by Wilder, L.
Over the past few months, I’d learned to expect the unexpected where they were concerned. Each of their backgrounds, senses of humor, and interests were so totally different. It was those differences that made each of them unique, but at the end of the day, they all shared the same core values and ambitions which made the club even stronger. I glanced over at the clock, checking my time as I finished putting on the back tire and moved to the gas tank. I’d been at it for at least an hour when Landry came out of the house carrying a cup of coffee in one hand and a pair of jeans and a t-shirt in the other. As she laid them down on the counter, she smiled and said, “I thought you could use these.”
I looked down, and for the first time since I came out to the garage, I realized I was still in my fucking boxers. “Thanks, babe.”
“No problem.” I grabbed my clothes and started to get dressed when Landry asked, “How’s it going?”
“It’s going.” I pulled my t-shirt over my head, then leaned towards her and gave her a quick kiss. “Gotta get back at it.”
“Okay.” She turned and started back towards the house. Then she stepped through the door and shouted, “Let me know if you need anything!”
As I glanced down at my bare feet, I hollered back, “I could use some socks and my boots when you get a chance.”
“You got it!”
I turned my focus back to my bike, only stopping long enough to put on my boots, and after four hours in, I’d finally managed to get my bike back together. I hopped on, turned the key, and was beyond relieved when she started up without a hitch. I revved the engine a few times, just enough to draw Landry’s attention. She stuck her head out the door with a proud smile. “You got it!
“That I did.” I reached for my helmet and prospect cut, and as I put them both on, I told her, “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Be careful.”
I nodded, then coasted out of the driveway and rolled towards Arkansas. I couldn’t deny that I was feeling pretty pumped that I’d managed to get my bike back together so quickly. When I first came to Memphis, I didn’t know shit about cars or motorcycle engines. Hell, I could barely change my own oil, but I learned. The brothers gave me no choice. That’s how they were with everything. They continuously challenged me to not be just another prospect, but to make a name for myself, take risks, and rise to each and every occasion—all while remaining true to the man I was when I first walked through their clubhouse doors. As I continued towards Little Rock, I thought about all the things these men had taught me, how they’d changed my life in ways I could’ve never imagined, and I knew, patch or not, these men would always mean a great deal to me.
When I got to Little Rock, it took me a bit to find J&T’s diner. It was small and rundown, but the place was packed. Even though I had plenty of time, I was beyond curious about the package I was supposed to pick up, so I quickly parked and rushed inside. The entire place smelled like greasy burgers and fries with a hint of baked apple pie. I was already hungry and beyond tempted with all the delicious smells that it was almost more than I could take as I made my way through the crowd. As soon as I reached the counter, an older lady came up to greet me. “Afternoon. What can I get ya today?”
It was at that moment—it hit me. I had no idea what I was supposed to say to this chick, so I just stood there looking like a complete idiot. I was trying to think of what the hell I should say to her when a soft smile crossed her face. “You one of Gus’s boys?”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“Thought so. I have something for you.” She reached behind the counter and pulled out a small box, then offered it to me. “Here ya go. You be careful heading back home, ya hear?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I took it in my hand and said, “Thanks.”
I waved goodbye and rushed back outside to the parking lot. After I’d put the box in one of my saddlebags, I jumped on my bike, and a rush of adrenaline surged through me as I started up my engine. I honestly didn’t know if this was my final task as a prospect. It could’ve just been another chance to prove myself, but either way, I was eager to get back home to find out. I was wound up tighter than a two-dollar watch as I headed back onto the Interstate. I kept expecting for something to go wrong—a flat tire, traffic, or even a fucking natural disaster—but it was easy-sailing all the way back to the clubhouse. When I pulled through the gate, it was just a few minutes before six and the entire lot was packed full of bikes and cars—some familiar, others not so much. I quickly parked, and my stomach was knotted up in a nervous, tangled mess as I grabbed the box out of my saddlebag and headed into the bar.
When I opened the door, the entire club was there, along with Landry, Viper and his brothers, my mother, and my little sister. I stood in the doorway, looking at all the people who meant so much to me, and I felt my throat tighten. The last thing I wanted to do was get all choked up, but I knew there was only one reason they’d all be there and the thought had me biting back my emotions. I was still standing there in awe when Gus and Moose walked up to me. A smile crossed Gus’s face as he asked, “What about it, Hyde? You got something for me?”
I couldn’t muster the words, so I simply nodded as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small box. A proud smile crept across Gus’s face as he glanced over to Rider and gave him a quick nod. Rider was all business as he reached behind him and took a new Satan’s Fury cut from the counter and brought it over to us. Gus took it from his hand, and as he offered it to me, he said, “Well done, brother. Welcome to the Fury family.”
After removing my prospect cut, I pulled it on, and pride washed over me as I ran my fingers across the brightly colored embroidery. I’d spent months thinking about this very moment, and now that it was actually here, I was in complete fucking awe. I remembered the looks on Dane and Gash’s faces the night they’d received their cuts. I’d seen how proud they were. I could see it in their eyes, hear it in their voices, but I never could’ve imagined those feelings ran so deep. Hell, they ran all the way to my very core. Trying my best to collect myself, I glanced over and spotted Landry at the bar with Viper and Hawk. They were all sitting with my mother and sister, smiling proudly as they watched Gus say, “Open the box.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see. Open it,” Gus pushed. Quickly, I tore the small box apart and was surprised to find a Guardian Bell attached to a small keychain. Gus smiled as he said, “I know your dad is already up there keeping an eye on you, but we can all use a little extra protection.”
“Thanks, brother.”
Gus reached over and gave me bear hug. Once Moose had done the same, Rider stepped up and grabbed me, then slapped me on the back. “Never doubted you for a second.”
“Thanks, brother. Couldn’t have done it without you.”
My brothers had started to line up, so Rider quickly stepped out of the way, giving each of them their chance to welcome me into the brotherhood. With each congratulatory hug, they offered me a shot of tequila. I gladly accepted each and every one. At the time, I was too caught up in the moment to remember that I hadn’t eaten a damn thing, but I didn’t care. I just kept downing shot after shot until I’d spoken to each and every brother. By the time Viper made his way over with my mother and sister, I was feeling pretty fucking good. Viper couldn’t have looked prouder as he wrapped his arms around me in a fierce hug. He still had a hold on me when he asked, “Well, you gonna say it?”
Even though I knew exactly what he was talking about, I asked him anyway, “Say what?”
“You know damn well what.” He stepped back and looked at me with narrowed eyes. “Come on. You know I’m not gonna let it go until you say it.”
“Fine.” I chuckled as I told him, “You were right.”
“Damn right,” he boasted. “Always am.”
“I don’t know about that,” my mother scoffed before turning her attention to me. By the way she was studying me, I half expected her to fuss that I hadn’t been eating enough or needed to get
more rest, so I was surprised when she smiled and said, “You look good, Clay. I wish your father was here. He would’ve been so proud.”
Lyssa could sense Mom was about to cry and slipped her arm around her, giving her a comforting hug as she replied, “He is here, Mom. There’s no way he’d miss this.”
“She’s right.” Hoping to take her mind off Dad, I stepped towards them and hugged them both. “I’m glad you both made it.”
“You know we wouldn’t have missed it.” Lyssa took a step back, quickly glancing over her shoulder before asking, “Who’s he?”
“Who?”
Her eyes rolled as she stepped towards me and whispered, “The bald guy in the corner?”
I turned my head and when I realized she was talking about T-Bone, I shook my head and snickered to myself. “You gotta be fucking kidding me.”
“What?” she pushed. “He’s hot—”
“Lyssa, no,” I warned.
“Well, I happen to think he—”
“Nope! Not gonna happen, Lyssa.”
I hadn’t realized that T-Bone had come up behind me until I heard him ask, “What’s not gonna happen?”
My normally confident sister inhaled a quick, nervous breath and turned to look at the floor, seeming almost bashful as she replied, “Nothing. Clay is just being Clay.”
“Oh, really.”
T-Bone gave her a goofy smirk as he motioned his head towards the bar. “Why don’t you let me get you a drink, and you can tell me all about it.”
“Okay.”
Lyssa gave me a quick shrug, then followed T-Bone. Before I could protest, Landry came rushing over with Hawk. She waited patiently as Hawk leaned towards me, hugging me briefly before saying, “You did good, brother.”
“Thanks, man.”
“You know, there’s not many who can say that they have it all ... a loyal group of men you can call your brothers … and a good woman.” Hawk glanced over at Landry with his eyebrow cocked high. “But you most certainly can.”
“You’re right about that.” I stepped towards her, slipping my arms around her waist as I told him, “Might be time for you to consider doing the same.”
His eyes never left Landry’s as he replied, “If I found a woman like her, I just might.”
Hawk gave us both a wink, and then strolled over to sit down with the rest of the Sinners. His words were still hanging in the air when Landry reached up and gave me a hug. “Congratulations, babe. I knew you could do it.”
As I held her in my arms, I knew Hawk was right. I truly had it all. I lowered my mouth to that sensitive spot just below her ear, softly kissing her as I whispered, “You know what this means, right?”
“What?”
I looked down at her and smiled as I told her, “You’re officially one of Satan’s Fury’s ol’ ladies.”
“I don’t care what my title is as long as I’m yours.”
“Now and forever, baby. Now and forever.”
Acknowledgments
I am blessed to have so many wonderful people who are willing to give their time and effort to making my books the best they can be. Without them, I wouldn’t’t be able to breathe life into my characters and share their stories with you. To the people I’ve listed below and so many others, I want to say thank you for taking this journey with me. Your support means the world to me, and I truly mean it when I say appreciate everything you do. I love you all!
PA: Natalie Weston
Editing/Proofing: Lisa Cullinan-Editor, Rose Holub-Proofer, Honey Palomino-Proofer
Promoting: Amy Jones, Veronica Ines Garcia, Neringa Neringiukas, Whynter M. Raven
BETAS/Early Readers: Kaci Stewart, Tanya Skaggs, Jo Lynn, and Jessey Elliott
Street Team: All the wonderful members of Wilder’s Women (You rock!)
Best Friend and biggest supporter: My mother (Love you to the moon and back.)
A short excerpt of Rider: Satan’s Fury MC-Memphis Book 7 is included in the following pages. Blaze, Shadow, Riggs, Murphy, Gunner, Gus and Rider are also included in this Memphis series, and you can find them all on Amazon. They are all free with KU.
Rider: Satan’s Fury MC-Memphis Excerpt
Prologue
I was born and raised in Oakland, Tennessee, a small town where life revolved around farming and Friday night football. Hell, it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, young or old—everyone came out to the game on Friday night. It’s what folks lived for. They’d pack the stands and cheer like there was no tomorrow, silently praying for a big win with each new play. It was those big wins that would help distract them from the crops that weren’t coming in or the bills that were piling up. As the team’s quarterback, I was one of the many players the crowd was shouting for, but I never heard their screams. As soon as I stepped out on that field, I was in the zone, not thinking about anything except getting that ball from point A to point B.
There was no greater feeling than standing there waiting for the snap. As soon as the ball was in my hands, I was ready. A rush of adrenaline would surge through me as I’d watch the opposing team make their advance. I could hear the sounds of helmets and shoulder pads slamming against each other as my offensive line held off the defense. I’d take a three-step drop, and once I was in the pocket, I’d quickly scan the field for my receiver. Knowing exactly where I was tossing the ball, it wouldn’t be long before we were hanging a half dozen on the board. I was good, one of the best, and even when we didn’t win the game, I always gave the fans something to talk about. My latest game was no different. I threw a pass that was risky. Some might even say it was too risky. My receiver was completely covered by the opposing team and it could’ve easily been picked off, but I saw a sliver of opportunity and took it. Just as I knew it would, the ball went straight into his hands, and he made the winning touchdown. The crowd went wild, and I left the field knowing I’d done what I’d set out to do.
I was feeling on top of the world when I’d left the locker room that night. Everything was going exactly as planned. After a few more great plays, I’d get that scholarship to play ball at UT and finally have my way out, because once I was gone, I’d never look back. I was headed out to my truck when my best friend, Bryce, shouted across the parking lot. “Yo, Caleb! You coming with us or what?”
He was standing next to Emmet’s truck, another one of my good friends, and when I answered, “Yeah, I’m coming, but I’ll have to drive. I gotta help my dad out in the morning,” a look of disappointment crept over his face.
“Damn, man,” Bryce complained. “After that game, you’d think your dad would give ya the day off or something!”
“Yeah, right. We both know that’s never gonna happen.” My father was a cotton farmer, and I’d been helping him bring in the crops since the time my feet could reach the pedals on the tractor. When I wasn’t helping with the plowing, planting, or picking, I was doing what I could to help prepare to plow, plant, or pick. I’d work on the farm equipment, haul trailers back and forth from the gin, and whatever else he needed me to do. While my dad loved everything about farming, it just wasn’t my thing, and I was always relieved when football season rolled around. It was the only time he didn’t complain about me not being out in the fields.
I could hear the others calling out to Bryce, telling him to hurry, so I said, “You guys go ahead. I’ll see you over at Landon’s in a few minutes.”
“You know, Janey Thompson was asking about ya earlier.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure was.” A smile crossed his face as he opened the door to Emmet’s truck. “She’s gonna be there tonight. If you play your cards right, you might just get you some of that.”
“I can have Janey Thompson any day of the week,” I boasted, then murmured under my breath, “and so can every other football player in town.”
“Guess we’ll see about that tonight!”
Before I could respond, he’d climbed into the truck with the rest of the gang and closed the door. Clearly eager t
o get to the party, Emmet slammed his foot on the accelerator, hurling loose gravel from his rear tires. Unimpressed by his redneck display, I went over to my truck and tossed my stuff in the backend, then got inside and cranked the engine. By the time I started to pull out of the parking lot, most everyone had already gone. The only ones left were the coach and the cleaning crew, or so I thought.
I was just about to pull out onto the main road when I noticed Darcy Harrington’s beat-up pickup truck parked across the street. The hood was up with the taillights flashing, so I assumed it had broken down on her. As I sat there staring at her flashing lights, a battle ensued between my ears. I’d always been the kind of guy who’d lend a hand whenever someone needed it, especially when it came to women, but Darcy wasn’t like most women.
When we were kids, Darcy and I were actually pretty good friends. We’d hang out on the school playground during recess, eat lunch together, and even run around at football games, but things were simpler then. There was no judging one another by the clothes we wore or the houses we lived in, but as we grew older that changed. Like a slow turn of the wind, we started talking less and less, and it wasn’t long before we didn’t say a word to one another, even in the hallway. That didn’t mean I stopped noticing her. Hell, there wasn’t a soul around who didn’t pay attention when Darcy Harrington walked by. The tomboy with pigtails and freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose had turned into a beautiful girl with long auburn hair and curves that would give a Playboy model a run for her money.
Darcy’s looks weren’t the only thing that changed over the years. Where she was once sweet and funny, she’d become cold and detached—never letting anyone get too close. Her strong persona made her come off as unapproachable, so everyone kept their distance, fearing if they crossed her there’d be hell to pay. It was no wonder why Darcy acted the way she did. Her family was rough. They were the kind of folks you didn’t want to cross in a dark alley—mean and mouthy, and didn’t think twice about breaking the law. I didn’t know their whole story, but from what I’d heard, you didn’t mess with the Harringtons—especially Darcy.