The rumble of motorbikes echoed through the quiet street, louder than the boys thundering heart. As dusk settled and the last golden light stretched across the tarmac, a young lad dashed straight into the road. He hit the ground, knees first, his face twisted with panic.
A big, black motorbike screeched to a halt just inches away from him. Its rider, a man dressed in battered leathers and years of hard living, barely waited for his bike to stop before throwing himself off. The boy cried out, voice cracking with desperation, Please! Please help my mum!
The bikers eyes shifted from the frightened lad to a small semi on the corner. In its doorway stood a man clutching a pint glass, glaring like he wanted a scrap. Without a pause, the biker strode forward, heavy boots thumping steadily on the roadside.
Stick behind me, kid, he rumbled.
Reaching the porch, the angry man stepped up, shouting, Oi! What dyou think youre playing at? The biker didnt even flinch. With a single, brutal kick, he sent the front door flying open, glass shards tinkling everywhere.
He stepped into the shadows, heading for the sound of muffled sobbing. What he saw in the back room changed everything he thought he knew about this night
The hallway reeked of lager, sweat, and fear.
Broken glass crunched beneath his boots as he pressed on.
The boy gripped tightly to the back of his battered leather jacket, his breathing quick and shaky.
The bloke with the pint was first to recover. You mad bastard
The biker turned just enough so his face caught the light.
The man stopped dead. Because this wasnt just any punter.
This was Gabriel Reaper Kane.
Six-four, greying beard, and a jagged scar running down his neck.
The sort blokes whispered about in motorway services and behind the walls of Wormwood Scrubs.
The sort who finished thingsproperly.
The angry mans courage vanished in a blink.
Reaper ignored him, striding towards the sobs at the back of the house.
The boy tugged frantically at his jacket.
Shes in there.
A faint crash from behind the battered door. Thena heavy, dreadful silence.
Reapers face set, grim.
He crossed the tiny house in three big strides and swung the door open.
The whole place seemed to freeze.
On the threadbare carpet sat a woman, collapsed beside a toppled chair.
One side of her face was a map of dark bruises, and her wrist was bound loosely with a flex.
But it was the little girl at her side that stopped Reaper in his tracks.
About four or so, she was curled up close to her mum, clutching a battered stuffed rabbit.
And hanging around her neck
A silver coin.
Reaper went utterly still.
The woman gazed up, tears streaming, and recognised him immediately. All the colour drained from her cheeks.
No
A word, so soft it was barely there.
The angry man stumbled in behind.
Youd better get out of my house, NOW.
Still, Reaper didnt move.
His eyes were fixed on the coin round the little girls neck.
Round, silver.
A black-engraved wolf.
The patch symbol of the Iron Wolves Motorcycle Club.
Only full members carried those coins.
And only one man ever had tiny ones made for kids.
His brother.
Daniel Kane.
Eight years dead.
The girl stared up at Reaper with trembling, wide eyes.
And thensomething that shouldnt have been possible.
She lifted the rabbit and whispered, soft as anything,
Uncle Gabe?
The hallway seemed to tip sideways.
The angry man froze.
The woman started shaking her head, fast and desperate.
No, please, no
Reaper knelt in front of the girl, gentler than youd believe.
He spoke in a voice so quiet it hurt to hear:
What did you just call me, love?
She clung to her rabbit, lips wobbly.
Mummy said if something bad happened to find the man with the wolf.
The boy behind him frowned.
Mum?
The woman broke into sobs.
Because the terrified, brave little boy whod run into the road
He wasnt her son. He lived next door. He was her girls best mate, the only one with guts enough to fetch help.
Reaper stooped, levelling his eyes with the little girl.
All right, sweetheart, whats your name?
Emma.
The name hit him like a brick. Daniels daughter was meant to have died in the house fire. That was the taleeveryone believed it.
The woman looked utterly broken.
He lied, she croaked.
Slowly, Reaper turned to the angry man.
And in that moment, everything made sense.
Not her dad.
Her stepdad.
The kind you dreadwho swoop in for women with nowhere to run.
He tried to bluster.
Shes just confused.
Reaper straightened up, filling the cramped hall with his presence.
The man backed off, suddenly pale.
Look, mate
Did you hit them?
The question dropped cold as ice.
The mans Adams apple bobbed as he swallowed.
Shes my wife.
Wrong answer.
Reaper moved so quick it made the boy scream.
One instant, the bloke was standing. The next, he crashed into the hallway table, wood splintering everywhere.
The entire house shuddered.
Reaper grabbed him by the shirt, hoisting him partway off the floor.
Daniel was my brother.
And the mans face went blank with terror.
Behind him, the little girl started cryingbut not out of fear.
She was crying because, for the first time since that horrible fire
Someone had finally come who belonged to her. Someone who wouldnt ever let her go.
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