by Lane Hart
“Most of the crew will stay here to help,” I tell him, even though I understand what he really means about cleaning up. “Start here, tonight, just picking up things around the club. It’s going to be a big job, but we’ll get it done, together.”
Torin gives me a sharp nod, then disappears down the hall. I look around at the somber faces of my brothers, gathered in the wreckage of our clubhouse and surrounded by even more death. “Let’s go get our girls,” I tell them with a sigh.
…
Sasha
As soon as I hear the rumble of the motorcycles, I go running out to the front porch.
Chase doesn’t waste a second parking his bike and ripping off his helmet before he heads for me. I meet him halfway, jumping into his arms and wrapping mine around his neck to squeeze him tight.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” he asks through panting breaths like he ran all the way here.
“No, I’m sorry I didn’t call and let you know where I was, but you had your hands full,” I tell him when I finally ease up my hold on his shoulders to pull back and see his face.
“I’m so damn glad you were here and safe,” Chase says when his hands come to rest on my hips. “I just can’t figure out how we fucked things up tonight.”
“It’s not your fault,” I assure him. “You were going after them, and they were expecting it. I was worried that they might try to hit us again.”
“Us,” he repeats.
“I meant the MC,” I correct.
“It’s okay, sweetheart, you’re part of the Kings now too,” Chase tells me, making me give him a small smile of thanks for that sentiment.
“In that case, there’s just one other little question I think the MC needs to worry about right now,” I tell him.
“What’s that?” he asks with a furrowed brow.
“How did Hector know when you guys would show up? Even if he had eyes on you and watched you leave, that wouldn’t have been enough time for his guys to evacuate and head an hour up the coast to Emerald Isle.”
“What are you saying?” Chase asks as he thinks it over with his forehead creased. Finally, he lowers his voice and says, “You think we have a rat?”
Nodding, I tell him, “Hector knew when Kennedy was at the clubhouse. And from what I noticed, she wasn’t there often, right? And he also knew when to vanish and hit the bar again. Maybe he just had someone tailing you…”
“No, a rat makes more sense,” Chase says with a clenched jaw. “We had the entire strip monitored on camera for a mile each way, and Reece would’ve noticed someone following Kennedy that day. I’m sure he’s been over that footage a dozen times by now.”
“Exactly,” I agree.
“Great, now we have to find out where the hell Hector is before Torin burns down the entire state looking for him, while there’s a rat in our midst, possibly going behind our backs to warn the asshole about our every move,” Chase grumbles, low enough that the men and women coming out of the house can’t hear him.
“I know,” I say quietly. “Just please be careful and make sure Abe always has your back when you ride. You trust him completely, don’t you?”
“Fuck, yes. There’s no way in hell he’s the rat,” Chase answers.
“Then he’ll help keep you safe for me,” I tell him.
Licking his lips as he lowers his eyes in thought, Chase says, “Sweetheart, shit around here is gonna get dangerous for everyone. I know being with me isn’t safe for you, and never will be. I can’t guarantee I won’t get hurt or that you won’t either, but I’ll try to be smarter and do everything I can to protect you if you decide you want to take a chance on us again.”
“Okay,” I agree with a smile, glad that it sounds like he’s finally going to stop pushing me away out of fear of losing me.
“Okay?” he asks.
“Yes. That’s what I want. I told you that I’m well aware of all the risks that come along with you and the MC, and I think you’re worth it.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes!” I reply adamantly.
“Then, once everything settles down around here, how about we finally take that trip to Vegas?” he asks with a grin.
“Absolutely,” I answer without hesitation before I lift my lips to his for a long, sweet kiss. One that I know won’t be our last.
Epilogue
Sasha
A few days later…
Saturday afternoon I’m going through my huge pile of clothes that’s been tossed on Chase’s bed at the farmhouse, hanging each article one at a time in his closet. What may seem like a tedious task to some is as exciting as winning the lottery to me, because it means that Chase and I are moving in together.
While I love the clubhouse, we both thought that it would be nice to have a place to ourselves where we can cook and eat naked in the kitchen if we so choose.
Everything is damn near perfect, including the fact that the news station hasn’t uttered a word about firing me even though my affiliation with the MC is out in the open. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s one of the main reason’s they’ve been so nice to me lately. The only thing that still weighs heavily on me is not speaking to my parents for weeks now…
My cell phone beeps from the back pocket of my cutoffs, so I pull it out, hoping it’s a message from Chase.
Sure enough, it is. The message is confusing yet thrilling.
Put on a fancy dress, sweetheart, and be ready at the farmhouse at six.
That message is quickly followed up with a correction.
Scratch that. I should’ve said OUR house.
Grinning like a lunatic, my fingers tap out an instant response.
I’ll be ready at OUR house, but where are we going?
Chase’s reply is short.
If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.
I’m not all that shocked that he would plan something for me, but I am curious about why he wants me to dress “fancy” since Chase doesn’t own a single thing formal. I know this because of who he is and the fact that I’m trying to squeeze my clothes into the closet with all the things that he hung up days ago because he was so eager to get moved in. All he owns are jeans, most with holes in them, t-shirts, wife beaters, a few hoodies for winter, and boots. That’s it.
Still, I follow his instructions. And after my makeup is done and hair has been arranged with loose curls over my bare shoulders, I pick out a purple and silver sleeveless gown with nearly a billion sequins and a slit that goes all the way up to my thigh. It’s the most extravagant dress I own, and I’ve only worn it once to the AP award banquet last year.
Pairing the dress with silver, strappy heels, I’m ready to go a few minutes before six. I head down the stairs and wait in the living room until I hear the crunch of gravel outside. When I jump up to look out the front window, my jaw falls open at the sight of a long, black limo. Even more shocking than the limo out here in the rural part of town is the tall, handsome, bearded man who climbs out of it in a black tuxedo.
“Oh, my God,” I mutter aloud when I finally realize that the man is Chase. He looks so different that it didn’t quite register.
Rushing to the front door, I throw it open and say, “Chase, baby, are you feeling okay?”
“I feel great, sweetheart,” he replies with a grin. “And you look…damn, you’re sexy as fuck,” he adds as his eyes lower and take in every inch of my curves filling out the snug dress. I throw in a slow spin for him to get the full view of my backside too.
“Get your ass down here before I drag you upstairs and all my hard work on your surprise goes down the drain,” he grumbles, refusing to come up the stairs to the porch.
That makes me laugh. And while I wouldn’t mind if we stayed here and tumbled on the pile of clothes I left up on the bed, I hold on to the railing and walk down the steps toward Chase because I need to see what he’s been up to.
“Thank you,” I tell him with a quick kiss on his cheek before I run my hands down the la
pels of his tux to make sure I’m not seeing things.
“For what?” he asks. “You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“No, but I’m sure I’ll love it,” I tell him.
“I’m gonna remind you of those words later,” he mutters, making me worry a tad since he sounds so serious.
“Come on,” Chase says, before I can question him further. He takes my hand and walks me to the back of the limo, and then opens the door for me to climb in first.
“Wow, this is…wow,” I say as I slide across the black leather seat to make room for Chase. He slips in and shuts the door. There’s a screen up, so I can’t see the driver, but we have the enormous back seat to ourselves that could easily fit about ten normal size people or five of Chase’s MC brothers.
“You want something to drink?” Chase asks, nodding to the bar.
“No, I’m okay,” I say, now feeling a little nervous about what we’re doing.
“Relax, sweetheart,” Chase says when he wraps his arm around my shoulders to pull me against him.
I nod, and then try to do as he suggested, inhaling him in, smelling the comforting leather scent of his cut that lingers on him even when he’s not wearing it, like it’s a part of his skin. God, I love that smell and I love him.
“Any news on Hector?” I ask in the silence.
“Not even so much as one fucking ping,” Chase huffs. “Reece has alerts set up for him and his daughter, but so far they haven’t used a single credit card to give away their location.”
“You’ll find him,” I say with my hand rubbing his thigh. “How’s Torin?”
“Spiraling,” he grumbles. “I think he’s moved from the anger stage of grief to the depressed one. He’s drinking way too much. This morning I found him passed out asleep on the stairs of the bar when I went in. I asked the guys why no one fucking moved him to a bed, and they all said Torin fought them off and told them he, quote, ‘didn’t deserve any such comforts.’”
“Jesus,” I reply with a sigh. “I’m sorry,” I tell Chase, covering the top of his hand to give it a squeeze.
“I don’t know what the fuck to do for him,” he admits.
“Give him his space to grieve until you find the asshole who hurt him so that he can finally get his vengeance,” I suggest.
“Yeah, well I can’t believe my brother didn’t snap sooner, before all of this shit. Sax and I are trying to handle all the club’s legit businesses, and we’re both drowning. I don’t know how Torin did it all on his own.”
“You’ll figure it out until he’s ready to take over again,” I assure him.
“I hope so,” Chase responds with a sigh. “But enough of the heavy shit. This is supposed to be a good night for you.” He turns his head to look out the window and says, “We’re here.”
I hadn’t been paying attention to where we were going, so I’m stunned when I look out my window and see the nondescript, three-story brick building with a flag pole out front. We’re at West Carteret High School - our old high school.
“What are we doing here?” I ask Chase since it’s a Saturday and the school is, of course, closed with summer break right around the corner.
“Let’s go and I’ll show you,” he says with a quick kiss on my lips before he gets out of the limo and offers me his hand. I take it and let him pull me to my feet.
“I haven’t been back here since before the accident,” I admit to him as I take a deep breath in and let it out, remembering all the good times and bad. Mostly good ones with Chase, making out or doing more in the parking lot; stealing kisses in the hallways; working on my dad’s Mustang in shop class…
“This way,” Chase says, taking my hand and leading us toward the building back to the left – the gymnasium.
“You should’ve had me wear my gym uniform instead of the fancy dress,” I tell Chase as he pulls on the handle of the front door and it opens. “Why is it unlocked? Are we trespassing?” I ask when my heart begins to race with excitement.
“Believe it or not, we’re not trespassing. The principal opened it for me after I made a big donation,” he answers with a smirk over his shoulder as he hauls me inside the pitch-black building.
Or it was completely dark until the gym door slams shut behind us. Then, it’s like a switch is flipped and the whole place lights up like Christmas. There are strings of white lights hanging everywhere, including on the trees and tables that have been set up. A disco ball hangs over what looks like a dance floor, throwing off bright colors.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell Chase as my eyes start to go blurry from the tears clouding them.
“It’s prom,” he says, and that’s all it takes to cause the tears to overflow down my cheeks. “I’m sorry we missed ours, sweetheart.”
“You…” I start, but my throat feels like it’s closed shut, so I smack Chase’s chest instead.
“Last night was the school’s prom, so I had them keep up the decorations. You said you regretted missing ours…” he replies as he rapidly blinks his fern-green eyes and looks away like he’s tearing up too.
My man may be an outlaw biker in the Savage Kings MC, but he can still be romantic and sensitive too, making me love him even more.
“Thank you,” I tell him when I throw my arms around his neck to hold him. His arms wind around my waist; and then, as if on cue, music starts to play, a slow song.
“The prospects are in charge of operating the lights and DJ’ing,” Chase informs me as we begin to sway to the tune. “They’ll keep their mouths shut, while I’m guessing my brothers would’ve never let me live this down.”
“Then they need to learn how to treat a woman like a queen,” I whisper in his ear. “And your brothers will be so jealous when they hear about how you get rewarded for this. I’m thinking your dick may be spending more time in my mouth than it does in your pants.”
“Is that right?” Chase asks when he pulls his face back to look at me with a grin.
“Yep,” I reply.
“Well then, in that case, I can’t fucking wait to see what you’ll do for this,” he tells me before he removes his hand from me. My lovesick brain is still trying to process everything when Chase pulls out a small black box from his pocket. Opening it up to reveal a huge diamond solitaire, he says, “I should’ve given you a ring like this years ago. Will you wear it and be my old lady no matter what obstacles come between us?”
“Yes,” I tell him, but it comes out softly, so I say it again, “Yes, Chase! Yes, baby,” I repeat before I grab the sides of his face to join our lips.
Chase returns the kiss for a moment before breaking it to remove the ring from the box. Reaching for my left hand, he slips the diamond onto my finger.
“There, now you can’t change your mind,” he says, bringing my knuckles to his lips to kiss them.
“I won’t change my mind,” I assure him.
“Remember you said that,” Chase says. “Because I asked your parents to come here too.”
“You did what?” I exclaim as my neck snaps around the gymnasium, looking for them. I finally spot them over near the entrance where it’s the darkest. “Are you kidding me?” I ask Chase. “Why? Why would you do that? They hurt us both for years!”
“I know,” he says as he takes both of my hands in his and dips his head down to hold my gaze. “What they did was fucked up, and I absolutely hate it; but at the same time, I know what it’s like to be without you. I want you to just consider letting them be a part of your life again. It’s okay to be angry at them. I am too. I just don’t want you to regret pushing them away in a few years if you lose them. Life’s too short, sweetheart.”
My anger quickly melts away as Chase’s words sink in. Of all the people who should want to steer clear of my parents, he’s not only trying to forgive them but urging me to do the same. God, I’m so lucky to have this man in my life again.
“I love you,” I tell him with my chin trembling from emotion when I grab his lapels.
“I
love you too,” he replies with a grin. “So fucking much.”
The End
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.
Only Amazon has permission from the publisher to sell and distribute this title. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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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 SCENES THAT MAY BE A TRIGGER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS.
Synopsis for Abe
Abram Cross didn’t want the life of crime that fate had dealt him, but what other choice did he have when his mother spent every penny on drugs instead of buying food for him and his younger brother?
While Abe is no longer a professional thief, he’s still living on the wrong side of the law as a member of the Savage Kings MC. He never claimed to be a good guy; but after Abe meets Mercy Daniels, he's starting to wish he was a better man.
Abe was only supposed to take Mercy for a ride on the back of his bike. He didn't plan on offering her more than a few good times between the sheets.