Chapter 1 - Torch
The smell of gasoline and grease clings to my skin as I drag myself from beneath King's Harley. It's a familiar smell, comforting in its own way. The kind of smell that means I'm useful, that I belong somewhere. Even if that somewhere is a motorcycle club garage with a reputation that makes grown men piss themselves.
"You about done down there, Torch?" King's voice booms across the garage, and I push myself to my feet.
"You know I’m not as good as Steel, but I’m learning. I just finished it." I wipe my hands on a rag that's probably making them dirtier. "Carburetor's fixed. Should purr like a kitten now."
King nods, his face serious as always. The man rarely smiles unless Luna's around. "Good. We've got church in twenty."
Club meeting. After a week of quiet following the Iron Eagles' retreat, this could mean anything. Part of me hopes it's just routine business. The other part, the part that misses the adrenaline rush of explosions and precise destruction hopes there's something more exciting on the horizon.
I head to the bathroom to wash up, scrubbing at the grease under my fingernails. The mirror reflects a face I sometimes barely recognize: green eyes that have seen too much, a perpetual five o'clock shadow because I can't be bothered to shave regularly, and the small scar cutting through my left eyebrow from when a minor detonation went sideways.
Better than Jamie's fate. At least I walked away.
The thought comes unbidden, as it always does. Jamie, whose body was scattered across fifty yards of Afghan desert. Jamie, who had a wife and kid waiting for him back home.
I splash cold water on my face, trying to wash away memories that never quite fade.
"Torch! You coming or what?" Beast's voice echoes through the clubhouse.
"Keep your panties on!" I shout back, forcing a grin I don't feel as I exit the bathroom. "What's the rush? You got a hot date with Jenny?"
Beast flips me off, but there's no heat behind it. We've all mellowed since finding our women. Well, they have. I'm still the same disaster I've always been, just with better friends.
The chapel, our meeting room, is already filled with leather cuts and cigarette smoke when I enter. I take my usual seat, nodding to Tank, who looks as intimidating as ever despite the small smile that crosses his face when Beast mentions something about Anna's latest art project.
King calls the meeting to order, and we get through the usual business—territory reports, finances, updates on our legitimate businesses. The garage and security company are both turning decent profits. We're almost respectable these days.
"One more thing," King says just as I think we're wrapping up. "Rage spotted someone watching the clubhouse earlier today."
The room tenses. A week without Iron Eagles bullshit was too good to last.
"One of Vulture's?" I ask, already mentally cataloging the explosive supplies I have on hand.
King shakes his head. "Don't think so. Woman, early twenties. Red hair. Didn't approach, just watched from across the street for about twenty minutes, then left."
"Could be nothing," Tank offers. "Could be a girlfriend of one of the prospects."
"Or could be someone scoping us out for the Eagles," Rage counters.
"Either way," King says, "keep your eyes open. If she shows up again, we approach."
We adjourn, and I head to the bar, pouring myself two fingers of whiskey. The burn feels good going down, familiar. I've cut back since joining the Riders, but I haven't quit. Some nights, it's the only thing that keeps the nightmares at bay.
Steel joins me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Fancy blowing shit up this weekend? Got some old junk cars out back that need disposing of."
I grin, the first genuine smile I've felt all day. "You had me at 'blowing shit up.'"
"Figured that might ignite your interest," he says with a straight face.
"That pun was explosive," I counter.
"Yours was worse."
"I know. I'm not fired up enough yet."
We both laugh, and for a moment, everything feels normal. Just guys hanging out, making terrible jokes. Not ex-military with too many demons. Not bikers with too many enemies.
