Warm light spilled across the rain-soaked pavement.

And suddenly, the storm didn’t feel quite so overwhelming.

A massive biker stepped into the doorway, gray beard dripping with rain as his eyes moved from Rowan to the baby in his arms.

Then he saw Troy Vance.

Everything about him hardened.

Behind the biker, several club members rose from their chairs and moved toward the entrance.

Troy stopped at the bottom of the steps.

“Those kids belong with me,” he shouted over the storm.

Rowan tightened his grip on his sister.

“He’s lying!” he cried. “Don’t let him take us!”

Thunder cracked overhead.

The biker’s gaze never left Troy.

Slowly, he opened the clubhouse door wider.

“Son,” he said quietly to Rowan, “bring your sister inside.”

Relief hit the boy so hard his knees nearly gave out.

He rushed through the doorway as the bikers immediately closed ranks behind him.

Troy’s face twisted with fury.

“You don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”

The biker stepped forward into the rain.

For a moment, neither man blinked.

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Then the biker spoke in a voice so calm it somehow sounded more dangerous than shouting.

“Maybe not.”

Lightning flashed across the parking lot.

“But I know scared children when I see them.”

And for the first time that night—

Troy Vance looked uncertain.