Rite Of Passage

by Infante Bosco, Janine

  “Ashlynn, baby, c’mere.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “Daddy’s got to go back to Texas.”

  Her eyes widen and a smile stretches across her face.

  Fuck me.

  “Honey, I’m sorry but you need to stay here.”

  “But—”

  “I’m going for work,” I lie.

  “So, why can’t I stay with grandma?”

  Because your grandmother just got fucked over by the church.

  “You have school,” I say instead. “But maybe we’ll take another trip to see grandma this summer,” I quickly add.

  That’s if I can pull grandmas head out of her ass.

  Her eyes fill with water and that only ticks me off more. Bending down, I pull her into my arms and kiss her forehead.

  “Don’t be sad,” I tell her.

  “Who will watch me?”

  “I’m going to see if you can stay with Ally and Deuce for a few days, would you be okay with that?”

  “I guess.”

  “Alright, I’ll call her first thing in the morning,” I say, giving her another squeeze before pulling back. “Why don’t we finish our movie?”

  She doesn’t put up a fight and I carry her into the living room. Setting her down on the couch, I drop into the seat next to her and bring her close. I try to focus on the screen but my head races with all the grim possibilities. This is the last thing I need right now and it sure a fuck is the last thing my club needs.

  Speaking of which, I wonder how Wolf is going to react when I tell him I’m headed back to the Lonestar state. I wonder if his offer to call the Charon MC still stands. Lord knows I’m going to need the back up. Either way, something tells my president ain’t going to offer me a handful of Dum Dums.

  I’m lucky if I don’t catch his fist.

  Fucking hell.

  Chapter Eleven

  T he dreaded moment was here and like a pussy, I’m pacing in front of the chapel of the Satan’s Knights, rehearsing the speech I prepared to tell Wolf. Finally manning the fuck up, I knock on the door. A second later he bellows for me to enter and I’m struck stupid when I find Jack Parrish sitting at the head of the table and Wolf sitting at his left.

  “Did I miss something?” I question, looking between the two of them. “You two switching roles again or what?”

  A grunt escapes Wolf as Jack grins back at me.

  “Thinking about it,” Jack supplies.

  “No, we’re not. Quit busting balls Parrish before everyone starts thinking you’re making a comeback.”

  “Wouldn’t that be some shit.”

  “I’m all for it,” Wolf mutters. “Lord knows I’ve been itching to get away with Maria,” he adds, setting the meat mallet on top of the table. He nudges it towards Jack and lifts an eyebrow. “What’d ya say, old man? You ready to come out of retirement and take the reins on this fucking circus?”

  “Not my circus anymore, brother,” he quips. “I’m just a bystander.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “Speaking of vacations, I’m thinking of taking Reina to the Bahamas.”

  “Ah, fuck you, Parrish. Fuck you.”

  Chuckling, Jack leans forward and slaps Wolf on the shoulder.

  “Calm down, Wolf, I ain’t going anywhere anytime soon, not with Blackie in the mess he’s in. I can’t leave Lacey alone. I had you, though, didn’t I?”

  Knowing these two can throw jabs at one another for hours and I have a plane to catch, I clear my throat causing both sets of eyes to stare at me.

  “Sorry,” I mutter. “But I’m pressed for time and I need to speak with you,” I say, tipping my chin at Wolf.

  “Anything you gotta say to me, you know you can say in front of this clown,” he replies, jutting a thumb at Jack.

  “Okay,” I say, pulling out a chair. I take a seat and fold my arms on top of the table. The men stare at me expectantly as I try to remember a word of what I’d rehearsed. Of course, nothing comes to me.

  “Spit it out, Needles,” Jack orders.

  “I’ve gotta take off again,” I say, looking at Wolf.

  “Brother, you just got back. Where the fuck you going now?”

  “The Bahamas,” Jack quips. “All the kids are doing it these days.”

  “Shut up, Parrish,” Wolf barks before slicing his gaze back to me. “What’s going on Needles? You have unfinished business regarding the death of your old man?”

  “I got a call this morning from an old friend,” I start, pausing because the words sound funny coming out of my mouth. They leave a bitter taste too. Bess isn’t just an old friend—not anymore. She’s the fucking woman who rocked my world. Flipped it on its axis in a single night is what she did.

  “Does this story have a point?” Wolf questions, jolting my attention back to him.

  “A point? It barely has a beginning,” Parrish mutters.

  Ignoring the commentary from the peanut gallery, I continue.

  “My mother has gotten herself into some kind of trouble. I don’t have all the details because my source is breaching a confidentiality agreement, but it seems as though the church my mother is part of is screwing her. Well, at least the pastor is.”

  “Hold the phone,” Parrish interrupts, inching forward. “You mean to tell me your mother is banging a man of the cloth?”

  “What? No?”

  Shit, what if she is.

  Bess didn’t mention anything about my mother being in a relationship with this guy and it would be completely out of character for my mother to be having an affair with a man considering my father’s body is barely cold. Shaking the ridiculous notion from my head, I explain.

  “All Bess said was that she came across some legal documents that are sketchy. She thinks that the Pastor is pulling some sort of con on my mother by having her sign over her house to him.”

  “Why would your mother sign over the deed to this guy?” Wolf questions. “When you got back home from the funeral you told me things went better than expected.”

  At the time I might’ve been referring to Bess, but I don’t tell him that. I keep my mouth shut and let him continue with his rant.

  “She should be leaving that house to you and if not you, then Ashlynn. She can set it up as a trust.”

  “Right, which is why this is alarming. Not only did she sign over the house, but she also cut us both out of the will. Bess also said this guy is relatively new to town but already has a strong following. Something is off and I can’t deal with it if I’m here.”

  “Who’s this Bess?” Wolf asks.

  “An old friend. Her folks live next door to mine.”

  “An old friend my ass. You’re fucking her, aren’t you?” Parrish questions.

  “No.”

  “Liar.”

  “How’s he fucking her if he’s here and she’s there? Ain’t no man got a dick that long.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Parrish fires back. “Alright, so he’s not fucking her right now, but he definitely did. Bet she was all over you. Women eat that shit up. They love a broken man but a grieving one, forget about it! Shit, I bet she got down on her knees before you even left the cemetery.”

  “You’re a sick fuck, you know that?” Wolf sneers.

  “Touche,” he replies, turning his attention back to me. “You fucked her and you’re going back for seconds.”

  Jack Parrish is a very colorful man. Crass and fucking crazy. The last thing I want is to go head to head with him.

  “Yes and no,” I say exasperatedly before looking back at Wolf. “I know the timing isn’t ideal, but I’m going to need the club’s help.”

  Wolf quirks an eyebrow in response.

  “That goes without question, brother, I’m just not sure what we can do from here. I can’t send anyone with you. With this clown hanging up his leathers and Blackie in rehab, I don’t have any extra hands lying around.”

  “Call Scout,” Jack suggests. “He’s always down to play with the D
evil.”

  Considering the suggestion, Wolf looks at me.

  “That good with you? I’ll arrange for one of the Charon’s to grab you from the airport and take you back to their clubhouse. You’ll brief Scout and the Charons on the situation and if they can offer assistance to you, you take them back to Rocky Gully with you. At least then you ain’t riding solo.”

  “Appreciate it,” I reply with a nod.

  “What about Ashlynn?”

  “She’s going to stay with Ally and Deuce until I get back.”

  “That’s if you decide to come back,” Parrish pipes in.

  Before I can reply, Wolf turns around and smacks him upside the head.

  “Of course he’s going to come back, you jackass.”

  “He could send for the kid.”

  “I’m coming back,” I interrupt, clenching my jaw tightly. I really can’t be all that mad at Parrish’s assumptions. I don’t have the best track record when it comes to my daughter but I sure as fuck wouldn’t send for her. She’s not a fucking possession, she’s a child. An innocent child who I’m going to do right by. So what if I’m late to the game.

  “All I’m saying is he might have a change of heart. Who knows, this could be his rite of passage.”

  Rite of passage.

  He really is a fucking loon.

  “Ignore him,” Wolf says. “I’ll make the call. Nico is out front if you need a lift to the airport.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No thanks required, you just make sure you call me and keep me in the loop, you hear?”

  “Loud and clear, brother,” I say rising to my full height. Rounding the table, I offer him my hand. He shakes it with a strong grip and stands, pulling me against him. With a pat on my back he releases me, and I turn to Parrish.

  “Every story has room for a different ending, Needles.”

  Not this one, Parrish.

  Not this one.

  To Be Continued.

  Needles is headed to Texas and I’m handing over the reins to Khloe Wren.

  Read his full-length novel, Finding Needles and find out what happens when he crosses paths with the Charon MC.

  Turn the page for a sneak peek.

  FINDING NEEDLES

  Written by Khloe Wren

  Blurb:

  When Ryan “Needles” Perry left his hometown in Texas as a teenager, he’d had zero intentions of ever returning. But then he never would have guessed that after his father died, his mother would fall for a load of garbage that lands her in one hell of a mess that he needs to come home to clean up.

  Elizabeth “Bess” Brooks was Ryan’s closest friend growing up and when she finds out his mom is in trouble, she reaches out to tell him. She wants to see his mother safe and will do whatever she can to help, but she vows that it won’t include falling for his rough biker charms.

  Life hasn’t been kind to either of them in the nineteen years since they’ve seen each other and now they both have secrets that could tear them apart for good, or bond them together forever. But will they survive to find out?

  Copyright © Khloe Wren 2019

  Editing Credits:

  Editor: Carolyn Depew of Write Right

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the author.

  If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, please delete and purchase it legally. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Charon:

  Char·on ˈsher-ən, ˈker-ən, -än

  In Greek mythology, the Charon is the ferryman who takes the dead across either the river Styx or Acheron, depending on whether the soul’s destination is the Elysian Fields or Hades.

  Chapter 1

  Elizabeth

  Once upon a time, there was a young girl who believed she could break free from the small town where she lived. She left rural Texas behind for the bright lights of Miami, where she knew she could be something more. Where she knew her dreams could take flight and she could truly live.

  That girl had been so young. So full of hope. So damn naive.

  She should have known better.

  I should have known better.

  Because that girl was me.

  I should have remembered that dreams are just that. Figments of the imagination that tortured us with what we can never have. My nights were still filled with those fleeting thoughts. The hopes I’d once had. The only time I truly lived anymore was when I slept. It was while I was sleeping that I could pretend I’d never met James, never got enthralled by his charms, his fake smiles and lies. Could pretend that my drunken night last month with Ryan, one of my very few childhood friends, hadn’t completely screwed up our friendship just as we’d reconnected after over a decade of not having seen or spoken to each other.

  “Elizabeth?”

  My father’s tinny voice came through the old-school intercom he insisted on using, breaking through my momentary lapse into my past and back to the present. Where I was back in Rocky Gully, the small town I’d put so much effort into escaping, working as an admin for my father, the only lawyer in town.

  “Yes, sir?”

  Yeah, at work he was sir, not Dad. My father was all about image and professionalism. I had to wear appropriate outfits and behave as a good legal secretary should. I swear he thought he was practicing law in New York, not the middle of Nowhere, Texas. But whatever. After what happened I was happy to hide away here, where everything was familiar.

  “Can you pull Mrs. Perry’s file and her current Will from the safe and bring it in to me?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The irony of having my thoughts of Ryan interrupted by having to do work for his mother was not lost on me. I had been waiting for her to call in now that her husband had passed. It made sense she’d want new documentation drawn up.

  Knowing Dad would want the documents and file immediately, I flipped the phone over to the machine, stood and made my way to the back room where the safe was. Well, it was more of a secure room, rather than an actual safe. There were no windows, and every wall was lined with shelving that was mostly filled with a variety of documents all coded and in order. Because my dad was old-school and refused to allow me to put it on a computer, to find the documents was a process of going through the index cards by the door. All the little drawers filled with yellowing index cards always made me think of an old fashioned library. As did the smell. The air was heavy with the scent of old parchment. I took a deep breath of the scent I’d always loved as I went to the drawers to find the latest documents for Mrs. Perry. Dad had only asked for her Will but I was certain he’d want the power of attorney and other documentation he’d put together for her before her husband passed away last month. Much of my job was anticipating what Dad wanted but forgot to ask for.

  It seemed to be one of the few things I was good at. Noticing the small things and working out what people wanted, then giving it to them. And it was that same trait that had gotten my heart ripped from my chest in Miami. With a growl, I shook my head at myself. I couldn’t afford to let myself slip back to focusing on those memories. That led to dark days and darker nights where that damn black dog nipped at my heels. I’d already lost way too many years spending every ounce of my energy fighting my mind for my life. I did not want to go back there. Never again.

  Plastering a
smile on my face so my father wouldn’t see anything wrong, I forced all those dark thoughts aside. It had been nearly nine years since I’d moved back. I shouldn’t still be struggling so bad. Didn’t seem fair.

  With my head held high, I left the room, closing the fireproof door behind me before heading to my father’s office to get the file. Yep, the file he asked me to get was just out of his reach. Dear old Dad really was old-school. I was fairly certain a younger lawyer would just get up and get the damn file himself. It would be faster than intercoming me to come in and get it for him. I bit back a snort as I entered his office. Who was I kidding? A younger lawyer would use one of those fancy computerized file systems that my father refused to allow me to set up and wouldn’t have to get out of his chair for a damn thing. I guess I really should be grateful Dad let me use a computer to type up the documents and letters. I’m sure he’d prefer I use a typewriter, if I’d given him a choice in the matter.

  Once I had the file, I set everything neatly on his clean and dust-free desk. It was this massive timber thing with inlaid green leather on the top. It was excessive for a country lawyer, but I guess Dad had his dreams too, and like me, he’d gotten stuck in this small town, so he’d made do and tried to live his dream where he was. Couldn’t fault him for that. In fact, I rather envied him for it.

  “Is Mrs. Perry coming in? She’s not in the appointment book.”

  With a frown, my father shook his head as he scanned the documents. “No, I’m going to visit her at home this evening.”

  That had me frowning. I hadn’t actually seen her since her husband’s funeral last month, which had a wash of guilt chilling my skin. I’d spent a lot of time with her and Kenneth before he’d passed. He’d had a stroke and had been unwell for the longest time. Barbara was getting too old to be the full-time caretaker for her husband and their only son, Ryan, lived up in New York, so I helped out where I could. Then, after he passed, I kept helping her as much as I was able. Didn’t feel like enough, but she seemed to appreciate it. What happened between Ryan and me the night prior to the funeral had me unable to look her in the eye, so I’d avoided her. I realized how wrong that was, but I just wasn’t strong enough to face her after what he and I had done. If she’d known we’d gotten completely drunk off our asses and fallen into bed together she’d either start planning a wedding or tell my parents how they should disown me. Neither option was anything I wanted to be a part of.