I can’t believe my luck.

For once, I might be catching a break. As soon as I see the elderly woman climb out of her old beat-up truck and start handing out cookies to the reporters, I suspect she’s connected to the Steel Infidels.

I’m hoping she might recognize me from TV so when she heads toward the gate, I push my way through the crowd so she can see me. The moment she glances my way, I wave at her as if we’re old friends.

“Lord have mercy!” she says, heading my way with a big smile. “You’re that Maggie girl from the six o’clock news. Are you okay, hon? I saw the video of the shooting. To think that you and my boys were right there in the middle of it all. It’s a good thing they were there with you. Otherwise I don’t know what would have happened. Were you hurt?”

I shake my head. “No, thankfully not.”

“The good Lord was watching over my boys yesterday, and you too. Thank you, Jesus! I pray for them boys every day of my life and I know it makes a difference.”

“Yes ma’am, it does,” I say, agreeing with her.

I’m not very religious. She doesn’t need to know this.

I wonder who she is. A mother? A grandmother? I hate knowing so little about the Steel Infidels. I’m flying blind here.

“You’re every bit as pretty in real life as you are on television,” she says. “Maybe even prettier. You could use a little more flesh on your bones though. Why do all of you young gals think you need to be so skinny?”

Her compliment pleases me. Truth is, I’m a little self-conscious about my weight. When they say the camera adds ten pounds, they aren’t kidding. I already have more than an extra ten pounds on the lower half of my body. Luckily my cameraman knows to shoot me from the waist up whenever possible so my extra pounds rarely show.

“Why didn’t you take the day off?” she asks. “You must be terribly shaken up. How long have you been standing out here in the cold?”

“Since about noon,” I reply. “I’m just doing my job, same as everyone else.”

She frowns and hugs her brown coat tighter around her. “You’ve been hanging around out here for hours? What’s everyone waiting on?”

“We’re hoping someone from the Steel Infidels might come out and give us a statement,” I say. “My station manager told me not to leave here until I get something to put on the news tonight.” I’m stretching the truth here and don’t feel one bit guilty about it.

“Well, you should tell him to come stand out in the cold if he wants something,” she says. “It’s too dang chilly out here. And you were almost killed yesterday. Come with me, child. Let’s go inside the clubhouse and I’ll get you something warm to drink. The boys might have a pot of coffee on and if they don’t, I’ll make us a fresh one.”

I’m surprised when she places a wrinkled hand on my arm and leads me straight up to the gate. I shoot the cameraman a shocked look over my shoulder.

“Go,” he mouths silently and motions me on with his hand.

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” I tell her. “It’s freezing out here. What’s your name? You already know I’m Maggie.”

“I’m Leona. The boys call me Aunt Leona. Even the ones who aren’t my nephews.”

For a second I’m worried we won’t get through the gates when a menacing-looking biker with a full beard steps up to the other side.

“Hurry up and open the gate, Rocco,” Leona orders. “We haven’t got all day.”

“Where’s my cookies?” he asks gruffly, hiding a smile behind his dark beard. “I saw you giving them out to everyone else.”

Leona reaches way down in her purse and pulls out a couple of cellophane-wrapped cookies. He opens the gate wide enough for us to squeeze through. She hands the cookies to him and pats his arm.

“I’ve got plenty more in the truck,” she says. “Can you get someone to bring my vehicle inside for me? I don’t want it to get banged up out there. There’s plenty of cookies, but be sure to only eat the ones that are wrapped in cellophane. The other batch of cookies on the seat are for the reporters hanging around out here blocking your way.”

“Oh no,” he says with a knowing smile. “What did you do this time?”

“Nothing,” she replies. “I don’t know what you mean.”

She hands him a big, heavy set of jangly keys.

“I’ll take care of your truck,” he says. “Thanks for the cookies.”

“Remember what I said now. Only the ones individually wrapped.” She winks at him and he lets out a big belly laugh.

I realize there’s something happening that I’m not picking up on. Maybe Leona isn’t as sweet and innocent as she appears. Now I’m wondering why she’s being so nice to me. When we get to the front door of the clubhouse, a woman with tired eyes and short grey hair swings it open and quickly ushers us inside.

Leona reaches over to hug her neck. “Hey Jodi, how are you?”

“I’m good,” the woman replies. “The boys are already waiting upstairs. They said to tell you that they need to talk to the girl for a few minutes and then they’ll come down to see you.”

“You got any hot coffee for this little gal first?” Leona asks. “She’s freezing to death out there.”

“Let’s go in the kitchen and check,” Jodi replies with a smile toward Leona.

She doesn’t acknowledge me at all. I feel completely invisible. I take a quick glance around the large room that is empty except for us. There’s a large pool table in the middle. Half-filled cups of coffee are scattered around, as if everyone jumped up and hid right before we came in the door. Hot steam is still coming off one of the cups.

I suspect that’s exactly what happened.

They must have been watching the gate and knew Leona was bringing me in with her. Naturally, they wouldn’t want a member of the press inside the clubhouse. It will be a miracle if they let me stay five minutes. I’d better check out the place and absorb everything I can while I have a chance.

I fall back a few feet and slide my hand in my pocket, curling it around my cell phone. If nothing else, maybe I can sneak a few photos before they make me leave. Carefully, I start to inch it out.

A large hand reaches around me from behind and covers my hand tightly in its warm grip.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” an angry voice mutters in my ear.

I would recognize that deep Southern drawl anywhere.

Toby.

His breath tickles my neck. The familiar smell of his soap from this morning’s shower is still lingering on his skin. The image of him leaning against his doorway, looking cocky as hell in nothing but a towel, is permanently imprinted in my brain.

He squeezes my hand tighter, almost hurting me now.

“Planning on taking a few photos of our clubhouse?” he asks. “Or videos to run on tonight’s news? I don’t think so, missy. Give me your phone.”

He snatches the phone from my grip and drops it into his leather jacket pocket.

“It’s mine now,” he says with a smirk. “You’re in our house and you have to follow our goddamn rules.”

Leona stops walking and whirls around, her hands on her ample hips.

“Toby!” Leona scolds. “How many times have I told you boys not to use the GD word? Especially in front of a lady! I don’t like it when you use the Lord’s name in vain. You should know better than that.”

He appears contrite for a moment.

“Sorry, ma’am,” he says. “I’m working on it. I picked up some bad language in the Marines. It’s an awful habit. I’m trying to quit. I promise.”

“You probably picked up lots of nasty things,” she replies. “Doesn’t mean you need to be spreading them around. Jodi, do the boys use that kind of language in the clubhouse all the time?”

Jodi looks over at Toby and winks, then back at Leona.

“No, not much,” Jodi says. “Occasionally they’ll slip up now and then. Otherwise they’re pretty good about the cussing.” She waves toward the stairs. “Toby, why don’t you take the girl on up to the office? I want to sit down and have a chat with Leona in the kitchen. Catch up on some things.”

Toby curls a hand around my upper arm and tries to tug me toward the stairs. I don’t budge and lean in closer so Leona can’t hear me.

“Give me my damn phone back,” I say. “You can’t expect me to let you take it.”

He raises his eyebrows at me. “You obviously don’t know much about the Steel Infidels, do you? If you did, you would know that yes, I can take whatever I want, when I want. You’ll get it back when the time is right. Not before. Unless you want to leave right now? If that’s the case, I’ll gladly have Jodi walk you to the gate. If you haven’t figured it out yet, you’re not welcome here. We didn’t invite you in. By the way, how in the world did you manage to trick Leona into bringing you inside?”

I frown at him. It ticks me off that he thinks I conned an old lady.

“I didn’t do anything,” I say defensively. “She came up to me and offered to bring me inside to get out of the cold. That’s it. She recognized me from the news. What is up with your attitude?”

His hostile blue eyes stare down into mine. He doesn’t like me. I can feel his distaste and can’t help but wonder why. What did I ever do to him?

For a second, we stand there staring at each other in a stand-off, neither one wanting to give an inch.

“Are you going upstairs with me or leaving?” he finally asks. “Make up your mind now, woman. I haven’t got all day.”

Phone or no phone, being inside the clubhouse with the Steel Infidels is better than being out on the other side of the fence with the herd of reporters doing nothing.

“I’ll stay,” I say without hesitation.

“Suit yourself then,” Toby says. “I’m keeping your phone. They’re waiting for you upstairs.”

He ushers me up a narrow staircase and into a small office on the second floor. The room is barely furnished with a small table and a few wooden straight chairs. Three men are sitting at the table. They all glance up when we walk in.

I recognize Sam from yesterday and the other guy who practically dragged Toby out of the food court. The third man I’ve never seen before. He stands up and holds out a hand to me to shake.

“I’m Jesse, President of the Steel Infidels,” he says, giving my hand a firm shake. He points to Sam. “This is Sam, who I believe you’re already met.”

Sam throws up a hand in greeting.

“And our other brother, Flint, the VP.”

Flint nods at me without smiling.

I notice Jesse and Flint are the spitting image of each other, except Jesse is older and quite a bit more muscular. He’s big and intimidating. They both have dark brown, almost black hair, and are strikingly handsome.

Sam is smaller and covered in tattoos running down both arms. With his blue eyes and blond hair, he clearly inherited his looks from a different side of the family. There’s something about his eyes that remind me of Leona’s.

So they’re all brothers…Jesse, Flint, and Sam.

I wonder how Toby fits in with the group and how he became involved with the Steel Infidels.

“Where’s your phone?” Jesse asks. “We’ll need to take it for now.”

“I’ve already got it,” Toby answers, patting his pocket. “I grabbed it before she had a chance to take photos. She wasn’t inside two minutes before she was going for her phone. I don’t know what your Aunt Leona was thinking bringing her in.”

Jesse stares at me without speaking. He’s dangerous. I can feel the scary vibes coming off him. It makes me uneasy.

“Did you take any photos inside the clubhouse?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, I didn’t.”

He turns to Toby. “Check her phone,” he orders.

Toby pulls my phone out of his pocket and hands it to me. “Type in the passcode,” he says.

“Are you crazy?” I ask. “I’m not letting you prowl through my phone. There’s personal stuff on there.”

Toby grins. “Nude photos?” he asks. “Or maybe you’ve been sexting your boss at work? I can’t wait to see this.”

“All we want to do is check for photos of us,” Jesse reassures me. “Type in the passcode and give Toby back the phone.”

For the first time, I’m realizing the Steel Infidels are for real. Not a fictional group of men who ride motorcycles through the mountains on the weekends as a hobby. Or men who hang out at a clubhouse occasionally to drink and play pool. These are men in a real-life motorcycle gang that I know absolutely nothing about.

They could be criminals for all I know.

Probably are.

Drug dealers or pimps.

Criminals who happened to be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If they didn’t have anything to hide, they wouldn’t have all run so fast from the scene.

And now here I am.

Alone with four of them in a room by myself.

Smart move, Maggie.

What was it that Toby just said to me? That he could take anything he wanted, whenever he wanted? Just because he didn’t try anything earlier this morning doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t.

If I yelled, would anyone hear me or even care? Leona might. Then again, Jodi made a point of taking her off somewhere else in the clubhouse.

My heart starts beating faster. Taking a deep breath, I type in my passcode and reluctantly hand the phone back over to Toby.

“Smart girl,” he says.

I stand there quietly while he flips through my phone.

“I see a few photos of my house on here,” he says. “I’m going to delete those. If I ever get a hint that you’re taking photos of where I live again, you won’t have a phone left. Do you understand?”

His eyes are hard and cold. Not a flicker of warmth in them now. He’s furious with me.

“I wasn’t going to use them for anything,” I say in defense. “I swear.”

He isn’t convinced. “Why did you take them then?”

I shrug. “Mostly out of habit,” I reply.

“Are there any photos inside the clubhouse?” Jesse asks.

“Not that I can see,” Toby replies. “The last photo was taken outside the gates.”

“I told you I didn’t take any.”

“We’ve learned that it always pays to double check,” Jesse says. “Now that we’ve got that cleared up, why don’t you take a seat.” He waves a hand at the table.

When I hesitate, Flint stands up and politely pulls out a chair for me.

“There’s nothing for you to be afraid of,” Jesse reassures. “We’re not going to hurt you.”

I laugh as if the thought is ridiculous. Never let them see you sweat is my motto.

“Of course you wouldn’t,” I say. “Half the nation’s media saw me walk inside here. And you guys are heroes. I’m honored to meet you. Truly, I am.” I’m babbling nervously now.

All four men stare back at me without speaking. Toby rubs the tiny spot of beard on his chin.

They’re making me uncomfortable.

What is going on here?