minute to figure it out.” Zane frowned at the character on the screen. How many guns was that guy packing? No way could anyone walk with that much gear, much less leap off a ten-story building. And the magazine for the automatic Ty’s character carried didn’t hold unlimited rounds. Damn unrealistic.

“Move over and I’ll show you how it’s done.” Evie sat beside him on the couch and he inhaled the floral scent of her shampoo mixed with the familiar hint of her jasmine perfume. His groin tightened when her body pressed up against him, despite the few extra inches of space between her and the armrest, and he was immediately transported back to all the afternoons he spent trying to focus on their games while trying to quell the throb of teenage arousal. But the party in his pants really got started when she reached over him to take the extra controller from Ty, her breasts brushing across his chest.

Damn. He had to get a grip. He wasn’t a teenager anymore, and Ty was sitting beside him. He closed his eyes and took a few deep, calming breaths. When he opened them and saw her smirk, he knew she was teasing him on purpose, and a weight lifted from his shoulders. Okay. Maybe he hadn’t screwed it up too bad.

And he wasn’t messing up the damn game either. Yeah, she’d been a good player when they were kids, but he was a man now. He knew how to shoot for real and those pussies on the screen 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 building shook around them. Evie pulled Ty close and curled around his small body until the shaking subsided. She turned back to the door but the hall had filled with smoke.

“Zane!” She didn’t try to hide the panic in her voice as she peered through the haze.

“Mom. Let’s go.” Ty pushed the door open, but Evie hesitated. Did Zane get out in time? What if he was still inside, injured and unable to move?

“Mom. The store’s on fire.” Ty yanked on her hand just as fire licked the walls of the hallway, curling around the paintings of Italian landscapes and giant hills of coffee beans.

“Zane!” She shrieked his name, her pulse thudding so loud in her ears she could barely hear. With one last look behind her, she grabbed Ty’s hand and pulled him outside.

Low, dark clouds hung in the sky, and the air was heavy with an impending storm. With Ty in tow, she raced down the alley to the front of the building. Sirens wailed in the distance and a crowd had gathered outside as smoke billowed through the front door.

“Zane!” She pushed her way through the crowd, searching every face, every black jacket, every head of brown hair.

With a roar, flames engulfed the building sending a thick cloud of dust and smoke across the street. Evie covered Ty’s mouth and nose, turning him away from the building, startling when she saw a familiar face.

Viper.

Leaning casually in the shadows of the alley no more than ten feet away, a cigarette hanging from his thin, cruel lips, Viper nodded a greeting. His gaze swept over her body, lingering on her face, and then he lifted his weapon, and gestured her forward with a crooked finger.