Mayhem: A Reapers MC Boxset

by Elizabeth Knox

  We barely knew each other, but you made me feel like I mattered, and girl. I needed it.

  You kept up your messages, and then we met at TNTNYC and I instantly knew we’d have a great friendship. Now here we are, months down the line and you’re one of the closest people in my life.

  You’ve been one of the people asking me when Zane was coming, and . . . here he is. Dedicating this to you was only fitting.

  Enjoy, babe, and thank you for everything you’ve done. I appreciate it more than you know.

  Prologue

  “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

  ~ Queen Elizabeth II

  Octavia

  3 months ago . . .

  I graze my hand against the pavement, feeling the slickness through my fingertips. It’s rained for the first time in months, but my hands aren’t coated with water. No, this is thicker. I pull my hands up higher and a streetlamp illuminates my hand enough to where I see the dark maroon blood coating my skin. It looks as if I were painting with my hands, but I only wish I was.

  Instead, my knees are glued to the sidewalk while I kneel over my sisters’ dead bodies. Xia and Yara lay lifeless, their bodies already growing cold.

  Out of nowhere everything hits me.

  Every agonizing detail of how they died, of the men who rushed up to us and the shots. I glance down at my white crop top and see how it’s stained with blood, so much blood. Everything comes back to me, the way Yara turned around and covered my body with her own. Before I even figured it out Xia was already on the ground, a bullet struck straight through her skull. Yara on the other hand was still very much alive, and I know now she did what she could to protect me, to shield me from these men and keep me alive. If I had any doubts about it, the last few words she whispered before she died confirmed it. She was my older sister, so I’m not shocked. Yara was always the one to protect us if she could.

  She told me to remain still, close my eyes, and breathe the slowest I ever have. How it was my only way making it out of this. I’d never been more terrified in my life, but I did as she said, and then the men left. There was a whole group of them. Maybe four or five of them . . . some of the details are starting to get a bit fuzzy now. As soon as I heard the tires of their vehicle screeching against the pavement I pushed Yara’s body off my own and tried to give her CPR, even though I knew there wasn’t anything I could do. I called my brother, Xander, who goes by the road name Breaker. He’s the Prez of the Raiders MC here in Los Angeles.

  For as long as I can remember, my family has been hunted down like rare beasts. But not the men, only the women, more specifically, the daughters. It’s as if we were worth millions dead. There were six of us in the beginning, and now I’m the last daughter who remains— the only one.

  Tears effortlessly flow down my cheeks, falling onto the ground below me. Heaviness fills my chest and it becomes difficult to breathe as I stare at my sisters. Yara’s golden blonde hair is now growing darker from the blood surrounding her body. Meanwhile Xia looks like she’s vomited blood.

  I kneel here, completely broken. Terrified. Feeling the most pain I’ve ever had to endure in my life.

  We were just going out to the movies and dinner. We . . . we weren’t hurting anyone, only trying to have fun. I gnaw on my bottom lip until a metallic flavor hits my taste buds.

  Unmistakable sounds of motorcycles speeding up signals that my brother and the boys must be close, but it doesn’t make me feel at ease. I still continue to feel agony, continuously darting my eyes around from Xia to Yara. Then to my bloodstained hands and white crop top.

  How is it possible this evening turned out like this?

  Another screeching sound causes me to turn my head to the right, and I see them. The club. They’re all here, not leaving a soul behind. Xander dismounts his bike first, rushing up to me before he comes to a dead stop. His eyes widen with fear and then his darkness takes over. He sees what’s happened. He knows there isn’t a damn thing he can do to rectify this situation. There isn’t anything we can do to save them because they’re gone.

  My bottom lip begins to tremble, my shoulders shaking over and over until I feel like I’m having a damn seizure. My brother looks stuck like a statue, his mouth still in an open position. “Xander,” Saying his name has never been more difficult than it is right now. I know what I was trying to say, but the way it comes out is almost another language.

  My brother stands here in his fitted black T-shirt, with his cut on, his hair slicked back, continuously shaking his head. I see his lips moving, immediately able to tell he’s in denial as well.

  Chains, his VP, walks past him and up to my sisters. “Get the girls home,” He orders, and I see the twins, Agony and Fury come up. They’re prospects with the club, only being here a few months. They both walk over to each one of my sisters and pull them into their arms.

  I glance past Chains and search for my father, but after a moment I come to the realization he isn’t here. “W-where’s Dad?” I question, not even sure who I’m asking. Xander stands, not saying a thing. He’s in shock. He has to be.

  Chains walks up to me, kneels down on the ground and places a hand on my shoulder. He grimaces, and I already know. He has no idea where my dad even is. Xander may be the Prez of the club now, but my dad is . . . he’s still my dad. He’s still part of not only our lives, but the club. “I don’t know where he is baby,” Chains admits.

  Warmth flushes through my face and I know there isn’t any stopping it. My body’s at its limit. Too much grief and pain for far too long, and now I’ve lost the only two sisters I have left. “They’re dead . . . Chains. They’re gone.”

  He nods, “Yeah, they’re not here with us anymore, but they’re still in here and don’t you forget that.” Chains points to his chest and I can tell he’s fighting the urge to cry too. Chains was really close with Xia. So close that a lot of us had bets on if they were going to finally get into a relationship.

  “Why does this keep happening?”

  “I don’t know,” Chains admits, shaking his head.

  “I’m going to be next,” My internal thoughts slip out before I can even think, but as soon as I finish speaking my brother bolts over to me.

  “The hell you are. I’m not going to lose you too. I’m not . . . going to lose another one of you. I . . . I need to know everything, now!” He hollers out the last bit, showing his fury.

  Chains puts his hand up, “Whoa, Prez. Give her some time. She’s just—”

  “Don’t give me that. I know what she’s been through. But, if we don’t get on this as soon as possible, Octavia will be next. You want that to happen?”

  I’ve never seen Chains pissed at my brother, and I’ve known the man for at least fifteen years. “You’re gonna give her some fuckin’ time before you ask her anything. You wanna get a start on shit, then act like a Prez and go ask these business owners what the fuck happened. Go get security video, do that kinda shit.” Chains snarls, just as red and blue flashing lights appear behind him.

  Motherfucker, this couldn’t get any worse.

  A man struts up, with a woman walking beside him. It feels like the slowest moments of my life until he walks into the light. For once, we’ve lucked out when it comes to the law. The cop isn’t just any cop. It’s our half-brother, Troy.

  “We got a call there was a shooting . . . but, I don’t see any bodies,” Troy states, turning around to look at every brother in the club. Now is when I notice the twins didn’t ride bikes, they brought the construction van.

  Troy has a stressed relationship with the rest of us. His mom wasn’t a clubwhore, sweet butt, or club bunny like the rest of ours. She was a prestigious woman, our father’s criminal defense lawyer who he apparently slept with before he went to jail for the second time. Instead of allowing us, or my dad to be active in his life, she sent good ol’ Troy here to private school, made sure he went to church and all of that crap. Needless to say, Xander is not a fan of our goody two shoes brother.


  “Get the fuck outta here, Troy.” Xander hisses as he takes a step closer to him, glaring while he does it.

  The woman beside Troy pulls her taser and looks to him. Ah, she must be a rookie he’s training. Troy pushes his hand down on the taser, signaling for her to put it down. “Sir, he’s becoming hostile with us. I really don’t think I should put this away.”

  “Just do what I say, Capello.” Troy orders.

  “Sir, I don’t—” Capello replies, before I interject.

  “He’s telling you to put your fucking taser away because he’s our half-brother, so listen to your fucking partner!” I scream, rising from the ground I go into autopilot and walk straight up to Troy. I look at him in the eyes, “You wanna know what happened, Troy? You wanna know?”

  “Octavia . . . whose blood is that?” His eyes grow wider and I see the way he’s going into serious mode.

  “Our sisters’. Yara and Xia are dead, Troy. They were murdered in front of my fucking face tonight, and if it wasn’t for Yara’s quick thinking I’d be dead too.” I barely finish as everything comes rushing out of me. Every bit of pain breaks free like a burst of power from a supernatural creature. Tears are flowing in the current of a broken dam and I drop to the ground as the reality finally sinks in.

  My sisters are dead.

  I’m the last one left.

  They’ll never stop coming for us. Actually, they’ll never stop coming for me, not until I’m dead.

  I’ve never had the best relationship with Troy, but he pulls me into his arms and holds me as I cry my broken heart out. “I’m going to be next,” I cry into Troy’s chest, knowing I’ll be dead soon too. “They’re going to figure out they didn’t get me, and they’re going to kill me next.”

  “You aren’t going to die, Octavia. We’ll get these guys, and we’ll put them in jail.” Troy vows.

  Xander on the other hand is cackling from behind us, “No, you won’t. If I haven’t found them yet then what makes you believe you can?”

  Troy doesn’t say a word.

  “Octavia, you’re going to take Yara’s place. It’s the only thing that’ll keep you safe.” I pull away from Troy and look at Xander in disbelief. My sisters were just murdered in front of me and he’s already planning to ship me off to bumfuck nowhere and marry me off?

  “No. Please,” I beg him.

  Xander shakes his head, “Even if I wanted to, I can’t. Dad promised the Reapers MC a princess of the club. You’re the only one left, Octavia. You’re our only chance at getting another ally, and I hate to say it, but we need them right now. We don’t know who the fuck we’re up against.”

  “You don’t hate to say it. You don’t give a fuck about me. The only thing you care about is yourself,” I snarl, starting to lunge at him. Troy grabs the back of my arms, and Chains comes between us.

  “Prez, I think you should go. I can handle this.”

  Xander grumbles something out as he walks away and goes to the businesses in the area. A couple of the guys go along with him while two others head across the street. The only ones here are Troy, Capello, myself and Chains.

  “Come on baby, lets get you home.” Chains says, taking my hand in his own.

  “Uh, you can’t go. We need to question you.” Capello declares.

  “No, we don’t. We showed up to nothing, an empty street.” Troy tells her and turns. “We showed up and there wasn’t a thing here, not a soul.”

  She furrows her brows, “I don’t like this.”

  “Get over it. They need to handle this.” Troy says, starting to walk back to his patrol car.

  “Troy,” Chains calls out, and my brother stops. Capello on the other hand ends up going back over to the car and gets in. “Thank you for doing us a solid.”

  “I’m not doing it for your club. I’m doing it for her,” Troy motions to me. “Take care of her, Chains. Just . . . fucking watch out for her.”

  Chapter One

  Grief is like living two lives. One where you pretend that everything is alright, and the other is where your heart silently screams in pain.

  ~ Forever Missed

  Octavia

  Present Day

  “You gonna drink the whole damn bottle again?” Chains grumbles from a few feet away. We’re in the back part of the clubhouse where we have a smaller, private bar. The club is located in the center of Los Angeles, which means we maximize on the amount of tourists that come in this area. Behind the double doors, we have a fully operational bar, one where the club earns about seventy percent of our profits. It’s called ‘The Clubhouse’, which is pretty fucking basic and original.

  Back here we have a horseshoe shaped bar with a black faux marble counter. It sits six comfortably, but we can squeeze eight in if need be. I’m sitting back against the wall, obviously in the corner since it gives me the advantage to see who I’m gonna have to fucking deal with. Chains is usually the one to get on me about my drinking, but most days he lets it be.

  Tonight, we’re practically alone. Except for Fury, who’s one of our prospects, he’s behind the bar serving my drinks while his brother is out with some of the clubwhores managing the operational part of the bar.

  Licking my bottom lip, I glare across the bar at Chains. “Why are you even asking? It’s not like I’ll stop.”

  Chains’ nostrils begin to flare and I know he’s not pleased. “Fury, take that shit from her before she gets hurt.”

  Fury gives me one glance, and my expression is warning enough. I may not look like much, but I know how to break a motherfucker’s wrist, and I have no problem doing it. Fury and Agony aren’t your usual prospects, they’re identical twin brothers who must be in their early forties. They recently moved here from the U.K., wanting to be back in the club lifestyle they ran across paths with my brother. He wasn’t just going to patch them in, so they’re starting from the bottom and working their way up.

  “Don’t try me,” I hiss at the prospect.

  Fury looks over to Chains who doesn’t seem pleased in the least bit. “Look bro, I have no problem taking a drink from a woman— but Octavia isn’t a woman. She’s a damn monster.”

  Good, they’re starting to realize I’m like a feral cat. About damn time.

  Chains laughs, like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. “She’s harmless.”

  “Sorry, Chains. I don’t agree with you. She’s part of this club, she can’t be.” Fury comes to my defense, and I give him a small nod of thanks.

  I take a swig of the vodka in my hand and put it on top of the bar. It must be the last straw because Chains gets off his chair, screeching the metal against the wood floor and comes waltzing up to me. He grabs the bottle of vodka and throws it down on the ground so loudly I’m sure people could hear us on the other side of the doors.

  “You need to cut this shit out. Surely you know that. You cannot keep drinking your pain away. It won’t make it better.” Chains has his hands on my shoulders. I’m kinda wondering if he’s going to shake me like a little rat dog.

  “Are you really telling me how I need to process my grief? I’ve seen that little baggie in your room with that snowflake powder. I’m not the only one here with problems,” I snarl, watching his eyes go wide. Chains prefers to keep his shit to himself. It’s not club knowledge how he occasionally dips into the darker side of things.

  He picks me up off the chair and slams my body against the wall, with his pressing up against me. It didn’t hurt, but it was forceful as fuck. His nostrils continue to flare as he gawks. “They’re all dead and you’re sitting here drinkin’ your life away. Is that what they’d want? Any of them? What would they be saying right now? Oh wait, I know. Porcia would tell you to cut the shit out, to waste your drinking on broken hearts. Gaia would come up here and drink with you so you wouldn’t be alone, tryin’ to help you in whatever way she could. Calla, she’d take you out, get you distracted somehow. Yara on the other hand, she’d wanna go key some cars with you and X—”

&n
bsp; He can’t even say her name.

  “She’d . . .” Chains clears his throat, “She’d want better for you, O’. You know it, and I do too.”

  “Say her fucking name,” I hiss, wanting him to hurt as horribly as I have these last few months.

  Every day I wake up thinking this has all been a dream, that it’s a mere figment of my imagination and like they can’t be gone. My best friends, my ride or dies. But they are, they’re all gone.

  Chains’ eyes redden and I see how they become glossy, indicating he’ll start crying. He fucking misses her too.

  I know neither one of us are okay, that we’re not coping with things properly, but is there a proper way to cope with this? At the end of the day, is there? The answer is no, there isn’t. “We don’t want the same to happen to you.” Chains mutters, looking defeated.

  “It already has. I haven’t been the same since they died.” I push past him, needing to get away from the close confines of his arms. I’ve hated being remotely touched since they were murdered. It makes me feel like ants are crawling all over my skin. It’s sickening.

  “Where are you going, O’? Zane will be here tomorrow.” He gently reminds me as I head toward the bar. I roll my eyes at the mention of my fiancé’s name. The man who was supposed to be marrying Yara, but who I’ve now been passed over to. All to keep an alliance up and running. I want to scoff, but I withhold from doing it. Otherwise, Chains won’t let me do what I want.

  “I’m going to party out there with some of the people from the club. You have a problem with that? It’s my last night as a free woman. Just do me a favor and don’t ruin it. I just want one last night to do as I please.”