“Good poi—” The kicking continues.
“You okay?” Edge grins as he straightens my panties and fixes my dress.
“I’m fine. Stop it.” I knock his hand away and rub my hands up and down my dress.
“Mommy says you guys need to come join the party.”
He kicks again, and my eyes open wide as Edge calmly unlocks the door.
“Hey buddy.” He ruffles James’s blond hair and walks around him. My face burns and I stare in horror as James lifts up a giant fluorescent orange-and-white Nerf water gun. “Hello. I’m the new Prez. You’re my prisoner. Follow me.”
“James,” I say, “you’re not supposed to point guns”—I hold out my hand for him to give it to me—“even water guns at people’s f—” I gasp as a huge blast of water hits me straight in the face.
“Oh my God, James!” He must realize he’s in trouble because before I can grab him, he bolts out of the room screaming at the top of his lungs.
“Edge.” Water drips off my chin and onto my dress. “What the hell? Why didn’t you save me?” I throw my hands up.
“Come on, he’s a kid.”
“Edge Daniels, if you say that one more time, I swear to God.” I rip a bunch of tissues out of the Kleenex box and pat my face.
“Auntie Dooolllyyy.” He’s back and peeking around the corner, laughing. I lunge for him, successfully taking the gun out of his hands.
“Wow.” He looks at Edge who starts laughing. “She’s fast.”
“You have no idea, kid.” Edge is full-on laughing as I raise the water gun and aim it at his face.
“Help me, James. Auntie Dolly is after us.” Edge grabs him, holding his joyful, laughing face as a shield.
“You’re unbelievable.” I start after them. James is laughing and pretending to shoot me. We turn the corner and when Edge sets James down to open the screen door, I see my shot. I take it but instead of getting Edge, I shoot Axel straight in the face.
“Shi… oot,” I scream. If I wasn’t trying to still get Edge, I would take a second to enjoy the shocked look on Axel’s wet face.
“The fuck is going on?” He grabs my arm, spinning me around.
“Oh, for God’s sake. What the heck are you doing in my way, Axel?”
“Me?” He wipes his face with his shoulder. “I’m walking. Forgive me.”
“Well, move.” I bolt around him and run out the screen door toward the party.
Baby Zack is turning one. This time, both Eve and Charlie went overboard with the decorating and activities in my opinion. I mean, come on. The only ones who seem to be enjoying it are the adults, who are drinking, and the older kids.
Babies don’t care about the train and its annoying whistle. The train is new and Charlie’s idea she got from her friend Tess.
I’m not kidding. A train is puttering around a bikers’ compound, stopping to give kids and, I guess, adults rides if you count Dewey.
My stomach starts to feel queasy and I break out in a cold sweat. What was I thinking? One of the strippers at Edge’s club stands screaming at her three boys, yet they continue to spray her with one of the Nerf squirt guns.
“I can’t do this.” I sit down on a chair. A wave of dizziness makes me wonder if I’ll need to use the bathroom again.
“Dolly? You okay?” I jump and stare into concerned green eyes.
“No. Blade, I’m definitely not okay. If anything, I think I’m freaking out.” I wave my hands up and down in front of my face then at the sky where balloons are floating up in the air. His daughter Nicole watches a little girl who unties them from chairs and hands them to her to release one at a time.
He sits down and grins, leaning forward, arms on his lap. “You’re going to be amazing. This is fucking mayhem and, in a year and a half, we’ll be doing it for your kid. The thing is though, you won’t have to do it alone.”
My eyes dart to his and I take a deep breath. He’s right. As I start to look around, instead of seeing unhappy people, I see a family. Brothers laughing with brothers, old ladies watching other old ladies’ kids to give the parents a small break. Cousins running and playing, rolling in the grass and dirt.
“It’s our family.” I look at him.
He stands. “Welcome home, Dolly.”
He walks down the steps looking like the king he is. The screen door swings open and Axel steps out, his shirt soaked. Glaring at me, he shakes his head and stands next to Blade.
“Turn off the music,” Blade demands, and all the Disciples and even the kids turn. Only the annoying train keeps ringing its bell until Ryder walks over to the driver.
“Where’s my Eve?” His eyes search the crowd as Eve comes over holding a wiggling Nicole. Edge walks over with a rosy-cheeked, giggling James Dean who leaps into Blade’s arms.
“Happy birthday to Zack.” Everyone bursts into cheers. David and Charlie bring Zack up on the porch with us. His sweet face is covered in chocolate, his dark hair the color of Charlie’s.
I stand up, my panic attack on hold as I reach for Edge’s hand.
My mom waves at me as she happily talks and smokes not far from my dad. He sits with some old-timers laughing, drinking. When I look at them, my eyes fill with tears. Neither is perfect—far from it—but then, neither am I.
Will I raise my children differently? Yes. But my parents are here and that’s more than a lot of people have.
Unfortunately, Doug is in Santa Barbara meeting Rob’s parents. Which sucks but it’s a kids’ birthday party. He likely wouldn’t have come anyway.
“Edge has some news.” I freeze. I’ve been daydreaming throughout everything Blade has said until I heard Edge.
“Wait. What’s happening?” I look at Eve who is smiling her perfect smile, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Edge smirks. “Dolly and I have an announcement…”
“Holy shit.”
My dad stands up, his hand shielding his eyes from the sun.
“We’re going to take a couple weeks and enjoy ourselves. Have a honeymoon.” Again, shouts and screams explode like fireworks on the Fourth of July. The ice cream truck pulls up and the kids are turned loose.
“Jesus.” I blow some hair out of my face. “Who cares if we go on a honeymoon? I thought you were going to tell everyone I was pregnant.”
He reaches for me, pulling me tight to his chest. My head falls back as I look at the most beautiful man on earth. “I’m crazy about you,” he growls.
“I know.” I smile and he turns, pulling me in front of him. “Oh yeah,” he calls out. “One more thing.” The music turns down. “Dolly’s pregnant.”
“Edge.” I smack his chest as everyone comes rushing forward. Eve and Blade step aside, I guess giving us our moment, which is absurd. We don’t need a moment.
“Baby Doll.” My dad pushes his way to the front. The ice cream truck’s annoying song, which makes kids lose their minds, keeps playing. But for the first time since I saw the bright pink two lines confirming I was pregnant, I don’t care.
“You telling me… this old man”—he points at himself—“and this old woman”—he grabs my mom who looks not a day over forty even with all the smoking and drinking and God knows what she’s participated in—“are going to be grandparents?” He slings his arm around her.
“Um… yes. I was going to tell you.” I stare at Edge with big eyes. “In private, but whatever.”
“My prayers are being answered.” My mom throws her arms around Edge and me, which is absurd because she’s not religious.
“Whoa… wait.” Axel comes over, frowning, his phone out. “When are you guys thinking about doing this?”
“This week. And we’re not thinking.” Edge pats my mom’s back and guides her back to my dad who is laughing and accepting all the congratulations.
He shakes his dark head. “No can do.” He pockets his phone as if it’s a done deal.
“What?” Edge pulls back and laughs. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
&nbs
p; Axel moves closer. “I guess it’s slipped your mind, but you’re supposed to be helping me while Derrick gets his knee surgery.” He lights up a cigarette and walks over to the table to grab a bottle of Jack.
“You’re kidding me. That’s what you’re no can doing about?” Edge throws back his head to laugh. “Sorry, man, but Dolly has told her clients she’s going to be gone. Doug is handling the salon. So… the time is now.”
Axel looks almost more horrified than when I shot him in the face with the water gun. Edge smirks. “I’ll help when I get back if Derrick is still laid up.”
He looks at us like we’re both crazy. “Are you kidding? I’ll have to be there every day. It’s a full-time job. This is serious. I need your help at the Pussycat.” He takes a swig and looks at both of us like that was supposed to sway us.
“Oh, Axel.” I smile and shake my head. “And you call me drama.”
“Dolly, not funny. Please have Edge postpone this trip until Derrick is—”
“No can do, brother,” Edge interrupts and laughs at himself. “I’m taking my wife on a honeymoon.”
The train whistle blows by and the merry-go-round music plays from the ice cream truck. Axel stares at us, his face a cross between complete surprise that anyone is saying no and aggravation that someone is saying no.
“Don’t worry, brother, I’ll help.” Rip walks up with a joint hanging out of his mouth and slaps Axel’s back.
Axel looks at him then swiftly back to us. “Edge,” he hisses, “I need real help.” He takes another big swallow then points the bottle at us. “Managing that club for weeks requires someone who knows how to run a club.”
“You’ll be fine.” Edge dismisses him and pulls me close. His lips hover over mine as the party goes strong. Laughter, horns, and annoying bells surround us.
I smile up at him, not paying them attention anymore. All I feel is the warm sun and his cinnamon breath on my lips.
Edge and Dolly forever.
THE END
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The Disciples Series
Lethal
Atone
The Entitled Duet
The Entitled
The Enlightened
Lethal
Blade McCormick is not a nice guy.
He’s pure adrenaline and smells like smoke and leather—the kind of guy you look at and know he’s going to be a combination of nasty and irresistible. The moment I allowed myself to touch his hot skin and kiss his full lips, I. Was. Done.
Like currency, I’ve become part of a transaction. Blade took me to pay off a debt. I try to tell myself, Eve, you should hate him. He’s a bad guy. But then again, I’m not a good girl. Blade’s the president of the Disciples, the notorious motorcycle club. I should be frightened, yet somehow, he doesn’t scare me. If anything, I think I scare him.
It takes a lot of work to become the club’s Queen, but I’ll stop at nothing to have the King!
Atone
I don’t apologize or regret the destruction I’m about to cause. I’m at peace with what I must do… nothing can or will stand in my way. Not even the raven-haired beauty with golden eyes who haunts my dreams.
No one is innocent in the story of my life. Fairy tales don’t exist!
I. Make. No. Excuses.
Everyone needs to atone, and I’m the man who is going to see to it.
Want to meet David’s billionaire best friend?
Venture into my angsty world of The Entitled.
The Entitled
People say you can’t find your soul mate at eight years old. I did.
I found Reed and loved him more than I loved myself.
We were young… beautiful… entitled.
Money and private schools, our families’ lavish parties and posh New York City apartments—it was all mere window dressing. What was real was our obsessive love, which grew right along with us as we moved toward adulthood. It consumed me, and only in his arms did I feel wanted and safe.
But I have a secret. It’s big and to some, unforgivable. And it’s why I let Reed destroy me, or maybe I destroyed us. Either way, I’m worse than broke—I’m broken.
Once upon a time, we were happy… Yet privilege has an ugly underside and in the blink of an eye, my world crashed down around me.
I don’t feel entitled anymore.
The Entitled is first in The Entitled duet. Their story concludes in The Enlightened.
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First and always, to my husband and my two beautiful children. Their patience when I’m trying to figure out how to do this self-publishing journey is amazing. I love you guys more than you can imagine.
My brother Chris, Dahlia, my baby brother Duke, and cousin Jake, I’m so lucky to have you. My dad and Susie, my Minnesota family, thank you for all your support.
To my editor Nikki Busch: You are the best at what you do. You truly make all my stories incredible. Not only are you a wonderful friend, I would be lost without you.
Michelle Clay and Annette Brignac, what can I say besides you two complete me! I’m beyond honored to be part of our Tribe but also to call you both my best friends. When I ask for 100 percent you give me 150 percent and I love you both so much.
To Candi Kane PR, my master at calm. You rock! To my incredibly talented cover designer Michele Catalano Creative. You amaze me at how you understand my vision and bring it to life. Thank you. Elaine York: you’re a master at making the inside of my books look so incredibly beautiful. Betty at Tease Diaries- Ms Betty’s Design Studio and Cat Imb at TRC Designs, you know my vision and make the most beautiful teasers. I adore you both. My fantastic video from Ashlee of Ashes and Vellichor.
I have without a doubt the best betas Michelle, Annette, and Rea, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Auden Dar #soulsister. To my Thelma, Trilina Pucci. It’s rare to find a friend such as you.
A special thank you to Rea, you have become a dear friend. My sounding board, my sender of funny memes. Thank you for all your help. Axel is officially yours.
To my Tribe, without you I could not do this you’re all so special to me. Monica my wonderful friend who helps me stay sane and let’s not forget my model finder. To Megan, Kelly, Frances, Teresa, Melinda, Cameel, Heather, Cat, Cindy, Erin, Gladys, Rebecca, Stephanie, Tammy, Jenifer, Robyn, Myen, Chayo, Clayr and Sophie, your friendship and support mean the world to me. Love you girls so much.
To my reader group, Robbins Entitled, I adore all of you and am honored to be able to get to know you all. It makes my day to get up and talk to you.
Huge Thank you to all the amazing Bloggers & IG bookstagrammers who supported this release. I’m beyond grateful for your sharing Edge and Dolly with everyone.
Lastly, and most importantly, I thank you, my readers. You’re what matters most. I hope you enjoyed Edge and Dolly. I loved both of them so very much.
Stay tuned for my nastiest Disciple yet…Axel is coming for you!
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Cassandra Robbins is a USA Today, Amazon Top 100, KDP All-Star, and international bestselling author. She threatened to write a romance novel for years and finally let
the voices take over with her debut novel, The Entitled. She’s a self-proclaimed hopeless romantic driven to create obsessive, angst-filled characters who have to fight for their happily ever after. Cassandra resides in Los Angeles with her hot husband, two beautiful children, and a fluffy Samoyed, Stanley. Her family and friends are her lifeline but writing is her passion.
Repent (The Disciples Book 3) Page 27