“Hello?” Dix mumbled into the phone.

 

“Dix, Cale. WCP has been torched.”

 

He slipped his arm out from under Daisy and moved quietly to the front of the trailer. “When?” he asked softly.

 

“Now. They’re just putting out the last of the flames now. No way this is a coincidence.”

 

“No. What do you want me to do?”

 

“I want you to ride out there with me. Randy is pissed. I don’t blame him but we don’t have the manpower to cover every possible situation. He respects you, more than anyone, and I can use the backup.”

 

Dix chuckled. “Gee, thanks. Okay, give me thirty minutes and I’ll meet you there.”

 

“Thanks, Dix. I owe you.”

 

***

 

“You told me you could protect us!” Randy snarled, the red strobes of the firetrucks making him appear even angrier than he already did.

 

Cale nodded. “Randy, I’m sorry about WCP. I really am, but I had to make some choices. There was a man at your house tonight, and will be every night, to protect your family. Would you rather me have put the man on WCP and have something happen to Donna or your kids? The building can be replaced; your family can’t.”

 

“I put my life into this business,” Randy growled. “I’ll be down for months, not to mention missing out on the…special…event in a few of weeks.”

 

“Randy,” Dix said softly. “I understand you’re upset, but did you expect this? Why would they burn you out if they wanted to buy a stake? And why so soon? They didn’t give you much time to think about it, did they?”

 

“No,” Randy admitted, deflating slightly.

 

“This is pure terror tactics,” Dix continued. “I predict they’ll be back after your doors open again and make you another offer with the expectation you might be a little more reasonable the next time. What we have to do is protect what’s important. That’s your family.”

 

Randy glanced between Cale and Dix. “You’re right, but it still pisses me off. Some of my people are going to have a lot of extra time on their hands. If you can use them to catch these bastards, they’re yours.”

 

“Thanks, Randy. That’s what I want to hear,” Cale said. “We need to rally the town to shut these fucks down.”

 

Randy nodded again. “You can count on me. I’ll start spreading the word what happened. The Chief told me there’s no way this place could have gone up as fast as it did unless an accelerant was used.”

 

Cale nodded. “Go home, Randy. Help Chisholm keep your family safe.”

 

“If you catch them, I want to be there.”

 

Cale shook his head. “No, Randy, you don’t. You don’t get mixed up in this, okay? It’s better that way.”

 

Dix smiled and put a hand on Randy’s shoulder. “I already have an ax to grind with Leo. After I get done kicking the shit out of him, I’ll do it again for you. How’s that sound?”

 

Randy smiled slightly and nodded. “Will you at least send me a picture?”

 

Dix slapped the man on the back. “Consider it done.”

 

***

 

“Wouldn’t someone have called?” Daisy asked as they puttered along in her Beetle. It was likely the Firechrome were still in Douglas, and Dix and Daisy were hitting motels looking for Leo’s Harley. They were in her car because it would be less obvious than his hog and he didn’t want to take the yard truck and leave James with no wheels all day.

 

“If they know. There are a lot of bikes pouring into town now that the weather is warming up. All we told people was to watch for men with the Firechrome patch. If they aren’t showing their colors…” he let the thought drop.

 

Daisy yawned. It was just before sunup and they had been on the road for an hour, ducking into motel after motel to cruise slowly through parking lots, and she could feel her eyes getting heavy again. She shook her head, trying to wake up. How he could be so alert was beyond her, especially considering she was still sleeping when he left to meet with Cale.

 

He turned into another motel and began the slow circuit of the building. “Wait! That looks like it!” Daisy cried, pointing to an off-white Softail Deluxe.

 

He stopped and backed up. “Are you sure?”

 

“No, but it looks like it. See, it doesn’t have the backrest thing like the other bike did.”

 

He drummed his fingers on the wheel a moment. There were three other Harleys with it, the hogs lined up like soldiers at attention.

 

“Okay,” he decided, driving away to find a spot where they could park and watch. “Let’s roll the dice.”

 

***

 

“Daisy! Wake up!” Dix said, giving her a shake.

 

“What?” she asked, sitting up and looking toward the bikes. “That’s him! And Riley!” she cried as she started to open her door.

 

“No! Sit tight.”

 

“But this is our chance!”

 

“No! There are six of them and only two of us.” He pulled out his cell and dialed, his eyes never leaving Leo. “Cale. Dix. I’ve got them, but they’re about to go on the move. There are six of them, four men and two women. Daisy’s little boy is with them. I’m going to follow them, but I’m going to need some backup.”

 

“Got it!” Cale said. “Steph! Wake up!” he continued, his voice much fainter. “Call Thad and have him start rounding up the brothers. Just do it! I’m back,” he added, his voice once again strong and clear. “How did you make them?”

 

“Faith, brother,” he said winking at Daisy. “I’m going to hand the phone to Daisy. She’s going to give you directions.”

 

She took it but said nothing, her entire world focused down to Leo and Riley. As she watched, Leo kissed the buxom blonde then mounted up, the woman getting on the back and Riley crawling up to sit between his legs.

 

“Oh hell no!” she said once again starting to open the door.

 

Dix reached over and slammed it shut again. “Not yet.”

 

“He’s not riding my son on a motorcycle! He’s only five!” she snarled as she tried to open the door against his grip. “Let me out!”

 

“Stop it!” he snarled, jerk her hands off the door. “You’re going to get us spotted!”

 

“But my—” she began.

 

“And if they spot us and run, then what?” he snapped. “We won’t be able to keep up in this thing. The best we can hope for is we lose them, but what if he crashes? You need to chill the fuck out a minute.”

 

She fumed, angry with Dix and the way she spoke to her, but she knew he was right. Her VW was no match for the much faster motorcycles. “So we’re just going to sit here while they ride away?”

 

“That’s right. Then we’ll follow and you’ll tell Cale where we’re going,” he said, jabbing a finger at the phone in her hand.

 

“Cale, you there?” she asked as the bikes rumbled to life, Leo checking his look in the mirror before pulling away. He and the woman had helmets, but Riley did not and her stomach clenched at the thoughts of what could happen.

 

“Yeah. Everything okay?”

 

“Dix and I were discussing our options.”

 

“So I heard.”

 

“We’re at the Dew Drop Inn on the 101,” Dix said as they pulled out of the parking lot, “headed South.”

 

She repeated each thing he said as they followed Leo and his little entourage South, Dix keeping well back and usually with a car or two between them. She worried he was keeping too far back and would lose them, but he skillfully alternated between the two available lanes and kept them in sight.

 

When they banked into Casey’s Kitchen he never slowed. “They turned! Where are we going?”

 

“Just chill,” he said softly as he drove past, then made a left onto the next road, coming in the back way and parking well out but in view of the front door.

 

“We’re at a place called Casey’s Kitchen. It looks like they’re going inside.”

 

“Okay. We’re rolling now. Have Dix call me if they leave.”

 

“Will do,” she said and hung up. “Cale said they’re rolling.” She paused a moment then looked at her feet. “I’m sorry.”

 

He smiled at her and turned her chin so she had to look at him then gave her face a slow caress. “It’s okay. It’s almost over now.”

 

***

 

The Cutthroats arrived on the wail of high performance motorcycles, a dozen strong. Dix stepped out of the car so Cale would know where they were.

 

“They’re still inside?” Cale asked as the bikes fell silent.

 

“Yeah,” Dix replied, wishing he’d brought his weapon, if only to make him feel better.

 

“Let’s go kick some ass,” Thad said making sure his jacket covered his pistol.

 

The Cutthroats entered as a group, pausing while Daisy scanned the busy restaurant.

 

“How many?” the hostess asked.

 

“We’re joining someone,” Dix said as Daisy nudged him then discretely pointed. “I see them.” He took a deep breath. “Let’s go,” he said, leading the way since only he and Daisy knew what their quarry looked like, the rest of the Cutthroats following. “They would be right in the center of the fucking dining room,” he muttered to her as they approached.

 

The men surrounded Leo’s table. “We need to talk. Outside.” Cale growled.

 

“Mommy!” the beautiful little boy called and started to get down from the table as Daisy reached for him.

 

“Don’t!” Leo growled as Cage put an arm between Daisy and the boy. “Finish your pancakes.”

 

The boy looked crestfallen but complied.

 

“Just let me have my son,” Daisy whimpered.

 

“Looks like the squids have arrived,” Leo sneered. “Now we can have sushi.”

 

“We don’t want to make a scene,” Cale warned. “Outside.”

 

“Or what?” Leo said raising his voice. “You going to kill us?”

 

That brought quiet to the dinning room. “We just want to talk.”

 

“No,” Leo said loudly. “I don’t believe we want to step outside with you. What, thirteen on four, which doesn’t seem fair, does it to you?”

 

“Just give Daisy her son back. We’ll deal with you later,” Dix growled.

 

“Her! The jailbird? I don’t think so.”

 

Leo was pissing him off, being loud and calling attention to the situation. He muscled in and started to pick up Riley, but Leo grabbed a knife off the table and held it low and out of sight but pointed at Riley’s side.

 

“It’s okay, son,” Leo said, glaring at Dix. “I’m not going to let the bad man take you.” He lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “I’ll gut him right here before I let you take my son.”

 

“You wouldn’t dare!” Daisy whispered, barely able to breathe.

 

Leo sneered at her. “You, of all people, should know, you fucking bitch. You think you can take him away from me? I’ll kill him first, then I’ll kill you.”

 

The situation was rapidly getting out of hand. “Enjoy your breakfast,” Cale said, taking a step back.

 

“No!” Daisy wailed, shoving past Cage to Riley.

 

Leo jumped to his feet and backhanded her savagely. “Get away from him, you bitch!” he snarled as Riley began to shriek in terror. The tables around them began to clear, people scrambling out of the way as the Cutthroats began to move in. The Firechrome came to their feet, knocking over chairs and tables, their guns out and pointed at the Cutthroats.

 

“Enough!” Cale roared. He glared at Leo as Riley shrieked in terror, his eyes wide. “You lowlife piece of shit, using a little boy as a shield. Somebody call the cops. We’ll let them handle it.”

 

“Didn’t you hear?” Leo said smugly. “I have visitation.” He sucked on his teeth a moment. “But I don’t want to cause any more trouble, so I think we’ll leave. It would be best for everyone if I don’t see any bikes following me.” He tucked his weapon away and picked up Riley, shushing him.

 

“I’ll deal with you later,” Dix growled as the Firechrome began to make their way to the exit.

 

“Looking forward to it,” Leo sneered.

 

The Firechrome backed out of the restaurant, their weapons pointed back into the dining room. As the door closed behind them, Thad and Tex took up position by the door to make sure they didn’t come back as Cale tried to smooth things over with the restaurant. Everyone shrieked and ducked as gunfire erupted, dozens of quick shots from multiple weapons, then silence. A moment later four Harleys rumbled to life and blasted out of the parking lot.

 

“They shot up the bikes!” Thad snarled over the far off wail of an approaching police siren.