I scan the road and find Hank talking to Firebird. “And you gave it to him.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you see anything?”
“Just the biker. I thought it was one of you. He went to the door, then left.”
“You read what was on his back.”
The woman shakes her head, “sorry. I know it sounds stupid. But…”
I nod. “Yeah. I hear you. We all look the same.” I turn from the woman and make my way to Mia, noticing Day has sidled up to Poppy.
Day watches my approach, “did you find anything?”
I shake my head, “you okay, Poppy?”
She nods, “shook up. That’s about it.”
“Alex. The women are fine. What did the neighbor see?” Day is pacing and only stops when he reaches me, and I relay what little information I have obtained.
“And she couldn’t read his cut?”
I shake my head, “whoever it was, has inside info.”
Day nods and turns from me as we watch Bastion and Eve approach. “Sorry about the house,” I said.
He shrugs. “The house doesn’t matter. At least the women are okay.”
Mia’s hand slips in mine and I squeeze it. Delaney has had our attention diverted and an icy shiver runs through me. Why would Jono tell Delaney where I was, putting his sister in harm’s way? Bile rises in my throat as I battle with my inner thoughts. I thought Jono’s beef was with me and the club. But I think I am nothing more than a pawn in a long game of chess.
“Do you think Poppy’s stalker has upped his game?” Day looks at the house. Bastion’s gaze is on me, and I lick my lips as I play my cards. “I think Jono might be Poppy’s stalker.”
Bastion turns to look at Poppy and Firebird. “She was going to visit Sugar-Jay over the summer break. It might be a good for her to stay in Burntwood Creek until we get to the bottom of this mess,” Bastion said.
Day nods. “Data goes
with her.”
Chapter 30
Mia: Demon’s Lair Noir Valley
“Shit. I wish I was a fly on the wall.” The saloon on Demon’s Lair is quiet. Day, Bastion and Leon have returned to Firebird’s home, taking Poppy with them. Oyster and Kit have gone with several bikers on a ride. I’m not supposed to know its code for ‘we’ve gone hunting for Jono and the other Skull Collectors.’ On our return, Alex hustled me in here and is now on a call with TJ, who rode back into town after the fire. Alex frowns as he glances over to me and I raise my beer to him. “The fire at Bastion’s will be nothing compared to the one between Poppy and Day.”
Alex finishes his call, slips his cell into his pocket, then taps his thigh and I shake my head. “I’m more interested in the fire I want to light with you.”
“That fire can wait.” I pull at a non-existent thread off my jeans. “Do you think Jono is behind Poppy’s stalking?” I know Jono’s not a good man. That he is a rough man who lives outside the normal rules of society. But to mess with Poppy didn’t fit in with the man who looked after me when I was a child. He was the one who sat with me at night when I had nightmares. Used to cheer me on at sports day when I ran in the sack race. Shit, when he joined The River Demons, he was still caring towards me. I rub a little harder at the denim. Although Jono has been mean to me over the last couple of months. I don’t believe he would be so cruel or stoop so low to put me in danger with Delaney. “Do you really think Jono is the one behind the attacks?”
“Mia.”
I look up at Alex, he’s sitting on the edge of the sofa holding his hands out to me and I accept the warmth he offers me. “Yeah.”
“I have to accept I’ve lost my best friend. That the Jono I grew up with is gone. The one I did my prospect days with, is not the man he is today.” Alex’s grip tightens, then he releases one of my hands and brushes at his hair. “Shit, I never realized how deep his hatred for Day ran.”
I turn Alex’s hand in mine. His flesh is warm, and I trace his lifeline. “It’s hard to think of that boy gone.” I look at Alex. The years and his way of life etched on his face. The baby face of his youth, long gone. His blue eyes always shadowed with the haunts of his past. I love this man and I know he is no innocent. “Would you have done the same?”
Alex frowns and I have this need to reach out. To stroke away the creases. “I’ll never put a woman in that kind of danger, Mia.”
“I know.”
Alex smiles and my heart clenches as the coils in my stomach tighten. One day I’ll not have these feelings. But for now, I’m going to treasure every one of them, and when I’m old and sat on my rocking chair, I’m going to remember every one of them and the man responsible for sending my world upside down.
“But you had to ask?” he said.
I nod. “you’ve been through a lot, Alex.” I stroke my thumb over his flesh. “Jono only lost the club.”
Alex’s fingers squeeze my hand. His smile lopsided, “he lost his family, Mia. We’re more than blood.”
“He has his new club.”
Alex’s thumb strokes the top of my hand and I look at it instead of the biker. I don’t think I want to hear his answer. “He does, Mia. And if he had any sense. He would realize
