by L. Wilder
“What is it?”
“Open it and see.” I tore the envelope open and found a picture of the baby’s ultrasound inside. As I looked down at it, August pointed down at the bottom of the picture and said, “We’re having a boy.”
“Well, how about that. I’m going to have a grandson.”
Gunner looked over to me and said, “We’ve decided to name him Tanner. That way, your family name will carry on with him.”
I had so much I wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come. I was too overcome with emotion. I could only stand there and stare at the picture of my soon-to-be grandson. After several moments, August reached over and hugged me. As she held me tight, she whispered, “You mean so much to both of us. Probably more than you realize.”
As I hugged her back, I replied, “Thank you. This is the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten.”
I was still hugging August when I felt a tug on my jeans. I released August, and when I looked down, I found Harper staring back up at me. As I knelt down and picked her up, she smiled and said, “Gammy said it’s time to eat.”
“Well, I guess we better get over there then.”
Gunner and August followed us over to the table, and once we sat down, everyone got busy making their plates. As I sat back and looked out at my family, I thought back to the days I started building Memphis chapter. I wasn’t just organizing another club. I was assembling a family, one that wasn’t defined simply by names or blood. I was choosing men who would value the brotherhood, committing their lives to one another and always remaining loyal, even when it wasn’t easy to do so. It wasn’t a simple task. There were days when I thought I would surely fail, but as I sat there looking at these men I called brother, I knew without a doubt I had succeeded. We were family, through and through, and I took pride in the fact that even after I was dead and gone, the Satan’s Fury legacy would still carry on without me. I had done my job, and I had done it well.
The End
A Note from L. Wilder
Thanks so much for reading Gus! I had planned on this book being a short novella that followed the excerpt used in the Love, Loyalty, and Mayhem anthology, but Gus demanded more. You will see more of Gus and Samantha in Rider’s book that will release later this fall.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out Gunner: Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis, there is a short excerpt after the acknowledgments.
Also, if you want to know more about Jasper, (Grady’s brother) be sure to check out Day Three: What Bad Boys Do which is already live on Amazon.
Day Three Blurb:
There's nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose.
The moment I saw Madison Brooks, I knew she was different from the others. She wasn't a hardened criminal with blood on her hands. She was innocent, untouched by my world, and undeniably beautiful.
I couldn't get her out of my head. I kept imagining what it would be like to hold her, touch her, and claim her as mine.
On day three, I found myself questioning whether or not I could complete the assignment. In fact, I found myself questioning everything.
Also coming soon!
For those of you who’ve been asking about Grady, his book will release later this winter and will include more about Gabriella! You won’t want to miss it!
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter for updates on releases and chances to win giveaways. Here’s the link: http://eepurl.com/dvSpW5
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Acknowledgments
I am blessed to have so many wonderful people who are willing to give their time and effort to making my books the best they can be. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to breathe life into my characters and share their stories with you. To the people I’ve listed below and so many others, I want to say thank you for taking this journey with me. Your support means the world to me, and I truly mean it when I say appreciate everything you do. I love you all!
PA: Natalie Weston
Editing/Proofing: Lisa Cullinan- editor, Rose Holub- Proofer, Honey Palomino- Proofer
Promoting: Amy Jones, Veronica Ines Garcia, Neringa Neringiukas, Whynter M. Raven, Heather Hungate-Brown, Stracey Charran Ishwar
BETAS/Early Readers: Kaci Stewart, Tanya Skaggs, Jo Lynn, and Jessey Elliott
Street Team: All the wonderful members of Wilder’s Women (You rock!)
Best Friend and biggest supporter: My mother (Love you to the moon and back.)
A short excerpt of Gunner: Satan’s Fury MC-Memphis Book 5 is included in the following pages. Blaze, Shadow, Riggs, and Murphy are also included in this Memphis series. You can find each of them on Amazon, and they are free with KU.
Excerpt from Gunner: Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis
Prologue
When I joined the Marines, I didn’t have any preconceived notions about being in the military and going to war. I’d seen and heard enough to know it wasn’t going to be easy—far from it. It was one of the hardest, but greatest, things I’d ever done. I worked my ass off, fought for my country, and learned just how far I could be pushed without breaking. But it came at a price. Every waking moment I’d wondered if my time was about to run out, if I’d seen my last sunset or had lain my head down on my pack for the very last time. Even if I’d managed to survive long enough to see the sunrise the next morning, there’d been little consolation in knowing I’d just have to go through that same hell all over again.
I thought I’d find peace once I was finally back in the States with my family and friends and able to sleep in my own bed or walk down the street without feeling like I was under a constant threat—but I’d been wrong. I never realized just how wrong until a shotgun wound forced me to go home.
When I got off the plane, I found my mother waiting for me at the gate. As expected, she was alone and still wearing her green Food and More grocery smock. Her tired eyes filled with tears the second she spotted me walking in her direction. “Cade!” she called, rushing towards me with her arms opened wide.
She was just about to reach for me when she suddenly stopped and looked down at my arm. After getting shot in the shoulder, I had to have reconstructive surgery, which meant wearing a sling for the next couple of months. “I’m okay, Mom.”
She eased up on her tiptoes and carefully wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me one of her famous mom hugs. Damn. I was a grown man, and her hugs still got to me the same way they did when I was a kid. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you, sweetheart.”
“Good to see you too.”
“I’ve been worried sick about you. Your father has too.”
“I know.” I gave her a quick squeeze, then said, “I’m sorry I worried you.”
“I’m just glad you’re home where we can take care of you.” She gave me a little pat as she stepped back and smiled. “Have to fatten you up a bit.”
I was six-four and weighed about two hundred and forty pounds. Before I was shot, I worked out every day and knew what condition I was in. I glanced down at myself and told her, “I’m not exactly skin and bones here, Mom.”
“Well, you look like you’ve lost weight to me … and you’re a little peeked.”
“Yeah, well … you’d look a little peeked too if you’d just spent the last sixteen hours on an airplane.” Before she could respond, I added, “Let me grab my bag, and then we can get out of here.”
As she followed me over to the baggage claim area, she explained, “Your father wanted to come tonight, but you know how he is around crowds. We both figured it would be easier if he just waited at the house for us.”
My father was a brilliant man. There wasn’t a mathematical problem he couldn’t figure out, which made him one of the best accountants in town. But he’d always been a little different. He wasn’t a fan of crowds or loud noises. He’d fixate on things from historical facts to the changes in weather, obsessing on every detail, and he wasn’t exactly big on showing affection—except for when
he was with my mother. He’d always been different with her—touching her, holding her hand, and even hugging her. I’d always hoped that some of that would rub off on me, but it never did. “It’s fine, Mom. I wasn’t expecting him to be here.”
“Well, he’s really looking forward to seeing you.”
Even though I knew that wasn’t true, I replied, “I’m looking forward to seeing him too.”
“Oh, and Brooklyn should be home by the time we get there.”
As I lifted my duffle-bag off the conveyer belt, I asked, “She been making it okay?”
“You know your sister … she’s always on the go.” Mom shrugged. “But I guess that’s a good thing. It keeps her out of trouble.”
We headed outside to the parking garage, and once we got to Mom’s car, she popped the trunk and I tossed my bag inside. I slammed it shut and then we both got in the car and started home. We hadn’t been driving long when I heard her let out a deep sigh. I glanced over at her, and even in the dark, I could see the dark circles under her eyes. “Have you been working double shifts again?”
“No … it’s just been a long week.”
“Why’s that?”
“Let’s not talk about that right now,” she interrupted, then quickly changed the subject. “I’ve got your room all ready for you and got your rehab appointments all lined up. CJ and Dalton are planning to come by and see you once you get settled.”
“That’d be cool.”
It had been years since I’d seen my best friends from high school. We’d all gone our separate ways, so I was surprised when she said, “Did you know that CJ and his girlfriend, Adeline, are expecting?”
“Hadn’t heard that.”
“I don’t think it was something they were planning, but … you know how those things go.”
Mom continued to ramble on about all the latest gossip in town until we pulled up in the driveway. As soon as she’d parked, I got out, grabbed my bag, and followed her up to the front door. She motioned for me to go inside as she said, “You get settled, and I’ll go start dinner. I’m making pork chops and mashed potatoes.”
“Okay, sounds good.” When I walked into the living room, I found Dad sitting in his recliner with his TV tray in front of him. He was studying one of his patches through a magnifying glass, something I’d seen him do a thousand times before. It was a hobby that started when he was a kid. In hopes of helping him make friends, his folks had signed him up for the Boy Scouts. While their plan for him to make friends didn’t pan out, he did gain an interest in patches. That interest turned into an obsession—an obsession that carried over into his adulthood. He didn’t even look up when I walked over to him. “Hey, Pop. How’s it going?”
“Good.”
I swallowed back the feeling of rejection that was creeping up inside of me and tried once again to get his attention. “You get some new patches?”
“Um-hmm.” Without turning to look at me, he held up the long, narrow patch and said, “It’s an Unteroffiziervorschule cuff title.”
“I got no idea what that is, Pop.”
Like he was reading straight from the encyclopedia, he spouted off, “Unteroffiziervorschule is German for NCO Preparatory School. The German military created the school to train lower ranks in leadership and initiative. Their students eventually became commissioned officers.”
“Wow, that’s really something.”
“Also found a set of World War II German rural police collar tabs.
“Oh, really?” There was a time when it bothered me that my father showed me little to no attention, but as I grew older, I realized that it wasn’t his fault. My father had Asperger’s Syndrome. I had no choice but to accept the fact that he’d never be the kind of father I hoped he would be. “Are those good ones?”
Like a child, he brought it close to his body, protecting it as he answered, “Yes. Very good.”
“That’s great, Pop.” As I started towards my room, I told him, “I’m gonna go get settled in.” Without replying, he turned his attention back to his magnifying glass, and just like always, it was like I’d never been in the room.
I went upstairs to my room and lay across the bed. As I stared up at my old Bon Jovi poster, I was surprised by how different it felt to be here. Everything was exactly the way I’d left it, but for some reason, everything in the whole fucking house seemed different. What had once felt like home was now completely foreign to me.
Over the next few days that feeling had only grown stronger. When my buddies from high school had come by to see me, it was like they were complete strangers. After the first few minutes, the conversations became forced and awkward. I couldn’t even talk to my mother and sister. It was like I was stuck inside my head and couldn’t find the right words to say to anyone. I’d told myself it would pass, that things would get back to normal eventually, but they didn’t. With each new day, things only seemed to get be getting worse. Hell, even the shit with my father was fucking with my head. He’d never talked to me or showed that he gave a damn about me, and I’d adapted to that. I’d stopped hoping that things would change, but I could feel the resentment building inside of me, making me feel like I was going to explode at any minute. I just couldn’t take it. I needed to get the fuck out of that house and out of my head, or I was going to lose my mind. I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs. Just as I was about to walk out the front door, Mom called out to me, “Cade? Wait! Where are you going?”
“I’m going out.”
“Again?” Confusion crossed her face. “Is something wrong?”
“No, Mom. I’m just—”
She gave me one of her looks as she interrupted, “You’re just what, Cade?”
“I can’t do this anymore. It’s just too much.”
“What are you talking about? What’s too much?”
“Everything. This house. This town.” I let out an aggravated breath as I grumbled, “Dad.”
“I know it’s not easy coming home after all you’ve been through, but we love you, sweetheart. We like having you here with us.”
“Why do you keep saying we?” I huffed. “Dad could care less if I’m alive or dead.”
“That’s not true, Cade. Your father loves you.”
I shook my head as I argued, “Yeah, right. He’s never once given me a second thought, and you damn well know it.”
“Come with me. I want to show you something.” She walked into my dad’s office and over to the glass case where he kept his prized patches. As she opened the top latch, she explained, “A few days after you left for training, your father started a new collection.”
I glanced down at the case and my chest tightened as soon as I saw it was lined with various Marine Corp patches, from the seal and crest to old veteran patches. “There’s so many of them.”
“I know, honey. He might not be good at showing it, but you’ve been on his mind every day.”
I could feel the emotion building inside of me as I muttered, “I didn’t know.”
“I know.” Mom had always understood my father in a way I never could. As far as I could tell, my father had never given me a second thought, but as she stood there staring down at those patches, she seemed to think otherwise. She slipped her arm around my back, doing her best to reassure me as she said, “That’s why I wanted you to see this.”
It meant a lot to me to see those patches, to know that I’d crossed my father’s mind. That realization made me feel like the walls were closing in on me. I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get some air before I totally lost it. I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
I rushed out of the house, got in my truck, and cranked the engine. There was only one place for me to escape the thoughts that were rushing through my head—Danver’s Pub. When I walked in, it looked exactly how it did five years ago. They were even playing the same damn songs on the jukebox, but I didn’t give a rat’s ass about the music or the décor. I needed a fucking drink. Hell, I neede
d a slew of them. I went over to the counter, placed my order for three shots of chilled vodka, and downed them one right after the other. I ordered three more, immediately knocking them down, and was about to order three more when a man came over and sat down next to me. I took a quick glance at him and an uneasy feeling washed over me when I saw that he was wearing a Satan’s Fury cut. Their MC was known for being a group of badasses who didn’t take shit from anyone, and from the looks of the patch he was sporting, this guy next to me was the biggest badass of them all. He was a big guy, maybe in his late forties, but he was fit and looked like he could hold his own and then some. He called the bartender over and said, “Bring us another round.”
The bartender nodded, then placed six shot glasses on the counter, quickly filling them to the brim. “Anything else?”
“For now, … just keep my tab running.” He lifted one of the shot glasses and asked, “You got a name, kid?”
“Cade.”
“Couldn’t help but notice the military cut. You in the service?”
“I was.” I ran my hand over the top of my head as I replied, “I just got back a few days ago.”
“Well, here’s to you, Cade. Thanks for your service.” He motioned his hand towards my round of shots and waited for me to lift mine, and then we both threw them back. “So, you got plans to go back?”
“Nah. Pretty sure that chapter of my life has closed. My shoulder guaranteed that.”
“What’s up with your shoulder?”
“Bullet fucked up my rotator cuff.”
“Damn.” He shook his head as he reached for another shot. “That’s a tough one, but you’re young, you’ll be back like new before you know it.”