by Mallory Funk
Copyright
Copyright by Mallory Funk 2019
This book may not be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, (electronically, mechanically, by photocopying or recording), without written permission from the author.
This book is fiction and created using the ideas of the author. Any names or places that are used are from the author’s imagination. This book is for your enjoyment only.
Edited by, Amber Gaida
Cover by, Ravenwill Designs (A.C. Williams)
Prologue
Krista
There is yet another BBQ at the clubhouse. I’m sitting outside having a beer by the fire that we have going.
There’s a celebration going on just for me. I had just received my nursing degree. Everyone is happy; happy for me, and I plaster on the fake smiles as much as I can hoping that, soon enough, everyone will be too drunk to notice how lonely I am. They never really notice anyway. I think that I’ve gotten pretty good at hiding it.
My dad has been the president of his club, the Wicked Dragons, for my whole life. I was raised in the club, so this was all I knew. When I went to school, I had someone on watch with me every day. I understood it; I was the princess of the club, but I needed some freedom and knew that I wasn’t going to get any for as long as I continued to live here. They keep me under close watch on most days, but I know the right times when they don’t. It’s something that I’ve learned over the years.
I look around at all the brothers, club whores, Old Ladies, and wannabes having a good time. I shake my head when my eyes well with tears. I turn away so that no one can see that I am sad. It has been harder to hold the tears in the closer the time comes, and the time is now here.
I knew what I had to do, and it was breaking my heart. I knew the perfect moment to do it. I just had to wait.
When I knew that I wasn’t going to cause a scene with my tears, I look over at my family. God, I was going to miss them like crazy, but I couldn’t see any other way for me to become my own person.
My eyes landed on the only man who I didn’t see as family. I saw him as something else entirely. He was chatting with a bunch of brothers and laughing. I couldn’t help but admire the way that he looked when he was happy and laughing. He was patched in a couple years ago, so he’s not much older than I am; but he was still warned just like everyone else who prospects for the club: Hands off. No exceptions.
I shake my head at the thought. Stupid rules.
Bullet looks at me before I have a chance to look away. His eyes narrow and he clenches his jaw. That’s been the normal way he looks at me lately. I wish that I could tell you why, but I don’t know what the fuck I did to him. I guess it won’t matter in a few hours anyway.
My dad comes over, interrupting my thoughts.
“Baby girl! I’m so fucking proud of you,” he says as he pulls me in for a hug.
I hug him back and can tell that he doesn’t notice me squeeze him extra hard. Maybe he’s had enough beers that he doesn’t notice anything different about me.
“Thanks dad.”
I make sure not to let any emotion show. I don’t think that anyone realizes that I’ve been nursing one beer. I know how hard the Wicked Dragons party, and I just need most of them to pass out so that I can sneak out. When they are all alert and aware, nothing can get past them. I just hate to do it to them this way, but I have a letter that I wrote to my father in my purse. I don’t plan on taking anything because that would be too obvious. I have more than enough money to buy clothes and any toiletries needed. I had started putting money away where no one would look for it. I didn’t want anyone to get suspicious.
The party goes on until the wee hours of the morning. Once the birds start chirping and the sun is starting to rise, the Dragons call it a night.
I listen to the sounds of the clubhouse and can tell that most of the men are passed out or enjoying some alone time with their women or club whores.
I know that there are probably prospects around guarding the clubhouse.
I make my move to slip the letter I wrote to my father under his door as I listen quietly, hoping that I don’t hear something that will scar me for life; instead, I hear the sounds of his snores. I breathe in a sigh of relief and slip the letter under the door before leaving the clubhouse. I make a turn to stand by Bullet’s door and I lightly place my hand on it. I wish that I could say all the things that I’ve wanted to say, but I know that it’s going to take quite the man to come up against my father.
I only hope to someday find someone who has the guts to do so.
I walk past the prospects, carrying my purse. I tell them that I’m going to get some coffee and they nod reluctantly. I drive away without looking in the rear-view mirror. I know that if I look back, I won’t leave, and I want to find my own path.
Instead, I blow out a breath and tighten my grip on the steering wheel.
“Please don’t let them hate me,” I whisper to myself as I finally let the tears fall.
Chapter One
Pyro (Declan) Carter
It had been a couple of weeks since I had last seen Krista.
She had come down with the Wicked Dragons for the funeral of Stacey, Torch’s Old Lady, and I hadn’t heard anything from her since.
Sure, I don’t seem like much of a talker now but, back before I was shot, I was a jokester. I liked to have fun, and there was no shortage of women at my door.
I loved the life that being a biker gave me and I would die for any of my brothers. Now I just existed.
Ella, our club princess, was under our protection. The president of the Devil’s Souls MC was after her. He thought that he had some sort of claim over her because of her fucked-up mom.
I had no problem protecting her; I knew that she was precious.
I was shot while on watch for her at the doctor’s office. It wasn’t the first time that I was shot, and it definitely won’t be the last. While in the hospital for my wound, I met Krista. She was one of the nurses assigned to me. She didn’t seem put off by the fact that brothers were coming in and out of the room. Of course, now I know why; she grew up in the MC.
I didn’t grow up in the MC life. I was raised by my parents who were well off. One night, they were coming home from a date and were hit by a drunk driver. I ended up with their inheritance. It was a good enough inheritance that I didn’t have to work if I didn’t want to.
I took off from my hometown and ended up having lunch at the Hole in the Wall Diner. Some jerk was getting handy with the waitress and I took matters into my own hands. After the rich prick got a good beating, the president of the MC, Derek, asked me to prospect. I could obviously hold my own and he respected that.
After prospecting for a year, I was patched in and received my road name.
How I got my road name is an embarrassing story. I was getting ready for a party and styled my hair with some hairspray. I ended up lighting my hair on fire. I’ve only used gel from then on. The smell of burnt hair is not pretty. I still gag at the thought of it. I had to shave the rest of my hair so that it could grow out evenly. My hair took a long time to grow out, and now I take care of my hair even better than I ever have.
Since I didn’t have to work, I was placed on protection which I didn’t mind. Watching after loved ones, women and kids, or going on look out for our rivals was a position that I took pride in.
The position made me feel needed. I knew that they needed me for their protection. I took my job very seriously which is why I was the main guy to watch over Ella.
When we Vicious Snakes protect, we do it all or nothing. I did my best to make sure that those fu
ckers weren’t going to touch our princess. Those fuckers were cowards. They shot me before I had a chance to draw my own fucking gun or see where they were coming from.
Here’s the thing that no one knows about me; there is something wrong with me. I have tried to bring club whores back to my room, or meet someone up at the pub but, fuck, nothing happens. My cock just stays soft like it doesn’t have a fucking clue what the fuck is going on.
Being that I was always fucking around, not being able to fuck makes me a grumpy mother fucker. I would give anything to sink into a nice, hot, tight pussy; well, to sink into Krista because she’s the only woman I want. But the fucking thing won’t even twitch. Nothing, nada, zilch.
That’s why I never made a move for Krista to be my Old Lady. I could see the way she looked at me, and I flirted with her in the beginning, but I couldn’t be the man she needed if I couldn’t perform like one. Who would want a man who couldn’t use his dick?
I had to let her go, but I didn’t realize how hard that would be. She would be able to find someone who could pleasure her in ways that I wasn’t able to. Not that I think she would care; she has a kind heart. I just didn’t feel like a fucking man.
Not being able to perform sexually showed me just how much my sexuality used to define me.
Krista’s eyes lingered on me when she walked out of the clubhouse this last time. I could tell that she was wondering if I would finally make a move on her and stand up to all the men in the MC to make her mine, or if I was willing to let her go and let some other fucker have her.
That woman had so much hope in her eyes that it fucking killed me to see her slowly break when I purposely kept my distance. I was a dick because I didn’t give her what she wanted. It was clear that she only wanted me.
Then we lost Stacey who was Torch’s Old Lady. She was a damn fine Old Lady. She and a brother named Trigger were taken by a fucker named Vince who tried to kill them both by tying them up and setting the place on fire. Stacey had also sustained many injuries from when Vince had run them off the road causing them to crash their vehicle.
Stacey ended up dying right before Trigger left the building to save his life. I knew that shit weighed on him. You could see the guilt any time that he looked at Torch.
Torch was Stacey’s old man. The guy just fucking broke. He’s a shell of a man that he used to be. He watched as the building collapsed and he realized that Stacey was gone.
I saw Torch so broken when he came to see me one night, drunk off his ass, and told me how much it killed him to see the wreckage and know that Stacey did not make it. It occurred to me right then that I needed to get my head on straight and go after my woman because we don’t know how much time we’ve got in this life. I understand that more than anyone realizes.
Life is too fucking short. I needed to stop being a fucking coward and claim my fucking woman before someone else does.
So, I went.
I’m chasing after my woman, and fuck anyone who tries to get in my way.
I knew that Prez and my brothers would not have a problem with it.
There is one thing about the Vicious Snakes. We play hard, party hard, and love harder.
I’ve heard my brothers say it, but the woman for me had never came along back then. There is nothing like the love of a good woman.
I watched Krista from the sidelines. She was an amazing woman and I could see her sadness. I never understood it until her father walked into the club and I realized who she was.
Everyone who was friends with the Wicked Dragons knew to keep an eye out for their lost princess. Krista had dyed her hair dark brown, put on coloured contacts, and was always in scrubs. The picture we had of her was in full biker chick gear and blonde hair with black rimmed glasses. She looked nerdy with a biker chick look.
It’s fucking crazy how much she changed her appearance, but she couldn’t completely leave the biker life behind. She was hiding in plain sight and she had to have known that this wasn’t a rival club.
I got on my bike and headed out. It was a good eight-hour drive, but I didn’t want to waste any more time.
The Wicked Dragons clubhouse was the first place that I went to. I needed to check in since I was wearing my Vicious Snakes cut.
I pulled up to the gates and told the prospect who I am.
He nodded his head and opened the gates. I had no doubt that they were expecting me. My Prez would have called ahead.
When I pulled up on my bike, there were some brothers that I had met before when they came down to get Krista. They nodded at me. It wasn’t long before their Prez was taking steps towards me.
“Pyro, heard you were coming in. What can we do for ya?” he asks as he crosses his arms over his chest and stands tall.
Here is the part where I say that I have business in town and leave it vague, or I tell him the truth and let him kick my ass now. Either way, I will have to tell him that I came for one reason only.
“I’m here for Krista,” I state.
He narrows his eyes at me. “What could you possibly want with my daughter?”
I stand up taller and look him right in the eyes.
“I’m here to claim my woman.”
At this point we are having a stare down, but there is no way that I'm going to back down.
This woman is mine and no one better get in my fucking way.
“You think you’re the man for my Krista?” he asks in a no bullshit tone.
“I am the man for her. I was a fucking fool thinking that I could stay away from her because that woman is something else. She’s mine. I’m here to fucking prove that to you, her, and all your brothers. This club means something to her, but so does mine, and I’m not going to let her go.”
There’s silence. No one is speaking. I can see him looking at me trying to figure out if I'm serious, but if I have to prove that I am then “fuck it” because she’s worth whatever they throw at me.
“She’s my baby girl and I thought something bad had happened to her. Fucking cut me deep, not knowing. If she wants you gone, you’re gone. No question about it,” he stares me down until I nod my head at him.
“You’ve got it,” I say while we both finally relax our stance.
I thought that he might be protective of her, but he seems to have an understanding look about him. There was a reason she ran away from him and I have a feeling that’s the only reason he’s leaving the decision up to Krista on whether I stay or go.
Krista
I’ve been back for a couple months. My family has barely let me out of their sight. I can’t blame them. They had spent months thinking that I was dead in a ditch somewhere.
Especially after we headed back to attend Stacey’s funeral. My dad seemed to squeeze me a bit tighter than he usually does, if that was even possible.
I wanted to stay and be there for my friends, but my dad needed me by his side. I wasn’t sure when he would be ready to let me go again.
I pull up to the clubhouse. I’ve only really left it lately to spend time at my dad’s house. I still have a brother on me constantly, but I think that’s more for making sure that I don’t run away.
Bullet hasn’t spoken a word to me since I got back. I get nothing but the cold shoulder, but I don’t know what to do if he did say something because I feel the same way about Pyro.
They both make me feel the same way, yet they both kept me at a distance. I wish I could ask them why but, at this rate, I’ll never have the chance.
Pyro’s probably pissed that I had left out who I was, and Bullet is probably even more pissed that I left without saying a word.
Since when did my life become this?
Why do I have to want two men who don’t want me back?
I can feel it when they look at me that they feel something for me, but maybe that’s just wishful thinking.
I’m tired of being alone and I just want to fall in love.
Seeing the Old Ladies interact with their men in the Vicious Snakes made me long
for a love like that. The way they connect with their men is something special. The looks that they give each other when they think the other isn’t looking, or the smiles that come to their face when the other walks into the room, make me envious to be a part of something like that.
I can’t help the sigh that escapes me when I park and get out of my car.
I see a bunch of brothers circled around something.
As I walk closer, I see someone in a Vicious Snakes vest. I stop in my tracks while my heart beats hard in my chest.
No.
It can’t be.
I feel flutters in my stomach and my heart races. I can feel the hope inside that I desperately want it to be Pyro.
I make myself move closer.
I put my hand over my mouth to cover up the gasp that escapes.
It is Pyro.
My dad looks over his shoulder which causes Pyro to turn around.
When he sees me, he smiles. Holy shit. I'm not dreaming, am I?
I don’t think about my next actions.
I drop my purse and make a run for him. I don’t care how desperate I look right now. I’ve never been so happy to see someone before.
His arms widen to catch me, and my legs wrap around his waist. I tighten my hold on him. I fight to keep in the sob that wants to escape.
“You’re here,” I whisper in his ear, my voice coming out a bit choked.
“I came after you, baby,” he whispers back.
His breath is on my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
I close my eyes and breathe in his scent. I hear a throat clear and a couple chuckles when I startle.
I look around and remember that we are surrounded by my family.
I blush and slowly release Pyro from my monkey hold on him.
I slowly turn around to face my father.
“Heyyy dad... Pyro’s here,” I say awkwardly and point to him in case he didn’t know who Pyro was.
I can see amusement in his face, and he’s trying to hold back laughter.
“I know that, baby girl. I can see him,” he says, still fighting back laughter.