Don't Look Back by Candice Owen

a white picket fence. They had few things to move in, but perhaps the best moving crew around. The Rowdy Riders Motorcycle Club.

    Their yard was small and quaint and soon it was packed with the entire club celebrating a new beginning with their captain out of jail, the bad cop and Lance put away, and Polly found. It was positive all the way around.

    "I only wish Polly could be here with us," said Apollo.

    "She will be soon enough. I can’t wait to have the two of you over for dinner."

    As she spoke those words, the air filled with the siren screams of rescue crews burning down the main street. "What the heck?" noted Jason.

    "It’s got to be something major. Look at all of them," said Apollo.

    Everyone in the yard craned their necks to look towards the line of fire trucks, ambulances, and cop cars rushing in the same direction. A neighbor from across the street hollered, "It’s the hospital. They have a gun man and he has a hostage."

    Apollo looked at Jason and they both said at the same time, "Marty."

    Jason got on his cell phone to the acting captain of La Calle Motorcycle Club. In case it was Marty, he was technically a member and he wouldn’t listen to Jason if it came to having to talk him down. Apollo was freaking, so Jason said, "We don’t know it’s her. Calm down or you won’t be able to ride. You and I will go, park at the gym and walk over. The hospital is going to be overrun with cops and everything, that’s our best bet. If it is what we are thinking, we’ll call our guys."

    It was exactly what they were thinking. The acting captain of La Calle had his members park at the gym too and he, along with Jason and Apollo, approached the cops who were scratching their heads for a plan. A crazed Marty had Polly hostage. Apparently he, too, fell in love with her while she was being held captive.

    Sharon stayed behind at her picture perfect little house feeling horribly guilty. She could not help but think had she just not fallen for Lance’s manipulations and gotten her to betray the man she had adored even while he was in prison, perhaps Polly’s life would not be in danger now. The neighbor, who had let them know about gunman at the hospital, came over and sat with Sharon on the front stoop of her house to wait it out.

    "I have a nice bottle of white wine on ice, if you are interested," she offered. She was a sweet little old lady who lived alone.

    Sharon was tempted. But the guilt she felt now for the entire situation would be nothing compared to what she would feel if she chose a time like this to have another slip. "How about I fix us up a couple of sparklers? That’s my name for a juice spritzer. I think we ought to be clear-headed when the guys come back. With good news I hope."

    Jason’s quick thinking to contact the La Calle captain was a good move. The police negotiator failed, the nurse and the doctor treating Polly failed, but the captain got through. He talked Marty into going back to his room under escort of his motorcycle brethren with dignity and respect. Polly was released once again from captivity safe from harm.

    Eventually, Jason set her up with private care in the apartment above Ink’s. That way she could be under the watchful eye of a handful of Rowdy Riders, who were either lifting or working there, and Apollo could finally relax.

    Getting Sharon to relax was the next order on the list. She was really glad that everything turned out okay but she continued to be hard on herself, believing she had led everyone into this mess. Jason finally took her by the hand and sat her down. They were in the backyard of their new little home at the picnic table.

    "I want to talk to you about your attitude," he said in a playfully stern voice. "I want you to stop."

    "I can’t help—" she began.

    Without warning, he swiftly had her up and over his knee. "You were saying?"

    Sharon giggled so hard she could hardly speak except to protest, "No! No! What will the neighbors think?"

    He