Raiden's Choice (A Ravens MC Novel Book 1)

by J. L. Leslie

  “Bitch.” he grumbles as I scurry out of his hold.

  Of course, I don’t get far and this pisses me off. How dare Hayes come into my home and do this to me? How dare he betray the Ravens?

  I let my anger fuel me and fight him with everything I have. I know he’s an MMA fighter and I won’t stand a chance at defeating him, but I’ll leave my fucking mark.

  “Get off me!” I scream and kick at him as he tries to grab my legs.

  Hayes grabs my ankles and jerks me to him, but I don’t stop fighting. I can’t. Not even when my Crocs come off. My hair that was once in a tight, neat bun has come loose and at some point my Hello Kitty scrubs get a rip in the sleeve.

  “Stop struggling!” he yells, still holding my legs tight. “I don’t want to hurt you, Raiden!”

  Hayes reaches for my arms with his free hand and I swing a punch, connected with his jaw. He seems just as surprised as I am, but only for a split second, then he smashes his fist against my right cheek and I crash against my cabinets. I cup the side of my face and feel blood trickling from my nose. My head is pounding and if I didn’t know any better, I’d think he shattered my cheekbone.

  While I’m dazed, Hayes zipties my ankles and wrists. Fuck. The pounding in my head intensifies when he throws me over his shoulders and saunters out of my house. I twist my ankles and wrists to try and loosen my restraints the moment he sits me in the passenger side of a blue Ford Ranger. All it does is make them tighter though.

  “Why are you doing this?” I ask him when he pulls away from the curb.

  “Don’t make me gag you.”

  I wipe my nose on the back of my hand and stay focused on where he’s taking me. I tell myself to stay calm. Don’t panic. Panicking will only get me killed. Even if that’s the likely outcome, I won’t go out like a weak bitch.

  I stare out the window and refuse to look at Hayes. Not once did I suspect him of betraying my dad. Not once did I think he would do something like that.

  When he finally comes to a stop, I realize we’re at a warehouse. It doesn’t take me long to know which one. Fred Matthews took his last breath here.

  I watch Hayes get out and the moment he shuts the door, I open his glove box. No gun. Nothing. I move the papers around and see a pocketknife. Idiot. I grab it and shut the glove box right before Hayes opens the door.

  I hate the feeling of blindness and being disoriented as he carries me into the warehouse. I can’t see who is in front of me, only Hayes’ feet as he walks across the room.

  “Nice of you to join the party.” Cal.

  Hayes flips me over his shoulder and sits me down in a chair. Then I look around. Cal, Griffin, and Hayes.

  “Not much of a party.” I quip.

  “Oh? I let our other friend go and sent everyone else out on a run. They’ll be back.” Cal explains as he approaches me. “I thought you might miss your boyfriend.”

  I glance at Griffin and his head is lulled to the side. His eyes are closed and dried blood is crusted on the side of his head, his mouth, and under his nose. I can see that he’s still breathing though. For now.

  “Used to be that just me and you were enough of a party.” Cal grins.

  “Don’t make me vomit.” I roll my eyes. “Why am I here?”

  “Hayes didn’t feel you in?” he asks, pointing over at Hayes. “Seems you know too much. Knowing too much can be a problem.”

  I look at him like I have no idea what he’s talking about. In this case, that’s not too difficult. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Cal.”

  “You’re so beautiful when you’re playing stupid, Raiden.” he laughs. “Sully, Steve, we know you told Griffin everything. I can’t have my safety net pulled out from under me. Especially now that dear old dad is locked up. We’ve been playing this game too long. We need Steve. He makes the busts look realistic. My members don’t want that fucked up.”

  Sully? I buy time by looking Griffin over again and seeing that he’s beginning to stir. So Cal has Steve on his payroll. Fucking traitor. And I was right about his daughter, but she didn’t disappear and Steve knew that. He’s been protecting the Rykers because his daughter is with them. It makes sense now, no member has been busted. Only prospects.

  “Griffin doesn’t know.” I assure Cal. “Just me.”

  “Doesn’t matter. He’s a liability.” Cal states.

  “All this because you’re fucking the DA’s daughter? As if anyone gives a shit who you put that tiny cock into.” I say.

  Even though I’m expecting the blow Cal delivers, it still hurts like hell and knocks me off the chair I’m sitting in. I use the opportunity to milk it a little. I moan and groan and behave as though I’ve never taken a punch to the face before. I get my knees under me and use Griffin’s chair to help myself up only to act as though I can’t really get up. Cal thinks this is hilarious. Douche.

  At least he’s distracted by his own sadistic laughter and doesn’t notice me cutting the zipties on Griffin’s wrists. I give his hands a squeeze so he knows not to move them yet and then I crawl back to my own chair just as more Rykers walk into the warehouse.

  “You bring what I need?” Cal asks.

  Luka doesn’t spare a glance in my direction. “Yep.”

  “Great. Let’s burn this motherfucker to the ground.”

  ~Luka~

  I tamper down the rage burning inside me at the sight of Raiden with blood on her face and a bruise forming under her right eye. She doesn’t have any shoes on and there’s a rip in her top. The idea that one of these fuckers has hurt her makes me want to tear them apart. I don’t know why she’s even here. I thought this was about Griffin. Not her.

  Cal grabs a container of gasoline from me and instructs Fisk and Chase to start dousing everything. Hayes approaches and picks up a container. I don’t question why he’s here. It’s fucking obvious he’s the traitor.

  I pick up the remaining container and pop the cap. As I douse the stock, I realize everything stored here is horse feed and farming supplies and will go up in no time.

  “Cal, stop! You don’t have to do this!” Raiden screams and I turn to see what’s happening.

  Cal is pouring gasoline all over Griffin, who is barely even lucid. The liquid soaks right through his white button-up.

  “I haven’t forgotten about you sweetheart.” Cal smirks and splashes the gas in Raiden’s face, causing her to sputter and choke.

  I move towards them, ready to end this, when Griffin stands and delivers a blow to Cal that he clearly wasn’t expecting. Raiden stands on wobbly feet and encircles her bound arms around Cal’s neck. I see the glisten of the blade in her hand just before she slits his throat. They both tumble to the floor, blood pouring from Cal’s neck.

  Fisk yells and starts in their direction, pulling his gun from the back of his jeans. I tackle him to the floor before he has the opportunity to shoot.

  “I knew you were a fucking traitor!” he grunts out as I smash my forehead against his nose.

  I raise my fist to deliver another blow, but a bullet grazes my arm before I can bring it down. I curse and look over my shoulder. Chase is firing at me and I’m sure he’ll get a better shot next time. I climb off Fisk and pull my nine from the back of my pants. When I first joined the Ravens, I would have thought twice about killing a man. Hell, I would have done anything to get out of it. Now I put two bullets in Chase’s chest without a second thought. Afterwards, I try to get a look at where Raiden is, but I don’t see her. I can only see Cal’s body lying where she left him in a puddle of blood.

  Hayes is jumping ship and bolting out through the loading dock entrance. Fucking pussy.

  “It’s over!” Fisk laughs and I’m unable to stop him from dropping the lit match in his hand.

  The flames start up so fast, I can feel the heat licking at my heels as I scramble away from him. I can hear him laughing maniacally as he burns alive. I scream for Raiden, praying that she’ll call back to me, but she doesn’t. I look for her as fl
ames fill the warehouse. Any sign of her, but I get nothing.

  I cough and choke at the smoke I’m inhaling as I struggle to find the loading dock exit. At this point, any exit will do. I suck in air the moment I make it outside.

  “Luka! Oh my God, Luka!” Raiden breaks free from Griffin’s embrace and runs towards me. She damn near tackles me as we collide.

  “I thought you were gone!” I confess, holding her against me.

  “Griffin got me out.” she tells me.

  I look over her shoulder at the battered man who saved the woman I love. His arms are crossed and he definitely looks like he’s had better days. The scowl on his face and the fact that he’s coming towards us tells me he still thinks Raiden is his. I don’t fucking think so.

  I look down at her, searching her eyes to make sure she’s really alright. “I guess I should thank him.”

  “So you played snitch for me and traitor for the Ravens?” Griffin asks and then whistles. “You’ve got some balls, Luka Varelli.”

  His statement tells me he’s not all that surprised to see Raiden standing by my side. I don’t know what she told him while I was still in the building. It doesn’t matter to me, I’m not letting her go.

  “I have to say, you do too, Griffin Knowles. Slugging the president of a motorcycle club when you’re clearly outnumbered takes balls.”

  He looks at me and Raiden for a moment and then back to the burning warehouse. “I guess you two better get the hell out of here. I have a mess to clean up.”

  “What, no?” Raiden argues. “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “Go, Raiden.” he says, his jaw clenching.

  I take her hand and pull her away, knowing that what he’s doing is hard for him. He’s earned my respect though.

  “Oh, and Raiden, I’ll make sure your dad gets released tomorrow.”

  Raiden breaks free from my grasp and rushes to Griffin. When he wraps her in his arms, for once, I’m not jealous. I know it’s over between them. I know this hug is her showing her gratitude for him finally understanding where her loyalties lie. Who she is actually is. He looks over her shoulder and gives me a slight nod. I do the same and an unspoken agreement is formed between us. Take care of Raiden. She’s finally made her choice.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  ~Raiden~

  I know everything may not be right at this moment, but damn it, some things are. My dad will be getting out tomorrow. I know Griffin will keep his word and make that happen.

  Cal is dead. I slit his throat and I admit, that’s definitely not the same as pulling a trigger. It’s up close and personal. I could feel his life draining out of him as he bled out right on top of me. I’ll never forget that. Not even for a second.

  One of the Ravens was a traitor. Someone I didn’t suspect. In all my life, I don’t think I ever would have thought Hayes Winchester would have done what he did. Of course, I have no idea where he is now. He either ran to the Rykers and told them Luka was a traitor or is currently on his way out of town. My guess, he’s with the Rykers.

  There will be backlash for what he did. There will be backlash for Luka betraying the Rykers, so I know he has a decision to make about that. His brother is still with them. His brother will think he’s a traitor.

  Like I said, everything may not be right at this moment. But I am on the back of Luka’s bike and we’re on our way to his apartment. Some things are right.

  When he parks, he helps me off his bike and we walk inside hand in hand. His apartment is exactly the same as I remember it with the exception of a pillow and blanket on his couch.

  He turns to me after he closes his door. “You slit Cal’s throat.” he says, solemnly.

  I suck in a deep breath. “Yes…I…”

  Luka comes to me and folds me in his arms. “Are you okay, baby?”

  I nod against his shoulder. “I should have told you a long time ago, but I couldn’t.” I tell him.

  “I know, Raiden. You love me.” he says, a bit of humor in his tone.

  I pull back and look at him and he has a smirk on his face. “Maybe.” I smile.

  “I love you, Raiden Daughtry.” he grins. “Despite knowing exactly what you can do to a man who has pissed you off.”

  I laugh and rise onto my tiptoes to kiss him. I revel in the taste of him. At how I can finally kiss him, knowing that there’s nothing keeping us from being together. He’s mine and I’m his.

  I pull his shirt over his head, ignoring the smell of smoke. Apparently he can’t though because he lifts me in his arms and heads straight for his bathroom. I don’t complain when he breaks the kiss to turn his shower on.

  I strip out of my scrubs and decide to just trash them. The top is ripped and stained with my blood, Cal’s blood, and gasoline. I eye Luka’s toned and tattooed body as he undresses and then we step into the shower together.

  “You know, this isn’t quite over.” he says and lathers his hands with soap. “I’d put money on it that Hayes ran his pansy ass back to the Rykers.”

  “I don’t doubt it. They probably already know Cal’s dead and you betrayed them.” I agree and rub my hands together with his. I begin washing his body while he washes mine.

  “For all we know, they could be headed over here right now.” he states and rinses the soap from our bodies.

  “Probably.” I agree again.

  Luka presses my back against the shower wall and lifts my leg over his hip. His erection strains against my pussy.

  “I suppose we shouldn’t wait then.” I look down and then take him in my hands, guiding him inside me.

  Luka rocks against me, sliding in and out of me in long, deep strokes. I don’t care that I’m getting cold since I’m not under the spray of the water. I don’t care that the leg I’m standing on is getting weak. I just want this. I just want him.

  He leans forward and I wrap my arms around his neck. Water cascades from his hair down onto my forehead as he pounds into me.

  I can tell he’s close by the way his thrusts have become frantic. Animalistic. Uncontrolled.

  I want to come with him. I need to.

  Luka growls deep within his chest and the sound elicits a wave of pleasure inside me that takes me over the edge. I just keep tumbling over as I feel his release pulsing within me.

  Damn, how I love this man.

  ~Luka~

  I slowly ease my arm out from underneath Raiden and slip out of my bed. I’m glad that she’s sound asleep, but I need a drink. After we got out of the shower, we tried to put the pieces of what happened tonight together. We know Steve was working with the Rykers in order to keep his daughter safe. It definitely explains why there were half as many busts on the Rykers as there were the Ravens. Most of their charges didn’t stick either. Cal always felt like he was invincible. I guess you could when you had the District Attorney in your back pocket. I’m sure Griffin will take care of outing Steve and he’ll be one less crooked piece of shit we have to worry about.

  I take one more look at Raiden and thank God she’s here with me. If Cal hadn’t chosen me to go with him, who knows how tonight would have turned out? I grab a pair of underwear and slip them on and head out to the kitchen.

  I stop in my tracks at the sight of Lincoln sitting on my couch. His nine is pointed right at me. I don’t know how long he’s been here.

  “Brother.”

  He shakes his head. “Don’t call me that.” A tear rolls down his cheek. “I trusted you.”

  “And suddenly you don’t?” I ask him, careful not to raise my voice.

  “You’re still with them! You were never really with me!”

  “I’m always with you. I’m just not a Ryker.”

  “Then you’re against me!” he hisses and then stands, pacing my living room. “You just let Cal burn in that fire. How could you do that?”

  It takes a minute for his words to register. Hayes fucked the Ravens and Dax over, but not Raiden. He didn’t tell the Rykers that she killed Cal.

  “It
was him or me, Linc. You think you know them, but you don’t. Any one of them would have left you to burn.”

  “I know they’re my family now.” he laughs. “I said that before and I let you back in. I believed you wanted to be part of what I was a part of, but you didn’t. You just wanted to take me away from it. You wanted to destroy my family.”

  “You can’t trust them.” I try again and he points the gun right at me.

  “No, Luka, I can’t trust you.” Linc’s hard gaze doesn’t waver. “Stay the fuck away from my club.”

  Epilogue

  ~Raiden~

  I sit on my dad’s bike in front of the jail, anxiously waiting for him to be released. Griffin followed through on his word, just like I knew he would. Luka is parked beside me on his bike and the rest of the Ravens are with me as well.

  I look over at him and he flashes me a smile. I know he’s taking a risk being here. He betrayed the Rykers and they’ll want blood. It won’t take them long to appoint a permanent president in Cal’s place. I know their vice president, Burch, is not president material.

  I also know how hard he’s taking it that Lincoln didn’t come with him to the Ravens. He completely severed ties with him instead.

  “You know, you never filled me in on the plans you had. The ones you said I wouldn’t like.” I tell Luka and he laughs.

  “Well, I was supposed to shoot Kane.” he confesses.

  “What?” I glance back at Kane and he shrugs. “You were going to shoot Kane?”

  “We were going to invade the patrolling territories. I needed it to look real so Cal would let me in on the big deliveries he’s making. It’s not drugs or weapons. I still don’t know what he was doing. It was huge. You should have seen the cash flow he had coming through The Lion’s Den. Shooting Kane would have solidified my place with the Rykers.”

  “It would’ve been a flesh wound.” Kane assures me. “Have you seen him shoot? He has nothing on ya!”