by Wilder, L.
Secrets We Keep
Ruthless Sinners Book 3
L. Wilder
Secrets We Keep
Ruthless Sinners MC Series- Book 3
Copyright 2021
L. Wilder- All rights reserved.
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication or any part of this series may be reproduced without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Some of the places named in the book are actual places found in Texas and Tennessee. The names, characters, brands, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and owners of various products and locations referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication or use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.
Book Cover Details:
Cover Design: Mayhem Cover Creations
Image: Rafagcatala Photography
Model: Jorge Del Rio Romero
Editor: Lisa Cullinan
Proofreader: Rose Holub @ReadbyRose
Proofreader: Marie Peyton
Personal Assistant: Natalie Weston PA
Contents
Stay In Touch
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Excerpt from Holding On
1. Prologue
2. Chapter 1
Stay In Touch
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The Ruthless Sinners:
Ties That Bind (Ruthless Sinners Book 1)
Holding On (Ruthless Sinners Book 2)
Secrets We Keep (Ruthless Sinners Book 3)
Catch up with the entire Satan’s Fury MC Series today!
Summer Storm (Satan’s Fury MC Novella)
Maverick (Satan’s Fury MC #1)
Stitch (Satan’s Fury MC #2)
Cotton (Satan’s Fury MC #3)
Clutch (Satan’s Fury MC #4)
Smokey (Satan’s Fury MC #5)
Big (Satan’s Fury #6)
Two Bit (Satan’s Fury #7)
Diesel (Satan’s Fury #8)
Blaze (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 1)
Shadow (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 2)
Riggs (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 3)
Murphy (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 4)
Gunner (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 5)
Gus (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 6)
Rider (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 7)
Prospect (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 8)
T-Bone (Satan’s Fury MC- Memphis Book 9)
Day Three (What Bad Boys Do Book 1)
Damaged Goods- (The Redemption Series Book 1- Nitro)
Max’s Redemption (The Redemption Series Book 2- Max)
Inferno (Devil Chasers #1)
Smolder (Devil Chaser #2)
Ignite (Devil Chasers #3)
Consumed (Devil Chasers #4)
Combust (Devil Chasers #5)
My Temptation (The Happy Endings Collection #1)
Bring the Heat (The Happy Endings Collection #2)
His Promise (The Happy Endings Collection #3)
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Prologue
I was just sixteen years old when I saw them for the first time. I was in the doorway of my garage, helping my ol’ man patch a flat tire on my Kawasaki Vulcan. It was my first motorcycle, and while it was no Harley, I was proud to call it mine. Hell, I’d just about worn the damn wheels off it, which was why my father was outside giving me a hand.
He was busy griping about missing the big game when I heard the faint hum of motorcycles coming our way. Like a moth drawn to a flame, I stepped out of the garage and down the driveway in hopes of getting a better look. The low rumble quickly morphed into a thunderous roar as the bikes continued in my direction. I was beside myself. Every fiber of my being was vibrating with anticipation; in my gut, I knew something big was about to happen. I just had no idea what it was—only that my life was about to take on a new direction.
I ventured a little further down the driveway, and that’s when I finally saw them. There were at least twenty bikers, each wearing black leather jackets with Ruthless Sinners embroidered on the back. They rode side by side as they barreled down the road, power and confidence radiating off of them like nothing I’d ever seen. I wasn’t some sheltered kid who’d never seen bikers before, but I’d never seen so many so close. As I stood there in my driveway, I could actually feel the vibration of their engines rattling through my chest and was completely enthralled by the moment. I couldn’t move. I could only stand there with my eyes wide and my mouth gaping open. And then it happened. One of the bikers looked in my direction and gave me a quick nod, and when several others followed suit, my day was made. I was just a dumb kid who didn’t know much of anything, but one thing I was certain of: I wanted to be a Ruthless Sinner.
Over the next few years, I graduated high school and even took a couple of classes at a local community college, but I never forgot about that moment in my driveway. In fact, I thought about it all the time. I was beginning to worry my idea of joining the Ruthless Sinners was just some pipe dream until the day I’d bombed yet another calculus test.
I was in dire need of a drink, so I stopped off at Crockett’s, one of my usual hangouts, to grab a beer. Gladys, the bartender, was about eighty years old and southern as the day was long. She was never one to card, so I had no worries as I went up to the counter and sat down. Gladys hobbled over to me with a crooked-toothed smile and asked, “What’ll it be, son?”
“Just a Bud Light for now.”
“You got it.” She shuffled over to the cooler and grabbed a cold bottle, then brought it over to me. “There you go, Hun.”
“Thanks, Gladys.”
I opened the bottle and was just about to take a drink when I heard the front door open behind me. Seconds later, a man asked, “Did you card him?”
“Don’t start with me, boy.”
“Answer the question, Gran.”
“No,” she said with a huff, “but he’s in here all the time.”
“Don’t mean a damn thing.” The guy came up to the counter, and my chest tightened when I saw he was wearing a Ruthless Sinners
’ cut. “They’re gonna shut you down over shit like this.”
“Well then, I guess they’ll just have to shut me down,” Gladys picked up a rag and started wiping down the counter as she grumbled, “’cause ain’t nobody gonna tell me who I can and can’t sell to.”
“It’s the damn law, Gran.”
“Like you’re one to be talking about the damn law.’”
“You’re the most stubborn grandmother on the fucking planet, you know that?”
"Maybe, but I’m no more stubborn than you.”
“How am I being stubborn? I’m just trying to look out for you.” Ignoring her response, the guy glanced over at me and shook his head with a sigh. He didn’t seem to be much older than me, maybe a year or two at best, so I was surprised when he asked, “What are you ... seventeen? Eighteen?”
“Actually, I’m twenty.”
“No shit? Damn. You look younger.”
I shrugged. “Just have one of those faces, I guess.”
“Just so you know”—Gladys leaned over the counter—“he’s a college student. Taking him some classes down there at Nashville State.”
“Hmm.” The guy’s eyes narrowed as he asked, “That right?”
“Yeah.” I didn’t want him thinking I was some stuck-up college prick, so I quickly continued, “But I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna stick with it.”
“Why’s that?”
I wanted to tell him I’d always wanted to be a Sinner. Hell, it was sitting right there on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t make myself say the fucking words. “Just don’t think it’s for me.”
“That your Vulcan out front?”
“Yeah.” It was a solid bike. It had done me good over the past few years, but it wasn’t in the best shape. It needed a fresh coat of paint and a new seat. Hell, I was actually surprised he’d even noticed the damn thing. “Been looking to get a Harley, but I don’t have that kind of cash on me right now.”
“I get it. I had a Yamaha for years before I managed to get my Harley.” He studied me for a moment, then extended his hand. “Folks call me Country.”
“Nice to meet ya, Country.” I shook his hand. “I’m JR.”
“JR?” His brows furrowed. “You a junior or something?”
“Not exactly.” I wasn’t a fan of my full name and for good reason. It wasn’t exactly a popular name, and folks loved giving me hell about it. I grimaced as I admitted, “JR stands for Joshua Ralph. Didn’t much like either name, so I started going by JR.”
“Ralph, huh?” A smirk crossed his face. “Can’t say I blame ya for going with JR.”
“It is what it is.” I felt like a complete asshole. I’d finally gotten my chance to talk to a Sinner, and I’d done nothing but make a fool of myself. Feeling like a complete loser, I pushed my untouched beer over to the edge of the counter, then placed a ten down next to it. “Guess I best get going.”
“You don’t want your beer?”
“Nah. Not worth getting Gladys in trouble over.”
I stood up, and as I headed towards the door, Country called out to me, “Hey, where you rushing off to?”
“Nowhere in particular.”
“You interested in checking out the clubhouse?”
“Hell, yeah.”
A smirk crossed his face as he snickered, “I like your enthusiasm.”
“Yeah, well, it’s always been a dream of mine to prospect for the Sinners.”
“Is that right?” He strolled over to me as he continued, “Well, here’s your chance to check it out, and while we’re there, I can get you a couple of beers without either of us having to worry about Gladys getting shut down.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I’d actually gotten an invite to the clubhouse. Even though I had another class in an hour, there was no way in hell I was going to pass up my chance. Trying not to sound too eager, I gave him a casual nod and replied, “That would be awesome.”
He gave me a slap on the back, then walked out of the bar and into the parking lot. Seconds later, I was following him over to the Ruthless Sinners’ clubhouse. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I didn’t know what to think. My mind was racing like an explosion had just gone off in my brain. I took a few deep breaths, trying in vain to calm myself down. I needed to consider what I was doing, where I was going, but I was too keyed up to think about the danger I was putting myself in. When we pulled up to the gate at the clubhouse, I looked around in complete awe. The place was even better than I imagined, and as I followed Country through the guarded gate, a strange sensation washed over me. It could’ve been any number of things. Fear. Anticipation. Apprehension. Hope. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I liked it. I liked it a lot.
Once we were parked, Country gave me a quick nod, then led me inside. As we entered the bar, several of the members turned and watched my approach with fierce expressions. I should’ve been intimidated as hell. Instead, I felt like my dreams were finally coming true, and I was trying my damnedest to contain my excitement as we made it over to his brothers. All eyes were on me as Country announced, “I’d like you boys to meet a friend of mine. I think he’d make a hell of a prospect.”
It was really happening. I was actually getting my chance. I thought nothing could put a damper on the moment, but I was wrong. One of the brothers gave me the once over before asking, “This friend of yours got a name?”
Before I could answer, Country reached over and placed his arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side. “Yep. His name’s Ralph.”
Damn.
Country fucked me big time the day he’d told the guys my name, but he also had given me my in with the brothers and even volunteered to be my sponsor. Over the next year, I busted my ass trying to do whatever I could to prove I was an asset to the club—all the while listening to the guys call me Ralph at least a hundred times a day. In the end, it was all worth it. I’d gotten my patch, I’d become a Ruthless Sinner, and as an added bonus, the brothers finally stopped calling me Ralph and declared Rafe as my road name. I’d done what I’d set out to do, and life couldn’t be better.
Chapter 1
Rafe
“Damn, brother. You look like three shades of hell.” I walked behind the bar and grabbed a bottle of Tylenol off the counter. As I tossed it over to Lynch, I asked, “Have a long night?”
“Yeah, you could say that.” He groaned as he tossed back a couple of pain relievers and washed them down with his coffee. I wasn’t used to seeing Lynch look so rough. Normally, he was on top of his game, ready to face whatever came his way, but on this particular morning, he seemed to be struggling even to stay awake. He lowered his head in his hand and confessed, “I took Stacey home last night.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Um-hmm. Wasn’t sure she was all that interested in hooking up until we got over to her place.” He let out a deep breath, then shook his head. “Usually, she’s so quiet and sweet, but last night she was a fucking wildcat.”
“Gotta watch out for those quiet ones.”
“You’re telling me. She almost threw out my fucking back.” He looked up at me with tired eyes. “Not what I was expecting at all.”
Stacey was one of the strippers at Stilettos. She’d been working there for months but never really stuck around after her shift. She simply did her number, waited on her tables, and called it a night, so we all figured she had a fella or just wasn’t interested in hooking up with a brother. Lynch had just proven otherwise. I gave him a pat on the shoulder as I chuckled and said, “You could always give her another go and work out the kinks.”
“Fuck, no. I’ll just stick with the Tylenol for now.”
“Suit yourself.” I motioned my head towards the clock. “We’ve got church in five. Best be getting to the conference room.”
“Yeah, I know.” Sounding like a seventy-year-old man, he stood with an anguished groan and started for the door. “Let’s do this.”
Chuckling under my breath, I followed him down to the room.
When we walked in, most of the brothers were already there. Viper, the club’s president, was at the front of the table with Axel, our VP, sitting next to him. I headed to my usual spot and sat down between Country and Hawk while Lynch wandered over and took a seat next to Shotgun. After a few moments of idle small talk, Viper slammed the gavel to start the meeting. His voice was low and steady as he started, “During our last meeting, we were all in agreement that McKinney had redeemed himself after giving us the information we needed to take out the Punishers; in return, we voted not to take him out.”
“Yeah,” Widow replied, “and Shotgun sent him packing.”
“He did, but before he left, he gave Shotgun one last piece of information you all need to be aware of.” Viper turned to Shotgun. “You want to share what he told you?”
Shotgun was the Sinners’ enforcer. He was in charge of keeping the club out of harm’s way, not only by brute force but also by retrieving intel from our adversaries. Shotgun’s tactics were often ruthless, but they were effective. He’d never failed to acquire any information we needed, and it was no different when it came to dealing with the Punishers.
They were a local gang who’d recently tried to take down the club. They’d tied up with a local cop, and together they’d decided they didn’t like the fact their competition was selling a better product. With the cop’s help, they tried to set us up and make it look like we’d killed Remington—a chick who would later become Shotgun’s ol’ lady. They’d roughed her up, stabbed her, and tossed her into our dumpster at Stilettos. Their plan backfired when Shotgun managed to get his hands on two of their members. One got a bullet between the eyes, while the other, McKinney, had given us information that eventually brought down their entire fucking gang.