Steel and Sin

ay. The dashboard flickered weakly and died, leaving her in near-total darkness. Outside, the desert stret

d stayed dead. Her chest tightened. She had thought running would feel like freedom. In

ed to steady her breathing. Alone, in the middle of nowhere, she

ut then it came again. Engines. Motorcycles. Headlights appeared far behind her-

e coiled around a crimson heart. Steel Vipers. She had heard the stories... ruthless, org

d across the road, tires squealing. Doors burst open. Two masked men jumped

her car, pressing her back against the metal, heart hammering. The attackers jackets flashed a jag

d at her mind... the apartment door kicked in, her ex screaming, the chaos she had barely survived. She thought she could

n perfect arcs, dust clouds rising around them. The tallest rider-a broad-shouldered man who exu

alt. Ashley pressed her face to her arms, trembling. A bullet pinged her bumper,

r fingers,

r as his gun spat precise shots. Each move was calculated, graceful, and

es spinning gravel into the air. His grin didn't falter

s eyes, then forced himself forward, jaw tight. He took aim an

very move was deliberate. He barked one-word comman

attacker dropped with a scream. Another Fang bolted for the van. Ace revved his bike, forcing the van to skid violently. Tires spun, gravel spr

th her ex, the threats, the suffocating fear she had run from-and now it all seemed a prelude to this

ed. Nolan barked a

the left fla

shouted, his voice s

, laughing despite the tensi

londe," Ja

eyes on her. Even from twenty feet away

Nolan said, voice

mmered. Her hands

ce softer now. "We're

s she doing out her

plied, calm, steady, alm

out. "My car... it died. I didn't-I didn't see muc

er car. "She's stuck,

e flashes, the sound of gunfire, the Iron Fangs running-it all bu

e," Jax warned, "or follow

old desert wind bit through her jacket, and som

whispered. "

The engine growled-a deep, low vibration that shook he

e four Vipers in formation-two in front, two behind-like a moving wall. Her headlights swept o

safety. Tonight, she realized she hadn't escaped danger. She'd only traded one kind for