by Wilder, L.
I was born and raised in Oakland, Tennessee, a small town where life revolved around farming and Friday night football. Hell, it didn’t matter if you were rich or poor, young or old—everyone came out to the game on Friday night. It’s what folks lived for. They’d pack the stands and cheer like there was no tomorrow, silently praying for a big win with each new play. It was those big wins that would help distract them from the crops that weren’t coming in or the bills that were piling up. As the team’s quarterback, I was one of the many players the crowd was shouting for, but I never heard their screams. As soon as I stepped out on that field, I was in the zone, not thinking about anything except getting that ball from point A to point B.
There was no greater feeling than standing there waiting for the snap. As soon as the ball was in my hands, I was ready. A rush of adrenaline would surge through me as I’d watch the opposing team make their advance. I could hear the sounds of helmets and shoulder pads slamming against each other as my offensive line held off the defense. I’d take a three-step drop, and once I was in the pocket, I’d quickly scan the field for my receiver. Knowing exactly where I was tossing the ball, it wouldn’t be long before we were hanging a half dozen on the board. I was good, one of the best, and even when we didn’t win the game, I always gave the fans something to talk about. My latest game was no different. I threw a pass that was risky. Some might even say it was too risky. My receiver was completely covered by the opposing team and it could’ve easily been picked off, but I saw a sliver of opportunity and took it. Just as I knew it would, the ball went straight into his hands, and he made the winning touchdown. The crowd went wild, and I left the field knowing I’d done what I’d set out to do.
I was feeling on top of the world when I’d left the locker room that night. Everything was going exactly as planned. After a few more great plays, I’d get that scholarship to play ball at UT and finally have my way out, because once I was gone, I’d never look back. I was headed out to my truck when my best friend, Bryce, shouted across the parking lot. “Yo, Caleb! You coming with us or what?”
He was standing next to Emmet’s truck, another one of my good friends, and when I answered, “Yeah, I’m coming, but I’ll have to drive. I gotta help my dad out in the morning,” a look of disappointment crept over his face.
“Damn, man,” Bryce complained. “After that game, you’d think your dad would give ya the day off or something!”
“Yeah, right. We both know that’s never gonna happen.” My father was a cotton farmer, and I’d been helping him bring in the crops since the time my feet could reach the pedals on the tractor. When I wasn’t helping with the plowing, planting, or picking, I was doing what I could to help prepare to plow, plant, or pick. I’d work on the farm equipment, haul trailers back and forth from the gin, and whatever else he needed me to do. While my dad loved everything about farming, it just wasn’t my thing, and I was always relieved when football season rolled around. It was the only time he didn’t complain about me not being out in the fields.
I could hear the others calling out to Bryce, telling him to hurry, so I said, “You guys go ahead. I’ll see you over at Landon’s in a few minutes.”
“You know, Janey Thompson was asking about ya earlier.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure was.” A smile crossed his face as he opened the door to Emmet’s truck. “She’s gonna be there tonight. If you play your cards right, you might just get you some of that.”
“I can have Janey Thompson any day of the week,” I boasted, then murmured under my breath, “and so can every other football player in town.”
“Guess we’ll see about that tonight!”
Before I could respond, he’d climbed into the truck with the rest of the gang and closed the door. Clearly eager to get to the party, Emmet slammed his foot on the accelerator, hurling loose gravel from his rear tires. Unimpressed by his redneck display, I went over to my truck and tossed my stuff in the backend, then got inside and cranked the engine. By the time I started to pull out of the parking lot, most everyone had already gone. The only ones left were the coach and the cleaning crew, or so I thought.
I was just about to pull out onto the main road when I noticed Darcy Harrington’s beat-up pickup truck parked across the street. The hood was up with the taillights flashing, so I assumed it had broken down on her. As I sat there staring at her flashing lights, a battle ensued between my ears. I’d always been the kind of guy who’d lend a hand whenever someone needed it, especially when it came to women, but Darcy wasn’t like most women.
When we were kids, Darcy and I were actually pretty good friends. We’d hang out on the school playground during recess, eat lunch together, and even run around at football games, but things were simpler then. There was no judging one another by the clothes we wore or the houses we lived in, but as we grew older that changed. Like a slow turn of the wind, we started talking less and less, and it wasn’t long before we didn’t say a word to one another, even in the hallway. That didn’t mean I stopped noticing her. Hell, there wasn’t a soul around who didn’t pay attention when Darcy Harrington walked by. The tomboy with pigtails and freckles sprinkled across the bridge of her nose had turned into a beautiful girl with long auburn hair and curves that would give a Playboy model a run for her money.
Darcy’s looks weren’t the only thing that changed over the years. Where she was once sweet and funny, she’d become cold and detached—never letting anyone get too close. Her strong persona made her come off as unapproachable, so everyone kept their distance, fearing if they crossed her there’d be hell to pay. It was no wonder why Darcy acted the way she did. Her family was rough. They were the kind of folks you didn’t want to cross in a dark alley—mean and mouthy, and didn’t think twice about breaking the law. I didn’t know their whole story, but from what I’d heard, you didn’t mess with the Harringtons—especially Darcy.
I sat there a few more minutes, listening to my engine idle and the monotonous tick of my blinker as I questioned my next move: I could head on over to the party, toss back a few beers, and spend some quality time with Janey Thompson, or risk getting my balls handed to me by the very girl who’d starred in every one of my fucking wet dreams since middle school. Before I even realized what I was doing, I’d pulled out onto the road and was headed in Darcy’s direction. When I parked behind her truck, she peeked her head around the hood and watched with a blank expression as I got out and started towards her. “Is everything okay?”
“Take a look around, Sport.” Her words dripped with sarcasm as she barked, “I’m out here alone in the dark, parked on the side of the road with my flashers on, and my hood up. I’d say those are pretty good signs that things are not okay.”
Ignoring her sour tone, I continued towards the front of the truck. When I reached her, I asked, “You got any idea what’s wrong with it?”
“The battery cable’s loose,” she grumbled.
Even in the dark, I could see that Darcy looked fucking incredible. She was wearing a pair of tight-fitting jeans with a low-cut tank top, showing just a hint of cleavage, and the silver bangles around her wrist jingled when she reached into her back pocket for her cigarettes. After lighting one up, she announced, “My numb-nut brother snatched my tools, and now I don’t have a way to fix the stupid thing.”
I leaned in to take a closer look, and even though I already knew the answer, I asked, “Would a crescent wrench do the trick?”
“Yeah, it would.” A hopeful expression crossed her face. “Do you have one?”
“Hold on, let me see.” I rushed back over to the truck and grabbed my tools. Once I found the wrench, I brought it over to her. “Got it.”
“Well, how about that.” After tossing her cigarette to the ground, she took the wrench from my hand, then handed me a flashlight. “You mind holding this?”
“Sure.” I pointed the light at the battery. “This good?”
“Perfect.”
She leaned forward with
her phenomenal ass perched in the air, and I had to fight the urge to readjust myself as I stood there watching her reconnect the cables. Damn, I’d never seen anything so fucking hot in my entire life, and it took all I had not to reach out and grab her into my arms. Once she’d adjusted the bolt, she walked over to the driver’s side of the truck and got inside. When she turned the ignition and pressed the gas several times, the truck sputtered a bit, then finally roared to life. Darcy turned to me with a smile. “Looks like Sport saves the day again.”
“Again?”
“Yeah…that pass you threw to win the game. It was really something.”
She walked back to the front of her truck and closed the hood. As she handed me my wrench, I asked, “You saw that, huh?”
“I did.” She gave me a slight smirk. “You made the good folks of Oakland very proud tonight. I’m sure they’ll be talking about it for weeks.”
“I got lucky.”
“We both know that play took a lot more than just luck. Besides, I don’t put much value in luck. Either you have it or you don’t. Simple as that.” She walked by me and got inside her truck. “Thanks for giving me a hand tonight. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime.” It was the most we’d spoken in the last couple of years, and I wasn’t ready for her to go. Trying to play it cool, I told her, “Landon Creasey’s having a party out at his place.”
“Doesn’t he have a party every Friday night?” she scoffed.
“He does.” I knew it was a reach, but I had to try. “You should stop by.”
“Thanks for the invite, Sport, but I don’t think so. High school parties and I just don’t mix.” She closed her door and leaned her head out the window. “So, you working with your dad tomorrow or whatever?”
Surprised she knew anything about me, my brows furrowed. “Yeah, why?”
“What time will you get done?”
“Some time after dark…maybe eight.”
She studied me for a moment, then said, “You know the old racetrack down by Eastman’s grocery?”
“Yeah?”
“Meet me there tomorrow night at nine.”
I nodded and replied, “I’ll be there.”
“Good.” A soft smile crossed her face, and the whole world stopped spinning. Damn, I’d always thought that Darcy was beautiful, but when she smiled, she was absolutely stunning. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she shifted the truck into drive. Before pulling away, she waved and said, “See ya tomorrow night.”
She was already out of earshot when I shouted, “Looking forward to it!”
I was in a complete daze while I stood there and watched her taillights fade into the night. I couldn’t believe Darcy Harrington had just asked me on a date, or at least, I thought it was a date. At that moment, I didn’t really care; it was enough to put a smile on my face. I headed back to my truck, and when I started the engine, I saw that it was almost midnight. Knowing I had to get up early in the morning, I decided to skip the party and head home. When I got to the house, I wasn’t surprised to find that the lights were out and everyone had already gone to bed. I went into the kitchen and grabbed a quick bite to eat, then started up to my room. Just as I topped the stairs, my mother called out to me. “Caleb?”
I turned back and found her standing in her doorway with a concerned expression. “Yeah?”
“You’re home early. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s good.”
“Okay, good.” She smiled as she said, “You played a great game tonight.”
“We did all right.”
“You did more than all right, Caleb.” When I didn’t respond, she asked, “You going to set your alarm, or do you want me to wake you?”
“I’ve got it, Mom,” I assured her. “Go back to bed.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“Night.”
I went on to my room and crawled into bed. As I lay there, a smile crept over my face when my mind drifted back to Darcy. Our brief encounter had made quite an impression on me, and I found myself looking forward to the following night when I’d get the chance to know her even better. I was feeling pretty damn positive about things. My chances to play at UT were looking good, and I had a date with none other than Darcy Harrington. As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn’t imagine things being any better. Sadly, the following morning, my life took a drastic turn.
With one fleeting moment—one stupid, careless mistake, I lost everything. My chance with Darcy. My football scholarship at UT. My friends. My family. Hell, I’d lost my entire life as I knew it, and to make matters worse, I’d done it all to myself.
CHAPTER 1
Rider
I was busy working in the garage when I heard Blaze ask, “Everything all right there?”
I glanced over my shoulder and found him pacing back and forth in his office as he held his cellphone up to his ear. I could tell by the tone in his voice and the expression on his face that he was talking to his ol’ lady, Kenadee. The poor guy had been worried sick about her for days, calling her job every few hours to make sure she was okay, even though he knew one of the prospects was there at the hospital watching over her. I could hear the relief in his voice when he continued, “Good. So, no sign of the Disciples?”
He paused, giving Kenadee a chance to respond, then told her, “I’m aware I asked you that two hours ago, and I got news for you…I’m gonna ask you again and again until I’m sure those motherfuckers’ll be leaving you alone.”
Kenadee is a triage nurse at Regional Hospital. If she was working anywhere else, it might not have been so bad, but being an emergency room nurse at one of the biggest hospitals in the city of Memphis was tough. Night after night, she dealt with gunshot wounds, stabbings, overdoses, and God knows what else, but Kenadee loved her job. Blaze, on the other hand, didn’t feel the same way. He believed that it was too dangerous for her to work there, and the other night we all realized just how right he was. Kenadee was working the graveyard shift when a kid came in with multiple gunshot wounds and was barely hanging on. They did everything they could to save him, but he was simply too far gone. His father immediately lost it, shouting and tossing shit everywhere. When the cops came to escort him out, he threatened Kenadee, warning her that he was going to make her pay for letting his boy die.
It wasn’t the first time she’d gotten threats, but this time it was different. This time, it was Keshawn Lewis. He was known by the name “Slayer” and was the leader of the Inner Disciples’ gang. When he threatened Kenadee’s life, Blaze was understandably troubled that he’d make good on his promise. Because of that concern, Blaze brought Kenadee and his son, Kevin, to stay at the clubhouse. He knew we’d do everything in our power to ensure her safety.
Before he ended the call, he told her, “Love you, too, babe. I’ll be there at six when you get off.”
Blaze shoved his phone in his back pocket, then turned his attention back to the stack of paperwork on his desk. He was in charge of the garage and took his job very seriously, always making sure everything ran smoothly. After several minutes, he stepped out into the main garage and shouted, “Hey, Murph? How much longer on the Chief?”
“I’ll be done on my end in an hour or so,” he answered from the back of the garage. “I’ve got everything broken down. Just need to finish prepping for paint.”
“Good. Maybe we can have it all wrapped up by the end of the week.”
“You know, it’d go a lot faster if we were able to get the painting done here,” Murphy complained.
“I know. I’m working on it. Hope to know something this afternoon.”
“What happens this afternoon?”
“Riggs is doing a background check on that girl T-Bone suggested hiring. If everything checks out, I’m going over to see if she’s interested in taking the position.”
“We could really use the help around here,” Murphy complained. “Do what you gotta do to get her ass over here.”
“You know I will.” Bla
ze assured him. “Just let me know when you’re done, and I’ll get everything across town.”
“You taking the Honda, too?”
“I would, but Rider just started on it two days ago. No way he’s done with her yet.”
“Actually, she’s ready when you are,” I told him.
“What?” Blaze looked over at me, surprised. “You’re done?”
“Yep.” I nodded. “Finished everything up last night.”
“Damn, brother. You didn’t have to go and do that.”
“I know. I just wanted to do what I could to help out.”
When I started prospecting for the club, I quickly realized I’d been given a second chance. It wasn’t something I thought I deserved, not after all I’d done, but Gus, the president of Satan’s Fury, didn’t agree. He saw something in me that no one else did. Without even asking anything in return, he and the brothers helped me turn my life around. That in itself was enough to make me forever grateful, so I always tried to do more than what was expected. It was the only way I knew how to show my appreciation. I motioned my hand over to the Ford pickup I’d been working. “A few more minutes, I’ll have Mr. Pruitt’s water pump sorted.”
“You trying to make the rest of us look bad or something?” T-Bone taunted.
Before I could answer, Gunner looked over to him and snickered. “Not like you make that too hard for him.”
“He’s right,” Blaze added. “Hell, we’ve been waiting on you to finish that fucking gas tank for two days.”
“Hold up. I can’t help it that the damn thing had a fucking leak,” T-Bone complained. “With all this damn humidity, it took forever for the fucking epoxy to cure.”
Gunner chuckled as he mumbled, “Excuses. Excuses.”
T-Bone was about to argue further when Blaze cut him off. “Look, we don’t have time to be fucking around here, guys. We have a lot of shit to finish up, and Gus wants us over at the clubhouse at seven for church.”
“You got any idea why?” I asked. “Is something up?”