Renegade
By Shannon Myers
Copyright © 2017 by Shannon Myers
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to- being stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, groups, businesses, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by: Wicked Women Designs
Teasers by: The Final Wrap
First Printing: 2017
ISBN- 978-0-9994716-0-9
Dedication
To the Mikes and Laurens of the world—the ones who were dealt a bad hand, but proved their worth regardless.
Acknowledgments
As always, this book would not have been possible without some amazing people.
Wicked Women Designs- Thank you for designing such a perfect cover for Renegade. It’s absolutely stunning.
Rebecca Pau- Thank you for stepping in to help me in a pinch with sequel covers and teasers. I really would be lost without you.
Bloggers- Thank you for your willingness to read and promote my work. I would be nothing without you guys!
Readers- You push me to release a book that tops the last. While I’d hoped to release Mike’s story as one book, thank you for your patience and understanding when it morphed into two.
J. Law- Thank you for being my person. You are the Lauren to my Beth and the Reese’s to my Pieces. Your willingness to discuss the inane facts of my stories and work them into something that makes sense keeps me sane. Bitches for life!
Wendi- You’re the best PA ever. Seriously, your willingness to drop everything and help me out has made my life so much easier. Thank you for keeping me organized and prepared during this crazy journey and for becoming my friend in the process.
Ashley- Thank you for all of your information on Indie publishing this year and for being the one who broke the news that Renegade was going to be two books. I appreciate all the motivation you send my way and am lucky to call you my friend.
Family & Friends- Thank you for supporting my crazy little dream and for your willingness to promote my smut to your friends. I love you guys to the moon and back.
Zach- There are never enough words for me to communicate how much you mean to me. It doesn’t matter how busy you are, you always have time to hear my troublesome plot points and help me gain a better understanding of the male psyche. Never leave me, because I’ll find you!
Renegade
/ˈrenəˌɡād/
noun
noun: renegade
a person who deserts and betrays an organization, country, or set of principles.
An individual who rejects lawful or conventional behavior.
adjective
adjective: renegade
having treacherously changed allegiance.
Prologue
Present Day
The rain fell steadily around us and a brisk wind cut through my heavy wool coat. The cold seeped into my pores, chilling me to the bone. I glanced up at the small crowd gathered around me, but no one else seemed to be affected by the storm.
Lightning streaked across the gray sky, quickly followed by a loud clap of thunder. Kate, Grey’s oldest daughter, jumped in fright. Her husband, Nate, pulled her closer into his body as if shielding her from the reality of it all.
I shifted my gaze from the look of devastation on Kate’s face and over to her younger sister, Dakota. Instead of devastation, Dakota’s jaw was set in a hard line, her eyes murderous.
I’d failed them both.
Their father was dead.
Grey.
Gunned down in an empty parking lot after leaving Dakota’s wedding. My tip off came about ten minutes too late. My eyes began to cloud, but I clenched my teeth together until it passed. It was stupid, me coming here. I was a detective with the Lubbock Police Department and he ran an outlaw motorcycle club, for Christ’s sake.
It didn’t make a damn bit of sense, yet here I was, getting soaked in a freezing rain while searching for answers.
“For as much as it has pleased Almighty God to take out of this world the soul of James Quinn, we therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, looking for that blessed hope when the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord, wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.” Father Frazier performed the committal, raising his voice to be heard over the storm.
Dakota’s husband, Zane, looked up and caught my eye. He scanned the small crowd before returning to me. I gave him a small nod in return; our mission unspoken, but clear. Like me, Zane was a cop. He’d worked undercover for a while, but since becoming a family man, I’d seen him around the station a lot more.
Nobody wanted to be UC when they had people waiting on them at home. Sure, when you’re a grunt, the lifestyle looks appealing. It sure as hell beat sitting on the side of the road with a speed gun in your hand. After being in it for a few years though, that desk job started to look like a safer bet.
So, maybe Zane and I weren’t here in an official capacity, but that didn’t mean that we weren’t working. Someone here knew more than they were letting on. I’d have bet my paycheck on it. I studied the reactions of the crowd of mourners, pushing my personal feelings aside. I had to keep it together and focus on my mission. A facial tic, scratching at an invisible itch—hell, even tilting the head a certain way could be a sign of guilt.
Most of the time, the suspect wasn’t even aware of it.
And if anyone here was going to find the man responsible for Grey’s death, it was going to be me.
Who better to take down an outlaw than a man who was raised by them?
Chapter One
1993, Age 11
“Michael!” The voice rang out and I immediately shrank down, trying to make myself even smaller. I knew she meant well, but there was no way I was going down there.
Hearing heavy footsteps on the stairs, I slid under my bed and up against the wall, cursing myself for not running away like I’d planned. It was stuffy in my room; the window unit had been on the fritz for the last week and sweat began to trickle down my back.
The motorcycle boots appeared in the doorway and I held my breath in fear. It was him. He’d beat me good when he found out that I was hiding from him. He stepped into the room and closed the door quietly behind him, leaving me confused. He didn’t do anything quietly.
The boots moved around to the side of my bed, each step sending small tremors of fear through my spine. He’d warned me about hiding from him.
“Face me like a man, Junior. I ain’t raising no pussy!”
The boots disappeared and a face appeared. It wasn’t him—I let out a loud exhale of relief before scrambling out from under the bed and into his arms, nearly knocking him over in the process.
“I got you, Mikey. It’s alright.” Grey patted my sweaty head and then tightened his grip around my small body. I liked him a lot. He always kept my dad in line when he was around. Mama said it was because he was the boss in Dad’s club and that no one in their right mind would go against him.
I straightened up in his arms. “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to hide from you.” Just because I liked him didn’t mean that he didn’t scare the crap out of
me. The man was a giant and when he looked at me, it was like he could see into my head and read my mind.
Grey released me and moved over to sit on the bed. “I understand that someone has a birthday today—is that right?”
I nodded. “Yes sir.”
He cracked a small smile. “Call me Grey, kid. Now, why don’t you open this up and tell me what you think.”
He tossed a small wrapped package into my hands and I tore into it. It was a Sega Game Gear—Luke, one of the kids on my bus had one and I spent almost every morning and afternoon, watching over his shoulder. I never imagined that I’d have one of my own.
“Thank you, s—Grey.”
He slapped a hand lightly against my shoulder, guiding me over to the door. “How about we head downstairs and get this party started? I think your mama might even have cake.”
I swallowed hard and stopped in my tracks. “Um, can I just stay up here? I could play my new game.”
Grey’s jaw tightened and I immediately flinched before forcing myself to stare him in the eyes like a man. He knelt down again. “Your dad’s working late tonight. I brought Celia and Kate with me though and I know they’d love to see you.”
I shrugged halfheartedly. “Kate’s only three…she’s pretty much still a baby. Did you bring anyone my age?”
He laughed and the booming sound of it brought a smile to my face. “Run on down, kid, and see for yourself.”
I took the stairs two at a time and rounded the corner to see Kate and Grey’s wife, Celia, along with a handful of my friends from school. My friends looked up in awe as Grey made his way down the stairs and I puffed up my chest in pride.
Sometimes, I pretended that Grey was my dad and tried to imagine how different my life would be. I bet my friends could come over every day; he didn’t seem like he’d care at all.
My mama was even smiling—she didn’t do that when my dad was around. She just kept her head down and tried to stay out of his way. It didn’t work though, she always messed something up and made him mad.
As my friends gathered around to see my Game Gear, I pushed thoughts of my dad away. This was the best birthday I’d ever had—I wasn’t going to waste it by thinking of him.
“I said get up.”
I blinked against the darkness and rolled over. “Grey?”
The mocking laughter I got in response was like a bucket of ice water being dumped on my head. “You think Grey’s showing up here in the middle of the night to take you somewhere? Get up, Junior.”
I quickly kicked the covers off and stood up. Maybe he wanted to wish me a happy birthday before morning. He tossed a shirt and some jeans over to me and I put them on without question.
He held a finger to his lips and I nodded before following him downstairs. We got out to his truck when he told me the real reason we were sneaking out. “You’re eleven now. It’s time you learned the ropes. You’re a man now.”
I don’t know what I expected, but him calling me a man filled me with pride. He didn’t see me as a scrawny kid anymore, but someone just like him. I knew this was going to be the best birthday ever. I’d stared in the mirror earlier, but I didn’t look any different than I did when I was ten. My dad must’ve seen something though.
I tried to contain my excitement as I buckled into the passenger seat, flexing my bicep as I did it.
We drove until the city lights gave way to darkness and the desert landscape became more rugged. My dad turned onto a dirt road and we descended into a canyon.
He parked the truck in front of an old motel straight out of a western. It was even named The Wagon Wheel, I guessed, although several letters had fallen off over the years leaving behind The ago eel.
I jumped out and walked over to where a group of motorcycles were parked only to be yanked backward.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Junior. You ain’t gonna just waltz in there. I need you to wait right here and keep your damn mouth shut.” He adjusted his leather vest before stepping around me.
I kicked a patch of gravel angrily once he went inside. If he really thought I was a man, he’d have brought me inside to meet his club—I recognized Grey’s bike down near the end. Maybe he was afraid I’d embarrass him like some child.
Two guys came around from the side of the motel and immediately caught me messing around near the bikes.
“What are you doing out here, kid?” One shouted as he caught me by the back of my t-shirt.
I tried to shake myself loose, but the guy had a death grip on me. “Let me go!” I yelled, before bringing my foot down on top of his boot.
I think he was more surprised than hurt, but he loosened his grip enough for me to escape. I bolted for the door before both men could catch me and was promptly met by a gun to my head.
“Well, well, well. You thinkin’ of patching in, kid?” The man in front of me grinned, his teeth stained almost black from years of smoking.
“You gonna step away from my boy or you need some help, Wolverine?” My dad kept his voice calm, but the threat was unmistakable.
Wolverine holstered his gun just as the two men from outside burst in. I probably would’ve lost my head had they barged in just a few seconds earlier. I clenched my shaking hands into fists, praying that no one noticed.
“I told you to wait outside—” My father began, only to be interrupted by Grey.
“Jesus Christ, Comedian—you brought the kid here?”
I puffed my chest up. “I’m a man now.” Somehow, my voice remained steady. Grey calling my dad ‘Comedian’ confused the heck out of me. My dad was the least funny person I knew.
Grey looked between me and my old man before answering, “You put him up to this?”
My dad shrugged. “This is where he’s gonna end up, Pres. It’s time he knows what his old man does. I don’t want him growing up thinking I’m a nobody.”
Grey shook his head. “He’s not staying—we’ve got club business to attend to and I don’t think anybody here is hurting for babysitting money. Get him out of here and get back so we can get started.”
I knew most people didn’t think much of me because I was smaller than most of the guys my age, but for whatever reason, Grey’s words hurt the most. A ball of fury settled in my chest and I didn’t even think before screaming, “Fuck you! I’m staying.”
The room went deathly quiet and my dad looked like he was on the verge of falling over in shock. I knew I’d messed up; nobody went against Grey.
Grey’s jaw was clenched tightly and he regarded me in silence for what seemed like an eternity. “You want to stay? Fine—stay. Get him upstairs in a room.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but something in Grey’s eyes stopped me. Instead, I followed Wolverine dutifully up the stairs and into a bedroom.
“Stay in here, kid. Don’t come out—no matter what you hear. Got it?” He crossed his massive arms across his chest and leaned against the door, clearly waiting for a response.
I tried to match his stance. “Yeah, I heard you. Don’t leave this room for any reason.” I gave him a thumb’s up and shuffled over to the bed.
Once the door closed, I began looking around for an escape route. Grey probably told the guys to guard the hallway, so I was going to have to find another way to see what was going on.
There was no way I could run away after what I’d done downstairs. I’d wanted to prove to Grey that I was man enough to hang out with these guys. Maybe if I joined in they’d all see that. I slid the window open and eyed the drop to the ground below. Without a second thought, I slid through the window and held onto the windowsill for a brief second before letting go.
My ankle rolled against the hard dirt and I bit down on my lip to keep from crying out. It wasn’t swelling and I could still move everything, so I figured it wasn’t broken. When I tried to stand up and put weight on it though, my foot refused to cooperate with me. I ended up hopping along the side of the house on my good leg, looking nothing like Robert “Scandal” Ja
ckson, Jr. from Cobra.
I wanted to be Scandal more than anything—the guy was unstoppable. He was an ex-Navy SEAL who could do martial arts. When my mom asked me what I was going to be when I grew up, I’d tell her that it was a tie between Scandal and Brisco County, Jr. Nobody would mess with me then.
Right now though, I resembled a flamingo with a broken leg as I hobbled around in the dark. Voices carried from the back of the motel and I pressed myself up against the building, trying to make myself invisible.
“Beast wants out, huh? After all the fucking things this club has done for him?” My dad’s voice boomed over the rest.
“It ain’t like that, Comedian. I can’t be running shit anymore—I got other plans for my life. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing when I patched in,” answered the voice that must’ve been Beast.
I crept closer until I could see them; then I quietly sank down onto my knees and wrapped my jacket tighter around my body.
Grey walked up until he was in between them. “Enough. You want out? Fine. You know the routine.” He placed a revolver in Beast’s hands and stepped back.
Beast’s hands were shaking, but he held the gun up to the side of his head. I could see the sweat running down his face. He was probably ten years older than me, but he looked like a scared little kid with that gun up against his head.
I cupped my hand over my mouth to quiet the sound of my breathing. I’d known that my dad was in a club, but I’d never seen any club that required members to kill themselves to get out. This kid, Randy, had a club a few blocks over and I was a member for a little while until I got bored. They never did anything but talk—I left after the fifth meeting and nobody made me do anything like what Beast was about to do.
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