by Lane Hart
COPYRIGHT
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue were created from the authors’ imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental.
The authors acknowledge the copyrighted and trademarked status of various products within this work of fiction.
© 2018 Editor's Choice Publishing
All Rights Reserved.
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Editor’s Choice Publishing
P.O. Box 10024
Greensboro, NC 27404
Edited by Angela Snyder
Cover by Marianne Nowicki of PremadeEbookCoverShop.com
WARNING: THIS BOOK IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE UNDER 18. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT CONTAINS VIOLENT SCENES THAT MAY BE A TRIGGER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
Chapter One
Torin Fury
“What’s the play here, Torin?” Cooper asks, twisting around in the front passenger seat of our rental van to see what I’m doing. “You all right back there?”
“Soon, Coop,” I reply from my seat on the van’s metal floor. “Soon,” I repeat in a whisper, staring at the photo of Kennedy that I’m holding in the street light streaming in through the van’s foggy windshield. It’s a picture of her bright, smiling face that I took the first day we met, soon after we left that ratty little barbecue joint where she was working. God, she had been perfect, in so many ways. If she had only had better taste in men, she would have probably lived a long, wonderful life.
I blink away the stinging in my eyes, knowing I have no more tears left to shed. The time for tears is over. Now it’s time for blood.
Tonight is all about the beginning of my vengeance for Kennedy and my son. Their blood still stains my leather cut, the same one that she sewed the patches on three years ago. The only one I’m missing is the flash that proclaimed me the president of the Savage Kings MC’s original charter. I took over for my uncle when his lung cancer diagnosis was terminal, and he could no longer ride. Now, my younger brother Chase is in charge. He hasn’t fully embraced the title yet, hoping I’ll change my mind, but I know he’ll be the leader the Kings need after I’m gone…
There’s one simple reason I haven’t put a bullet through my own head to end it all and join my wife and child in the next world. Hector Cruz is still out there somewhere, and even death won’t bring me peace if I don’t drag that bastard down to hell with me.
It’s been months since Cruz ruined my life. Finally, we’re going after him, pulling him out of whatever hole he’s hiding in by hitting him where it hurts the most – his family. Not that his daughter Lexi is exactly innocent in all of this…
“We’re sure this is the place where Lexi is working, right?” Cooper asks.
We’ve been sitting outside in the parking lot of the Vegas strip club for almost half an hour. Cooper’s nerves are always wound tight, but now he’s practically vibrating with anticipation.
“We’ve already been over this,” War tells him from the driver seat because unlike me, he has the patience of a saint. “Reece confirmed the address for us. This is the place. Now, settle down, man. Torin will move when he’s good and ready.”
“Yeah, okay,” Cooper agrees with a sigh, settling back in his seat before immediately twisting back around to look at me. “But we’re not going to hurt her, right? We agreed we’re not going to hurt her.”
“Coop!” I bark, sliding to the front of the van so that he can see my face clearly. “Stop asking questions. You were at the table when we made this plan. You already had your chance to complain.”
“Sorry, Torin,” Cooper says, looking away from me. “I just…I’ve never had to deal with kidnapping a woman like this, you know? Lexi was one of my girls at Avalon for weeks…”
And yeah, I think I’m still pretty pissed at him for hiring her in the first place. Not that I’ve ever told him that.
“This is all new for us, too,” War tells him with a backhand slap to his chest. “We’re not going to hurt her any more than is absolutely necessary. If she cooperates, we won’t even tousle her hair.”
“This is the woman you need to be thinking of,” I hiss through gritted teeth, dropping the picture of Kennedy on the console between the two men. “Take a long look at her and remember why the hell we’re here, what this bitch Lexi did to my family.”
“That’s just it, Torin,” Cooper protests. “We know what happened with Hector, but Lexi is just his daughter. You’ve never told us what she has to do with this, or why…”
Slipping out of my leather cut, I slide my gun holster and pistol off of my belt before handing them over to Coop.
“Hold this,” I order him, just to give him something to do so he’ll shut up.
Since we know from Reece’s intel that the club has metal detectors, I pull out the heavy plastic blade War crafted for me from my hoodie pocket to check it, jabbing it into the pad of my index finger with the point and thumbing the razor-sharp edge before tucking it away again.
“No more questions, Coop,” I say. “You knew the rules of this club when you patched in. Nothing’s changed.”
War nods his head in agreement before beginning to recite one of the Savage King’s bylaws. “If any individual or entity attacks a member of the club, all active members will take any action required to defend or avenge their brother.”
“I know that, dammit,” Cooper snaps. “You don’t have to throw the bylaws at me. I may not like the decision, but that doesn’t mean I’m not all in and still have your back. I’m just ready to get this done.”
“Good. Then do your part,” I order. “Get your ass in the back while War keeps watch. When you see me come out of that side door, make sure you’re ready to roll. If any of this starts making you feel uncomfortable while I’m gone, you just look at that picture of Kennedy and tell her you’re feeling a little squeamish. I’m sure she and my dead son will fucking understand.”
I shove the back of his shaggy head before sliding open the side door and stepping down from the van. I’m sick of Cooper’s whining, and of War’s constant hovering and pity.
Fuck.
I grimace as I pull the bill of my black hat down low to obscure my face for the outdoor cameras, realizing that what I’m really sick of is myself, and my entire fucking life. I’m not proud of what I may have to do next, but I’ll do whatever it takes, no matter how much blood I h
ave to get on my hands.
…
The déjà vu of the guilt trip caused by sitting in the middle of the sleazy club with tits and ass out everywhere makes me think that strip clubs are now my own personal brand of a hell I fully deserve.
Tonight, I’m sure as fuck not drinking anything, even if it does make me look suspicious. I’ll never let a woman near my beverage again after my bachelor party.
“Son of a bitch,” I mutter when Lexi finally comes out on stage. It’s her, I’m certain, even if she’s dyed her long, raven hair a light brown. Her petite tan body looks curvier than I remember in the scarlet red corset, but it’s not like I remember many details from that night.
It’s a good thing they don’t allow firearms in this establishment, because if I had my gun on me right now, I might be tempted to put a bullet in her head while she swings around on the goddamn stripper pole.
When a young redheaded waitress walks by, I sit up in my seat to call out to her. “Hey! What’s her name?” I ask with the tip of my chin toward the stage.
The woman glances over and then faces me again. “That’s Destiny.”
“Destiny. Right,” I reply, barely refraining from rolling my eyes. “Who do I need to talk to about a private dance?” I ask.
“Donte,” she replies. “I’ll send him over.”
“Thanks,” I tell her.
Leaning back again, I reluctantly watch the rest of the show with a white knuckled grip on the chair arms. Men come up to the stage and slip cash down her red thong, grazing the smooth skin on her hips or ass with their fingertips. “Destiny” even lets one of the pervy bastards untie her corset down the front of her body until the material falls to the stage floor, leaving her naked except for the red thong, black garters and matching red heels.
Looking at her swaying tits feels incredibly wrong, just like it did the night of my bachelor party. I never should’ve asked for a private dance that night. I’ll regret that decision for the rest of whatever is left of my short life.
But now, to keep up the act, I have to watch her lean legs wrap around the pole and her long, thick hair flow around her as she hangs upside down…
“You want a dance with Destiny?” a man’s voice interrupts my observation.
Clearing my throat, I look over at the balding guy in a black button down and pull out my wallet from my back pocket. “Yeah. How much?”
“A hundred for one song, two hundred for three, or a thousand and she’ll be all yours tonight in the champagne room,” he informs me.
“How about two grand for the champagne room with the cameras off?” I offer.
“Deal,” he replies with a smarmy grin.
I count out the hundreds I had ready and waiting in my wallet and place the stack of bills in his waiting palm.
“I’ll show you to the room and send her in as soon as she comes off stage,” he tells me, so I get to my feet and prepare to come face to face with the woman who ruined my fucking life.
…
Lexi Cruz
As soon as my song ends, I gather up my outfit and leave the stage, heading straight to my dressing area to check my phone, making sure Joanna hasn’t called. When I don’t have any missed calls or text messages, I let out a relieved breath, redress in the corset, and sit down to touch up my makeup in the mirror.
“Lexi, you’re in the champagne room the rest of the night,” Donte says when he comes up beside my chair. “No cameras.”
“I’m not fucking anyone,” I snap at my new boss. “Sorry, but I don’t care how much money he has, how much he paid you, or what he offers me. It’s not gonna happen.”
“Fine,” Donte says, holding his palms up in the air. “Just let him grab your tits and ass and maybe play with his cock a little. Yell for Dale or Marvin if he pushes his luck.”
God, I hate my life.
It wasn’t like I’ve always aspired to be a stripper. Once, I dreamed of being a ballet dancer or any other type of dancer that keeps her clothes on. Now, I’m nothing but a cheap entertainer, doing a job I hate but have to endure. It’s the easiest way to earn money now that I’m on my own and it sure beats the long, hard hours of waitressing.
“Hurry up,” Donte tells me.
Picking up my phone from the vanity to check it for messages one last time, I place it back down and then make my way out through the club’s main floor, not even bothering to smile at anyone. I’m done “entertaining” tonight, except for the one man who is waiting for me down the hallway.
I’m really not in the mood for him to get handsy, so he better be on his best behavior, or I’ll have his ass thrown out.
Turning the doorknob, I slip inside the room and then press my back to the door to get a look at my John Doe. The first thing I notice is that he’s big, taking up most of the loveseat, his jean-covered thighs spread wide. He’s wearing a plain black hoodie and a black baseball cap that casts a shadow on his bearded face. Even though I can’t see his eyes, I feel them watching me. Was it his gaze I felt on stage? The one so intense that it sent a chill down my spine, reminding me of those nights almost a year ago back at Avalon?
Shaking those thoughts from my head, I try to focus on the here and now. Tons of men were looking at me on stage. This guy must have liked what he was seeing if he spent enough money to get me alone for the rest of the night. I glance up at the camera in the corner on the opposite side of the wall, and sure enough, the red light is off. He paid for that too.
“Can I pour you a drink?” I ask when I walk over toward the champagne bottle that’s sitting in the ice bucket. His only response is a shake of his head. “You sure? I’m gonna have one,” I say, needing to calm my nerves and numb myself to get through the next few hours. While I’m only twenty, the club owner has never had a problem with me having a drink with a customer. In fact, it’s encouraged.
The cork has already been popped on the bottle when I go to open it, so I pour a glass and take a big gulp before setting it back down on the table.
After stalling for as long as possible, I know it’s time to get to the reason we’re in the room alone. He wants to see me dance naked for him. Strutting over to the stranger in my heels, I come to a stop between his spread legs and start to untie the strings of my corset.
The man moves so fast that I don’t have time to react. One minute I’m facing him, his slumped posture making him almost look bored. The next second, I’m facing away from him and he has the blade of a knife pressed against my throat.
“Don’t even think about screaming or I’ll slit your fucking throat right this second,” his deep, rumbling authoritarian voice warns as my arms automatically go up to his wrist to try and pull his hand away. It’s a familiar voice, only…much, much angrier than the last time I heard it.
No, it can’t be. How the hell did he find me?
“T-Torin?” I ask.
“Shut the fuck up,” he barks in my ear.
“I’m…I’m sorry, Torin,” I tell him as tears begin to fill my eyes.
“Not another goddamn word,” he warns, and the knife digs into my throat a little deeper.
Shit! He finally came for his revenge. In a few moments, I’m going to die before I even have a chance to explain!
“Walk toward the door slowly,” he demands. “Once I check to see if the hallway is clear, you’re gonna take a right and go straight out the emergency exit without making a sound.”
“Are you…are you gonna kill me?” I hiccup.
“I want Hector. But if I have to kill you and find another way to him, I will. Now shut the fuck up! Don’t make me tell you again.”
Oh, fuck. He’s serious. I may not know much about the president of the Savage Kings MC other than the fact that he lost his pregnant wife and son a few months ago, but I do know that he could slice my throat open right now without a second thought. He’s a man with nothing to lose, and those are the most dangerous of all.
“Nod if you’re going to do what I said. You cooperate, you keep li
ving. For now,” he grumbles.
I do as he says, nodding the least amount I can to convey my agreement. Whatever he wants I’ll do it. I can’t let him kill me. There’s too much for me to live for.
“Walk,” he orders, so I release my grip on his arm and take a few slow steps as his much larger body stays pressed to my backside. When we reach the door, he wraps an arm around my waist to turn me to the side. From the corner of my eye, I watch him open the door just a crack to peek out.
“Let’s go. Fast,” he tells me. His arm comes back around my waist and steers me forward again. I turn right and take the five steps to the emergency exit, then pause.
“Open it,” he directs me.
“Th-the alarm will go off,” I explain.
“Open the fucking door,” he growls, so I push on the bar and wince when I hear the chirping alarm. My heels leave the floor, and then Torin is running through the parking lot with the knife still at my throat. He approaches a big, black utility van and the back door suddenly swings open. Inside someone moves out of the way when Torin tosses me forward. I throw my palms out to catch myself on the hard metal floor of the vehicle before I face plant.
“Gag her and tie her hands and feet,” Torin instructs the other man when he climbs in behind me. The van jerks forward before he even slams the back door shut. Then we’re moving forward so fast that I’m thrown into the wall before someone’s hands are on me, wrenching my arms behind my back as the first sob breaks free from my throat.
There’s nothing else I can do now. My life is in the hands of a stranger who wants me dead.
Chapter Two
Torin
“I-I can’t,” Cooper says to me as he crawls away from the little slut when she starts to cry. “Lexi’s a good girl. She worked for me for weeks at Avalon!”
Fucking great. My good friend and brother in the MC can kill a man for one of our brothers or me but becomes a pussy when I ask him to tie up a stripper. And yeah, that makes me feel like shit because just a few minutes ago I was fantasizing about killing her without a second thought. I don’t even recognize the man I’ve become.