Visit her website, www.ChelleCCraze.com, or find them on social media.
For more information:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCCraze
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEliAbbott
Facebook for Paranormal and Paranormal Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAcaciaMal one
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Other Books by Chelle C. Craze:
Just Breathe Book One of The Blue Series
Waiting to Breathe Book Two of The Blue Series
Chaos Book One of The Blackwell Bayou Series
Proof Book Two of The Blackwell Bayou Series
Kamikaze Heart Book One of Cupid’s Aim & Book 2.5 of The Blackwell Bayou Series
Dahlia Book Five of The ScentSations Empire
Hard Rime A Forever Safe Christmas Book 3 & Dogs of Chaos MC Book One
Hard Rock Kandy A Forever Safe Christmas II Book & Dogs of Chaos MC Book Two
Plush Book One of the Life and Death Saga by Acacia Malone
Scars of My Brother CRMC Book One by Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott
Bad Like Me Royal Bastards MC Cleveland, Ohio Chapter by Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott
Ghoul: Royal Bastards MC Cleveland, Ohio Chapter Book 2 by Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott
Eternally Ginger: Royal Bastards MC Cleveland, Ohio Chapter Book 3 by Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott
Summer’s Trip
Wild Kings MC: Nomads
Erin Osborne
Book 1
Prologue
Summer
GROWING UP MY life was anything but easy. I had loving parents and an amazing older brother, Calvin, who I absolutely adored. The two men in my life were my heroes for extremely different reasons. I loved my father because when he was home, we had his absolute attention. There wasn’t a single thing he did without my brother, mother, and me. For those few days or weeks, if we were lucky, our family was whole. At the same time, my brother was my entire universe when our dad wasn’t home. He made sure no one fucked with me at school, I had people to hang out with, and he spent time helping me learn any new thing I wanted to. Including fighting and how to use guns.
My father was in the military, so we spent most of my life moving from one new place to another as we followed him around for his career. Our mother was a tremendous woman. She took care of the house, did anything she could to help other military wives, was a support for anyone who lost a loved one while they were serving, and showed up to each and every event Cal and I had at school. Every game, play, or any award ceremony we had our mom was in the crowd. My dad was when he was home, but the military was his other love, and he had no plans to leave it. That’s not why my childhood was hard.
The constant moving around as we followed my father made it impossible to make close friends or learn how to let anyone in. That’s why Cal was my best friend in the world. He was the one constant in my life aside from our mom. I craved a friendship with another female though. Someone I could talk to about boys, learn how to do make-up, and anything else a girl would need or want during her teenage years. That never happened. Not until I reached college.
I was the polar opposite of my big brother. Cal was tall, over six foot tall by the time he was seventeen. He had the same thick, dark hair as our dad along with the dark brown eyes lined by thick dark lashes any woman would kill for. His skin was always tan from being outside as much as possible. The piercings in his ears, lip, and nipples, along with the bad boy aura didn’t hinder him in the least either. It only made the girls flock to him in larger numbers. Yes, our mom signed off for him to get the piercings. It was something Cal wanted, and she made it happen. She drew the line at a tattoo though.
Cal’s outgoing personality was what kept the large crowds of people around him. His sweetness, bad boy aura, and his giving nature are what drew others to him. Cal made it seem as if he could care less about anything going on around him, but he was always the first to step in whenever anyone needed help. So, he was always surrounded by people and I got shoved to the background by most of them. No one wanted his little sister around for long periods of time. I wasn’t someone they wanted to hang out with because I was shy and awkward.
While he was popular and made friends no matter where we were or who was around, I did not. I was shy and withdrawn. It was hard for me to make friends anyway. Add in being shy and not knowing how to make friends easily, I can count on one hand the number of girls I talked to in school. Turns out, they were only using me to get closer to Cal. The second he realized it, he wouldn’t even look in their direction and kicked them out of my life. Like I said, always watching out for me.
When I finally graduated and got to college, my life started to turn around. I decided to be someone completely different. Instead of the shy, timid Summer of the past, I made myself begin to go out to parties, meet people since I didn’t have to worry about leaving at a moment’s notice, and let go of every hang up I had. It didn’t hurt that Cal wasn’t around to police my behavior or stop me from doing anything fun. So, I reinvented myself and got out into the world.
While partying, I slept with guys I shouldn’t have just because I didn’t want to be the only virgin at college. Plus, I wasn’t like the rest of the girls and felt sex was something sacred and to share between two people. To me, true love didn’t exist. Yes, I believed my parents were in love. My father simply chose his military life over a life with his family. I knew love wasn’t in the cards for me. I’m not that girl. The one thing I discovered in college is I’m the girl who’s good enough to have sex with, but not make it more than that. No one wanted to date me or do anything when it didn’t involve piles of clothes on the floor or a semi-private area to fuck in while still half dressed.
Even though it hit me hard no one wanted me for me, I embraced it and learned to hide the pain. I buried it deep and pushed it aside whenever it tried to creep back up on me. Instead of letting it turn me sour against the male race, I simply decided to use my body for what the guys wanted. This put me in control of what happened to me and who I let touch me. At least that’s how I felt about the situation.
Cal decided to follow in our father’s footsteps and joined the military instead of heading off to college. While I still had a year in high school, he was learning how to defend our country. My heart broke every single day we didn’t hear from him or know what was going on in his world. Even though I was used to not knowing or hearing from our father, it hit different with Cal. I’d had him almost to myself for seventeen years and now we were lucky to get a phone call once a week or so. I was having a hard time dealing with it.
At the end of the day, my schoolwork suffered, and I dropped out of school. My mom wasn’t happy about it, but she understood where I was coming from. School had never been my thing. So, I roamed around for a while. Once again, I was alone in the world. That all changed when I took a job at a strip club. I met my best friend, Storm. That’s really her name; not a stage name or some name she made up to entice anyone to her. She was delivered in the middle of a horrendous storm so her mom decided that would be her name.
Storm was a year older than me, close to the same age as Cal. We worked together at the club and ended up living together. She was on the verge of losing her apartment and I needed to find a place to stay. So, we pooled our money and moved in together. It wasn’t anything major; just a small two-bedroom place close to the club. Not exactly in the best part of town but it works for us. The two of us made it our own and I think it’s the cu
test place I’ve ever lived.
Storm and I are complete opposites. She’s outgoing and uses her body to her advantage any way she can. I may use my body for sex, but I don’t put it all out there the way Storm does. I’m not one to judge anyone and I love Storm like she’s my sister. We’ve become extremely close to one another over the last several months with working and living together. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.
When things started changing in the strip club, Storm and I decided to leave town. Cliff, the original owner, got sick and had to sell. His only stipulation was the new owners kept all of his staff in place for two months so we would have time to find other jobs. That didn’t exactly work out the way Cliff wanted. Dante, the new owner, figured because he owned the club, he owned all the women working for him as well. We were expected to have sex with him whenever he wanted it from one of us, have sex with the customers instead of only dancing, and push drugs to the customers.
Dante essentially became our pimp and Storm and I weren’t down for it. If we were going to have sex, it was going to be our decision who we had sex with and when. I wasn’t about to be told who to do and how to do it by a man who was hungry with power and the thought we actually wanted to have sex with him. Dante is the least attractive man I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
He’s got greasy hair, slicked back with some sort of oil, a hairy chest filled with multiple fake gold necklaces hanging down, and the body of a seventy-year-old man instead of someone in his early thirties. Dante had partied hard in his life and the drugs he used and pushed were his downfall. See, our new owner got in debt with the drugs he was supposed to be selling. He used the club to host a massive party with drugs and alcohol flowing freely. Storm and I took off the day the group of men came in looking for their money. Or the drugs back. We wanted no part of that shitstorm.
Storm and I took off, location unknown. The only things I brought with us were two bags filled with clothes rolled up tight to fit more in, my purse, cell phone and charger, and the sentimental things I moved away from home with. Mainly pictures and other small mementos from my childhood. A lot of things revolving around my brother. Storm didn’t bring much more with her. Unlike me, she didn’t have things holding any sentimental value. Everything she wanted to take with her was lost long ago when her ex-boyfriend sold it all out from under her to support his own drug habit. That was after beating the shit out of her.
We slowly made our way toward a small town called Clifton Falls. Storm literally closed her eyes and pointed to a spot on the map. That’s where we were going to begin our new lives. Away from Dante and the hell he was bringing to the club and anything in our past. I was honestly outrunning getting the dreaded call about my father or brother. The only thing I knew was I’d been on my own long enough for Cal to be through training and on his first deployment. He didn’t come home when he got a two-week break. Instead, he chose to head home with some of his buddies. I wasn’t happy at all because I took a break and was planning on heading home to see him.
We were halfway to Clifton Falls when I got the phone call. The one from my mother to inform me my brother had been injured while overseas on duty. He was in critical condition and she was heading over to be with him. I told her I’d book a flight and fly out from the closest airport to us and my mother refused to let me. She didn’t want me to go over there and not be able to handle seeing Cal the way we were both imagining him.
Storm was there for me as I broke down. We stopped in the rinky-dink town we were in and got a hotel room. She got us takeout, junk food, alcohol, and anything else she thought I’d need. Our night was spent with me crying and losing my shit, Storm holding me, and listening to me rant and rave. Especially about my mom not letting me go there. She wouldn’t even tell me where he was so I could go. That’s how close I was to Cal; I’d put everything aside to be there for him and not think twice about it.
Later that same day, my mom called me back to let me know Cal hadn’t made it. His injuries were too extensive and there was nothing they could do to save him. When I heard the news, my heart stopped in my chest, I couldn’t breathe, and the tears came nonstop for the rest of the night. Instead of heading toward Clifton Falls, Storm drove me back home. We stayed there a week and a half as my family buried my brother.
Storm spent the entire time playing mediator between my mother and me. I was so angry she wouldn’t let me go in the first place. That transformed to blaming her for Cal dying before anyone could be at his side. He was surrounded by doctors and nurses rushing from patient to patient. Never having anyone’s full attention on him once they got him to the hospital and as stable as he could be. Essentially, my big brother, my hero, died all alone without hearing how much I need him in my life and love him. Cal didn’t get to hear how he was my hero for so long and how I’d do anything in my power to repay the favor of everything he gave to me during our childhood.
We got through Cal’s funeral. Barely. I cried the entire time and Storm had to read my eulogy because I couldn’t stop crying or catch my breath long enough to do it. Instead of staying in my seat, I stood by her side as she read my words and kept her arm around me for support. My mother was heard crying and gasping over her words as my father held her in his arms. Honestly, I only thought she was being hysterical and couldn’t find it in my heart to grieve with her.
When the funeral was over and everyone was leaving the cemetery, I remained by my brother’s side. I couldn’t find it in me to leave him alone in this cold, desolate cemetery. Not when he’d been my hero for so long. Storm remained by my side until I got too cold from the rain that had been pelting our bodies for however long. That’s when my best friend stepped in and pulled me from my brother’s grave.
After putting me in the car, she got in and headed away. My eyes stayed where Cal’s final resting place would be. A place I’d never get to visit because I was leaving. The thought caused the dam to break once more and I cried for hours while remaining huddled in the passenger seat with heat blasting me and a thin blanket covering my trembling body.
Storm drove for hours, heading back in our original direction, Clifton Falls. I slept most of the time because I didn’t want to think of Cal lying in the ground. Depression hit me like a freight train. Storm was my keeper though. She made me eat, drink, and shower when we stopped along the way. If not for her, I’m not sure what would have happened to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today.
Finally, we arrived in Clifton Falls. Storm couldn’t find us a hotel room, but we did overhear some girls talking about a party at a motorcycle club that night. It was a Friday. So, we put a plan in motion. Storm had been around other clubs in her life and knew we could get into a party if we were trying to become sweet butts. I had no clue what she was talking about, but I was game.
My friend finally explained to me what a sweet butt is as we were on our way there. Basically, in exchange for having sex with members, though not being forced, and cleaning up, we would have access to a bed, food, protection, and sex. It may not be what I saw for my life, but I was past the point of caring. All of my emotions and feelings were shut down as she pulled up to the clubhouse of the Wild Kings MC.
“Can I help you?” a young guy at the gate asked, leaning down into the car.
“We’re here for the party and about becoming sweet butts,” Storm answered, making sure her tits were on display as the guy locked his gaze there.
“Park at the end of the lot by the fence. Have fun,” he said, licking his lips as he waved us through. “Oh, look for Grim when you get inside. He’ll let you know about becomin’ a sweet butt.”
Storm did as he said while I began fidgeting in my seat. My nerves were out in full force as I got out of the car and we began to follow a long line of people toward the large building that looked more like a warehouse than somewhere to have a party.
When we walked through the door, loud rock music filled the room. Sex, smoke, and sweat assaulted my senses and I almost ran back outside for a
final breath of fresh air. Storm wouldn’t let me. She grabbed my hand, pulling me through the packed crowd, knowing I was ready to bolt. At the bar, she asked where we could find Grim. After several minutes, he was pointed out. The man was sitting at a table toward the back of the room filled with several men.
Taking charge as normal, Storm grabbed us each a beer and started pulling me along once more. When we stopped at the table, all talking ceased as the men turned to stare at us. One man’s gaze immediately caught my attention and held me in place. Even sitting down, I could tell he was tall. His tee-shirt and vest were stretched thin across his muscled body while long, black hair hung to his shoulders. Dark, deep brown eyes held my own as Storm and the rest of the men talked in muted conversation. A scar cut through his eyebrow, not taking away from the sexiness of his features at all while a dark, neatly trimmed beard covered his face.
“Dozer, what do you think?” I heard being asked while I was still staring at the man before me.
“They’ll work. Why don’t you come over here and sit with me?” he asks, his voice deep and rough as it washes over my body.
“Me?” I squeak out in response.
He simply nods his head in response. Walking over, I try to find a chair. The man called Dozer has other ideas though. He reaches out and pulls me down into his lap. Wrapping an arm around me, he pulls me back into his hard chest. For the first time in so long, I actually feel safe. Storm looks at me as she’s pulled down onto the lap of someone else sitting at the same table. We drink our beers, get the guys drinks when they ask us to, and then retire where the rest of the sweet butts sleep. However, I don’t sleep alone. Dozer comes to bed with me. We don’t get much sleep either. The man knows his way around a woman’s body without a doubt.
Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology: Second Edition Page 55