by LeAnn Ashers
LEANN ASHERS
Lani
Lani is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Except as permitted under the US Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form, by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author.
Designer: Regina Wamba
Photographer: Wander Aquilar
Editor: Aquila Editing
Formatter: Small Town Girl/HJ Bellus
Contents
DEVIL SOULS MC
1. Lani
2. Lani
3. Lani
4. Lani
5. Lani
6. Lani
7. Lani
8. Lani
9. Lani
10. Lani
11. Lani
12. Lani
13. Lani
14. Lani
Epilogue
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Grim Sinners MC Series
Teagan Wilde
1
Lani
I am so excited to see my family. I haven’t seen them in god knows how long. I moved away for college with the intention of owning my own clothing store and designing clothes.
During that time I got picked up by an agent, and before I knew it, I was walking down runways as a plus size model. I have a huge contract with a huge clothing store, but that’s ending in, like, a week.
I’m tired of it.
I’m tired of the crazy fans, the paparazzi and people always being outside of my house. Because I was one of the first ever plus size models and I changed the industry, it exploded.
My life changed in an instant, everything I knew changed in an instant, but I also never stopped going to college. I wanted that degree.
I am twenty-three years old, finished with college and I’m finishing up my last shoot, then I’m going home to visit my family.
But after that I’m not sure what I want to do: do I stay in LA or do I move home? I’ll just let my path unfold as it happens.
I walk inside of the warehouse, taking off my jacket, and then I’m swarmed by everyone to get me dressed for the underwear and lingerie shoot.
“Hello, my darling!” Caesar the photographer comes up to me, kissing both cheeks as I sit in my chair.
“Hello Caesar.” I smile and take my hair down out of the messy bun I had twisted at the top of my head.
He studies me and his face falls. “I am going to miss shooting with you. Are you sure that you are quitting?” He takes my hand, like he’s trying to plead with me to stay.
The soft-hearted part of me wants to promise him that I will stay, but I’m so tired; this is not for me. I feel like I’m meant to have a small place and raise a family someday. I’m that kind of girl.
“You know how much I love you, I love all of you.” I look around at the girls that have been here since the beginning. They all come up and hug me, then Caesar hugs all of us together, and we all laugh as he squeezes us.
“Alright, we have a schedule to keep!” He lets us all go and claps his hands together cheerfully.
The girls get to work, and I text my brother. He’s met someone and he hasn’t stopped talking about her since the second he met her. I can’t wait to catch up with him once I get home.
Jordan is a member of the Devil Souls MC. He’s my older brother and a complete nerd. Recently he came out and set up the state-of-the-art security system in my house, and I was so grateful.
I close my eyes and relax, mentally preparing myself for the shoot. I always channel my inner hoe.
Three hours later I’m changed and walking out to my car, and the makeup artist, Julie, is following me out. “You looked so beautiful, girl,” she praises me, and we both stop dead when I see Freddy standing beside my car.
Fuck me.
Why can’t he leave me alone? He’s a fan of mine and it started when he would put letters in my mailbox and on top of my car, and then I noticed I would see him everywhere. Now he’s getting bolder and bolder and I’m low-key getting scared.
“Lani, how was the shoot?” he asks excitedly, but when I look into his eyes, I see they’re void of emotions. Something is not right with him.
“Freddy, what are you doing here? You know I have a restraining order against you…” I trail off, hoping he’ll get the hint and leave.
He drops his pleasant smile. “A piece of paper couldn’t keep you away from me, my beautiful Lani.” He groans in pleasure, looking me up and down, and I take a step back in disgust.
I look at Julie, who looks just as frightened as me, and take out my phone and text Caesar to call the police.
“Freddy, you should go. I don’t want you to come around me or my property. I’ve asked you so many times to give me my privacy, but I’m telling you now.” I put a little bit of steel in my voice.
His eyes flare and I can tell that I pissed him off. He takes three steps towards me before I can even blink and suddenly he grips my arm hard. “Take it back!” he demands and pulls on my arm, trying to get me to move closer to him.
So what do I do?
I swing with all of my might and punch him square in the face. No one ever touches me in a way I don’t want them to.
His eyes widen in shock, and he lets me go so he can grab his nose. I push him away from me and run back inside of the warehouse just as Caesar is running out.
He pulls me into his body and tries to calm me. I know I’m shaking. I’m really freaked out. I never expected that it would get this bad.
I hear a loud thump as Freddy pounds his fists against the door. I stop breathing, and Caesar takes ahold of the handle, keeping him from getting inside.
“Go hide, girls, now!” Caesar demands in a voice I’ve never heard him use before. I grab Julie’s hand and we take off towards the back of the warehouse.
My knees feel weak and my heart is pounding so fast that I actually feel sick. I can’t breathe, terror is filling every part of my body and it gets worse when I hear Caesar yelling. Then a gunshot rings out.
Julie looks at me, her eyes wild. I don’t bother hiding because that shit will only get you caught and I’m not going to let that happen.
So I head straight for another exit. Julie tries to take her hand from mine. “We need to hide!” she whisper-yells.
“No, I’m not going to be a fucking sitting duck.” I stop for a second, putting my finger to my mouth as we listen for footsteps.
When I hear someone running, I spot a bunch of chests and I form an idea. I run across the room where the exit is, slamming the door shut, then running back and ducking behind the chests. I pull Julie with me, putting my hand over her mouth so she doesn’t make a sound.
I peek up just as Freddy runs past, then duck my head. The door opens and slams shut. I peer over just slightly and see him walking outside, so I grab Julie’s hand and drag her out. “Come on, we’ve got to help Caesar!”
A hand reaches out and grabs my arm, and I start to fight then see it’s Caesar. I hug him tightly and notice blood on his arm. “Oh my god, did he shoot you?” I whisper-yell, and he nods. “He just grazed me though.”
That’s when I form an idea. I call my brother. He can hack into the cameras and help us stay hidden.
“Hello sister,” he says cheerfully, and I almost fall to the floor at the sound of his voice, I’m so scared.
“Jordan, I need your help.” I can hear the desperation in my voice. Julie clutches me, and Caesar holds the both of us.
; “What’s the matter?” he demands, the lightheartedness gone in an instant.
“Remember the stalker? Well, he has finally cracked. He’s currently trying to find us in the warehouse where I had a shoot earlier. He shot Caesar, who was trying to protect me,” I rush out as loudly as I dare. I can hear my brother’s fingers tapping on his keyboard.
“I just alerted the police. Freddy’s currently coming in the front door of the warehouse.” He taps more. His voice is void of emotion and I hold my breath, scared.
“Let’s go get in my car and drive off!” I throw out an idea. We’re already close to the back entrance where I parked.
“Run fucking now! He heard you, Lani!” Jordan roars, and I grab both Julie and Caesar and tear out of the door. I unlock my car and jump in the front seat, hitting the locks the second everyone is inside.
Freddy sprints out of the door, his eyes wide as he looks at me through the glass. I put the car in drive, and my tires squeal as I pull out into traffic and he tries to run to catch up to me.
“Lani, pull over at the gas station up the road. A police officer is waiting there for you, honey.” My brother’s voice is calm; that’s the only thing keeping me together right now.
I sniff, using one hand to dry my eyes, “Thank you, Jordan, stay on the phone with me.”
“I have some friends that live in LA. They’ll be out there ASAP to bring you home. The MC is going to send the jet.”
I sigh in relief. I just want to get so far away from here as fast as I can. “I’ll call you back, Jordan.” I hang up the phone and look in the mirror to Julie and Caesar, who are in the back seat.
“I am so sorry, you guys,” I sob, barely making it to the gas station as I let the fear take over, along with some major guilt because they had to suffer with me.
“It’s okay, don’t be sorry, and it’s not your fault,” Caesar reassures me, and I let out a deep breath, composing myself because the police officer is making his way over to me.
I pull open my door and step out. His eyes move from the top of my head to my feet, flaring as he recognizes me.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” He reaches for my arm to help me out of my car, and the others follow out behind me. Julie grabs my hand and stands next to me as we explain what happened.
A few officers load out towards the direction of the warehouse. It’s all a blur as everything happens around me and the police ask me a hundred and one questions.
Julie and Caesar leave soon after the police assure me that they are searching for Freddy. They barely say bye to me when they get into their taxi.
Jordan calls me again and I pick up instantly. I can hear my mom and dad in the background. He must have called them. “Hey sis, the plane will be landing within the hour. My buddy will be there in a few minutes and he’s going to take you to your place to get your stuff, then he’s going to put you on the plane.”
“Thank you, bubby.”
Jordan has always been my protective older brother. If something was bothering me, I would run straight to him.
“It’s time for you to come home, honey,” my mom says in the background, and I close my eyes, then my dad comes on the line. “Sweetheart, I’ll be at the airport. Mom is getting your room ready for you.” The feeling of safety washes over me as my dad speaks to me.
I have been blessed with the amazing family that I have. Just then a huge truck pulls up right next to my car and a guy wearing a cut that belongs to the MC here in LA climbs out.
“Lani?” he asks, walking up to me.
“Yeah, I’m Lani. I’m assuming you’re my brother’s friend?”
He smiles. “Yes, ma’am, I’m Allen. Want to leave your car here and one of my brothers will drive it to your house later?”
I nod. I don’t think I can really drive right now anyway as the shock is wearing off and I’m shaking badly.
I tell the officer bye and give him my number so they’ll call me if they have any updates. Then I get in his massive truck. “I’ll give you guys one of my spare keys. You can hide it somewhere and tell Jordan where it is.”
He nods and drives towards my house. I look out of the window, fully expecting Freddy to just pop out of nowhere.
“Are you okay?” he asks, and I look over. He’s watching me from the corner of his eye.
I push my hair out of my face. “Yeah, I’m just shocked that it all came to this. I never expected it. When I got the restraining order, I really thought that it would be the end of it…” I trail off, my mind going back to when he grabbed me. I look down at my arm to see bruises forming.
“I’m fine. I just want to feel safe again. I haven’t for a long time. He’s been to my house a bunch of times,” I admit truthfully. He looks sad, and I press the button on my keys, opening the gate.
I walk inside my house and hurry to pack as many clothes as I can. I fully plan on staying as long as possible until I have to come back.
The plane ride was around three hours long. My body crashed and I slept the whole time. The second I was up in the air, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in weeks.
My anxiety is something I have suffered with my whole life, but it’s just gotten worse and worse as I’ve grown more popular in the modeling industry.
If I’m being honest, I don’t even have to work ever again, Jordan invested my money for me and it’s really paid off.
Right now I’m going to concentrate on being healthy once again. My mental health has been put on the back burner and I want to take care of myself.
The plane touches down and I look out of the window and see my dad waiting beside the SUV for me.
I smile and unbuckle my seatbelt, waiting for the doors to be opened and the stairs to be let out.
The second I can, I run down the steps and straight to my dad, who is standing at the bottom. He picks me up off of the ground and hugs me tightly.
I close my eyes and tuck my face into the side of his neck. “I’m so glad you’re home, my baby girl.” He rocks me side to side slightly like he used to do when I was little.
“I love you, Dad,” I whisper, trying not to cry, but I’m so happy.
He lets me go and sets me on my feet gently, “I love you too, baby girl. Let me get your bags. Mom has dinner ready for you.” He touches my cheek and grabs my bags for me and rolls them to the SUV.
He walks in front of me to open my door for me—my dad has always been the perfect gentleman and ever since I was little he has opened the door for me. He has put me and Mom on a pedestal. When I was little he would take me on dates to show me how I’m meant to be treated.
That’s why I’m single, because my expectations are so high. I lean over and rest my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes and falling back asleep.
“Baby.” I wake up to Mom’s sweet voice. I open my eyes and she’s standing at my open door, her hands on my face.
“Hi Mom.” I smile and lean up, hugging her.
“I am so glad you’re home,” she whispers and rubs my back. I slide out of the SUV and let her lead me inside, the scent of a home-cooked meal hitting me the second we step across the threshold.
“Baby girl, you need to tell me what happened.” Dad puts his hand on my back, leading me to the table, so I start from the beginning with everything.
His face shows more anger by the second, and so does my mom’s. “Lani, why didn’t you tell me this shit was going on?” he demands, crossing his arms across his chest.
I wince at the sight of the anger on his face and I look down. “I didn’t want to worry you, and I honestly didn’t think it was that serious if I’m being honest…” I trail off, and his face softens. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this would happen.
“Well, that shit is over with now.” He smiles slightly, and I know he’s over being mad at me. He hugs me tightly before holding my seat out for me, then does the same for my mom.
I look at my mom, who is studying me, before she starts loading my plate full of food. W
ith shaky hands, I reach forward and take my fork, then my dad’s eyes fly to my hand.
“Sweet girl.” Dad reaches over and takes my hand, stopping the shaking. I look down. I can’t look at the both of them.
“Baby, I want you to be honest with me.” He squeezes my hand, I hear the sound of his chair scooting out and his face moves in front of mine, him on his knees.
“Your anxiety and depression is bothering you, isn’t it?” He pushes my hair out of my face and I nod slightly.
Unless you have anxiety and depression, you don’t fully realize how much it messes with your life. Mine gets to the point where I will lie in bed at night for hours and hours as stuff circulates in my brain. Things that shouldn’t bother me do, then I get sick and my heart skips a beat or races.
It started when I was a teenager. With therapy I got it under control, but my life has been so busy the last couple of years that it’s just caught up to me.
I got so used to this being a huge part of my life, but then my dad noticed it and he took me to get help.
That changed my life.
I smile shakily. I want to scream, sleep or just do anything right now. “Yeah, Daddy, I have been struggling for a while. That fast lifestyle is not for me. I haven’t taken care of my mental health and this sealed the deal.”
He nods in understanding. “Eat your dinner, baby. I’ll call your old therapist in the morning and book you an appointment for tomorrow.”
Then we don’t talk about it anymore. Right now it’s going to be a changing point in my life.
It’s time to make myself happy.
2
Lani
One Month Later