Chapter One
Bane was lying in thedirt with his arms over his head.Debris and dirt rained down on top of his body.When the dust and smoke lessened, he raised his head to spit out the dirt from his mouth.He looked around the area trying to locate everyone that had been in the vehicle with him.Spotting Deke and Sam he then found Mountain and finally, Hound.
He slowly pushed his body up from the ground and turned his head to study the blown-up vehicle.Finally he stood upright and walked slowly over to the SUV.
The engine was blown for sure as the metal from the hood was missing and the front fender was bent but he knew the back would be okay.His vehicles were built for something like this.He looked through the window at the front seat to the dash cam.It had been destroyed but he knew the video from it was backed up to the cloud.So, when he got back to his house he should be able to see who had set that bomb.
He reached for his phone and texted James to bring a vehicle.He turned back to the others and asked, “Is everyone still alive?”he finally asked.
Everyone there either grunted or groaned at his question.
Deke glared at the vehicle.“Well, a hell of a lot of fucking good it was to come back here and search for more evidence.It’s all gone now.”
Bane just shook his head.“Nah, it’s not gone.It’s perfectly safe.”
Sam narrowed his eyes at him.“What the hell are you smoking, brother?Your fuckin’ car just blew up.”
Bane smiled and his smile looked just a bit creepy to the men who never saw him smile before.He reached into his pocket and brought out a set of keys.“It’s not really blown, Bones,” he said to Sam as he walked to the back of the SUV and inserted a key.Opening it up, he stepped back.
Deke and Mountain joined him at the opened hatch and they saw the evidence boxes were still there, not even marked by soot.
Mountain looked astonished as he queried, “What the hell?How did you accomplish that?”
“I had all my vehicles specially made, just in case, you know.”Bane shrugged.“Force of habit.My former profession didn’t leave me with much of an option.That blast should have blown up the whole car, but it didn’t.It only blew the engine due to the safety options I had installed.”
“Why did we bail on the car then?”Sam grumbled.
Bane shrugged.“I didn’t think it was a good idea to stay in it, man.And I’ve never had anyone get that close before.I didn’t know the bomb was there until I heard the click just before it went off.”
“Jesus H Christ,” Mountain muttered as he shook his head.“Man, you must have had a lucky horseshoe shoved up your ass in another life.You live a charmed life, buddy.”
Bane disagreed with this scenario.“No, my friend, the one thing my grandfather taught me that is probably THE most important thing I live by...Always have a way out, never walk into any situation blind.Do not trust luck as it is fickle at best.That’s the main reason I got so good at what I did for a living.I always searched for a clean way out beforehand and a backup way out if there was one to be had.I protected myself from any possible situation.I’ve always driven a specially enhanced vehicle as well.Bullet proof, explosion proof and spikes on the road proof.”Then he gave them a slight smile.“And the dash cam recorded everything to the cloud.So, when we get to my house I’ll look at the fucking face that put that bomb in my engine.”His smile now disappeared.“Then I will find him and blow him the fuck up.”
Sam blinked his eyes then shivered.He saw the cold look in Bane’s steely gaze.He glanced over at Deke.
Deke stared at the ex-hitman too and then he met his father’s gaze.He shook his head as if to say...do not reply.
Sam looked around at the other Sins to find that everyone else had seen this look too. They all knew someone would die a very painful death for attempting to kill them.To Sam, this actually made him feel better.The asswipe would get his just desserts.
They all tried to dust themselves off and a few of them had a small cut or two or a promise of a bruise on them.But to still be alive...they did not complain.
A few minutes later, James arrived.He got out of the SUV slowly and took the time to look at the damaged vehicle.Then turning to Bane, he just shook his head.“Glad to see you’re all alive and still breathing.”
Bane walked over to the back of the vehicle and opened the hatch again.Then he grabbed some of the boxes he’d put in there earlier.He transferred them to the SUV and everyone else loaded the other evidence boxes into the new vehicle.
When they were done, everyone got in and Bane slid behind the wheel.
James got in beside him.They drove back to Bane’s house in silence.
When they arrived, Bane parked the car and grabbed a box then went inside.Everyone followed him, each of them carrying a box.They all gathered in the study.
Bane was already sitting at his laptop, pulling up his cloud account.The bomb planting had been done at Owen’s house, not Bane’s.His yard and property were highly monitored.
Then finally on this video, they all saw someone approaching the SUV.This person opened the hood of the car and leaned over to attach the bomb to the engine.The man then lowered the hood gently and clicked it shut.
For a few seconds, the man stared at the camera without knowing it.They all saw his face clearly and unobstructed.The bomber seemed to stare back at them then he snickered a bit.Turning, he disappeared into the trees.
Bane let out a low growl and his eyes grew colder yet.Then he spoke in a low tone, “Gentlemen, that is Spencer Wagner.And take a good long look because he is now a dead man walking.”He stood, picked up the box of evidence he’d gotten from the basement apartment and walked down the hall to the Infirmary.
