by Sam Crescent
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2020 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-0-3695-0248-3
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Audrey Bobak
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To all of my amazing readers, my family, and to Evernight Publishing for their love and support.
… AND FOREVER
Next Generation: Chaos Bleeds
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2020
Prologue
The night that changed it all
Tabitha stood in the freezing cold. It had been a week since Simon killed Ryan. A week since he took the gun, pointed it in his face, and didn’t just shoot once, but multiple times.
There was no doubt Devil had arranged for his best friend Dean to come and take him. Lash had sat her down with her father and they’d discussed why Simon killing Ryan was a problem. Their association with the Billionaire Bikers MC, as well as with the law, meant they couldn’t just hide the body. Arrangements needed to be made, deals done. War stopped.
She wrapped her arms around herself and glanced down the street. The text message had been cryptic and had come from an unknown number. She’d known it was Simon. Knew deep in her heart he was coming for her.
They were meant for each other. She stared down at the ring on her finger that claimed her as his.
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she thought about everything that had gone down in less than a month. Anthony helping her. Daisy’s arms surrounding her as she tried to sleep. She’d given her best friend a black eye as she’d woken up terrified, and when she’d lashed out, Daisy had no choice but to restrain her.
She hated it.
Hated her life.
The only sure thing for her right now was the message that asked her to be here. The one piece of salvation she’d experienced.
The sound of a motorcycle had her tensing up. She expected it to be Anthony or her nephew Simon, but it wasn’t. It was her man.
He was alone. Gone was the Chaos Bleeds leather cut marking him as one of theirs. In that instant, she knew he was different. Staring at him now, Tabitha knew she’d lost Simon. Lost that part of him that made him part of her.
He turned the bike off and threw his leg over the side, coming toward her. She didn’t move, watching him. Knowing he was different.
She’d heard her family, all of The Skulls talk about killing people. How it changed them, how you were never the same again. She figured they were all trying to sound normal. In their world, killing happened. It was part of who they were. They didn’t run from it. Looking at him now, she knew they hadn’t been lying. They just hadn’t delved into great detail about it.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” she said.
“No, it wasn’t.” He didn’t reach out to touch her.
She was tainted. Ryan had ruined her.
Staring at Simon, she wondered what to do.
There was a distance between them. This had never happened before. She kept on looking at Simon, waiting, but he stared at her.
Then he closed that distance, cupped her face. He stroked her cheeks. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry, but as he stared at her, she couldn’t help it. The pain was too much because she saw past the comfort, the touch. She knew Simon. They’d been kids, nothing more than children, then grew up into teenagers, and now, married, they were not just boy and girl. They were man and woman. Tears continued to fall down her cheeks.
“Don’t cry.”
“You’re giving up.”
“I’m not giving up. I’ll never give up. Not on you.”
“Then don’t go.”
Simon sighed. “I’ve got to go. There’s no way I can stay here, Tabby.”
“Then you’re giving up.”
“I want to kill every last one of them.” He paused. “You see, if I stay here, I want to slaughter them. I want to wipe them out like the Savage Brothers were. If I stay here, I can’t be put in control of what I do.” He took a breath.
She saw it.
The murder.
The rage.
If she begged him, he would stay, she knew that. She’d lose him though. Everything that made Simon who he was would be gone. He’d be on a quest to take on an entire MC club, removing himself from ever becoming the Chaos Bleeds President, taking his father’s place.
“We promised each other forever. That’s the way it has always been right from the beginning.” She couldn’t take it from him. Wanting him with her was selfish. She couldn’t do it. Leaning forward, she kissed his cheek and took a step back.
Inside, she broke apart, shattered. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt. She’d been to hell and back more than once, but she couldn’t handle this.
Simon stepped back.
She kept on looking at him through tears. He was blurred.
He got on his bike and she stood, waiting.
The rain kept on coming. Wrapping her arms around her waist, she stood alone.
Tabitha watched as the car pulled up. The driver’s side door opened and Anthony climbed out. He didn’t grab a jacket. He walked around the car and stood in front of her, waiting.
She watched him.
He didn’t speak.
Anthony never spoke unless he wanted to. She wondered if he was ever tortured, if they would get him to crack, or if he would be a stubborn bastard who refused to budge. He’d probably die silently.
“He’s gone,” she said.
“I know.”
She sniffled. “What do you care? You probably saw this coming.”
“He did what he had to do.”
“He didn’t have to kill him.” She covered her face. “Why? Why did this have to happen?”
She was shocked when Anthony wrapped his arms around her. Out of all the people she knew, he was the last person she expected to get comfort from. “Leave me alone.”
“Not going to happen. You think this is easy for him? He didn’t protect you. He fucked up, and so did I. I should have been here. I should have made sure this didn’t happen.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I … I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“No!” Anthony pulled away, grabbing her shoulders. “Don’t fucking do that. You know what, it’s not my fault, your fault, or Simon’s. It’s fucking Ryan’s. That piece of shit had what was coming to him. Simon dealt him a mercy I never would. If it had been Daisy, I would have stripped him piece by piece, and kept him alive, begging for death.”
“This doesn’t make me feel any better. I don’t want to talk to you. I just want to go home.”
“Then we’ll go home.”
“Take me to Daisy’s.” She pushed past Anthony, climbing into the car. Anthony was a psychopath, no doubt about it. He hid it well, but she knew who he really was, what he was capable of. She didn’t want to be alone with him right now.
He was silent as they rode to Daisy’s. She needed the quiet now more than ever. Rubbing at her chest, she didn’t know how she was going to go on. They were married, a family.
She wip
ed at her wet cheeks, hating her weakness. She wanted it all to stop.
Anthony arrived at Daisy’s. She climbed out to find her friend already waiting for her. She was unaware of when Anthony had texted her, but she went straight into her friend’s arms. “I’ve got you,” Daisy said.
“I feel like I’m dying inside. I can’t stand it.”
“Come on. My parents are at the clubhouse. They’re still trying to deal with, you know.”
Tabitha covered her face, sobbing.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I … just ignore me. Whatever I say, I just make it worse.”
“It’s fine,” she said, sniffling. “It’s all good. I don’t care.” She waved her hand in front of her face and took several deep breaths.
“Don’t do that. Don’t pretend you’re okay with this.”
“I’ve got to be though, right? This is the way it is. The way it’s always going to be. He’s gone and he’s not coming back.”
Before she fell apart, Daisy held her close, but no matter what, she was never going to be the same again.
****
“You’ll take care of her?” Simon asked as Anthony climbed out of the car.
He watched him, waiting for an explosion. Anthony leaned against the hood of his car, arms folded.
“You think I don’t already? You think I haven’t been taking care of her all this time?”
“Look, I know you’re pissed.”
“You don’t know anything.”
“I … I had to,” Simon said.
“Yeah, you had to. Ryan needed to be dealt with. He needed to be punished, but what you did was fucking stupid.” Anthony shook his head.
“I get it, you’ve killed a man.”
“No, I’ve killed more than one,” Anthony said.
Simon paused as he looked at him.
“That has your attention, doesn’t it?” Anthony chuckled. “Tabs has probably told you about Daisy’s dad. He wasn’t much of a challenge. The guy would do just about anything for a drink. He wasn’t my first kill, nor was he my second.”
“You’re no different.”
Anthony stared at him. “In case you didn’t notice, I’m not like everyone else. If people need to die, it’s not my problem. I get shit done, but I know when the best time to do it is.”
“I don’t know how you can be so glib.”
He smiled. “I’m not the one running away from the woman I love.”
“I’m not running away. I need to leave.”
“Then go. Do whatever shit you need to do. She’ll be waiting.”
“You’ll protect her?” Simon asked, gripping the back of his neck, hating the decision he was making.
“Of course. It’s what I do.”
He nodded. “Right, yes, right.” Simon ran a hand down his face. There was nothing more to be said.
The truth was, he wanted Tabby. He wanted to take her with him, but right now, he couldn’t. He had no choice but to leave. Climbing on his bike, he took off, not looking back. He left Fort Wills behind. He’d already left Piston County.
He no longer had a home.
Dean waited for him at the checkpoint they’d agreed to. It was a rundown garage that had gone out of business years ago.
After pulling his bike to a stop, he turned off the ignition.
“You okay?” Dean asked.
Simon shook his head. “Why did you come for me?”
“I had a hunch.”
“No, there wasn’t a hunch. You came for me and now you’re willing to ride with me. Why?”
“We came from different backgrounds, Simon, but that doesn’t mean you’re not my friend. I don’t want anything to happen to you. It’s why I’m here. It’s why I’m going to stay.”
“You don’t have to.”
“No, but I will. There’s nothing back home. You need me now more than ever.”
“What about Eddie?”
“What about him? He still wants the cushy life. Let him have it. I never wanted it and now, I get to live the life I wanted. Where are we headed?”
Simon looked up the long, dark street. The rain had lessened. The pain in his chest hadn’t. As he thought about Tabby, he saw the smug look Ryan had given him. He’d pointed his gun, but Ryan hadn’t believed he would shoot. Even then. Knowing what he’d done, Ryan had doubted him.
It pissed him off to even think the son of a bitch thought he was going to live. Like Simon was less of a man because he couldn’t shoot someone. Ryan had raped Tabby. He’d taken from her what wasn’t freely given and because of that, Simon had seen nothing but death. In his head, he heard screams, Tabby’s. The ones begging for help, telling Ryan to stop. He had no doubt she’d fought but because of Ryan, she’d been hurt, and he just couldn’t live with that.
The Skulls and Chaos Bleeds had an agreement with the Billionaire Bikers MC, along with an understanding about their past being put to rest. There wasn’t going to be another life lost, but letting Ryan walk just wasn’t the answer.
He knew deep down in his gut if it had been Lexie, his dad would have killed anyone. He would have painted the streets red.
“I don’t know where we’re going, but we’re not coming back, not for some time.” With that, he turned over the ignition of his bike and took off.
****
Daisy glanced over to the window to see Anthony waiting.
She walked to it, sliding it up, and Anthony climbed through the window.
He looked toward the bed and nodded. “How is she?”
“Fine. I think. No, she’s not fine. I had to give her a sedative. The ones you gave me that you got from Sandy. I don’t like having stuff like that in my room.”
“She needed it and if she was going to lose control on anyone, it was going to be you.”
“It’s stolen.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Damn it, Anthony. It’s not about this being my fault or taking the blame or anything. I mean, seriously. I don’t get it. Ugh!” She threw her hands up in the air and left the room. “How can you be so calm?” She didn’t have to look back to know he followed her. He always followed her.
For the longest time, she hadn’t realized he actually had feelings for her, then of course, he had to go and tell her, but she wasn’t going to think about that right now. There would be a time and place for her own feelings and it wasn’t today.
Heading into the kitchen, she paused.
Whizz, her dad, had redecorated again not long ago after Lacey decided she could do what every other woman could do, only she couldn’t. Not even by a long shot. Running fingers through her hair, she glanced left and right, trying to figure out what to do.
This was insane.
Crazy.
“I’m not freaking out about this,” Anthony said. “Simon made his choice.”
She whirled around and laughed. “Are you fucking serious right now? I mean deadly serious? Can you even hear yourself?” She shook her head. “I don’t even know what’s going on anymore. We watched him kill someone. He shot Ryan in the face and he didn’t just do it once, he did it a couple of times. Doesn’t that scare you?”
“No.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because it’s who we are. You know this.” He shouted the words, making her pause. “For fuck’s sake, Daisy. You can’t for a second believe that all of this is— I don’t know what the fuck you want me to say right now. Look at how you beat down Danielle.”
“Don’t you dare bring her into this.”
“No. You liked it. It’s why all these years Tabs has kept you away from fighting. You have a thirst for pain and blood that scares the shit out of you. The only thing you’re scared about right now is the fact that you don’t understand how Simon could have stopped. How he made it so fucking easy for Ryan. That piece of shit raped our best friend. He raped one of our own. I saw it. I saw the fucking damage and all he did was fucking shoot him in the face.”
Tears flooded her eyes as the anger
filled her to the core. She clenched her hands into fists. “Get out.”
“No. You can hide who you really are, if that makes you feel better. I get it, but I will not run from you.” Instead, he stepped close into her space.
She flinched away from his touch and he tutted. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“No? Then don’t talk to me.” He didn’t walk away. His arms wrapped around her and held her close to him. “I’m not going to let you go. Not even for a second.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to stay here for as long as you need me.”
She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of leather and grease that always seemed to linger on him. He always played with his bike, even when it didn’t need fixing, and she knew it helped to calm the beast within him.
Holding on to him for dear life, she sniffled.
“I wanted to hear him scream,” she said, whispering the words for only him.
“I know.”
“I … I don’t know what to do. I feel so much anger.”
“I’ve got you. I will always have you.” He kissed the top of her head.
She pulled back, clearing her throat. This wasn’t about her. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she focused on him. “What do we do? What happens? Will Simon ever come back?”
“I doubt he will come back now. He spoke to her today. I don’t know what he has planned.” He rubbed at the back of his head.
“Did you call Dean?”
“No.”
“Who do you think did?” Daisy asked, wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Devil.”
“Really? Even with the whole agreement they’ve got going on?”
“Yes. Simon is still his son and I’m guessing they’re going to do everything they can to protect him.”
“What happened to the body?” Daisy asked.
Anthony opened his mouth and closed it.
“No! You don’t get to hide stuff like that from me. I won’t have it. Just tell me the truth. I can handle it.”