by L. Wilder
I went over and kissed her on the temple as I said, “We’re all set. What about you? Need any help in here?”
“I think we got it. All the food is in the oven, and Louise just called to say she was headed this way with the cake.”
“Awesome.” I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge as I asked, “Is Robyn still coming?”
“Yeah.” Her face lit up at the sound of her best friend’s name. Kenadee was worried that she and Robyn would drift apart after she moved out, but she’d worried for nothing; they were just as close as ever. With an excited look, she continued, “She should be here any minute, and she’s bringing her new fella along with her.”
“New fella?”
“Yeah. She hasn’t been able to stop talking about him for the past few days, and I finally convinced her to bring him along.”
“Good. I look forward to meeting this new fella of hers.”
“Me, too.” She looked down at her clothes, and as she started towards the bedroom, she said, “I’m going to get changed.”
As soon as she left the room, Kevin leaned forward and whispered, “Did you get it?”
“Yeah. I got it.”
“You think she’s got any idea?”
Kevin wasn’t the only one getting a surprise today. I also had something special planned for Kenadee as well. Kevin and my folks had made it clear that they were crazy about her, so they couldn’t have been more excited when I shared my plans with them, especially Kevin. Seeing the concerned look on his face, I smiled and said, “No, buddy. I don’t think she has a clue.”
“Good.”
When I noticed several trucks and bikes pulling into the drive, I looked out the window to see if Riggs had made it. When I spotted his truck, I looked over to Kevin and said, “Riggs just got here.”
With an uninterested sigh, he replied, “So?”
“He’s got something in his truck you might wanna go check out.”
He perked up a little as he asked, “What’s he got?”
“Why don’t you go out there and see for yourself?”
When he got up and started for the door, I motioned for Kenadee to follow. When we stepped outside, the guys were all circling the grill like a bunch of vultures, but they all stopped to watch as Kevin walked over to Riggs. “Happy Birthday, buddy.”
As he stood up on his tiptoes and tried to peek in the windows, Kevin said, “Dad said you’ve got something in your truck.”
Riggs looked over to me and smiled. “Yeah, I do. You wanna see?”
“Yeah.”
As he opened the door, he said, “Go check it out.”
Kevin crawled inside the truck, and when he looked inside the box, he shouted, “Holy Toledo, Dad! You gotta come see this!”
I walked over and watched as my son lifted the small puppy into his arms. “Whatcha got there, buddy?”
His eyes lit up as he announced, “It’s a puppy!”
“I see that.”
“Isn’t it cool? It’s a Mastiff, Dad … just like I told you I wanted.”
“Yeah, it sure is. She’s a real beauty, Kevin.”
His eyes widened as he looked at me with surprise. “Wait … Is she for me?”
“Yep. She’s all yours.”
“You’re freaking kidding me!” With the puppy cradled in his arms, he jumped down out of the truck and gave me a big hug as he said, “Thank you, Dad!”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like her.”
“I more than like her, Dad. I love her!”
“Then you’ll have to come up with a good name for her.”
He turned to Kenadee, and showing that he valued her opinion, he asked, “What do you think we should name her?”
“Honey, that’s something you’ll have to decide. She’s going to be your dog.”
“Okay. I’ll think of something.”
With the puppy in tow, he rushed over to my folks to show them the new addition to the family. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched him hug and kiss on her, like she was a prized treasure. I’d done good. My boy was happier than I’d seen him in years.
“You’re a sneaky one, Sawyer Mathews. After all that stuff you said, I can’t believe you actually went and got him that puppy.”
“I know, but I just couldn’t help myself. I guess I’m just a glutton for punishment.”
“Pfft. The dog is going to be fine. You wait and see. You’ll end up loving that crazy dog just as much as he does.”
“Maybe, but I’ll always love you more,” I teased.
“Um-hmm. Either way, I think it was a wonderful gift. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a happier kid.”
I looked around the yard at my brothers and watched as they gathered around my son, sharing the special moment with him, and I realized just how lucky I really was. I was a man who had it all. Brothers who always had my back, a family who stood by me through thick and thin, a son who I adored, and a beautiful woman who I loved more than I ever dreamed possible. I had it all, and I wanted the world to know it. I reached in my pocket and pulled out an engagement ring. As I slipped it on her finger, I told her, “I think it’s time we made this thing official.”
Her mouth dropped open as she looked down at her hand and asked, “Did you just ask me to marry you?”
“I thought the ring was a dead giveaway, but yeah, I’m asking you to marry me.” I placed my hands on her hips and pulled her close and said, “I want you to be my wife. You okay with that?”
Tears filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms around me and kissed me. “Yes, Sawyer. I’m definitely good with that.”
“Good. ‘Cause I wasn’t taking no for an answer.” After I turned and gave Kevin a thumbs up, letting him know she’d accepted my proposal, I leaned towards her and lowered my mouth to hers, giving her another kiss. “You’re the only one, Kenadee. Now and forever.”
The End
Shadow: Satan’s Fury MC Memphis will release in July
A short excerpt of Diesel: Satan’s Fury Book 8 will begin after the acknowledgments.
Acknowledgments
Natalie Weston – I can’t begin to thank you for all that you do for me. From the late night phone calls, last minute changes, and all my insecurities, you handle it all like a champ. Thanks for being awesome. Love ya, chick.
Ena and Amanda from Enticing Journey Book Promotions- Thank you for being such an amazing promotional company. You guys rock!
Lisa Cullinan – Yet again, you have managed to blow me away. Thank you for all your help with Blaze. You are the best, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. (I am still trying to get used to sharing you.)
Tempting Illustrations – Gel- thank you for your amazing teasers. I love them all! If you’re looking for some amazing teasers, be sure to check them out. http://www.temptingillustrations.com
Neringa Neringiukas – I can’t begin to thank you enough for all that you do. You are truly a blessing in my life, and I will be forever grateful for all the wonderful things you do.
Rose Holub- Thanks for being such an awesome proofer. You were such a big help this time.
Sue Banner- Thanks for being the final set of eyes on Blaze. I truly appreciate you help.
Terra Oenning, Amy Jones, and Daverba Ortiz- Thank you for continuting to post my books and teasers. You guys are awesome. It truly means so much to me that you take the time out of your busy day to sharing my work.
Tanya Skaggs and Charolette Smith- Thank you for reading Blaze early and giving me feedback. Thanks to you, he’s even better. Your support means so very much to me.
Wilder’s Women – I am always amazed at how much you do to help promote my books and show your support. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. I read all of your reviews and see all of your posts, and they mean so much to me. Love you big!
A Special Thanks to Mom – I want to thank you for always being there and giving me your complete support. You are such an amazing person, and I am honored to call you my mom.
Excerpt from Diesel: Satan’s Fury MC
US Amazon link- https://amzn.to/2vuN5iL
CA Amazon link- https://amzn.to/2HGUJv9
UK Amazon link- https://amzn.to/2Hiwpwj
AU Amazon link- https://amzn.to/2qNtRiI
Prologue
Scotty
As a kid, I never knew much about my father—in fact, not a damn thing. I figured that my mother would’ve, at least, given me some small pieces of information about him if she thought he was even the slightest bit worth it. Instead, I convinced myself that he was just some deadbeat dad who’d left her in the lurch. A real man would’ve taken care of his kid regardless of what kind of relationship he had with his mother, so I decided he was better off kept in the shadows. He remained there the entire time I was growing up as I tried to pretend that neither his identity nor his actual existence bothered me. When I was three, Mom married Carl, and the pretending became a little easier. Carl was a good guy: kind-hearted and easygoing. He was older and already had kids from a previous marriage, so he had no problem adding one more. Together, they worked their asses off to make sure that I had everything I could possibly need, and I don’t mean by putting a roof over my head and clothes on my back, they loved me and made damn well sure I knew it.
Overall, I had it pretty good growing up. I was happy, but thoughts of my father were always in the back of my mind. Every time I looked in the mirror, I wondered if I had his eyes, his build, or if I looked anything like him at all. It was the nature of the beast to be curious about the man who had something to do with bringing me into this world. I often wondered if he would’ve been proud of how I’d turned out. By the time I had turned twenty-four, I figured I’d never find out, but that all changed when my mom got sick. She’d given her fight with cancer everything she had, but in the end, it got to be too much for her.
Things were looking bleak, and we all knew we could lose her at any time. After a long night at the shop, I came home and found Carl sitting on the front step with a beer in his hand. He wasn’t one to drink, so I knew it had been a bad night. “She’s been asking for you.”
I patted him on the back and started towards her room. When I walked in, it was completely silent as the nurse hovered over her; suddenly, I worried that I’d gotten there too late. “Is she …”
“No, sweetheart. She’s still holding on,” she warmly replied as she made her way over to me. “She’s been waiting for you to get home.”
Dread washed over me as I looked towards her bed. Seeing my mother’s frail, ashen body made my heart ache in a way that made it hard to breathe. I walked over to the edge of the bed and took her hand in mine; she was just skin and bones. I leaned towards her and whispered, “Hey, Momma. It’s me, Scotty.”
Her eyes slowly flickered opened as she turned to look at me. Her voice was weak and strained as she mumbled, “I need you to go … over to my jewelry box … Bring it to me.”
“What for?”
“Just … bring it to me, Scotty.”
“Okay, Momma.” I walked over to her dresser, retrieved the small wooden box, and brought it back to her. “Here. I’ve got it.”
“Open … the bottom drawer”—she watched me intently then took a deep breath—“and look under the fabric.”
I did as she asked and found an old photograph hidden beneath the bottom layer of red velvet fabric. Carefully, I picked it up and studied the picture of a man who was standing next to a motorcycle. He looked to be about my age with shaggy, blond hair, and he was wearing a leather vest and jeans. The photograph was faded and yellow and looked like it was at least twenty years old. As I sat there staring at it, it quickly dawned on me that it was a picture of my father. I flipped it over and noticed a name and address written on the back and then looked over to Mom. “Is this really him?”
“Yes, sweetheart. That’s your father.” She sighed. “You should know … he doesn’t know about you, Scotty.”
“What?”
She placed her hand on mine as she continued, “I was young and naïve. He never loved me the way I loved him, Scotty. When he met Melinda ... he fell head over heels for her … and forgot all about me. I was embarrassed … I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I was pregnant.”
“So, he never had any idea about me?”
“No, sweetheart. I left town … as soon as I started showing.” A tear trickled down her cheek. Listening to her say that he had no idea I was his son felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“I was wrong to keep you from him … It wasn’t fair to either of you. I was selfish, and I regret that now.” She gave my arm a squeeze. “You should go to him ... and tell him who you are … Tell him you’re my son.”
“It’s too late, now. Too much time has gone by.”
“It’s never too late to meet your father, Scotty.” Her voice trailed off as she turned and looked up at the ceiling. “I’m sorry I never told you sooner.”
“You did now. That’s all that matters,” I assured her and then leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead. “Now, get some rest. It’s been a long day.”
Just as I was about to walk out of the room, I barely heard her soft voice, “You’re a wonderful boy, Scotty. He’ll be proud to know you’re his.”
I wasn’t so sure she was right about that. I doubted any man would be exactly thrilled to know that he had a son he never knew about, only to have him show up at his door twenty-one years later. I didn’t have a response for her, not one that she’d want to hear, so I just nodded with a half-hearted smile.
“I love you, Scotty.”
“Love you, too, Mom.”
When I left her room that night, I had no idea that it would be the last time I’d actually speak to her. The next morning, Mom had slipped into a coma and she died two days later. I did my best to be there for Carl, helping him with the funeral arrangements and everything in between, but once the dust had settled, I couldn’t handle being in that house—not with all the memories. After I said my goodbyes, I packed a bag and got on my bike, hoping some time on the road would clear my head. A few days later, I found myself in Seattle. In the back of my mind, I think I always knew where I was going. I needed to see him—even if it was just from a distance. It was almost dark by the time I finally found the little brick house with a car and a Harley parked out by the garage. Relieved to see that the lights were on inside, I parked my bike across the street and waited, hoping that someone would eventually come out. Since I hadn’t taken the time to search his name or even call the phone number listed on the back of the photograph, I had no idea if he still lived there.
After about an hour of sitting and waiting, the front door finally opened, and a man and a beautiful, young woman stepped outside. The woman rushed to her car, and with a big smile, waved to him and pulled out of the driveway. When I glanced back over to the man, I could tell he was older, much older, but there was no doubt he was the man in the photograph. As he got on his bike, I noticed he was wearing the same leather vest that he’d worn in the photograph. Curious to see where he might be going, I followed him out onto the main drag; after a twenty-minute drive, he turned down an old country road.
When he approached the entrance to an old warehouse, I held back and pulled over on the side of the road and watched as he drove through the gate. I killed my headlight and got off my bike, moving closer to get a better look. There were a bunch of bikes parked by the front door, and every time it opened, I heard loud music blaring from inside. Several guys were standing outside talking with beers in their hand and scantily dressed women at their side. It was right then when I realized my old man was part of a biker club.
One day, after following my father for almost two weeks, I went over to the diner across from their garage for a cup of coffee. I was staring out the window, watching the brothers wander in and out of the shop, and never noticed that the front door of the diner had opened. Seconds later, the seat a
cross from me shifted, and I quickly turned to see why, only to get the shock of my life when I found my father staring back at me. “You wanna tell me why the fuck you’ve been tailing me?”
“What?”
“You don’t think I’ve seen you?” he scoffed. “I know you’ve been watching me. I just wanna know why.”
“I … uh … I,” I stuttered, not having a clue what to tell him.
“You got a problem with me, kid?”
“No, sir. I got no problem with you.” I certainly didn’t want to piss him off. I knew what kind of man he was. Over the past few weeks of stalking him, I’d learned that he wasn’t just part of a club, he was the fucking president. He’d actually been the one who founded the Chosen Knights. He and a group of his friends started riding together, but it quickly turned into something more. They lived by the motto “Chosen by Fate. Bound by Honor,” and it was clear that my old man was pleased with his life and his club.
“You in some kind of trouble with the cops or something?”
I shook my head, “No, sir.”
“Then, what the fuck is your deal?”
I didn’t want to tell him I was his son, not until he had a chance to get to know me. I wanted to prove myself and show him that I was someone he could be proud of before I told him, so I decided to keep my true identity a secret, at least for the time being. “I was hoping I might be able to prospect for the club.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “What makes you think I would let you prospect?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was hoping you’d take a chance on me. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Chosen and would really like to contribute.”