Just a shell of a man waiting for death. Mason sat on his bike and turned to Wyatt, who stared into the dark shadows that were on the other side of the doorway.

‘Do you want to do the honours, or should I?’ Mason asked. Wyatt took a drag on his cigarette and then flicked it into the shadow. The orange flicker was immediate, and beyond the flames, they heard the pained cries of Sykes. To drown them out, Wyatt roared his bike to life, and he rolled away from the garage. Mason followed, and as they drove down the dusty side-track back towards civilisation, the fire blazed, eradicating Sykes from the earth.

* * *

‘You going to miss this place?’ Sam asked, looking up at The Pit from the bench outside. Having rested up for a couple of days at the motel, a Rider had stopped by to invite Sam to the bar that afternoon. Although the invitation sounded like it wasn’t mandatory, Sam didn’t feel like taking his chances. Alan and Alex had also stayed at the motel. All of them decided they could do with a rest after the ordeal. Alan had to report into the office on numerous occasions, providing statements and evidence to back up the very real claim that Sinclair had tried to use his position to instigate a drug war, while bribing the guilty party for half a million dollars.

It would be the easiest sentencing ever, and Alan had received several handshakes from those higher up.

Multiple promises of doors opening and the promise of a bright future ahead.

Politely thanking them all, Alan had spent two days soul searching. While being a soldier and working for the government had fulfilled him, he didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Sinclair.

A man so lost in the filth and darkness of the job that stepping over the line was the best option.

Also, watching Sam’s relentless quest to save Alex, regardless of his own or the state’s rules, had shown him that there were other ways to help. Maybe not by following the same path as Sam, but Alan knew he needed to clear his mind.

Alex had helped.

After the first night, and a few beers, they’d shared a few secret kisses. Unsure how Sam would react, both of them were caught off guard when he called them lovebirds at breakfast. Assuming the role of Alex’s big brother, Sam threatened Alan with an ‘ass whoopin’ if he didn’t treat her right, which drew a few chuckles and empty threats from both of them.

Whatever it was between them, both Alan and Alex looked excited by the prospect.

Sam turned to Alex, awaiting her response, and she sipped her beer casually.

‘Not really.’ She looked around at a few of the bikers who were conversing nearby. ‘The guys were not that bad.’