My head is swimming with everything I’ve learnt. I can barely see through the film of rage that is clouding my vision. I have no idea where to start looking for my brother, but I meant it when I said I was going hunting. He’s a dead man walking. This violation will not go unpunished. I’m going to bleed that little fucker dry and then I’m going to dump his body in the woods where no one will ever find him. It’s better than he deserves for what he’s done.

Seeing Sasha break in my arms is a sight that will haunt my steps for the rest of my life. It was more than a knife to my belly. It was an axe to my heart. For that alone, Sin will pay.

I pull my bike into a space at the side of the road, cut the engine and kick the stand down before tugging the black and white skull bandanna off my face and pulling my helmet off my head.

Dark thoughts circle my brain, dark thoughts that I never thought I’d have about my own flesh and blood. Then again, I never imagined my little brother would be capable of such a disgusting act. We walk a tightrope between shadow and darkness, but what he’s done is pitch-black. He stole something that can’t ever be replaced. Sasha will never be the same because of what he did to her, and knowing that burns through my veins like acid.

I hate my brother for what he’s done, for putting me in this position. I don’t threaten to take him to his grave lightly, but letting him get away with it isn’t an option either. If I’m forced to choose between my loyalty to family or my loyalty to Sasha, I’ll choose her every time. He was the one who wronged her. I don’t understand how the boy I raised could do this, and that freaks me the fuck out. I thought I was good at reading people. Clearly not.

I climb off the bike and head into the nearest store, ignoring the looks directed at me. I’m used to people being wary or interested. I don’t give a fuck as long as they stay out of my way.

When I step into the store, my eyes automatically scan the space for threats. There’s only a middle-aged woman, who makes a dash for the exit, and the store clerk, so I move over to the kids’ section.

What the hell does a kid need?

I scan the shelves, and come up empty until I hit the pyjamas section. There, I find a set of PJ’s with little motorcycles on them. I grin as I pick them up, feeling the soft material between my thick calloused hands.

She would look cute as fuck in these.

I stride to the register to pay, ignoring how the cashier peers up at me through frightened eyes and shakily puts the item through the scanner. I hand over a couple of notes and tell her to keep the change.

When I head out to my bike, I see a crowd of younger lads gathered around it, eyes wide as they coo over the chrome. I don’t blame them. My bike is a thing of beauty. It’s a Harley Fat Boy with a custom paint job, the Untamed Sons insignia painted on the fuel tank. The rims glimmer in the sunshine as I approach and they part like the Red Sea to let me through.

“Nice bike,” one of them, a teen with dark hair and glasses, gets up the courage to yell out. I can tell with a look that not one of them would survive an hour in my club.

Ignoring him, I put my bag from the store into the saddle bag on the back and pull my helmet on. I tug up the bandanna from around my neck, covering my nose and mouth before I throw my leg over the bike. The roar of the Harley pipes are loud in the quiet of the street and the lads let out a “Whoa!” as I kick the stand up and move out of the space. Then I take off up the street without a second glance back.

I ride to the clubhouse and park in my usual space next to the side doors. The change in lighting as I step inside the building has me momentarily squinting until my sight adjusts. I find the common room is busy as usual, even though it’s not even noon yet. I ignore my brothers and the club bunnies, seeking Fury out like a heat-seeking missile.

My sergeant-at-arms is sitting in a booth on his own, his dark hair is loose around his face, making him look a little wild. He’s playing with a knife, stabbing it between his fingers, going closer to his flesh each time. Crazy bastard.

He peers up at me as I approach, his eyebrows drawing together.

“Prez?” There’s question in his voice, and I’m not surprised it’s there. I’m walking a knife edge at the moment and I’m sure I’m channelling that rage physically.

“Sin’s gone. I need to know who the fuck was on the gate when he left.”

“On it,” he assures me, standing. His knife disappears under his kutte.

“Do it fast.”

He doesn’t question why, just nods. I head for the bar and beckon Kyle over with two fingers. The prospect moves towards me, jutting his chin in question.

I hand over the bag with a list of instructions to make sure it gets to Sasha and Lily-May. I then tell him to order food for her from her favourite takeout place. At least, it was her favourite three years ago. When I had her in my arms, I noticed how underweight she is. I need to rebuild those curves and get my woman healthy again.

For too long, she’s had to take care of everything alone. Not anymore. It’s my turn to take care of her. I want to make sure nothing touches her.

When I’m sure he understands, I head for my office. As soon as the door is shut behind me, I sag against it. I know what I have to do and I know why, but that doesn’t mean the weight of it isn’t sitting in my gut like a wrecking ball. I don’t care about putting another black mark to my name. I already have plenty, but killing Sin will take a piece of me I can’t put back.

It has to be done, though.

He can’t be allowed to live.

He signed his life away the moment he touched Sasha against her will.

Just as I sink down onto my seat, there’s a knock on my door. I think about ignoring it, but I don’t have that luxury as president of this group of misfits. It could be important.

“What?” I demand, and glance up as the door opens.

Nox steps inside and shuts the door behind him. His eyes scan my face, as if looking to see if my demons are out to play. I see the relief in them when he realises I’m not in danger of going nuclear.

“You spoke to Sash.”

It’s not a question, but I answer it anyway.

“Yeah,” I confirm.

“And?”

“And now my brother has to die.”

Nox nods, taking this information in as if I’m talking about the weather and not bleeding and killing my only remaining blood family.

“I’ve had feelers out all day, trying to work out where the little bastard went.”

“Any luck?”

“Not yet, but he can’t have gone far.”

If he has any sense he will have fled to the furthest reaches of the world. Even then, I’ll still find him and drag his arse home.

“She alone?” Nox asks and jealousy briefly rears its ugly head at his words. She’s my girl, my problem to worry about.

“There’s a prospect with them.”

Zack better protect Sasha and Lily-May with his last dying fucking breath. I’ll gut him myself if anything happens to them.

“If you need to be with them—”

“I need to find Sin first. Make sure everyone knows Sash and Lily-May are under my protection.”

Nox cocks his head to one side, his eyes boring holes into me. He doesn’t interrogate me, as I expect. Instead, he just says, “You’ve got it.”