“If he takes after his mama, it will be love at first sight.”

“That’s not exactly how I remember it.” Penni snorted. “You were afraid of your own shadow then. I had to drag you out of the dorm room to go to a party, and you hugged the wall the whole time.”

Lily laughed. “I may have been exaggerating a little bit.”

“A little?” Penni and the rest of the women laughed with her.

Diamond turned the television on, starting the third movie in the series, I’m Having a Baby with a Zombie.

“Uh … Diamond, do you think it’s a good idea to watch this now?” Penni really didn’t want to watch a zombie movie when the clubhouse was under attack. She personally didn’t think that a blood and guts movie would take their mind off their fears.

“If I die, when will I get to watch it again?” she retorted.

Cash, Razer, Drake, and Stump didn’t look like they appreciated her humor.

“You’re not going to die, but it will take our mind off being worried about Genny.” Penni settled down on the other side of Lily. She wanted to call Jackal to see what was going on, but she didn’t want to interrupt him.

Once the movie ended, they were about to start another one when Cash stopped them.

“They’re back.”

Penni followed the women upstairs, anxious to find out what had happened.

The living room was crowded, so Penni stood in the open doorway. She could barely see Genny shivering beneath a blanket.

“I’ll make some coffee,” Penni said to no one in particular, turning toward the kitchen and filling the empty pot.

Viper led Genny to the kitchen table, telling everyone, “Go to bed. The fire is out. Train, Rider, and Max will keep an eye on the house.”

The crowd began to dissipate.

Willa sat down next to Genny, taking her hands in her own. “What happened?”

“Greer took Genny to the grocery store. When he came back, he saw someone had been in the house. He got her out as the house exploded. Knox said the fire department thinks it was a gas leak.” Viper put an arm around Winter’s shoulder.

Penni stared at Genny in horror. She knew how much the woman had loved her new home.

“Was it intentional?”

“Yes,” Viper revealed the answer everyone had been waiting for.

Genny buried her face in her hands, which were shaking.

Hennessy, who was standing by the kitchen door, slammed his fist into the door, making it swing madly. The wood splintered as the door parted from the doorjamb then leaned drunkenly to one side.

“I take it that one wasn’t made out of steel,” Penni muttered to Cash as she passed him to gather coffee cups.

“I must have missed that one.”

Penni passed out coffee to the ones left in the kitchen. Ice and Jackal stood by themselves, shaking their heads when she offered them some.

“How did you get so dirty?” she asked Jackal. His face was covered in grime, his T-shirt was ripped, and his jeans were torn almost completely off.

“Genny had a new kitten that became scared when she tried to catch it. It climbed a tree, and I tried to get it down.”

“Where is it?” Penni looked at Genny who was still crying helplessly in Willa’s arms.

“When I tried to get it, it jumped down and ran into the road.”

Penni wanted to tell her how sorry she was, but she didn’t want to bother her and Willa. Plus, she was gradually getting herself under control.

When she managed to quit crying, Penni went to her, patting her shoulder. “Let’s go get you cleaned up. You can share my room at Shade’s home. There are twin beds. I promise not to snore.”

“Go ahead,” Willa urged. “You’ll feel better when you get the smell of smoke off you.”

Genny nodded, letting Penni lead her away.

At Shade’s, she gave Genny a nightgown to wear and showed her the bathroom before leaving her alone.

Penni rubbed her aching brow. Genny seemed so fragile. She had told Penni that she had been in foster care before finding jobs in town after she turned eighteen. Penni hadn’t pried to see why she had been in foster care. After all, Genny was private and didn’t like talking about herself.

Penni knew she and Willa had a close relationship, but even when they had hung out together in the kitchen, Genny had seemed solitary. It hadn’t taken long to realize who Genny reminded her of.

It was Lily. Her best friend had never shared secrets with her, and Penni didn’t see it happening with Genny, either.

Genny took the spare bed when she came back into the room, burrowing beneath the covers.

“I’m sorry about your kitten.”

Her only answer was a lone tear steaking down Genny’s cheek.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m just going to go to sleep. I have to be up at six for work.”

“You’re not going to work tomorrow—”

“Yes. It will take mind off Smokey.” A sob caught in her throat. “I jinxed him by calling him that.”

“No, you didn’t,” Penni soothed her, turning the light off. “I’m going to watch some television downstairs. I’ll make sure not to bother you when I come back.” She wanted to give Genny some privacy to take in what had happened tonight.

“Thank you.”

Penni softly closed door, turning to see Shade carrying John to his room with Lily following as she went to their bedroom.

“How is she?” Lily asked quietly.

“Not good. I wanted to leave her alone for a while. I’m not sleepy, anyway. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night.” Lily went into the bedroom where Shade was leaning over John’s crib, watching him sleep.

“How bad was the fire?” Penni asked when Shade came out.

They moved to the edge of the stairs so the women couldn’t hear them.

“It’s gutted.”

“Her insurance will—”

“Genny bought the house a few months ago. Willa practically gave it to her. Even with the insurance, Genny can’t afford to buy another one.”

“Surely, you and the rest of The Last Riders can help? I can, too.”

“We already have. She refused our offer. She knows we’re the reason the house was destroyed.”

“It just happened. Give it a couple of days, and hopefully, she’ll change her mind.”

“I hope so. I’m going to bed.”

When he turned away, she blurted, “Shade, when is this going to be over? I can’t stay indefinitely. I need to get back to work.”

“It won’t be much longer. The fire showed they’re getting frustrated because they can’t get close to us. They’ll make a mistake, and we’ll have them. Until then, you’re staying.”

“Yes, sir.” Penni snapped a salute before she sauntered down the steps.

Shade leaned over the stair railing. “You’re not too old to get spanked.”

“That’s what Jackal said.” Penni started to provoke Shade for his overbearing attitude then thought better of it. “Never mind.”

“Thanks. That was a TMI.”

“Sorry, I’ll be more careful next time.” She was smart enough not to poke a tired tiger when he was getting ready to go to bed.