Mayhem: A Reapers MC Boxset

by Elizabeth Knox

  I don’t know what the fuck is going on, but I’ll be damn sure I’ll be finding out. “How we doin’ this? You haven’t really told me much to be honest.”

  “Quick as possible, like fuckin’ a clubwhore. Slidin’ right in, then slidin’ out just as fast.” I comment, rising from my chair. I wanna make sure my carryon is sorted and we’re ready to go. We got to the airport last night around eleven after missing our flight because of some nuisance shit back home. I’m hoping I can sign the necessary documentation, get Octavia and we can get our asses over to Vegas. Bein’ away from the club is makin’ me nervous.

  “Got it. When we leavin’ to go over to the Raiders’ clubhouse?”

  “Now,” I grumble, “Get your ass up, we gotta go.” It’s already a little past one. I was hopin’ we’d be able to get up earlier but we were both exhausted from the previous night.

  “Uh, Zane. Before we go, can we chat about last night?” Grim asks.

  I nod, knowing what he’ll bring up. We both got a little plastered at the hotel bar once we got here, and shit went down between us. No one in the club knew this about me, not even my own brother . . . ‘cause I’d always been afraid to tell them. For fuck’s sake, I grew up in Montana.

  “Look, I’ll be real with you. The whiskey helped. You were one gorgeous woman,” I joke to Grim.

  His eyes widen and his face flushes with a bright red. I see how nervous he’s getting. Probably just as bad as I am. “Prez, listen . . . I’m not gonna judge. I’m . . . that way too. I just hope you’ll keep that private. If any of the brothers knew about it, I’m worried they’d . . . give me shit about it.”

  I’m bisexual, but I don’t tell anyone. I don’t know if I ever will. It’s better if the club sees me as some manwhore fuckin’ bitches.

  Well, fuck. They can’t even look at me like that now. I’m about to lock it down with Octavia. I’ll always have to hide this side from them, but I’m okay with that. Even if I told them, they’d probably look at me differently when they shouldn’t ever do that. I’m the type of man who takes control in every aspect of life, whether it’s the club, or in the bedroom.

  “You’re bisexual, you mean?”

  Grim nods, “Yeah, the only thing that matters to me is the personality underneath.”

  I give him a nod, totally understanding that. “Yeah, well let’s agree to keep our preferences a secret. I don’t want anything gettin’ out. Let’s get goin’,” I murmur, ready to head out and meet my betrothed.

  Might be odd to say, but the Raiders’ club reminds me of the Skulls Renegade MC out in Tennessee. They have a fully operational bar too. I’m seeing a trend between a good bit of clubs they are preferring to open bars as a way for consistent clean income. No blood money usually means less problems.

  We ended up takin’ an Uber to this joint. Breaker told us to come straight into the bar, which they call The Clubhouse. I bet they think they’re smartass fucks. Grim and I walked in and were met with a good mix of normal patrons, plus some obvious club members.

  “Holy crap, is this gonna be a club war or something? You see they have different cuts on. Isn’t it an unspoken rule for them to not go into other’s territories?” One blonde chick asks her friend at the bar. Obviously these two dimwits aren’t with the club.

  “Only if we were enemies, darlin’.” I inform them, looking past the two of ‘em. There are a couple girls behind the bar but given the way their tits are on display like a piece of meat I know they’re property of the club.

  An Asian lookin’ dude is behind the bar, “You Zane?”

  I nod, “Yep. Supposed to meet Breaker.”

  He continues wipin’ out a pitcher and motions for the door to the left of him. “You can go head back. He’s been expectin’ ya.”

  The door he’s tellin’ us to go through flies open and out comes a fuckin’ vision. She’s dressed in an army green tank top with some sort of hot mini-shorts . . . or maybe they aren’t mini-shorts. She is kinda tall for a chick.

  “Fuck you, Xander!” She screams, lookin’ like she’s about to breathe fire. All of a sudden she turns around, “And fuck you too, Dad. Fuck the both of you!”

  She starts to storm past me and I reach out to grab ahold of her. Without even thinkin’ about it she puts me in a lock, “Do you know who you’re touching? I’ll break your fuckin’ hand without thinkin’ twice, motherfucker.” Her eyes drift down to my cut and she snickers. “Of course. I should’ve known.”

  “Hey Cinnamon, how you doin’ baby?” Cinnamon is a great name for her, with that red hair of hers, combined with her spicy attitude.

  She glares unlike any other woman I’ve seen before and I know shit won’t be boring. Damn, I’m ready for this show to get started.

  Chapter Five

  “Years of love have been forgot, in the hatred of a minute.”

  ~ Edgar Allan Poe

  Octavia

  I don’t know what I expected out of Zane Monroe, but it wasn’t this. If someone were to tell me the man had a face like one of those guys on the cover of GQ with a body from Inked I would’ve said they were lying. He’s hot, but he’s a fucking asshole who should know not to just put their hands on a woman.

  “Did I stutter? Let me go,” I hiss, not wavering my eyes from his own.

  “Is that any way to speak to your fiancé?” You know, I’d figure this is something my brother would say. But nope, this came straight from my dad’s mouth.

  I rip myself away from Zane and scowl at the old man, with his salt and pepper beard, and tattoo covered body. The old man doesn’t scare me. Why should he? Especially when he’s off doing whatever he does these days. It’s probably drinking. Most of the time he reeks of old whiskey.

  “Is this any way to treat your daughter, you sick bastard.” I snarl, charging up to him, I whip my hand back and slap my palm against his cheek. While my hand radiates with a burning sensation, my anger doesn’t falter. I’m furious, angrier than I’ve ever been in my life. He expects me to not only marry this man but sign a physical contract and verify I’ll give him heirs.

  What. The. Fuck. Is. This.

  We aren’t in the nineteenth century. Things like this aren’t done anymore. Without thinking about it, my dad wraps his hand around my throat and presses me against the wall. “Do you think I care about your selfish needs? This was done for the club, for everyone who depends on us, Octavia. Sometimes we need to put our own needs aside. Fuck, tell me you don’t understand that. Tell me you can’t comprehend why I made this decision.”

  His grip grows tighter around my throat and I close my eyes, unable to believe this is really happening. I might be stupid for thinking this, but I figured I’d find some loophole, some way to get out of this. “You know who does things like this? M—”

  I’m interrupted by Incognito hollering, “Enough, O’! Jesus. You knew this was coming. You knew when they died that . . . this would happen. It’s hard enough on us. Why make it more difficult? Why keep dragging it out? What’s the point in that?” No one else would be able to tell, but I can sense the emotion in his voice, how badly this is affecting him too. He’s being torn apart the same way I am.

  Zane cranes his neck, looking over to Inc with suspicion. My father rips his hand from my throat, “Get your ass in the back and sit down at the fuckin’ bar.”

  I look down at the deep espresso stained wood floors for a moment before I look back at my father. Gnawing on my bottom lip, I speak my mind. “Death would’ve been better than this. They’re lucky.”

  Within an instant I feel a striking pain against my cheek. It strikes me so swiftly I fall to the ground but am able to catch my fall with my hands. I look back up to my father, nostrils expanding like an angered bull. Hands balled up by his sides. His alabaster skin flushing bright red. “You fucking bitch.” His fury is evident and he takes a step closer to me, but a body appears in front of me.

  “How about you get the fuck away from her? Hmm. She won’t be your problem anymore,
and I’ll deal with her as I see fit.” Zane informs him.

  Zane and my dad stand chest to chest, the same height, and the same build. They’re both muscular, but they’re not bodybuilder ripped. “She’s my property until she signs those fuckin’ papers, and I’ll do what I want until then.”

  My dad has never hit me, not even as a child but I did strike a nerve. “Octavia, please go sign the paperwork. I may do a lot of shit, but I won’t cross the line your fool of a father did.” Zane states, all while still maintaining eye contact with my dad.

  “Good luck with that. She’s a wild one.”

  “I’m from Montana, old man. I’ve broken a mare a time or two, and once they’re broken in . . . they’re fuckin’ glorious. Though, you’re testing my patience. This deal was struck with my father. You damn well know he was never keen on puttin’ your hands on a woman. Fuck, you’ve already treaded too closely with the line, Ice.” God, I haven’t heard my father’s road name in years.

  Zane looks to the left to the man who came along with him, and he motions with his head to the right. The man approaches me, extends a hand. “I’m Grim. What do you say about handlin’ this shit so we can all get outta here soon?”

  I don’t know why, but I take this guy’s hand. He pulls me up and I stand, but the person I’m glaring at isn’t my father. It’s the man I love who stood back and didn’t intervene. Instead, he defended this decision and allowed it to happen. Fuck, if he really loved me . . . he would’ve fought for me.

  Maybe . . . just maybe going with Zane isn’t a mistake.

  I walk straight up to the door that leads back to the private part of the club and stop once I get to it, glance to the right and look right at Inc. “You’re a fucking coward,” I seethe, pushing my hands to open the doors I strut right up to the bar where the paperwork still is and start at the beginning, ensuring I’m reading over everything in explicit detail.

  Grim comes up on one side of me, while Zane guards the other. I don’t know either of these men, yet they seem to wanna make sure nothing bad happens to me while we’re here.

  The contract is standard, stating my marriage with Zane Monroe will unify the Raiders and Reapers MCs. It states I’m to give him three heirs, and that if I want out of our marriage, the only way I can get out is by giving him children . . . which is horrible. I’m sure my father came up with this stipulation.

  “Oh, I should let you know. I added a section to the contract,” Xander states to the room . . . and my blood runs cold. I turn around and look into my brother’s eyes. I wonder if he knows how betrayed I feel right now, if he understands this isn’t a way out . . . it’s abandonment.

  “What was wrong with the contract I had our lawyer send over last week?” Zane grumbles.

  “There wasn’t an option for my sister to get out, so I gave her one. If she chooses to divorce you, it will be allowed and she can return back to Los Angeles, as long as she provides you with three children. Though, the children will be yours, which means they’ll remain in Montana.” Xander explains.

  “Tsk, wow. You are some sick fucks here.”

  “Excuse me?” Xander replies.

  “You really think you’d separate my kids from their mother? Fuck no. Fuck that. Kids are raised in families.”

  I close my eyes for a second, rage storming through my body and pick up the pen on the bar. I don’t even need to read anymore of this bullshit contract. Regardless, I’m only certain about one thing— my life is over.

  I press the pen against the paper on a line above my full name Octavia Ramona Spencer and sign my life away.

  Chapter Six

  “You’re always one decision away from a totally different life.”

  ~ Unknown

  Octavia

  Taking a deep breath, I don’t feel any better after I see my name plastered across the paper. If anything, it just feels like I threw away the key to my lock. “Zane . . .” My tone comes out even more defeated then I felt like it would, but I’m so emotionally done. At the end of the day, if my family wanted to get me out of this they could’ve. I doubt they even bothered to try.

  Zane shifts his body toward me and spots my signature on the document. “Shit,” He mutters lowly, picking up the pen himself, he signs the contract as well. Zane picks it up from the bar and holds it in his hand.

  “I’ll email you over a copy. Now I’ll give you some time to say your goodbyes,” he tells me.

  Looking around the room, all I can think about are three men. Inc, Dad, and Xander.

  “I don’t have anyone to say goodbye to,” I murmur, walking directly past him. I’ll be strong, even if it kills me. I refuse to break in front of the men who viewed me as nothing more than a means to an end.

  I continue through the double doors, not even bothering to look at Inc. It’s done. Everything we were is over. Until now, I had a semblance of hope things could be fixed . . . but now, like everything else in my life, nothing will ever be the same.

  I don’t stop until I’m through the front door and I hear the engine of a bike turn off. Someone must’ve just got back to the club. We park around the side of the building since we don’t have a garage or anything like that, but our security system is motion activated. I don’t even know why we have it since no one would dare fuck with us.

  “Octavia, wait up. Damn, girl.” Zane says from behind me.

  But just as he speaks, Chains walks around the corner and it’s like the mere sight of him causes me to wanna break, to let every emotion beam out of me. Chains isn’t one of my brothers, but he’s been more of a brother than anyone else.

  He squints his nose for a split second and I feel the tears coming, ‘cause that’s his sign he’s about to lose it to. “W-were you tryin’ to miss t-this?” I ask, hiccupping while tears spill from the sides of my eyes. They flow effortlessly down my cheeks until they’re passing over my lips.

  Chains shuts his eyes and opens his arms out to me. I don’t think, I only react. I run straight into his arms until our bodies collide in a crash. I hold onto him like my life depends on it, because I’m finally realizing I’m losing the only person who ever had my back, and I’m not ready for this. There’s been too much loss, and I don’t want to lose another person I love.

  “O’, you’re gonna be just fine.” Chains’ rough voice tells me. He clears his throat in an attempt to not allow his emotions to show.

  “I hope you’re right,” I sob-cry into his chest, smelling his sandalwood cologne closer than I ever have.

  “I am. I know so, ‘cause you’re strong as shit. Xia would be so proud. She’d be so proud of you for doing this. Hell, all of them would.” I’m sure his words are meant to make me feel better, but I don’t. In all honesty, I feel worse.

  I hold Chains a little tighter, ‘cause Lord knows when I’ll be able to see him again. “I don’t want to do this, Chains.”

  “I know, baby. I know.” He kisses the top of my forehead while his hand is planted on the back of my head, holding me like I’m precious as hell.

  Chains and I stand here for minutes, simply holding the other. I don’t know how he feels about me, but I have a feelin’ it’s pretty similar. Out of all my sisters, Chains was always drawn to me . . . besides Xia but that’s another story.

  I’m the one who pulls away from him first and I look into his electric blue eyes, and I tell him something I’d never told him before because I thought I was doing him a favor. Now I’m realizing . . . I wasn’t, and he deserves to know the truth. “Xia, she . . . she told me she loved you, Chains. The night of t-the shooting, she told us she was gonna tell you everything when we got home.” My lip trembles as the words hit him, and he nods. “She said you were the love of her life, Chains.” The tears flow in a constant stream, not only because I’m remembering her . . . but because of the impact I can see it’s having on him.

  “I fuckin’ love you, O’. This isn’t goodbye, okay? It’s see you later.” Chains mutters, kissing me on the cheek as he walks
past me. I turn to look at him and see he’s chest to chest with Zane.

  Holy fuck. What just happened. “I’m only gonna tell you this once. You fuck with her, and I’ll skin you limb from fuckin’ limb. Treat her like a damn goddess, ‘cause she is one. She’s the luckiest fuckin’ thing that’ll ever happen to your pathetic ass life.” I can see the way Chains is struggling to pull himself away, but he does. He walks away from me and goes into the club, and I only hope he’s right.

  I hope this wasn’t goodbye, because I’ll never be able to bear it if it was.

  Chapter Seven

  Jealousy is the worst and most bitter emotion. It eats you up and consumes you. It becomes your world while you merely just exist within its presence.

  ~ Elite Daily

  Zane

  I can’t help but notice the way Octavia just wrapped her arms around this guy. I don’t know who he is, but Grim and I stood back about ten feet. I couldn’t make anything out except for when he said he loved her. Upon hearing it, my chest tightened and anxiety filled my mind. I always knew I was gonna have to marry one of the women from this club, I was told I had a choice in the matter . . . so I chose Yara, one of the older ones if I can remember correctly. We had chatted a few times and I liked her well enough, so I figured it wouldn’t be the worst choice.

  Oh, how things have changed. Octavia was passed over to me after she was the last one left. The only one remaining to fulfil the agreement Ice and my father had made years ago. I know my place, and how our alliance terms need to be met. I won’t lie, though. Deep down I had this vision shit could turn from an arranged union to something else, to something more. Dunno if that’ll happen now . . . not with the way that fucker was just holdin’ her.