Zane (Reapers MC Book 11)
Page 1
Zane
Reapers MC Book 11
Elizabeth Knox
Contents
Available Now
Coming Soon
Acknowledgments
Playlist
Gone But Never Forgotten:
Billings, Montana Charter
Las Vegas, Nevada Charter
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
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Zane
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Zane. Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Knox. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information contact E. Knox.
https://www.facebook.com/elizabethknoxbooks
Cover design: Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations
Editing: Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing
Proofreading: Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing
Formatting: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing
Photographer: Jean Woodfin
Models: Robert Kelly & Kodi Kristoffersen
Created with Vellum
Available Now
By: Elizabeth Knox
Series: Skulls Renegade
Reign
Redemption
Revenge
Relentless
Reckoning
Reclaimed
Regret
Reckless
Reclusive
Retribution
First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset
Series: Steele Bros.
Tough as Steele
Stripping a Steele
Protecting a Steele
Steele her Heart
Stolen Hearts: The Complete Steele Bros Boxset
Series: Reapers MC
Scarred
Blackjack
Here Kitty, Kitty
Booger
Widow
Kade
Hawk
Bull
Cobra
Mouser
Dixon
Series: Iron Vex MC
Enraged
Series: Royal Bastards MC: Baltimore/Knights of Retribution MC
Bet on Me
Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater
Promised
The Trade
Cherished
Deceit
Love is War
Defiant
Shattered
Ruthless
Covert
Heretic
Venomous
Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine
Switched
Full Throttle with Erin Trejo
Against All Odds
Coming Soon
By: Elizabeth Knox
Coming in 2020
Call My Bluff: An Anthology
Surrender with Aubree Valentine
(Sin City Fets #2)
Amara
(Reapers MC #12)
Grim
(Reapers MC #13)
Rely on Me
(Royal Bastards MC: Baltimore #2 / Knights of Retribution MC #2)
Flawed
(The Clans #12)
Coming in 2021
Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology
(Second Edition)
The Elites: A Dark Secret Society Collection
Acknowledgments
My Betas, Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— I’ve never been more terrified than publishing this book, and I think you all can attest to that. While writing this story my nerves were shot. I don’t know if it was because of quarantine and being locked up in the house for over forty days, or because the plot changed so often. I had no idea where I wanted to end this book, and I still don’t know . . . which is ironic since I’ve almost ‘finished’ it. I just want to say how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you for helping boost me up when I need it the most. You ladies aren’t just my betas. You’re my friends.
My Cover Designer, Clarise— Thank you for once again creating a masterpiece. You and I have been working together for years now, and I’ll never stray. We make a pretty good team if I do say so myself.
My Blogger Team— Y’all freaking rock. I can’t tell you how many emails I got asking when Zane’s story was coming. Well, it’s here, and lord . . . I hope y’all like it.
My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie— You two are the sole reason I can publish the way I do, as frequently as I do. I call us the dream team, but we really are. I want to show you both my appreciation once again for sticking with me, keeping up with my schedule and helping me put the best product I can out into the world. I know for a fact the readers appreciate it as well.
Rae, E.C., and Raven— Thank you ladies for not only being the best friends ever, but for helping keep me accountable as hell. I fell behind on my goals and schedule for this book, but you all checked in and made sure I was making some sort of headway. This is exactly why I love y’all.
Rae B. Lake
Yes, I’m really dedicating this to you. I can only imagine you’re screaming right now or crying. Hell, you could be doing both for all I know.
In case you’re still wondering— yes, this is really dedicated to you.
It’s hard for me to find the words to write this. I can’t deny that I’m teary eyed as hell while trying to figure out the right words to say.
You came into my life when I was at the lowest, and Lord, you know how low I was. I had thought— what I still feel to this day— during that time I had no redeeming or positive qualities as a friend. I was in the worst depression of my life, struggling with anxiety attacks every day, and you checked in. Not only that, you kept checking in. Most people would’ve left me hanging ‘cause no one wants to deal with that. However, you didn’t.
We barely knew each other, but you made me feel like I mattered, and girl. I needed it.
You kept up your messages, and then we met at TNTNYC and I instantly knew we’d have a great friendship. Now here we are, months down the line and you’re one of the closest people in my life.
You’ve been one of the people asking me when Zane was coming, and . . . here he is. Dedicating this to you was only fitting.
Enjoy, babe, and thank you for everything you’ve done. I appreciate it more than you know.
Playlist
Nothing Good Comes Out of California — Maddie Poppe
Invisible Chains — Lauren Jauregui
Be Kind — Marshmello, Halsey
The Cure — Little Mix
F&MU — Kehlani
Sometimes — H.E.R.
Bloody Valentine — Machine Gun Kelly
Identity Crisis — Emily Weisband
Shameless — Camila Cabell
o
Something I’m Not — Emily Weisband
Tea — Lacy Cavalier
Missed Calls — MAX, Hayley Kiyoko
Monster In Me — Little Mix
Her — Anne-Marie
Together — for King & Country, Tori Kelly, Kirk Franklin
Worry About Me — Ellie Goulding, Blackbear
One Thing Right — Marshmello, Kane Brown
Rescue Me — Marshmello, A Day To Remember
Die For Me — Post Malone, Halsey, Future
Trigger Warning
This book is intended for mature audiences only. If darker books are not for you, please do not move forward. After re-adjusting my trigger warning system, I will not be giving any spoilers. Please understand that this is not your run of the mill romance and tough subjects will be spoken about in this storyline.
Gone But Never Forgotten:
Fist – Former Prez (Deceased)
Fist – Former Prez (Deceased)
Cracker – Former VP (Deceased)
Saffron — Fist’s woman, Sakura’s sister, Sydney’s mom. (Deceased)
Billings, Montana Charter
Zane – Prez
Blackjack – VP (interim) – Ol’ Lady – Ashley
Children: Dex (Blackjack’s previous relationship) & Noelle
Bull – Enforcer — Ol’ Lady – Alexa
Grim – Sgt. at Arms
Tex – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Kat
Dracus – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Nova
Bolt – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Jordyn
Zorro – Full Patch
Axel – Full Patch
Hammer – Prospect
Billings, Montana Charter
Zane – Prez
Blackjack – VP (interim) – Ol’ Lady – Ashley
Children: Dex (Blackjack’s previous relationship) & Noelle
Bull – Enforcer — Ol’ Lady – Alexa
Grim – Sgt. at Arms
Tex – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Kat
Dracus – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Nova
Bolt – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Jordyn
Zorro – Full Patch
Axel – Full Patch
Hammer – Prospect
Las Vegas, Nevada Charter
Damon – Prez – Ol’ Lady – Kat
Dixon – VP — Ol’ Lady — Indra
Booger – Enforcer – Ol’ Lady — Camila
Widow – Sgt. at Arms – Ol’ Lady – Tania (A Jackal)
Children: Zoe (Widow’s previous relationship)
Chaz – Full Patch
Cobra – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Izzy
Hawk – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Raven
Amara – Full Patch
Kade – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Ivy
Children: Orion & Fate
Mouser – Prospect — Ol’ Lady — Sakura
Prologue
“Grief is the price we pay for love.”
~ Queen Elizabeth II
Octavia
3 months ago . . .
I graze my hand against the pavement, feeling the slickness through my fingertips. It’s rained for the first time in months, but my hands aren’t coated with water. No, this is thicker. I pull my hands up higher and a streetlamp illuminates my hand enough to where I see the dark maroon blood coating my skin. It looks as if I were painting with my hands, but I only wish I was.
Instead, my knees are glued to the sidewalk while I kneel over my sisters’ dead bodies. Xia and Yara lay lifeless, their bodies already growing cold.
Out of nowhere everything hits me.
Every agonizing detail of how they died, of the men who rushed up to us and the shots. I glance down at my white crop top and see how it’s stained with blood, so much blood. Everything comes back to me, the way Yara turned around and covered my body with her own. Before I even figured it out Xia was already on the ground, a bullet struck straight through her skull. Yara on the other hand was still very much alive, and I know now she did what she could to protect me, to shield me from these men and keep me alive. If I had any doubts about it, the last few words she whispered before she died confirmed it. She was my older sister, so I’m not shocked. Yara was always the one to protect us if she could.
She told me to remain still, close my eyes, and breathe the slowest I ever have. How it was my only way making it out of this. I’d never been more terrified in my life, but I did as she said, and then the men left. There was a whole group of them. Maybe four or five of them . . . some of the details are starting to get a bit fuzzy now. As soon as I heard the tires of their vehicle screeching against the pavement I pushed Yara’s body off my own and tried to give her CPR, even though I knew there wasn’t anything I could do. I called my brother, Xander, who goes by the road name Breaker. He’s the Prez of the Raiders MC here in Los Angeles.
For as long as I can remember, my family has been hunted down like rare beasts. But not the men, only the women, more specifically, the daughters. It’s as if we were worth millions dead. There were six of us in the beginning, and now I’m the last daughter who remains— the only one.
Tears effortlessly flow down my cheeks, falling onto the ground below me. Heaviness fills my chest and it becomes difficult to breathe as I stare at my sisters. Yara’s golden blonde hair is now growing darker from the blood surrounding her body. Meanwhile Xia looks like she’s vomited blood.
I kneel here, completely broken. Terrified. Feeling the most pain I’ve ever had to endure in my life.
We were just going out to the movies and dinner. We . . . we weren’t hurting anyone, only trying to have fun. I gnaw on my bottom lip until a metallic flavor hits my taste buds.
Unmistakable sounds of motorcycles speeding up signals that my brother and the boys must be close, but it doesn’t make me feel at ease. I still continue to feel agony, continuously darting my eyes around from Xia to Yara. Then to my bloodstained hands and white crop top.
How is it possible this evening turned out like this?
Another screeching sound causes me to turn my head to the right, and I see them. The club. They’re all here, not leaving a soul behind. Xander dismounts his bike first, rushing up to me before he comes to a dead stop. His eyes widen with fear and then his darkness takes over. He sees what’s happened. He knows there isn’t a damn thing he can do to rectify this situation. There isn’t anything we can do to save them because they’re gone.
My bottom lip begins to tremble, my shoulders shaking over and over until I feel like I’m having a damn seizure. My brother looks stuck like a statue, his mouth still in an open position. “Xander,” Saying his name has never been more difficult than it is right now. I know what I was trying to say, but the way it comes out is almost another language.
My brother stands here in his fitted black T-shirt, with his cut on, his hair slicked back, continuously shaking his head. I see his lips moving, immediately able to tell he’s in denial as well.
Chains, his VP, walks past him and up to my sisters. “Get the girls home,” He orders, and I see the twins, Agony and Fury come up. They’re prospects with the club, only being here a few months. They both walk over to each one of my sisters and pull them into their arms.
I glance past Chains and search for my father, but after a moment I come to the realization he isn’t here. “W-where’s Dad?” I question, not even sure who I’m asking. Xander stands, not saying a thing. He’s in shock. He has to be.
Chains walks up to me, kneels down on the ground and places a hand on my shoulder. He grimaces, and I already know. He has no idea where my dad even is. Xander may be the Prez of the club now, but my dad is . . . he’s still my dad. He’s still part of not only our lives, but the club. “I don’t know where he is baby,” Chains admits.
War
mth flushes through my face and I know there isn’t any stopping it. My body’s at its limit. Too much grief and pain for far too long, and now I’ve lost the only two sisters I have left. “They’re dead . . . Chains. They’re gone.”
He nods, “Yeah, they’re not here with us anymore, but they’re still in here and don’t you forget that.” Chains points to his chest and I can tell he’s fighting the urge to cry too. Chains was really close with Xia. So close that a lot of us had bets on if they were going to finally get into a relationship.
“Why does this keep happening?”
“I don’t know,” Chains admits, shaking his head.
“I’m going to be next,” My internal thoughts slip out before I can even think, but as soon as I finish speaking my brother bolts over to me.