The probie and his biker chick (Iron vipers book 3)

Have your back… maybe

*Tommy*

As I sit on my bike, the roar of the engine still ringing in my ears, I can’t shake the image of that girl’s tear-streaked face from my mind. The way she trembled, fear radiating from her like a palpable force. I grip the handlebars tighter, my knuckles turning white as I replay her words over and over. Sinclair. The name sends a new kind of fury surging through me, igniting a fire that I know won’t easily die out.

The ride back to the clubhouse is a blur of motion and noise, the wind whipping against my face, carrying away the chill of the alley where I found her. LZ rides beside me, his expression serious, but I can see the flicker of relief in his eyes that we managed to get her to safety. I can’t help but think of Dylan again. I wish she were here, not just to share in the weight of what we’ve discovered but to help me process the storm brewing inside me.

When we finally pull into the clubhouse parking lot, the familiar sight of our haven ushers a wave of comfort over me. I dismount quickly, my feet hitting the ground with a thud as I scan the area. The club is alive with activity, members lounging around, laughter spilling out from the bar area, but my mind is still racing.

Tom steps off his bike, and before I can even catch my breath, Isabella rushes toward him, her pregnant belly rounding out her figure as she moves like a whirlwind. The sight of her instantly softens the hard edges of my thoughts. “Tom! I was just about to call you!” she exclaims, her voice bright but laced with concern.

“Hey, babe,” he says, enveloping her in a protective hug. “Everything okay?”

“Just the usual chaos,” she replies, her eyes sparkling with the kind of exhaustion only a heavily pregnant woman can radiate. “But I need to talk to you about something important.”

As they step aside to talk, I feel a tug on my arm. I turn to see Zac, who’s just been greeted by his wife, Willow. She’s beautiful, with a kind smile that instantly puts me at ease. “Zac, I was worried! Iris is asleep, I didn’t want her to miss you,” she says, her voice warm and inviting.

“Hey, I’m back now,” Zac assures her, leaning down to kiss her softly. The sight of their love hits me harder than I expect. I can’t help but envy the bond they share, especially during times like these when everything feels so chaotic and uncertain.

“Tommy!” Isabella calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. “Tom is telling me you and LZ found someone and that it will make me happy?”

I hesitate, trying to find the right words. “Well, actually,” I start, my voice steady but laced with urgency. “We found a young woman who…” I swallow hard, the memory of her trembling form surging back into my mind. “She was beaten and raped. I guess what will make you happy is that she pointed to Caleb Sinclair, this time you should be able to take him down.”

A hush falls over the space between us, the gravity of my words sinking in. Willow’s eyes widen, and I can see the flicker of recognition and horror flash across her face. “Caleb?” she repeats, her voice barely a whisper.

I almost feel bad for bringing it up so bluntly, for a moment I forgot her relation to him. “I’m sorry, Willow. But this is big. He’s finally going down.”

She takes a deep breath, her expression shifting to fierce determination. “It’s about time,” she says, her voice strong. “I will only be happy to see him finally having to pay for all he has done.”

Zac nods, the lines on his forehead deepening as he processes the implications. “It’s proof, Willow. We can finally do something about him.”

A flicker of guilt crosses my mind, knowing how personal this is for her. “I hate that something like this happened to anyone, but I’m relieved that Sinclair might finally pay for what he’s done,” I say, my voice quiet.

Willow touches my arm gently, her gaze steady. “Thank you for helping her, Tommy. You did a good thing. You too LZ.”

I shrug, trying to brush off the compliment, but a warmth spreads through me. “I just wish it didn’t have to come to this.”

“None of us wanted it to,” Zac interjects, pulling Willow closer. “But we can’t let him keep getting away with it.”

With that, I excuse myself, needing a moment to breathe. I head towards the club’s bar, the familiar scent of beer and leather washing over me. LZ follows close behind, his expression still contemplative. We make our way to the bar, both of us needing a drink to settle our nerves.

“Let’s grab a couple of beers,” I say, trying to shake the heaviness off my shoulders. As we lean against the bar, I take a long swig, the bitter taste grounding me.

Before long, a couple of club hangarounds approach, their laughter filling the air, and they start to flirt. “Hey, Tommy! You look like you could use some company!” one of them says, winking suggestively.

But I’m not in the mood. Not tonight. My mind is still tangled in thoughts of Dylan, the girl we found, and Caleb Sinclair. “Yeah, maybe later,” I reply curtly, turning my back on them.

“Everything okay?” LZ asks, sensing my shift in energy.

“Just… thinking about Dylan,” I admit, my voice low. “She should be back soon. She answered me by the way… but you know… it’s complicated.”

“Yeah, but she deserves you being completely honest,” LZ responds, taking a sip of his beer. “But you’re not alone in this, Tommy. I’ll have your back… unless my uncle gets really mad about it… then sorry bud but I want to keep my cut.”

I huff and stare into my drink, the chaos of the night echoes in my mind. Sinclair’s reign of terror is nearing its end, and I’ll do whatever I can do to help see him pay for the pain he’s caused.

But tonight, for now, I just need to focus on the present, on the warmth of my brothers around me, and the fact that soon, I’ll have Dylan back where she belongs… and hopefully by my side.