Last Ride

by Chantal Fernando

  I decide to knock him out and take him home for Dex to deal with. I don’t want to kill him in Steph’s house, and to be frank, I don’t want to deal with this shit right now. I came here to be a good wing woman to Ronan—the last single man in the MC besides Ranger—and ended up in this situation.

  I swear this shit only happens to me.

  “I’m going home,” I announce, walking toward the door. When I pass him, he steps away, but I grab his head and smash it into the wall. Steph screams. I ignore her. One punch to the back of Eric’s head and he crumples to the ground.

  Casual as ever, I turn to Steph and say, “Can you help me carry him to the car?”

  Dex stares at his brother, then scrubs a hand down his face. “Tell me again, Faye, exactly how this happened?”

  “He was starting some new diabolical plan! Getting Steph to infiltrate the squad, then he was going to use her for information and shit. He was at her house. I was at her house. I knocked him out and brought him here for you to deal with. But to be honest, it’s a lost cause. I think I should put him in jail. It’s the only way.”

  “And what exactly are you going to pin on him? Your own kidnapping that you never reported?”

  “I’ll pin something on him, don’t you worry,” I murmur, looking down at Eric in disgust. “How could Steph choose him over Ronan?”

  “You know Eric; he can be charming if he wants to be. He probably gave her attention and compliments and all that other shit women love.”

  “Dexter Black, romantic of the year,” I grumble.

  Arrow and Irish walk into the room, and Irish whistles. “What have you gone and done, Faye?”

  “Just a little fishing,” I reply, pushing my hair out of my face. “Caught myself something. But now it’s the men’s job to figure out what to do with it.” I dust off my hands. “I’m going to have a shower, then cuddle in bed with my kids. Good night.”

  I go and do just that.

  Let them solve the fuckup that is Eric Black.

  FOURTEEN

  Faye

  “I DON’T wanna go on a fuckin’ blind date,” Ronan growls, moody, as you would be if you found out a girl chose Eric over you. “If I wanted a woman, I’d go out and get one. Do I look like I need your help?”

  “She’s a babe.”

  “Don’t care.”

  “She’s a gymnast,” I add, winking at him. “Very flexible.”

  She isn’t really, but he doesn’t need to know that until he’s on a date with her. He stares at me a moment, sighs, then leaves the room. “Forget Steph! She’s stupid!”

  “Smooth,” Arrow says, grinning.

  “Shut up.”

  “I had my date last night.”

  “And?”

  He just smiles in reply.

  “Good work, Arrow,” I say, planting a sloppy kiss on his cheek, which he wipes. “I’m sure Anna can’t walk right today.”

  He shakes his head at me. “Thanks for the ideas.”

  “What are friends for if not to help them get laid and plan their sex clothes?”

  “What?” he asks, looking confused.

  Keep up, Arrow, keep up.

  I went with Anna to Victoria’s Secret, and we picked out some cute lingerie for her to wear for Arrow. With Arrow, I helped him pick Anna’s present, a diamond bracelet with a turtle charm on it, although don’t ask me why, because I have no idea.

  “Never mind. Did you do the candlelit dinner?” I ask him, genuinely interested.

  He nods. “She loved it.”

  “Winning.”

  I lift up my fist; he bumps it.

  I walk out of the kitchen, but not before saying, “Remember that time I saw your penis and thought that was why they called you Arrow? Good times, right?”

  I leave before he can reply.

  When I walk outside the clubhouse to see where Colt is, the next person I come across is Irish. I forgot to ask him what happened with Tina in the end, about the whole Darren thing, even though they obviously managed to make up over it. “So is Darren no longer a name we can’t mention?” I ask him. “Or is he still our very own Voldemort?”

  He lifts his head from where he’s working on his bike. “We talked it out. She was pissed. Whatever you said to her, it helped though. Your mouth should be labeled as a weapon.” He pauses, cringing. “Fuck, that’s not what I meant. You have the gift of the gab, is all.”

  “Maybe I kissed that rock in Ireland. What’s it called?”

  “Blarney Stone,” he says, looking amused. “Yeah, maybe you did.”

  “I’m glad all is well in your world, Irish,” I say, crouching down and kissing his cheek. He looks a little surprised, but then smiles back.

  “You know I love you like a sister, right?”

  I nod, stand, and walk back inside, bumping into Tracker. I smile up at him and ask, “How did everything go at the book signing after I left?”

  He shrugs and puts his hands in his pockets. “Okay, fine. I like going to them. I like the attention. Fuckin’ sue me.”

  “Don’t say that to a lawyer.”

  “You’re the sketchiest lawyer I’ve ever met, Faye,” he replies, blue eyes dancing with mischief.

  “You’re the sketchiest book-cover model I’ve ever met.”

  “True.”

  “Tracker?”

  “Yeah?”

  I hug him. “I adore you. Always have. You know this, right?”

  He places his hand on my back, then asks me softly if I’m dying.

  I’m about to reply, when Rake walks up and hugs me from behind so I’m a Tracker and Rake sandwich. “What’s going on?”

  “Faye’s telling everyone she loves them. I think she’s dying.”

  “You haven’t told me you love me,” Rake says, sounding offended. I let go of Tracker’s waist and spin in the sandwich so I’m facing Rake and my back is to Tracker. “I love you, Rake. I’m happy you found Bailey and Cara and stopped fucking random whores.”

  “I love you too, Faye,” he says, clearing his throat. “But why does it sound like you’re saying good-bye? We’re all growing old together, and we already know how much you care about us. Fuck, don’t think any woman would put up with our shit with a smile on her face. And you’re everything to us too, to this club. Ever since you walked through that door, pregnant, with that mouth on you, fate decided. You’re a Wind Dragon. Now stop this mushy shit. Let’s go get drunk before the kids get home from school.”

  He steps back, freeing me. I kiss him on the cheek. Rake has his random sweet moments, and I just experienced one.

  I see Vinnie later that evening, and I run over to him as he pulls up on his bike. As soon as he gets off the bike, I give him the biggest hug. I remember the first time I saw Vinnie. A prospect I remember thinking was too much of a nice guy to be in the life. I remember his bravery on the night Mary was killed. We’ve always been close, Vinnie and I. To the rest of the men, he’s Wolf, but to me, he will always be Vinnie.

  “Is everything okay?” he asks, hugging me back. “Faye?”

  “I was just thinking about when we first met,” I say, pulling back and smiling at him. “You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, right?”

  “Faye, I know,” he says gently, kissing the top of my head. “We’re family. No, family is too tame a word for what we are.”

  “We’re Wind Dragons,” I say, smiling. “Did Dex tell you about Eric?”

  Dex got Eric the help he needed. He is now seeing doctors and being treated for a mental breakdown—resulting from the loss of his mom—and needs to go on meds, as well as having therapy sessions with a shrink. I don’t know what will happen from here, but I’m hoping that Eric either sorts his shit out, or never comes back. Harsh, but I don’t want to be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.

/>   “That he’s getting help,” Vinnie says, nodding. “In some medical facility. Yeah, we all heard. At least you don’t have to worry about him anymore; he won’t be coming back. I don’t think they’ll let him out of there. Dex told them that he was self-harming and that’s why he was so banged up, because he kept hitting his head on walls and shit.”

  My eyes widen, and I feel impressed. Dex never told me that part. “Dex can be a sneaky bastard when he wants to be.”

  “Bet he learned from the best.”

  I laugh at that. “He was devious before he met me, okay?”

  “Not as,” he replies, then places his arm around my shoulders. “Now what has you feeling so sentimental today?”

  “I don’t know,” I admit, shrugging. “It feels like the end of an era. Everyone is settled down, and we have no more enemies out to get us. We just get to enjoy now, you know? Live peacefully. Our version of peaceful anyway.”

  “Yeah, Ronan and Ranger are the only bachelors, aren’t they?”

  “They’ll both find women eventually.”

  “Apparently with you trying to set them up on blind dates,” he says, barking out a laugh. “You don’t even have any other female friends.”

  “Do too.”

  “No you don’t. You probably only just met them. Fuckin’ found them on the street or in a café or something.”

  “This isn’t an episode of Friends,” I mutter, making him laugh harder. “I have a life outside of these walls, you know.”

  “Really? Because last month you asked me to come and talk with you while you got your nails done, because you had no one else to go with.”

  “That happened, like, one time. All the girls were busy!”

  He laughs loudly. “You’re fuckin’ something else.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “I meant it as one.”

  “How cute are we right now?” I say, stopping at the kitchen. “I have to start cooking for tonight’s dinner.”

  “Do you want any help?” he asks, surprising me. “By the way, have you looked in the freezer recently?”

  “No. Why?” I ask, walking over to the freezer and opening the door. Inside are two tubs of my favorite ice cream. “You got me ice cream!”

  “You’re a hard woman to say no to, Faye Black,” he says, smiling and continuing down the hallway. I take out one tub and hug it against my chest, grinning.

  I always get my way.

  Dex walks into the kitchen, spots me hugging my ice cream with a huge smile on my face, and shakes his head, his own lips kicking up at the corners.

  “All of them fuckin’ spoil you,” he says, but I can tell by his tone that he loves it.

  He loves that they love me.

  We could change the Wind Dragons motto: Love the woman, love the club.

  EPILOGUE

  Faye

  NEVER did I ever think Dex would want to step down as the WDMC president, but after my kidnapping, he made his mind up, and I support him in that.

  “I can’t do it,” he told me, pushing my hair back behind my ear. “That feeling in my stomach when you were gone, when I didn’t know if I’d see you again, and then having to lead the men while feeling that? I can’t do it. I need to concentrate on us. I’ve done what I can for the club, but now it’s time for me to step down.” He paused, then grinned and made a joke. “Are you still going to be hot for me if I’m not the leader?”

  I rolled my eyes, knowing his alpha tendencies. The man will always be a leader in his own right. The truth is, I don’t care where Dex ends up or where he wants to go or who he wants to be. I’ll always follow. People should follow their hearts, and he is mine.

  We’re still going to be in the club, of course—they’re our family, and we belong here—but Arrow is going to step up and lead us, while Dex is going to take on more of an advisory role. My man—retiring before the gray hair and beer belly set in. Well, hopefully that never happens. The gray hair I can deal with—Dex is going to be a silver fox—but I don’t think he’ll ever allow himself to get a beer belly at any age. I run my hand down his stomach, just for reassurance.

  “What are you doing?” he asks me, amusement flashing in his blue depths.

  “Just checking something,” I say, grinning up at him. He didn’t tell me about his plans until a few weeks after the kidnapping. He said he’d decided while I was gone, and the decision stuck. The kids and I need to be his first priority, and he said I’d put myself in enough danger over the years. To be fair though, danger usually finds me, not the other way around.

  I don’t need to be the queen bee anymore, although I’ll always be badass, and I’ll always be here to help the club when they need it. Stepping down was a weight off Dex’s shoulders. Less stress, less responsibility. And if he’s happy, then I’m happy.

  “You’re still going to be here to help me, right?” Anna asks me softly, her green eyes full of worry.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” I assure her, touching her arm. “Don’t stress.”

  Dex wraps me in his arms from behind, and we all watch as Arrow puts on his cut, with the new president patch on it.

  It’s the end of an era, our last ride.

  And the beginning of a new one.

  All of us in a circle around him, we cheer.

  I wrap my arms around Sin and press my cheek against his soft jacket, smelling the familiar scent of leather. My hair blowing all around my face under my helmet, I close my eyes and smile, just enjoying the feeling of being on the back of his bike.

  It’s a feeling that will never get old.

  I laugh and tighten my hold as we gain speed, riding off into the sunset, knowing that this is where I’m meant to be.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  FIRST of all, I’d like to thank all my readers for wanting more from the WDMC world, and for Gallery books and Abby Zidle for making it a reality. Marla Daniels, a big thank you to you as well for all of your help!

  To my agent, Kimberly Brower, I’m so lucky to have you! Thank you for everything you do, as always. I know I can always count on you, and I’m so grateful.

  Arijana Karcic—thank you for all you do for me. You’re seriously the best and deserve the world.

  Natalie Ram—Thank you for being the most versatile best friend ever, from helping me proofread to making me swag, I appreciate everything that is you. I know I can always count on you to have my back, or help me when I need you. I kind of adore you, and I don’t know how I survived before I had you by my side. You’re my one woman army, and I love you heaps.

  Thank you to my parents and sisters for helping out whenever I need more writing time, I appreciate everything you do for me, and to my three sons for being patient when they know their mama has to work. I love you all so much.

  FMR Book Grind, thank you for everything—I appreciate all the hard work you all do for me!

  Rose Tawil, I really don’t know what I’d do without you. I can’t say thank you enough for all the work you put in to support my dreams, and you never ask for anything in return. You truly are one of the best people I’ve ever met. Love you infinity.

  Don't want to leave the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club yet?

  Read Dex and Faye's story in Dragon's Lair, on sale now!

  Dragon's Lair

  * * *

  Being the younger sister of a Wind Dragons MC member isn’t as great as you’d think it would be . . . will Lana ever get Tracker to notice her?

  Arrow's Hell

  * * *

  Tracker and Lana couldn't be more different. And when they finally get together, Tracker breathes a sigh of relief that she's finally his. But life has a funny way of interfering with the best laid plans . . .

  Tracker's End

  * * *

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  About the Author

 
Chantal Fernando is the New York Times bestselling author of the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club series and the Maybe series, along with several other novels. She lives in Western Australia, where she is working on her next book. Find her online at AuthorChantalFernando.com, and on Twitter and Facebook.

  FOR MORE ON THIS AUTHOR: Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Chantal-Fernando

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  The Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club Series

  Dragon’s Lair

  Arrow’s Hell

  Tracker’s End

  Dirty Ride*

  Rake’s Redemption

  Wild Ride *

  Wolf’s Mate

  *ebook only

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  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.