by K. J. Dahlen
Blood Convenant
BLACK DEVILS MC
BOOK FOUR
K.J. Dahlen
&
J.R. Ryder
ARC
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, businesses and incidents are from the author’s imagination, or they are used fictitiously and are definitely fictionalized. Any trademarks or pictures herein are not authorized by the trademark owners and do not in any way mean the work is sponsored by or associated with the trademark owners. Any trademarks or pictures used are specifically in a descriptive capacity.
Jaxson- Blood Convenant
BLACK DEVILS MC
Book Four
Copyright © K.J. Dahlen & J.R. Ryder 2018
Edited By: Leanore Elliott
Book Design & Formatting: Wicked Muse
Cover Art Provided By: Book Cover Luv
New Blood. Fresh Threats.
I chose this road of hell, I take it my stride.
But keeping her out of trouble is when I really come alive.
Jaxson…
She shook my world. I threw danger in her path.
Nobody’s hurt her like I’ve hurt her.
And it weighs down on my soul.
She’s done things she can never forget…
Secrets she’ll carry to the grave.
Still, my heart refuses to let her go.
I vowed to make her mine - and I will.
All of my bones, they scream destiny got it wrong.
They know my world will hurt her again.
She’s the strongest woman I know.
Strength reflected in her beautiful eyes.
I tell myself in every way I’ll cause her no harm.
But there’s trouble on the horizon.
With a personal battle to fight,
My own mother plots against the club I love.
But is our greatest threat from within the club?
Augmenting our MC with new members,
There’s a new kid on the block.
An up-and-coming prospect.
Who has a dangerous secret…
Whatever happens, I won’t let my girl be left behind.
She’ll take my name and we’ll be one. Forever.
Chloe’s already been forced to the edge of her moral capacity. And my competency as President is about to be tested by the insurgence of an unknown, powerful threat.
As change sweeps through the Black Devils MC, will my promises to Chloe break at the seams? Will mine and Chloe’s love come apart as we learn that the consequences of love can be cruel and unforeseen?
The Story of Jaxson…
Bruno De Luca felt proud of his son, Jaxon. He’d conquered death and made it back to be president of the Black Devils. Bruno couldn’t feel more grateful that his son was running his old club.
As a teen, Jason, now known as Jaxson had a troubled childhood. When he started jacking cars, his mother nearly had enough of his wild ways. One carjacking was a horrific mistake as he had accidently stole a police Captain’s personal car. On the run from being busted a third time in as many months, he hightailed it into a huge warehouse parking lot.
That’s where Bruno first laid eyes on the kid.
He’d done a stupid thing, well two things: He stole the wrong car and then tried to hide in the wrong fucking lot. My Lot.
Bruno smiled as he remembered the 16 years old ducking down in the driver’s seat as he faced the barrel of Bruno’s gun. He’d felt some kind of kinship, like this would be the kind of daring thing he himself woulda pulled off at that age. The only difference would be was that Bruno would’ve had a backup plan. Not gotten caught like that.
Bruno paid off the cops and sent them on their way then took young Jason under his wing, and promptly dubbed him Jax, or Jaxson as he liked to jack cars. Well, Bruno put an end to that. No more grand thefts. He put him to work for the MC and watched him grow. He’d molded the kid. But then because of his affiliation with Bruno, Jaxson’s mother just up and left one day, disowning him.
Jaxson mostly stayed out of trouble after that, yet he held secrets. Secrets that Bruno was already aware of. Bruno had him start out as a prospect just like everyone else. Over the years, the kid had proved himself over and over again. He not only got patched in and made his cut, he then proceeded to earn his way up in the club.
Yes, Jaxson had done some things that he kept to himself and handled them as best as he could. Like thinking he’d killed Dagger for all those years. Still, he didn’t run, he simply tried to make it up to Dagger’s family while keeping that awful secret to himself.
Then as the kid grew, Bruno felt a bond with him, one he didn’t even have with his own biological son.
Now all this time later, he’d found out why. He was indeed his true biological dad. It had been the best news Bruno had ever received, even though the woman who’d kept that secret was none other than the Viper, one of the deadliest cartel members living and also Jaxson’s mother.
Jaxson seemed to have a surprising sense of wrong and right, he believed in honor and loyalty to his brothers in the MC, this had been enough to show Bruno what kind of man he’d become. Now, Jaxson was the President of the family club, the club that was made in honor of Bruno’s departed brother, Charlie. And he’d been fully voted in by his brothers.
Jaxson had several things to face yet, however. Bruno got a sense that more trouble was headed their way, but he felt confident his son would meet them all… head on.
Prologue
Cold water jolted me awake. I sputtered and struggled against the bonds that held me tight. My body temperature had plummeted. My teeth chattered and my body shook. I blinked, but the moisture wouldn’t come to my eyes. I hadn’t had a drink of water in hours. I attempted to focus on my surroundings. Anything I learn might help later on. I’d been in and out for a while.
It became hard to try to pinpoint how long I’d been here in this dark, damp room, tortured. I already know why they were doing it. I just gotta pretend I don’t. I took her and they wanted her back.
The only light source was the row of small windows that sat high on the wall and the light bulb that hung above my head. It was a scare tactic I knew well.
“Time to wake up.”
I spat at the oaf’s feet.
He was meaty. Large, bulky, and ruddy-faced. His dark eyes, danced with joy at the pain he was inflicting. I knew the type. They existed in every organization and did the dirty work that turned everyone else’s stomach.
“You miss me that much?” I asked.
His fist kissed my cheek.
My head snapped back. Pain exploded on the left side of my face.
“I can’t wait to break you down.” He growled.
I ignored the swelling, threw my head back and laughed.
He grabbed my face. “You will show some respect.”
His breath was hot and putrid. I controlled my gag reflex. I jerked away from his hold. “Am I still unconscious, or are you the one dreaming? Cause I could never respect a fat fuck like you.”
He delivered a punishing blow to my already bruised side.
I cried out. My body was now a map of tender places, bloodied, and ripe. Torture wasn’t the bullshit you see in movies. There were no potty breaks or dramatic pauses. It was about being pounded down, and mentally fractured until you’re willing to tell them whatever they wanted to stop the pain. If I had a clue, I might’ve been half-tempted to spill my guts. But I took family serious, and snitch wasn’t in my vocabulary. Look where that got you the last time. The past hurt me more than this fucker ever could.
“Real funny, Thunder. Did you think we’d never find you Dino?” He grabbed my hair and forced my head back. “Just because you slunk away like a puppy with its tail between his legs, doesn’t mean it changes what happened with us.”
“I don’t know anything,” I said.
“You know organizations such as ours don’t leave loose ends.” He tisked. “You took Vicindi down and we don’t tolerate shit such as that.”
“I don’t know your face, so you have to be new and probably not that important if you’re here alone to clean up their messes.”
“Things have changed. This is the new generation of family business. You know shit.”
My mind instantly went to Bruno and Jax as I knew they were in danger now if I was here, wherever here was. “Sounds like a pussy generation since I’m still breathing.”
“There’s a little matter of a girl. We want her back. You had no business getting into our business, asshole.”
“Fuck you.” I spat in his face.
The spittle slipped down his cheek, and he grinned. It was a maniacal type grin, like the one on that clown’s face in the horror film. Rows of twisted teeth, spittle gleaming from them.
This freak wore the manic expression of death and doom and it frightened me more than anything else he’d done. In torture it was always what they were about to do to you, not what they’d inflicted already.
“I didn’t expect you to talk. But we have your cellphone and we can track her with that. It’s a matter of time. We’re going to end this once and for all.”
I flexed my hands and wrists, ignoring the way the rope bit into my flesh. I had to get out of here. I’d promised my brothers and Bruno I’d always keep my mouth shut and I’d be damned if I failed them or the girls.
“I don’t hear you flapping your gums now, pretty boy.”
I narrowed my eyes. I was going to step over his dead body when I leave here. You aren’t born into the MC life without learning how to take care of yourself, and anyone who got in your way.
“Funny, they told me to be careful with you. That you learned from the best. That DeLuca fuck. Your prez and him, we’ll get them too. We caught you unaware, tossed you in the trunk and you’ve done nothing but take it like a bitch. You smell like piss and shit, and I’m going to enjoy watching something in you die.”
I chomped down on my cheek and held back the words forming on the tip of my tongue. Talk was cheap and it wouldn’t help me. I wanted him to think he’d gotten the best of me. It’ll make my chance at escape easier. He wasn’t alone. They’d taken shifts working me over. “You’ll find we Devils aren’t so easy to kill,” I whispered.
He laughed. “A fighter. Good, it’ll make my victory more enjoyable.”
“You know what they say about over confidence? It makes you sloppy.” I’m rattled, but he couldn’t know that.
“I’m touched; you’re so worried about me.” He placed his foot on my chair and shoved me away.
I slammed back into the wall.
“Now let’s see if we can loosen that tongue.” He stalked over to a gray three-tiered tool box.
My mouth went dry.
He pulled out a drawer. Metal bounced off metal. Items shifted in the drawer. “I got something special for you.” He picked up a drill.
Chills ran down my body. They’d been toying with me all day, gearing up for this. The ropes give, but not enough.
He pressed the trigger and walked towards me.
The whirring sent terror swirling through me.
“Let’s see how much you have to say after this, Devil.”
His steps echoed and my vision distorted. Sweat rolled into my eyes. The drill burrowed through my flesh and into my bone, ripping and destroying. I screamed until the black took me under.
CHAPTER ONE
Jaxson
I watched my men as they unloaded the shipment. This was one of the big ones. I’d learned the hard way to not leave until all of it had been put into the trucks and hauled away to the buyers with an escort. I’d fucked up once and won’t take the chance again. My memory wandered to the time I learned this painful lesson. My brother Anthony, well… my half brother and Bruno’s son, had attacked me right here on these very docks and tried to end me, after he’d arranged for the shipment to be hijacked.
All these years, I could never figure out why the guy hated me, yes there was jealousy but that would’ve been normal. No, this was hatred down to his soul. He’d tried more than once to get me.
Then, the crazy fuck had been out there loose. After he should’ve been dead and six feet under. How the hell had that happened? The cocksucker just wouldn’t die. Until the worst thing happened. It had been Chloe that had put him down for good. This haunted me to no end. I’d wanted to shelter her, keep her safe and not have her tainted by my world. Then what happened? She had to gun down a cold blooded killer. Thinking she needed to protect me. Now, wasn’t that some shit? Her protecting me. But dammit, she had done it. Put the man down. I should’ve done it before myself and I’d regretted a few times not doing it. At the time, I just couldn’t kill one of the brothers even if he were that snake Anthony. Bruno had often said….
‘Never leave the man standing if it means your life. Put em down and make sure they don’t get up again.’
I should’ve listened to the old man. He knew from years of having enemies.
The thought of a traitor in the club still ate at me though. Someone had helped Anthony get away in the first damn place, after he should’ve been dead, not once but twice. Someone in the club…one of my own brothers. I sighed as I nodded at the boat captain and watched the last truck get loaded. I felt so fucking tired of looking over my shoulder…literally. And I sure as hell wasn’t going to let anyone do me like Jumper had. Literally, shot in the back.
At least that fucker got what he had coming. And it had been Bruno that’d done it. Dino had told me the entire thing and I would never forget it.
“In a quick, cutting movement, Bruno took aim, and pulled the trigger on a gun I hadn’t seen before. That damn glock’s semi-automatic action kicked in, spitting spent shells into the air like metal coins pinging. Five bullets hit Jumper. Streams of blood escaped from the sudden dime sized holes in his head. Jumper didn’t flinch, he couldn’t. His eyes glazed over and his body lay splayed out on the floor. The majority of gunshots had hit him in the forehead. I couldn’t stop looking at him, man. I know it sounds horrible, but I moved close to him and took aim, shooting him in the back. It was pointless, I know it, but I didn’t fucking care. I got him where he’d gotten you. And Jax… I was fucking glad he was finally gone. I’d wanted to kill him myself, but Bruno wouldn’t let me, he’d said he had to do it and he did. You never have to worry about that fucker again.”
Clenching my fists, I thought of Dino or better known as Thunder. Yeah, he’d wanted vengeance for me and my girl. No one could ask for a more loyal friend. The DA was truly intending to string him up for a murder he never committed. I had been after Bruno and Marco to get him off those charges and they’d been telling me they were trying, but dammit, they were going to court with it soon. Thunder was innocent of this and we needed to help him. The man’s my best friend if truth be told, and the only man I ever trusted to watch over Chloe, when I couldn’t be there.
Chloe.
I thought of her and as always, I got rock hard. My insides would burn like I’d swallowed fire. Fire is what we had between us and it hadn’t diminished at all. I needed her to be able to breathe, to be able to go on. When I was under for that week in a coma, I could swear she was there with me. Oh, I know she was at my bedside but that wasn’t what I mean. She was with me inside. Her voice urging me to fight. To hang on. And I did just that.
A month ago, she’d gotten a job as an accountant in one of Bruno’s legit business, only she didn’t know Bruno owned it. No one did except me, Marco and Bruno and it would stay that way. It had to, as it was part of Bruno’s untold secrets of which he had many. He had
enemies and they needed to be in the dark about the De Luca holdings.
It hadn’t been on purpose that I had to hide this from her, she herself had put in an application there. And she’d been hired. All excited about her new job, she’d told me right away. At the time, I had paused when she made the happy announcement and I knew I’d heard of the business but couldn’t recall it exactly. Then 2 days later Marco informed me in passing, that she was working there and that Bruno owned the place.
Chloe had just seemed so happy that I hadn’t had the heart to tell her. She harbored great resentment against Bruno. Blamed him for having me there in that lot in the first place where Jumper tried to end me. I was aware of this. It was a subject we never got into, as it would cause strife. Hell, all I wanted to do was love her and take care of her, not fight with her. So, I kept my mouth shut. I only hoped when she did find out that she wouldn’t be super pissed. Dammit, I hated to keep anything from her. Well, anything to do with her.
Shit, there was a bunch of things I could never share with her, as it was just part of the world I moved in. The world of an MC. Like the fact that we now had to watch out for the Viper and the cartel as they would sometime get their vengeance. This was a fact Bruno had cemented to the club. The cartel wasn’t an organization to take lightly. Although, they had become scarce recently. None of my guys had spotted any of them in months. Still, it didn’t mean they weren’t planning something.
I pushed the thought away. Fuck, I had so many things to watch over. But I couldn’t let my past experiences interfere with the club. I watched as the last truckload of whiskey drove away along with two of the brothers riding escort. I looked around for a moment as I got on my bike and roared down the dock way.
Then it happened.
Just like it happened often in the last 5 months. Whenever I first got on my cycle, I would feel my body clench. A cold sweat would break out all over my skin. My subconscious was looking for the bullet in my back. I know it’s just some PTSD shit, but I’d had no luck in making it stop.