Sever (Deathstalkers MC Book 6)

by Alexis Noelle

  “Penny for your thoughts?” I look up to see Lucy.

  “How do you do it?” When she cocks her head, I elaborate. “Not care what they do. Knowing that it’s sometimes violent and most times not legal.” I rest my face in my hands, trying to work through this damn internal struggle.

  She pulls out a chair next to me, taking a seat, but her eyes are on Whip, who is at the bar with some of the other guys. One of them, I don’t know who he is, has just been telling a story and now they’re all cracking up laughing, slapping each other on the back and downing a beer. “You do it because you love him. You know that no matter what happened, that man would lay down his life for you.” I look back at her. “The club does those things, but usually there is always some sort of reasoning behind it. They aren’t killing innocent people, they are righting wrongs in the best way they can, aside from calling the cops.”

  I think that’s what confused me most. We hadn’t done anything wrong that day. Why not just call the cops? Lucy must see my thoughts on my face because she continues.

  “In this town, aside from the few who are friends with the club, the cops are out to get the boys. Any situation that can be manipulated, will be. I’ve seen it happened. I came from a home where I lived with a real monster. I can guarantee you not one of the brothers even comes close.”

  Whip turns to look straight at us. Lifting his hand, he calls Lucy to him with a twitch of his finger and she immediately stands up.

  That is a woman who loves her man, regardless.

  “What you need to figure out is do you love him enough to look the other way when you need to. Just do it before it’s too late.”

  She walks away and I know she’s right.

  I have a decision to make.

  Do I love him enough?

  When the front door opens and Ryder walks in, I know my answer.

  I do.

  My eyes to his as he crosses the room, I know I love this man with every inch of my soul. I’d lay down everything for him, the same way he would for me.

  I kiss him hard, needing him to feel everything I am.

  He pulls back a bit and looks at me. “What’s going on? Not that I’m complaining.”

  “Just realized that the risk is worth the reward.”

  He smirks. It’s a look I love on him because it reminds me of when we were teenagers. “Oh yeah? And what exactly is the reward?”

  “You.” I kiss him again and he pulls me closer, lifting me up so my legs wrap around his waist, and carries me out to his bike.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’m taking you home and rewarding you.”

  “I'm sure as hell not gonna fight you on that.” I kiss him once more before climbing onto the bike behind him, and as we pull out of the lot I decide that this is my new start.

  I need to leave all the hurt and the issues in the past so that I can enjoy my future.

  A future with Ryder.

  Stay tuned for the next installment in the Deathstalkers Series

  Havoc!

  Also turn the page for a sneak peek from some of my favorite authors!

  Risk And Reward

  By: Rachael Duncan

  Chapter 1

  A sigh passes my lips as I close my eyes and arch my back. Pleasure starts in my core, working its way up and down my body. Sweat forms on my brow and I moan out in need, desperate to get to the finish line.

  “Yes,” I say on a breath as a tingling sensation radiates out from my center, spreading over my whole body. With toes curled, I fist the sheets in one hand as I wait to crash over the edge. It’s a slow, steady buildup, causing my breath to hitch and my head to tilt back. My movements become more hurried and frantic as I chase after the high I know I’ll soon experience.

  I focus on the waves rippling through me as I’m consumed by my orgasm and block out the sound of my vibrator. Soon, the free fall stops, as does the constant humming and I’m brought back to reality. I look around the quiet room while on my empty bed—again—and let out a frustrated sigh.

  Sitting up, I roll out of bed and walk into the bathroom to get ready for the day. I’m running over to Lydia’s place for lunch later this afternoon. We met while in college and have been friends for several years now. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister.

  After I pull up my sandy blonde hair, throw on some mascara, and get dressed, I leave my room and head downstairs. At the bottom of the staircase sits one of my favorite memories encased in a frame on a small table. I pause to stare at it. Nate and I had just started dating and were at a bonfire with all my friends. Looking back, he seems so out of place, especially since he was seven years older, but it was never an issue. I wanted to go, and he wanted to make me happy.

  A small smile touches my lips as I stare at the couple I hardly recognize now. Neither of us knew the picture was being taken. With his arm draped over my shoulders and the warm light of the fire hitting our faces, we both gazed at each other like we were the only two people in the world. He thought I hung the moon, and I thought he had the ability to make time stand still.

  My smile fades as I set down the picture. I’m not sure why I’m reminiscing about the past. Maybe because I’m going to Lydia’s house in just a bit. She and her husband, Marcus, are the perfect couple and sometimes I’m envious. Don’t get me wrong; I’m beyond happy for her. There was a time I wasn’t sure she’d ever let go of her past hurt and open her heart up to someone else. But seeing them together makes the deficiencies in my own relationship glaringly obvious.

  My phone rings, startling me from my thoughts. Pulling it out of my back pocket, I see Nate’s name flash across the screen.

  “Hello?” I answer.

  “Hey, my love, I’m not going to be home tonight. I have to stay one more night here and I’ll fly home tomorrow, okay?”

  I should be used to this. Ever since he took the position as assistant athletic director at the university, our lives have been this way. Still, it doesn’t ease the dread that encompasses me when he calls me while he’s out of town, or the disappointment that settles in every time I have to spend another night at home alone. But, I do what I’ve always done. I put on a smile and say, “Okay, no problem.”

  “What’s on your agenda for the day?” he asks me.

  “I’m about to go to—”

  “Yeah, I’ll call him back now,” I hear Nate say to someone in the background, cutting me off in the process.

  My fake smile from moments ago turns into a thin line as I press my lips together. Like normal, he’s not even listening to a thing I say.

  “I hate to cut this short, but I’ve got to run,” he tells me.

  “Okay.”

  “Love you. Bye.” He doesn’t wait for a response before hanging up.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath to quiet the anger simmering inside of me. It’s not him being away that upsets me. Travel is a part of his job. I knew that going in. It’s his lack of attention and presence even when he is here.

  My head rolls back from side to side as I attempt to push away the frustrations building inside. Lydia always notices when I’m in an off mood. She’s not as easy to convince as our other two friends, Paige and Scarlett, and sees through the forced smile. Sometimes I can’t stand it. It’s easier to believe the lie yourself when you have those around you convinced. So on the drive to her house, I focus on the picture at the bottom of the stairs and pretend I’m still that twenty-one-year-old, love-struck girl who had a guy that made me the center of his world.

  ***

  “Hey! How’s the mom-to-be feeling today?” I ask as I give Lydia a big hug.

  She lets out a huff of air when we release each other. “Tired. I’m ready for this to be over and for the baby to be here already.”

  A small chuckle escapes before I say, “You’re only in your second trimester.”

  Her shoulders slump forward. “Don’t remind me.”

  We walk through the foyer and into the kitchen. She ha
s a seat on one of the barstools, so I sit next to her. She turns to me and looks around as if she’s trying to solve a riddle. “Did you bring food?” she asks.

  “Your favorite.” I reach into my bag and pull out some fried pickles.

  She snatches the bag from my hands before I have a second to set them down, causing me to laugh again. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?” she mumbles around a mouthful of food.

  “Maybe a time or two.” I shake my head at her in amusement. You’d think she hadn’t eaten in a week with the way she’s inhaling them.

  “Hey, how’s it going, Charlotte?” Marcus asks as he enters the room. With his tall, broad frame, light brown hair, and hazel eyes, he’s a very attractive man. Add in his sense of humor and it’s easy to see why Lydia fell for him.

  “Good,” I respond.

  He walks past me and leans down to give Lydia a kiss. When he pulls back, they’re caught in this moment and I feel like a voyeur. They stare lovingly into each other’s eyes. She has a small smile on her lips while he strokes her cheek with his thumb.

  “I’m going to run to the gym, do you need anything?” he asks her.

  She shakes her head. “No, I’m good. Charlotte brought food.”

  He grins. “I see. Okay, I’ll be back in a few then. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  He leans down again to kiss her goodbye with his hand on her stomach before he leaves.

  And there it is.

  The jealousy within is clawing at my insides, threatening to crack the small smile I have firmly in place as I watch their exchange. I am happy for her, but can’t help wanting that for my own life. To have my husband look at me the way Marcus does her. To start a family with the one I love.

  “You okay?” Lydia asks me.

  I snap back to reality and slip into my happy role. “Of course, I’m fine.”

  She tilts her head and arches her brow, and I know yet again she’s calling me out on my bullshit. “You know I’m not buying it, so you might as well spill.”

  I roll my eyes and let out a sigh. “It’s nothing really. Nate called and won’t be home until tomorrow.” I shrug. “It’s just the norm.”

  “You said you were going to leave him at my reception; that was three months ago. Are you guys trying to work it out?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. He hasn’t been home much, and I’m scared to do it.”

  Her eyebrows pull in. “Why?”

  “Because once I tell him I want a divorce, there’s no going back. You can’t unring that bell. Plus, a part of me is terrified he’ll be indifferent. What if he doesn’t really care? That would crush me.”

  “Who cares what his response might be? You have to do what’s right for you and your happiness.” I sit in silence and absorb her words. “Do you love him?”

  Her question catches me off guard for a moment. “I think I’ll always love him regardless of what happens in the future. But if it’s not reciprocated, what’s the point in staying?”

  “What about a separation or counseling?” she asks.

  “Half the time I feel like we are already separated, and there’s no way he’d go for counseling.”

  She gives me a sad smile and places her hand over mine. “I wish I had some advice for you, but you have to figure this one out for yourself. Just know that I’m always here for you, okay?”

  “I know.”

  And that’s the end of it. We move on to lighter topics, leaving this one behind, but it’s in the back of my mind taunting me. Because I know eventually, I’ll have to make one of the biggest decisions of my life, and I don’t know how I’m going to do it.

  If you enjoyed this book please consider leaving a review.

  Also check out other books by Alexis Noelle!

  All books can be read as standalones:

  The For Me Series

  Fall For Me

  Wait For Me

  Fight For Me

  Breaking Free

  All For Me Box Set

  The Shattered Series

  Shattered Innocence

  Shattered Lives

  Shattered Duet

  The Fractured Serials

  Fractured Volume One

  Fractured Volume Two

  Fractured Volume Three

  Fractured Box Set

  The Her Series

  Keeping Her

  Protecting Her

  Saving Her

  Claiming Her

  The Her Series Box Set

  Ground & Pound

  The Deathstalkers MC Series

  Corrupted

  Heinous

  Chaos

  Broken

  Mayhem

  Sever

  Deathstalkers MC Box Set Books 1-3

  Kiss My Crown

  Sexy Beginnings

  About The Author:

  I love reading romance books! I feel like being able to lose yourself in a book in one of the more exciting aspects. The books I love to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. You should have an opinion on every character in a book. Whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something.

  I live in Philadelphia Pennsylvania with my husband, and three kids. On top of starting a writing career I am a full time student, and a full time mom. I love spending time with my kids, although I have to hide the computer from them when I am writing! I love being active and being able to do any activity outdoors.

  I have always thought as an author the most important critic is your reader, so I would love to hear from you. If you read the book and loved it or hated it, tell me. As long as it is in a constructive way I will always answer and interact with you. I want fans to feel free to tell me what they want for the characters in the story and what they want to see happen.

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