Luna’s Shadow (Devils Riot MC: Originals Book 5)

by E. C. Land

  So now, I’m seen as a freak because not only do I have to have things a certain way, I count time. From the day all the way down to the minute. I don’t worry about the seconds in the day because they all add up to sixty which is a minute.

  With my new life, I left Louisiana with Victoria and the guys I’ve learned were a part of the Devil’s Riot MC. I’d heard of them. My dad used to deal with the ones in South Carolina. I don’t know if he does still, considering I haven’t spoken to anyone from my family since the day before I’d been taken.

  I didn’t even tell Victoria I had family. I merely took her offer of coming up to Virginia and starting over.

  That was what I’d done and here I am now. A first-grade teacher at one of the local elementary schools. It’s a challenge for sure but I don’t mind. Between teaching the young minds to straightening up every day after school lets out, I’m busy. When I go home to the apartment I live in, thanks to the guys from the club, I’m alone and there’s nothing that keeps my mind from wandering to the days I was held captive.

  This is why I have four locks on the door other than the lock on the doorknob. In the midst of the night when there’s nothing but the shadows from the streetlamps in the parking lot, I rarely sleep if I don’t take a sleeping pill. Every shadowed movement causes me to jump.

  Guess you can say I’m a scaredy-cat and because of this I have no friends. Well, that’s not exactly true. I do have them, but I don’t go out and do the normal things they do. Nope, I go to work, come home, and lock myself in my apartment where I stay until the sun rises the next day. When I go grocery shopping, I do it as quickly as possible.

  I don’t go out to eat and if I get the craving for something in particular, I look up a recipe and cook it myself. You can never be too careful. Cooking it myself guarantees no one else can drug me.

  That’s how they got me the last time.

  I live a boring life, one where I’m able to control all the factors about it.

  Am I living the way I want to?

  Nope, I use to love going out. Hanging with friends from school. I’d even found I like going to a certain type of club. One I haven’t been to again since everything. As much as I enjoyed it, I can’t go back even if I found one in this area.

  My life officially has become tedious in all areas.

  2 Days 13 hours 32 Minutes

  “Alright, Luna. Charlotte and I aren’t letting you get out of tonight. We’re going dancing and you Miss Always has an Excuse are coming with us,” Harley, my co-worker and closest thing I have to a best friend announces as she steps into my classroom.

  “Umm, why does it have to be tonight?” I stammer. I didn’t want to go out but I really didn’t want to go out tonight of all nights.

  For the past two days I’ve felt off, not like I feel sick or anything but rather like someone was watching me. Nights have become worse for me. I’m not sleeping even with the medicine.

  “Yes, tonight and we’re not letting you get out of it, Luna,” Charlotte declares as she steps into the room behind Harley.

  “We’ll meet you at your apartment and catch an Uber from there. Prepare for a night out like no other.” I inwardly groan at the persistence these two are throwing at me. I’d been coming up with every excuse I could to keep them at bay and now they’re not going to let up.

  Great.

  Just what I need.

  “Couldn’t we just catch a movie in or something like that?” I suggest in a last act of self-preservation.

  “Babe, we’re going out. Let our hair loose and have some fun. You need this and don’t deny it,” Harley states leaving no room for argument.

  “Ugh, fine.” I can do this. One night. It can’t hurt me, right? At least I hope it doesn’t.

  “Sweet, we’ll be over at six with takeout. We’ll eat then go out to have some fun out on the town,” Charlotte declares.

  “What if I cook us something before we go out? This way you don’t have to bring anything.” My heart begins to pound within my chest at the thought of takeout.

  “No way, we’re not making you cook tonight. It’s your night after all.” Confused by Charlotte’s words, I furrow my brow.

  My night?

  What does that mean?

  “Don’t tell me you forgot your own birthday, did you?” Harley demands, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Oh God. I did forget. I don’t like to think of my birthday as a good thing. No, it’s the day the shadows always come out to play and I get burned.

  My mom died on my fifth birthday.

  Daddy moved my stepmom and two of my brothers who I didn’t know about into the house on my sixth birthday. I don’t like to think of the fact my dad cheated on my mom with Cruella de Vil.

  Then there is the fact I’d been kidnapped on my twentieth birthday.

  This does not include any of the stuff in between. Those are just some of the major things going on.

  So, yeah, I don’t like celebrating a day that I’m doomed. Every single time something happens, and then I’m left to either clean up, hurt, or pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.

  “She did,” Harley gasped. “Oh, honey, you are in some serious need of having fun.”

  “I second that. How about we get out of here and get this party started?” I barely contain the flinch Charlotte’s voice causes due to it being a high-pitched screech. Another thing that I cannot handle.

  Sure, music being loud is one thing, I love to listen to it blaring. However, a voice that raises above its octave makes me panic.

  Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath trying to calm my anxiety down.

  I can do this. It’s one night. No one knows where I am. It’s been almost two years.

  Nothing can happen to me.

  Right?

  Yeah, I don’t think so. Life doesn’t work like that for me.

  Just suck it up and get through the night. Tomorrow I’ll go back to my cocoon and stay there.

  Chapter Two

  Shadow

  “Victoria, you are not going to get me to go out with you all tonight. No fuckin’ way,” I grumble as I stand next to the bar in the clubhouse, holding a beer I’d yet to take a sip from. All thanks to a certain woman bombarding me with demands that I go out with them tonight along with several of my brothers.

  “You’re such a party pooper, Shadow. Loosen up and have some fun. Tracker’s coming and he’s not complaining about it,” she argues.

  “That’s because my VP is your ol’ man and he’s not about to let your ass go out to some club where men will likely stare at your ass and tits without him there.” The girls found out it was Luna’s birthday; were upset they didn’t know before now and decided to do a surprise birthday celebration.

  Yeah, I’m not into going to that shit.

  After we got back from Louisiana, I’d had Gadget look into her and find out who she was. Turns out I know exactly who she is because I’d done jobs for her father.

  Antoine Devore.

  When stakes were high or a job was crucial, he’d contract the group I used to work with. Devore is the leader of one of the largest enterprises. His men run anything from guns, drugs, and high-class flesh. However, he’s a smart man and keeps each of his businesses separated from the other.

  First time I’d seen her I knew she was familiar. Now knowing who she is, I’m staying as far away from her as fucking possible.

  That is after making contact with her father. Evidently, he and his sons were looking for her. After giving him an update on what had happened to her, they decided to keep their distance from her for the time being. According to the oldest son, Grant, someone had to have set her up in order for her to be taken.

  Luna’s brothers wanted to immediately swarm in and take her home with them; unfortunately, yet good at the same time, since Stoney and Tracker were both brought into this ordeal, they suggested giving Luna her space. At first, they didn’t want to agree to this. Not until Stoney told them she had their
protection and would look out for her.

  Not much to looking after considering she’s a hermit. From the security system Nerd had set up at her place, we know her routine. It’s been the same from the day she moved in and started her job at the school.

  Work, home, and repeat. When she goes to the store, she’s there less than an hour then it’s back to the apartment where she stays cooped up until the next time she needs to go out.

  I swear the woman is a shell only going through the motions and not living. I wouldn’t have a problem with letting her family have her back but then again, none of them knew she was missing until well after she was taken.

  “That may be Tracker’s reason for going but in reality, he’s going because at the end of the night he gets to have drunken sex, after a good night of being worked up watching me dance,” Victoria proclaims.

  “And this is why your ass has been dubbed PIMA.” I grumble, giving Victoria a pained look. “I don’t want to hear this shit. You’re like my sister, do not need visuals of you bumpin’ uglies.”

  “Oh, whatever,” she mutters as she rolls her eyes. “You’re coming with us and I’m not taking no for an answer. You don’t come, I’ll be sure to add your name along with anyone else who doesn’t come with us to the list for advertising a Chippendale night at the Dolly’s Playhouse.”

  “Don’t even fucking try it,” Tracker commands from behind his ol’ lady as he pulls her into his embrace.

  “Oh, I will. Believe me when I say this. When have you ever known me to go back on my word?” Victoria demands as she tilts her head to look up at Tracker.

  “Doesn’t matter, Vi. You do that shit, I’ll put you over my knee and you won’t sit for a solid week without feeling my hand against your ass.” Fuck, I do not want to be hearing this shit.

  Not just because the image in my head causes my dick to twitch but only the slightest. Once it realizes it’s Victoria the damn thing goes limp again.

  Shit.

  “I’m out of here. If I come and show my face, will that get your ass off my back?” I ask, begrudgingly.

  “Yep, that will be fine. Two of Luna’s friends she works with will be bringing her to the club we’re all going to so just show up, be there when we surprise her then you can leave.” Smiling at me Victoria leans further into Tracker’s body and goes on to tell me which club to meet them at.

  Great some uptight dance club. Not my scene that’s for fuckin’ sure. If I want to go to a club, I normally make the trip to Twister’s club, stay the weekend, and go to a club that’s exclusive for only those who are willing to pay the top dollar prices. Tainted X is one of the best in the state for my particular tastes and when I get the need to go, it’s when I make my trips down.

  Sometimes I’ll even go and stay at the room I have there rather than at the DRMC Franklin Charter clubhouse. Granted all my brothers know about my tastes in what I do, only one ol’ lady knows a smidge of it.

  Rachel.

  Thank fuck she knows how to keep her mouth shut about it. Not that I give a fuck, but I don’t need the others asking me questions or whatnot about it. Better yet thinking I need an ol’ lady of my own so they can get the deets on the shit I do to the women I fuck.

  The clubwhores around the clubhouse don’t even experience the shit I do. Well, besides me being commanding and not letting them do anything they want. They’re not allowed to touch, kiss, or speak while I’m fuckin’ them. I also command when they come.

  “Fine, see you there.” Leaving the two of them, I head out of the clubhouse and stroll over to my bike. Figure I have time, I can go for a spin on the bike before going to this shit for Luna.

  Not that I have anything against the woman, I simply don’t find her interesting in anyway. Other than watching out for her for her pops, I don’t want anything to do with her. She is completely boring and predictable. Definitely not my kind of woman that’s for sure.

  I like my women to be wild where I get to tame them, become their leash that controls their wild they have within them. And Luna is the most uninteresting and dull woman I’ve ever met.

  Now to just get her out of my head is the next step.

  Chapter Three

  Luna

  “Chick, let’s get a move on and get our groove on,” Charlotte yells over the thumping music as we enter the club.

  I do my best to keep up with them and at the same time try to fight off a panic attack from the noise surrounding me.

  Earlier, they’d showed up right on time, a shopping bag in one hand and takeout in the other. Over Chinese they jabbered about and giggled over things at school and with some of our other friends. How Lila was going to be meeting up with us once her babysitter got to her house.

  With takeout consumed both women took it upon themselves to do my hair and makeup making sure my eyes were smokey and my hair was curled exactly right. Thankfully, they didn’t put lipstick on my lips. Instead they’d given me a gloss that brought out the color of my already full lips.

  After the torture of them giving me a makeover, I’d been pushed into my room to change. Looking at the dress laying on my bed, I thought I’d have a heart attack right then and there. The material was shorter than anything I’ve ever owned. Stripping out of the clothes I’d worn to work, I slipped on the dress and looked in the mirror. To my surprise it wasn’t extremely tight, but it did hug every one of my curves. Seeing the lines of my underwear I realize one thing I hate. I’ll have to go without. Not something I really want to do, but even I know panty lines are not something I want to have.

  Once I have the dress sorted the best I can, I slip into a pair of six-inch heels that were laying on the bed with my outfit. Charlotte and Harley didn’t waste time after I stepped out of my bedroom to usher me out to a waiting Uber. The entire way they kept up a conversation laughing and joking.

  When we arrived at the club, there was already a line and I thought I could use it as an excuse to get out of this. Nope, Charlotte walked straight up to the bouncer said a few words and now here we are inside dance music blaring and people everywhere.

  Harley tugs on my hand as she pulls me along guiding me to the side of the club where there’s a bunch of tables. The closer we get to the area, my eyes widen at the group standing there.

  “What’s going on?” I ask as we get close enough that they can hear me.

  “Happy Birthday!” Victoria and several of the other women yell over the music while smiling like the Cheshire Cat who was up to no good. The guys standing behind them throw grins in my direction. Well, all of them but one.

  Shadow.

  He merely looks as if he’d rather be anywhere but here.

  He’s not the only one who feels that way. I want to escape under a rock right now. This is attention I don’t need. Before everything, I would have loved it. I used to love going dancing. Now, not so much.

  “Thank you,” I murmur, politely with a forced smile on my face.

  “Oh, don’t look so freaked out, Luna,” Tinsley laughs as she steps forward smiling brightly. I’d met her on one of the days Victoria, Raven, and Rachel came by the house to see me. She and her ol’ man, Coyote, just went through their own ordeal a bit ago. I’m not sure what all went down but I know it had to do with Coyote’s son.

  “Exactly, oh and don’t think we’re not going to get into the fact you never told us when your birthday was, and we’d missed the last one. However, we’ll be discussing that tomorrow,” Victoria proclaims, her hand on her hip.

  I find it eerie how alike her and I look. It’s because of my resemblance to her that I’d been taken in the first place. Maybe I should hold a grudge toward her, but I don’t, it’s not her fault that Parker and Victoria’s mother had kidnapped me.

  “Yeah, babe, we’re here to have fun,” Raven states her baby bump becoming more pronounced. Stepping forward she hugs me to her and whispers in my ear. “We wanted you to have a night out. Fun without having to worry about a repeat. So, Luna, babe, let your hair dow
n for once without freaking. Nothing will happen to you today nor tomorrow. Only happy things for you.”

  Nodding, I give her a smile in appreciation as she steps back and moves into Blaze’s embrace. I soak in what Raven said and make a quick decision. I can have fun tonight. She’s right, with all the guys here, I can be the old me again. The one who moved on the dance floor.

  “Alright, let’s get on that dance floor,” Harley yells, taking me by the hand and dragging me out onto the dance floor.

  Guess it’s time to let my hair down and do as Raven stated.

  I’m safe. These people are all here as my friends to make sure I enjoy a day I didn’t even tell them about.

  My heart is pounding against my chest but not for its normal reason. Nope, it’s pounding against my chest from being out on the dance floor with all the girls. Occasionally, one of the guys would come out, but mainly they’d stayed at the table drinking while watching over their women.

  More than once my eyes caught sight of Shadow, though he’d looked bored, his gaze was trained our way. I don’t know if he was watching the other women, all of us, but I like to think he was watching me.

  Especially, when Victoria, Raven, and I started dancing against each other. Let’s just say Blaze and Tracker didn’t appreciate the fact other men were seeing the show we’d put on and hauled them back to the table a few minutes ago. I have barely left the dance floor, other than to get a bottle of water.

  I know they wanted me to have fun tonight, but that fun isn’t going to involve me drinking. Nope, I’m not taking that chance. Bottled water it is for me.

  Finally needing to go to the restroom, I let Charlotte and Harley know and make my way across the dance floor. I catch Victoria’s and Raven’s eye and point in the direction of the restrooms as I head that way. When they nod, I make my way down the hall and into the ladies’ room.

  I’m just finishing up and standing up to straighten my dress up when the door opens and laughing women step in.