by Nicola Jane
Riggs Savior’
Kings Reapers MC Book 4.5
Nicola Jane
Contents
Spelling Note
Warning
Playlist:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Acknowledgments
Riggs’ Saviour
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any similarities are entirely coincidental.
Riggs’ Saviour Copyright © 2021 by Nicola Jane. All rights are reserved. No part of this
book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author,
except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information, contact Nicola Jane.
Cover Designer: Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Design
Editor: Rebecca Vazquez, Knox Publishing
Proofreader: Amanda Tabor, Knox Publishing
Publisher: Knox Publishing
Riggs’ Saviour is a follow-up of Riggs’ Ruin, but you will need to read the first four books in the Kings Reapers MC series to understand their story so far.
Created with Vellum
Spelling Note:
Please note, this author resides in the United Kingdom and is using British English. Therefore, some words may be viewed as incorrect or spelled incorrectly, however, they are not.
Trigger Warning
The material in this book may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic
Language and sexual situations.
Playlist:
Afterglow - Ed Sheeran
Exile - Taylor Swift
No Hard Feelings - Melii
Can’t Rely on You - Paloma Faith
Say You Won’t Let Go - Machine Gun Kelly ft. Camila Cabello (Cover Version)
Someone You Loved - Camila Cabello (Cover Version)
Take Care - Drake ft. Rihanna
Don’t Watch Me Cry - Jorja Smith
You Mean the World to Me - Freya Ridings
I Choose You - Kiana Ledé
Tired Heart - Bmike ft. Nyx
You broke me first - Tate McRae
Monster - Shawn Mendes ft. Justin Bieber
Some Say - Nea
Surrender - Natalie Taylor
Love the Way You Lie - Eminen ft. Rihanna
Circles - Post Malone
Trust In You - Lauren Daigle
He Leaves You Cold - Passenger
Something to Remind You - Staind
At My Worst - Pink Sweats
Chapter One
ANNA
I glance at the clock beside my bed. Three a.m. Christ, I love my baby daughter, but I wish she’d sleep for more than an hour at a time. I get out of bed and go over to Willow’s crib. I know she can’t help it, she’s suffering terribly with reflux, so I cuddle her to my chest and begin to walk around the room. The movement seems to calm her.
I stare at the space in my bed where my husband should be, and I sigh. As usual, it’s empty. Things haven’t been going well between us since I announced I was pregnant with Willow. We’ve spent a whole year of arguing, separating, making up, trying, but ultimately, we’re not happy. Not like before.
That familiar pain fills my chest and tears brim in my eyes. I can’t keep putting myself through this. Riggs thinks I tricked him into the pregnancy, but I didn’t, and I’m so sick of repeating myself. Accidents happen, and so what? We’re married and we already have a kid each, so I didn’t think it was such a big deal. In fact, I thought he’d be over the moon. Turns out, I was so very wrong.
He loves Willow, I know he does. The fact he’s not as hands-on as I expected doesn’t bother me. After all, he’s the president of the Kings Reapers MC, and lord knows he has a lot of club shit to deal with, but it hurts my heart that he’s not as invested in her as he could be. And she adores him, oblivious to his lack of interest in her. Whether it’s his voice or just the beating of his heart, whenever he cradles her, she’s calm, and boy, could I do with a night of calm.
She begins to whimper again. I take her blanket from the crib and wrap her in it then make my way onto the landing. I creep across to Riggs’ son’s room. Sometimes he’ll jump into bed with Ziggy so he doesn’t wake us, but Ziggy is lying like a starfish, completely alone.
I check in on Malia, my six-year-old daughter. She’s also deep in sleep.
I head downstairs. The clubhouse is silent for a change. Sometimes these guys can party all night, but it seems tonight is not one of those nights. I tap on Riggs’ office door. “What?” he snaps.
I push it open and stick my head around the door. He’s looking relaxed, lying on his office couch with a whiskey in his hand, and Raven sits at his desk. Her smile fades. “I was just checking you were okay,” I say. “But I see I didn’t need to worry.”
“We’re just talking,” says Riggs, looking slightly irritated by my presence.
“At three a.m.,” I note. “The time when everyone leaves their wife in bed and chats to other women.”
“I’ll leave you guys to it,” says Raven awkwardly.
“No, you don’t have to go,” Riggs protests, sitting up.
“You really do,” I say. I like Raven, she’s friendly with all the guys and not in a way I feel threatened by, but still, he’s my husband and it’s three in the morning. As she gets level with me, I catch her eye. “Don’t let me catch you sniffing around him, Raven. I’ll kick your ass out of here if I think for one minute you’re after him.”
“Noted,” says Raven stiffly as she leaves.
“Was that necessary?” asks Riggs.
“I don’t know, was it?” I snap.
“I’m the club president. If I wanted a quick fuck, I’d choose a girl less likely to tell your girlfriends,” he mutters.
“I’m trying, Finn,” I say firmly. I only use his first name when I’m trying to break down his walls, though it never works these days. “But you gotta stop pushing me away. I can’t keep fighting for us on my own. If you’re not in this marriage anymore, then say it.”
“You’re always so dramatic, Anna,” he says, sighing. “Fuck, I was chatting to a pretty girl at three a.m., shoot me. Some club presidents would have been doing a lot more than that!”
“Why are you trying to push me away?” I suddenly cry. He looks sad for a second before pulling himself together. “Something’s wrong, I know it is. Why won’t you talk to me?”
“It’s easier to talk to everyone but you,” he mumbles. My heart squeezes. “You don’t listen. You think you do, but you’re so distracted, and that’s only when you’re not moaning in my fucking ear.”
His harsh words slay me. Nobody wants to be described as a nagging wife and I try my
hardest to avoid moaning at him, for that reason! “I’m making you unhappy.” I say it more as a statement than a question.
He knocks back the last of his drink. “Go back to bed.”
“Come with me,” I say. I hate it that I sound so needy. Why do I beg like that? He
shakes his head. “Please, Riggs.” His jaw clenches and he sighs before putting his glass on his desk. I feel a small satisfaction as he follows me upstairs to our room. I lay Willow, who has now settled, in her crib and climb into bed. Riggs strips down to his boxer shorts. He hasn’t touched me in months. The most I get these days is a kiss on the head, like I’m a child.
I
move closer to him, snuggling into his side. He eventually wraps an arm around me. “I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you,” he whispers back and I smile. It’s these times that make me think we’ll make it. If we have love, then surely we have hope.
I run my fingers over his ripped chest, slowly making my way downwards. I lean up slightly and lay kisses along his strong jaw until I reach his mouth. I’ve almost forgotten what it's like to kiss him properly. I sweep my tongue into his mouth and gently push my hand into his boxer shorts. He’s soft. He’s not even stirring down below. I nip back along his jaw and down his neck, across his chest, and down his stomach.
He takes my arm, stilling me. “Not tonight,” he whispers.
I bite back the disappointment and nod, lying back down beside him. He kisses my cheek and rolls over, turning his back to me. A single tear escapes, rolling down my face. His rejection hurts more than his harsh words.
Willow wakes at four, then five, and when it gets to six, I give up and get out of bed. Riggs is awake, staring at the ceiling. “You want me to take her?” he asks.
“I’m awake now,” I mutter, lifting her from her crib and wondering just how long he laid there listening to her before I woke. Knowing he could have let me get some sleep just pisses me off more. “I know Willow is still young, but I’m thinking of looking for a part-time job,” I announce. Getting out of the club for a few hours is just what I need to take my mind off whatever’s going on between us.
“You’re right, she’s too young,” he mutters.
“She’s already taking formula over breast milk,” I say. “She’ll be fine with Frankie and Esther, and they offered to help out.” His mum, Frankie, was more than happy to help and my best friend's mum, Esther, also lives at the club and I see her like my own mum, so with the childcare covered, I’m all set. “My old job is free and Darren said he’d take me back anytime.”
“Darren? The guy who fancies you?” he asks. “You have it all worked out.”
“I think it’ll do us good,” I say quietly. “Give us a chance to miss each other.” It’s all excuses. He doesn’t see me during the day anyway, and at the minute, he doesn’t come to bed either.
“The answer is no,” he mutters, throwing the sheets back and reaching for his jeans.
“I wasn’t asking,” I say under my breath, leaving the room.
Leia is in the kitchen feeding her newborn baby. “Morning,” she smiles. She gave birth weeks ago and she’s looking amazing. Motherhood suits her.
“How do you look so amazing at this hour?”
“Plenty of coffee,” she says, grinning. “Plus, Chains did the night feeds.”
“Lucky you,” I mumble.
“Riggs not helping out?” she asks, her expression sympathetic.
“Not really.” I try not to tell the girls the exact extent of our problems. They all have their own stuff going on, and honestly, even I’m sick of hearing myself talk about it. But Leia is Riggs’ sister and I hate putting her in the middle, even though I consider her a good friend. “In other news, I might be going back to work.”
“Really?” she asks. “I thought you’d stay at home with Willow.”
I shrug. “I need to feel like me again. I love being a mum, but since Reggie, I have this continuous worry that I need to have my own money, just in case.”
“In case of what?” she asks. “Riggs would never see you without, you know that, and it’s not like you two are splitting up or anything,” she says, laughing. When I don’t laugh, her smile fades. “Anna?”
“I just need to get back to work. I asked my old boss for my cleaning job back and he said there’s plenty of work.”
“Wasn’t he a bit of a creeper?” she asks. “Does Riggs know about all of this? I don’t think he’ll be keen on you scrubbing floors again.”
“He’ll be fine about it. I spoke to him this morning. He just needs time to get used to the idea.”
She stares at me for a long second. “He’ll be fine? About you working for that creeper? About you scrubbing floors?” she asks, and I nod. “Right, something’s going on. Talk to me,” she says firmly.
The kitchen door opens and Riggs walks in. We fall silent. “Anna wants to go back to work,” Leia announces and I glare at her.
“I know,” he mutters, switching on the coffee pot.
“And you’re okay with it?” she asks.
He shrugs. “I already told her no but looks like she’s made her mind up if she’s talking to you about it.”
“Her boss was weird. He fancied Anna and was constantly asking her out,” she says.
“Leia, don’t say it like it's so hard to believe. I was attractive back then,” I say jokingly but with a hint of seriousness.
“That’s not what I meant. You’re very attractive,” she snaps. “Isn’t she, Riggs?” He nods and heads for the door. “Don’t you care that another man wanted your wife even though she was pregnant at the time?” snaps Leia. “Imagine how he’ll be now she isn’t pregnant!”
“Christ, Leia, it’s too early for this shit. Get off my back. If Anna wants to work, then who am I to stop her?”
He leaves the room and Leia stares wide-eyed at me. “Are you guys splitting up?”
I shrug because right now, I don’t know.
Chapter Two
ANNA
“As you can see, not much has changed,” says Darren with a smile. It’s been a week since I told Riggs about my job, and today is my first day. “The rest of the team are meeting for drinks at lunch. Join us. It’ll be great for you to meet everyone.”
“I have to get back,” I say.
“One won’t hurt,” he says, patting my arm. I find myself agreeing.
I throw myself into cleaning the offices that Darren has been contracted out to deep clean. It feels good to concentrate on something other than the kids. Don’t get me wrong, I love them all so much, including Ziggy, but with Riggs’ lack of attention, I’m finding that they depend on me way more than him and I’m drained. So much so, I’d rather clean for someone than be at home. Ziggy and Malia are both in school during the day anyway and Riggs agreed to do the drop-off each morning if I’d do the pick-up. Between him, Frankie, and Esther, the kids will be just fine.
After my shift, I head for the bar that Darren told me about. It’ll be nice to see some of my co-workers again and meet new faces. All of my friends are involved with the club, which is great, but sometimes I crave normal talk that doesn’t involve gossip about club girls or which member came back covered in blood.
I spot Darren with a group of people. He introduces me to Maisey, Ella, and Cammie, who all seem lovely. One drink turns into two and then three, and when I eventually check the time, it’s four o’ clock. “Fuck, I have to go,” I say, pulling out my phone.
I have three missed calls from Riggs. I’m surprised he even noticed I was gone. I’m about to call him back when the door opens and Blade saunters in. He smirks when he sees me. “Tut tut, you’re in trouble,” he sing-songs.
“I didn’t see the time,” I say. “I was just about to come home. Are the kids okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Esther picked Ziggy and Malia up and Willow’s with Frankie. No harm done, although I don’t think Riggs sees it like that.”
Dread fills me. I know Riggs would never hurt me, but my past haunts me and it’s hard to shake the fight or flight response when I know I’m about to face another argument.
Riggs is in his office, but I see him look over at me through the office window as I walk into the club. I head straight to Malia and Ziggy and give them each a kiss. “Sorry, Esther,” I say. “I lost track of time.”
“It’s fine. When you didn’t come home after lunch, I figured you’d gotten side-tracked.”
I take Willow from Frankie. “Thanks, Frankie. Has she been okay?”
“Absolutely fine,” says Frankie with a smile. “Take no notice of Riggs. I love having Willow.”
“You planning on
coming and apologising to me?” snaps Riggs from the doorway of his office.
“Apologise for what?” I ask, handing Willow back to Frankie. “Did you even bother to check in on Willow today?”
“Of course, I did, but I’m working too, yah know.”
“I’m gonna take a shower,” I say, turning to Frankie. “Are you okay with her for ten more minutes?”
“Of course, take your time.”
I head for the stairs, but Riggs snatches my arm in his hand and I suck in a surprised breath. He releases me and we both stare at the spot where he grabbed me. “You can’t just disappear like that,” he says, trying to sound calmer than he is.
“I didn’t disappear,” I retort, rushing up the stairs with him hot on my ass.
“I tracked your phone. You were in a bar all afternoon,”
“Then you knew I hadn’t disappeared,” I snap. I head into the bathroom and turn on the shower. Riggs stands in the doorway, watching as I get undressed. “I went for a drink to meet the others. I lost track of time.”
“You can’t just go to the bar and forget you have kids,” he mutters.
I glare at him. “I’d never forget about the kids. I love them all so much. It was a few drinks with my new co-workers and there are loads of adults in this place to help out with childcare, not to mention that you’re Willow’s dad and you’ve been here all day.”
“This is how it starts,” he snaps. “A harmless drink here and there, and before you know it, you’re out all the time, drunk all the time, and I’m raising the kids on my own.”