Jigsaw's Blayde
Author: Nikki Landis
Date: 2023-07-25 07:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Paranormal; Romance
Description: Five years ago, I made a mistake. I walked away from the woman I loved. Every day since, I’ve been living a lie, burying my regrets as I tried to move on. It only takes one chance meeting to know I messed up. Abby isn’t safe. She’s got a stalker leaving threatening messages at the newspaper she works for. There’s a hit on her head, and every shadow is a threat. I thought I was protecting her when I left, but I was wrong. When I see the son I never knew I had staring into my eyes, I swear I’ll do anything to make this right. I’ll cut through every enemy and let the monster inside me take contro

Copyright © 2023 Nikki Landis

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover by Lucian Bane Graphics

Model: Olivier T

Image: Paul Henry Serres

Table of Contents:

Author’s Note

Royal Bastards Code

Common Terms

Playlist

Part 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Part 2

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Acknowledgments

Tonopah, NV Chapter

The Ol’ Ladies

Royal Bastards MC 5th Run

Sneak Peek  Hawk, Devil’s Murder MC

About the Author

Author’s Note

Jigsaw’s Blayde is the story of nomad brother Jigsaw in the Royal Bastards MC. As with all my books, please heed the CWs. There’s dark content, reference to SA and human trafficking, torture, and violence. Please know your limits and read with care.

Spook gets his story with Spook and Specter on Halloween 2023. Mammoth’s story releases February 2024 with Infinitely Mine.

There’s much more to come for Grim and his Reapers.

Be on the lookout for Hell on Wheels, Maddog’s story that kicks off the Las Vegas Chapter in October 2023. Manic Mayhem is a crossover book for both Tonopah and Las Vegas, introducing Maddog. And finally, Twisted Iron (previously titled Justified) re-releases in late 2023, an expanded book crossing over the Tonopah and Las Vegas chapters of the RBMC and the Reaper’s Vale MC.

If you love crossover stories, check out the Devil’s Murder MC. The Tonopah Royal Bastards are close allies. The series begins with Crow.

Royal Bastards Code

PROTECT: The club and your brothers come before anything else, and must be protected at all costs. CLUB is FAMILY.

RESPECT: Earn it & Give it. Respect club law. Respect the patch. Respect your brothers. Disrespect a member and there will be hell to pay.

HONOR: Being patched in is an honor, not a right. Your colors are sacred, not to be left alone, and NEVER let them touch the ground.

OL’ LADIES: Never disrespect a member’s or brother’s Ol’ Lady. PERIOD.

CHURCH is MANDATORY.

LOYALTY: Takes precedence over all, including well-being.

HONESTY: Never LIE, CHEAT, or STEAL from another member or the club.

TERRITORY: You are to respect your brother’s property and follow their Chapter’s club rules.

TRUST: Years to earn it...seconds to lose it.

NEVER RIDE OFF: Brothers do not abandon their family.

Common Terms

RBMC Royal Bastards Motorcycle Club. One-percenter outlaw MC. Founded in Tonopah, NV 1985.

Reaper Demonic entity sharing the body of every Royal Bastard club member in the Tonopah chapter. A collector of souls at time of death.

Devil’s Ride A deadly motorcycle ride into the Nevada desert and initiation into the club.

Pres President of the club. His word is law.

Crossroads Bar & clubhouse owned by the RBMC Tonopah, NV chapter.

One-percenter Outlaw biker/club

Ol’ lady A member’s woman, protected wife status.

Cut Leather vest worn by club members, adorned with patches and club colors, sacred to members.

Reaping Slang, killing those marked for death.

Church An official club meeting, led by president.

Chapel The location for church meetings in the clubhouse.

Prospect Probationary member sponsored by a ranking officer, banned from church until a full patch.

Full Patch A new member approved for membership.

Hog Motorcycle

Cage Vehicle

Muffler bunny Club girl, also called sweet butt, cut slut.

BSMC Bloody Scorpions MC, rival club.

Playlist

Perfect Duet (with Beyoncé) – Ed Sheeran

Yours Again – Red

They Don't Want What We Want (And They Don't Care) – Asking Alexandria

Surrender – Godsmack

Waiting on You – Rain City Drive

All I Had To Lose (feat. Mark Morales) – Mark Morton

Chasing Stars (feat. James Bay) – Alesso & Marshmello

Dial Tone – Catch Your Breath

17 Crimes – AFI

You Are The Reason – Calum Scott

Love Again – The Kid LAROI

Beautiful (feat. Camila Cabello) – Bazzi

Jealous – Labrinth

Breathe (Extended Version) – Through Fire

Dead Don’t Die – Shinedown

Take It All Back – Judah & The Lion

Before You Go – Lewis Capaldi

If I Would Have Known – Kyle Hume

Storm – Anthony Gargiula

I Guess I'm In Love – Clinton Kane

Stand By Me (feat. Morgan Wallen) – Lil Durk

A Love Like War (feat. Vic Fuentes) – All Time Low

You can listen here: Jigsaw’s Blayde Playlist

Royal Bastards MC

Tonopah, NV Chapter

Five years ago, I made a mistake.

I walked away from the woman I loved.

Every day since, I’ve been living a lie, burying my regrets as I tried to move on.

It only takes one chance meeting to know I messed up.

Abby isn’t safe.

She’s got a stalker leaving threatening messages at the newspaper she works for.

There’s a hit on her head, and every shadow is a threat.

I thought I was protecting her when I left, but I was wrong.

When I see the son I never knew I had staring into my eyes, I swear I’ll do anything to make this right.

I’ll cut through every enemy and let the monster inside me take control.

My reaper won’t hold back his fury.

We won’t fail again. This second chance is a gift.

I’m wreaking havoc and unleashing the full potential of the demon within.

I’ll save my little Blayde and win back her heart.

And I’ll make damn sure no one stands in my way.

Part 1

Chapter 1

Six months earlier—

“This place is too fucking crowded,” Mammoth complained, hefting his bulk around in the seat to get comfortable. Huffing a curse under his breath, he shoved the table in my direction, moving it half a foot as it scraped across the hardwood floor.

“Hey, fucker,” I laughed, pushing it back an inch his way. “You’re gonna crush me.”

The big guy, who also happened to be the VP of the Royal Bastards MC Tonopah, Nevada Chapter, snorted. “You don’t have the extra padding I do, asshole.”

Yeah, he was right.

I shrugged, ticking my head at his barrel-shaped chest. “Listen, beefcake, I know—”

That was as far as I got before roaring laughter cut us off.

Exorcist slid next to me, forcing me to give him room on the seat. “Looks like I’m missing all the fun.”

Rael tried to sit beside Mammoth, but he growled, narrowing his eyes at our SAA. Unfazed, the crazy fucker hopped over the table, squeezed between Mammoth and the wall, and rubbed his shoulder against the giant on his left. “I thought I was the only one allowed to call you beefcake.”

“Christ,” Mammoth muttered, ignoring him.

Rael seemed genuinely upset. “You’re cheating on me, honey.”

A snicker escaped my lips before I could stop it.

Mammoth narrowed his eyes, finally staring at Rael. “Say that shit again, and I will. Fuck. You. Up.”

Rael blinked, batting his eyelashes. “Promise?”

“Rael,” he warned.

A dark chuckle left Rael’s lips. His Reaper enjoyed taunting his brothers even more than Rael. Always stirring the fucking pot, unleashing a little chaos.

Being Sergeant at Arms suited Rael until he couldn’t rein in his uncontrollable urge to stir shit up. He loved to fuck with the other members, but the second someone needed him, he was there. No questions asked.

I’d never forget how he picked me up off the floor after my father died six years ago and threw my ass in the shower, forcing me to deal with my grief. I had drowned myself in whiskey and pussy until I was fucking numb. Went weeks without giving a fuck about anything. It hurt too damn much.

His gaze met mine, and he ticked his chin, nodding as he sensed my unspoken thanks.

Mammoth leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and shoving one into Rael’s gut as he exhaled with an audible oof. “I need a drink.” Mammoth lifted a hand, gesturing to one of the girls strutting around in tight shorts with half her ass peekin’ out. And hell yeah, I fucking noticed the second I walked inside this bar.

The blonde sauntered over, smiling as her gaze slid over Mammoth. She flipped her ponytail over her shoulder, licking her lips. She didn’t hide her attraction. “What can I get for you, handsome?”

Exorcist watched the interaction with interest. Mammoth never flirted. Not even with the club girls back at the Crossroads. He preferred to pick his pussy from places the other members didn’t frequent. Couldn’t blame him for not wanting to dip his dick where we had all plundered.

On the other hand, I enjoyed every tit-flashing, dick-loving muffler bunny who walked through the doors. I was single and happy not to be tied down to one woman. Variety was the spice of life, right?

That left Rael and Exorcist. Rael had found his lifemate with a sexy nurse named Nylah. They just had twin boys a few months earlier. I’d never seen that crazy fucker more content, especially after discovering his sibling was still alive and living in Michigan. Rael’s brother Chrome moved from Detroit to patch into the Tonopah chapter. The identical twin brothers excelled at wreaking havoc at the Crossroads. The point? Rael was so fucking obsessed with Nylah he didn’t even look at the blonde as she bent over, teasing the rest of us with a near nipple slip.

Exorcist, a fucking man-whore, his words not mine, eyed that pretty waitress like a juicy steak he couldn’t wait to sink his teeth into. “Baby, he’s not interested.”

She blinked, noting Mammoth wasn’t staring at her tits, and turned to Exorcist. “And you are?”

“You bet that sexy ass I am.”

She rested her elbows on the table and winked. “I get off at midnight.”

“I’ll be helping you with that, honey.” His sexual innuendo hit the mark.

“I’m countin’ on it.” She stood up, took our drink orders, and left with a swish of her ass.

“Fuck,” Exorcist laughed. “I hope she can suck dick with the same enthusiasm.”

Mammoth shook his head with a smirk. “I bet she does.”

Rael typed a message into his phone. “I’m horny. Makin’ sure Nylah is naked and waitin’ for me.”

Blinking, I stared at Rael. Did he just announce that shit? It shouldn’t surprise me. Our SAA had no fucking filter. Broke long before we ever met.

Mammoth shoved Rael into the wall. “The fuck? Sayin’ that shit next to me?”

Rael’s head tilted back, and he howled with laughter. “You’re so fucking easy, honey.”

“Jesus.”

I couldn’t help chuckling. The afternoon had been long, and we had shit to discuss with Grim. We’d just left the Roost after meeting with the Devil’s Murder VP, Raven, and their SAA, Hawk. They were dealing with a rival MC, the Dirty Death, causing problems for their club, and we promised to lend our support however they needed it.

As Royal Bastards, we understood the deeply rooted hatred between their clubs. The Bloody Scorpions had been a thorn in our side for nearly twenty years. The rivalry originated with Keys, the president of the Tonopah Chapter before Grim. A lot of shit had gone down, and it turned deadly. The framed cuts in the chapel of the members we lost hung as a reminder.

Exorcist’s gaze bounced around the bar. “Just saw a couple of Bloody Scorpions cuts.”

All the playful banter at the table vanished.

Mammoth rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck before he leaned forward. “Ex, keep them in your sites.”

“Already on it.”

“Rael, text Grim. Let him know we’ve got company, and we’re handling it.”

“Texting him now,” Rael grunted as his fingers typed the message into his phone.

“Sonofabitch,” Exorcist cursed. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

I turned my head, shocked to find two men sliding into a booth at the other end of the bar across from the Bloody Scorpions MC members. Vince & Antonio Denali.

No. Fucking. Way.

Grim would lose his shit when he found out if Mammoth and Rael didn’t first.

Rael pounded a fist on the table, gritting his teeth. “I can’t believe they have the fucking audacity to walk in here.”

“No problem. Those fuckers won’t be walking out of this bar,” Mammoth growled. “We’re here to ensure a little detour.”

“Hell yeah.”

Exorcist cracked his knuckles. “I’ll be getting payback for Patriot.”

Oh, shit. I forgot the Denali brothers allowed Patriot’s ol’ lady Mimi to be kidnapped by that bitch Neveah when she betrayed the club. She had us all fooled and worked in tandem with the fucking Russian trafficking ring we’d been fighting against. The men Vince and Antonio sent abandoned us when they promised to provide extra security at the Crossroads. When we tried to locate the Denali family afterward, nothing turned up. They fucking disappeared.

Until now.

The Denali family had to know we were looking for them. Why the fuck would they stay hidden for months only to show up now in such a public place? A bar we all frequented when we rode through Vegas. Bull’s Saloon was the only drinking hole Royal Bastards felt as welcome as the Crossroads, aside from our brother chapters in the RBMC and the Roost which belonged to the Devil’s Murder MC, a club as close in brotherhood as the Bastards.

Lucky Lou, an Army vet, owned Bull’s Saloon. He didn’t have any love for the Bloody Scorpions, same as us. Bet he didn’t know those assholes were drinkin’ in his joint. I guessed he wasn’t here or resting in his apartment above the bar. The old guy refused to move out, and the Devil’s Murder MC cared for him, paying for a part-time caretaker to clean and cook his meals.

At any rate, Lou was no longer an active member of the Devil’s Murder, but he kept tabs on shit in his city. Everyone in the Vegas area knew Lou. He kept up with all the gossip in town and shared it with Crow, the DMMC president. Some of the time, that news got passed on to Grim and helped us stay one step ahead of our enemies. Rival clubs knew better than to walk in this door unless they were prepared to face the wrath of both clubs.

So it seemed strange that Bloody Scorpions members had the balls to walk into this bar and meet with the Denali brothers. Something wasn’t adding up. The back of my neck prickled with warning as my Reaper felt restless within. He stirred, pushing at my consciousness as I cracked my knuckles, ready to handle shit if it went down.

Hell, that was my job. As an enforcer for the club, I backed up my Sergeant at Arms, Rael. Protecting and supporting my brothers and the club’s reputation was a full-time position, not to mention assisting members in any sort of conflict.

I was pretty fucking sure this counted as a potential dispute.

“Anyone else feel like this isn’t a coincidence?” I asked, waiting for a response as the waitress returned with our drinks. She didn’t stick around, hustling around the crowded bar to visit all her tables. We didn’t need her overhearing our business, which worked to our advantage.

“I’m thinkin’ the Denali brothers feel real fucking special right now,” Rael mused.

“Like they got protection, and no one can touch them,” Exorcist agreed.

“Then we set them straight,” Mammoth spat.

“What about the Scorpions? We need to know why the fuck they decided to come here.”

Mammoth nodded. “Rael, you and Exorcist follow when they leave. Stay alert. We’ll catch up with Vince and Antonio.” He ticked his head my way. “We don’t let them out of our sight.”

“I hear you, VP.”

We picked up our drinks, tossed back the liquor, and declined another round. The waitress sensed the shift in mood at our booth and didn’t stick around. Around us, nervous glances were cast in our direction as the Bloody Scorpions stood, noticing us for the first time.

Sloppy. Careless. Who didn’t case the joint when they walked in? Seemed far too reckless, even for the BSMC.

My hackles were up, and the monster within couldn’t wait for a chance to burn off some excess energy.

A soft feminine giggle, far too familiar to be coincidence, echoed behind me as my back stiffened. I slowly turned my body to the right, fucking shocked to find the woman I walked away from over four years ago falling into the lap of the man beside her. She was drunk, almost slipping off the stool.

Are you fucking kidding me!?

Next to her, wobbling on fuck-me heels, was my cousin Heather. Fucking hell. I glared at the two women, suddenly pissed I had to deal with this shit with club business going down at the same time.

Exorcist and Rael slipped outside, following after the two Bloody Scorpions cuts.

Mammoth ticked his head toward the Denali brothers. “We got to move, Jigsaw.”

Fuck!

Nodding, I turned away, hoping neither of the girls did anything stupid until I could return. “On your six, VP.”

We moved fast, reaching Antonio and Vincent before they had a chance to leave the booth. Cutting off their exit, we sat on the edge of the seats, wedging them in on the left and right.

“Hey, fellas,” Mammoth greeted them, “I was hopin’ for a chance to chat.”

Vince loudly swallowed while Antonio reached inside his jacket.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I announced, narrowing my eyes as I watched his hand slowly pull away, dropping to the surface of the table. “We got some shit to sort out.”

“We were on our way to see Grim,” Antonio began.

“Were you now?” I scratched at the scruff on my jaw. “Vegas is a bit of a ride from Tonopah. Three long hours. Need some liquid courage first?”

Mammoth snorted. “Maybe they were too busy discussing plans with the Bloody Scorpions to notice the time.”

“Or how long they’ve been hiding,” I added.

“Fuck,” Vince cursed, leaning back against the seat.

Antonio placed his elbows on the table, leaning forward to lower his voice. “I know how this looks. It’s fucked up. You don’t have any reason to trust us—”

“Damn fucking straight,” Mammoth growled.

“Trust is earned, asshole,” I snarled. “You betrayed the club.”

“I know, okay? Christ.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “This looks bad. I get it. But you need—”

“We don’t need to do shit, son,” Mammoth announced. “Grim would like to see you. I wouldn’t ignore his request.”

Antonio grimly nodded.

Vince slammed a fist on the table as he stared down Mammoth. “Don’t kill us before we talk to Grim. He’s gonna want to hear what we have to say.”

“I won’t be giving you any chances to run or stick a knife in our backs a second time. You’ll fucking march out of here and hand over your keys. We’ll be ensuring you’re secure for the ride.”

“Fine,” Antonio agreed as his brother shot him a glare.

“Just in case you weren’t sure,” I murmured, gesturing inside my cut and the leather holster with my Glock. “I won’t hesitate to use it.”

“Nether will I,” Mammoth added while he cracked his neck. “All I need are my fists.”

Antonio and Vince noted his size and the promise of pain that would follow.

“Let’s get this over with,” Vince announced, following Grim from the booth and heading outside.

Antonio slid to his feet, pushing open the door to join his brother.

Needing to know the two women across the bar were okay, I let my gaze settle in their direction just in time to catch the motherfucker dumping a small vial of something clear into the drinks in front of him before pushing the glasses to the right.

What. The. Fuck.

This asshole thought he could drug my cousin and her best friend.

Mammoth could handle the Denali brothers. I couldn’t let this shit go on a second longer. Marching across the bar, I reached the would-be rapist and pulled back my fist, slamming it into his nose. The satisfying crunch that followed fed the voracious appetite of my Reaper. He wanted blood. Carnage. This motherfucker’s howls of pain.

His body slumped, tipping over the stool as he landed on his back on the floor, clutching his busted face. I shoved the drinks toward the bartender snarling they were drugged.

Heather blinked, her eyes wide.

The pretty redhead in the black tank top and skintight leather pants on her left stared up at me, shock evident in the bright blue of her eyes.

Yeah, I never forgot you either, Red.

“Hey, Gingersnap.”

Chapter 2

Age thirteen—

“Micah, I expect you home by dark for dinner,” my mom announced as I tore ass out of the house, racing to my bike in the garage.

“I will!” I hollered back as the screen door slammed shut.

Ten a.m. on a Saturday, and I couldn’t wait to meet my friends at the park. Grabbing the handlebars, I guided the bike out front, pausing on the driveway when I heard raised voices.

“I don’t want to move here!” I heard an angry voice shout. “This isn’t my house!”

“Abigail!”

“No! I’m not staying!”

“Abigail Marie! Get back here. Right now!”

The front door of the house across the street opened, revealing a girl with curly red pigtails and flushed cheeks. She stomped to the U-Haul truck parked in front of the open garage door, kicking at one of the back tires.

“Stupid! Stupid divorce!”

“Abigail!”

She muttered a cuss word, and I blinked, shocked a girl could say the f-bomb. My mouth popped open when she climbed inside the back of the truck, rummaging around before she hopped down, clutching a ratty teddy bear to her chest. Straps from a bright pink backpack slung over her shoulders as she glared at the house.

Her gaze swept over the street next, finally noticing me. Staring. With my mouth still hanging open like a silly fish out of water.

Her chin lifted, and big blue eyes as pretty as a Nevada summer sky swept over me. Despite the cool morning breeze, I felt warmth settle in the middle of my chest—something like a spark lit inside me when her lips twitched with a smirk.

Blinking, I rubbed my breastbone over my heart. Never once in my life did any girl snare my attention. I liked my bike and football more than the giggling girls at my school. Annoying.

I never wanted to talk to any of them.

Until today.

Pink All Star Converse Chucks caught my attention as she spun on her heel and marched across the grass, moving down the sidewalk and away from the house being loaded with boxes. Everyone must have been inside. I didn’t notice a soul outdoors to keep an eye on the little redhead. Not good.

She was tall for a girl. And that tawny hair of hers sure burned like flames around her head. I couldn’t decide if she was pretty or not, and it didn’t matter.

I needed to meet my new neighbor.

Without hesitation, I lowered my bike to the ground and took off after her, approaching with a stupid grin on my face.

“Hey, new girl.”

She didn’t stop her silent march down the sidewalk but managed a stiff nod. “Hi.”

“Whatcha doin’?”

“Runnin’ away,” she answered as if it was the most logical thing in the world.

“Why would you want to do that?” I wondered aloud. “You’re just moving in.”

“Because I want to live at my old house,” she answered with a scowl, “and see my friends every day and swim in my pool.”

“Can’t you still see your friends now?”

She stopped as one hand rested on her hip. “Listen. I need to know how to get back to my old house. Do you know where Air Force Road is? Close to the grocery store with the big R for the name?”

I shook my head. “You can’t walk that far.”

She lifted a foot and stomped it into the ground. “I can do anything. Daddy says girls are just as smart and capable as boys.”

I couldn’t help a snicker from escaping my lips. “Sure.”

Her blue eyes narrowed. “Point which way for me to go.”

“I can’t do that.”

A breathy exaggerated sigh left her mouth. “You’re a mean boy.”

“I’m not mean,” I promised, crossing a finger over my chest. “I swear. My dad always says I shouldn’t let a girl walk anywhere alone. I’m supposed to be a gentleman and stuff.”

She perked up at that. “Good. Then help me.”

“I am. I’ll come with you. Then you won’t be going anywhere alone without protection.”

This new girl didn’t understand the world like I did. My father explained from the time I was old enough to play outside on my own that women were special.

They needed to be kept safe.

I worried for this new girl with her bright red ponytails and innocent blue eyes. She looked like a magnet for trouble.

Years ago, when I was only eight, a man snatched my cousin Heather off the street. I remembered my Uncle Macon stumbling into our house, shouting for my dad. That was the first time I understood real fear.

Dad rode a motorcycle with the Royal Bastards MC. His club was his life. Those men rallied behind my uncle and father and found the man who had taken Heather. The sicko had her for hours before they stormed into his house, finding my little cousin naked on his bed.

My dad never told me what happened to that man, but I knew from the news that he disappeared. No body was ever discovered. Maybe the wild animals in the desert got to him because I saw the dusty bikes parked outside my house the next day.

After that, I knew my father’s club had gotten justice for Heather.

My curiosity about the Royal Bastards MC grew from there.

When I asked about the patches on my dad’s leather vest, he told me about the brotherhood, loyalty, and honor among the men he called his family. They lived by a code. One that I promised to follow as he ruffled the hair on my head.

Five years later, I remembered every word, swearing I would keep my new neighbor safe. She was too little to be out here on her own. I doubt the other adults noticed she left yet. My dad would be pissed if I didn’t step up and do what was right.

I wouldn’t let anyone snatch her up like Heather.

So I kept pace with the little gingersnap next to me.

No one would bother her, not with me around.

Real men didn’t walk away from responsibility. I heard that phrase from the Royal Bastard President Grim at the last barbecue in our backyard. After that, they discussed things I wasn’t allowed to hear, but my dad pulled me in for a hug before he left, leading the long line of motorcycles down the street behind Grim.

“Make me proud, son,” he had whispered.

I bet this was one of those times when I had to step up.

“We’re strangers,” she blurted, holding her teddy bear tighter.

“Not if we don’t want to be,” I quipped.

“You’re stubborn.”

Ha! Me? I had nothing on her.

I stared at the new girl, knowing I wanted to learn her name, but she wasn’t budging. I hoped I could change her mind. “I’m Micah. Micah Sturges.”

Her head tilted to the side as her gaze slid over me. “I’m Abigail Harrington. But you better call me Abby. No one calls me Abigail except for Daddy.”

Harrington. I knew that name. From where, though?

“Why do you look so strange? Stop wrinkling your nose.”

Blinking, I didn’t realize I’d made a face. “You’re bossy.”

“All girls are bossy,” she pointed out.

Nope. Never met one quite like her. I didn’t say that out loud because I didn’t want to argue. She seemed like the type to get offended easily.

“I’ll walk you to the grocery store,” I announced, hoping she followed me and didn’t ask any more questions. “Since we’re not strangers now,” I added.

“Fine. Don’t walk too close to me.”

With a shrug, I agreed, giving her a few extra inches of space.

“How old are you?”

“I’m thirteen,” I declared proudly. “A teenager now.”

Her blue eyes snapped to mine, looking me over. “You seem older than that.”

I got that a lot. My dad was almost six foot five with dirty blond hair and a beard. My mom said I was a carbon copy right down to the height, build, and personality.

“I like to eat,” I answered, unsure what else to say.

She pouted. “I’m hungry too.”

“They didn’t feed you during the move?”

She shook her head. “My mama was crying. I think she forgot.”

Poor thing. “I’ve got a little money. I can buy you something.”

She arched a brow. “You’re a strange boy.”

“Nah. I just like to eat. Remember?”

She giggled. “Okay.”

Right next to the grocery store stood a McDonald’s. I opened the door for Abby, following her inside. Long lines of people waited to order. We came during the lunch rush.

Abby clutched her teddy bear tighter as she viewed the crowd.

I stepped closer, ready to go to war for this tiny redheaded princess if anyone tried to mess with her. “I want a Big Mac combo with a Coke. What about you?”

She sucked in her bottom lip. “If I wanted a chicken nugget happy meal, does that make me a baby?”

“Nope. I might get one too.”

She snorted. “You would need to eat three of them.”

Grinning, I couldn’t deny it.

After I placed the order for four happy meals, I paid, lifting the tray. She led the way to the condiments, taking her time as she gathered straws, napkins, and ketchup.

“What do you want to drink?” I placed the tray to the side, filling three of the four cups with Coke.

“Sprite.”

I filled hers, too, snapping on a lid before lifting the tray again. We found a table at the farthest end of the restaurant, close to a door. The last empty booth. She slid across from me, reaching for her drink.

“So,” I began, sorting all my food in front of me. “Why are you runnin’ away?”

She opened a honey mustard sauce, dipped a corner of one nugget, and took a tiny bite.

I watched as she chewed, unwrapping both of my cheeseburgers and opening a barbecue sauce for my nuggets. All three kiddie fries got dumped together. I opened both packages of apples and left the yogurt for her, pushing it toward her. “Well?” I asked as she swallowed.

“I don’t like the divorce.”

Ah. Now I got it. “Well, some of my friends have divorced parents. It happens a lot.”

She ate the rest of her nugget before responding. “Not your parents, right?”

“Nope.” I saw the way my parents looked at each other. Kind of gross. “My dad says he wouldn’t ever let my mom leave him. She’s the best thing that ever happened to him.” I realized as I said it that tears bloomed in Abby’s eyes. Shit. “I’m sorry.”

She sniffled. “My daddy cheated on my mama. She asked for the divorce, and he said it was a good idea.” The tears spilled over, slipping down her face and dripping off her chin. “Why didn’t my daddy think she was the best thing that happened to him? My mama is beautiful, and she cooks real good.”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling like an ass.

I should have kept my big mouth shut.

My stomach growled, and I stacked the two cheeseburgers together, taking a massive bite. A minute later, they were gone, and I dunked a nugget in barbecue before popping the whole thing in my mouth.

Abby’s eyes widened. “You do like to eat.”

“Told you,” I snarked, laughing. “I’m a growing boy and need my strength.”

Abby thought that over before stuffing one of her nuggets in her mouth, her eyes bulging as she tried to chew. It didn’t work out well. Her mouth was too small. Half the nugget fell out onto the table as I shook my head.

“You shouldn’t try that again. You might choke.”

She sucked Sprite through her straw, nodding in agreement.

“I think we should be friends, Abby. I’ve got a cousin a little older than you. Her name is Heather. She could use a girl her age to play with.” That wasn’t a lie. Most of the kids in our neighborhood knew what happened to her as a kid, and they treated her a bit differently. Heather hated it.

My Uncle Macon moved Heather next door to us after the kidnapping. He swore she was safest being close to our family. He had to be right. My dad ordered me to watch out for Heather, but he didn’t need to ask. I would have done it on my own and told him as much.

“I know, son. You’re makin’ the Sturges name proud.”

After stuffing the last of the fries into my mouth, I licked the excess ketchup from my fingers.

Abby finally finished her four nuggets, crunching on an apple slice. “You eat too fast. Mama says that’ll give you a stomachache.”

“Eh,” I shrugged. “I can handle it.”

She snorted. “How old is Heather?”

“She’s nine.”

“I’ll be nine in November.”

“Sounds like moving onto our street was fate,” I announced. “You should stick around.”

Her little white teeth nibbled on her bottom lip. “Yeah. Plus, I love my mama.”

Whew. Good. “So, you’re not going to run away now?”

“No. I think I should get back home.” She pushed her happy meal box away, leaving some apples and fries.

“You don’t eat much,” I observed.

“I can’t. When I get mad or upset, my stomach gets all twisty.”

“Okay, well, let’s clean up our mess.”

The only mess on the table was from me. Her side was clean. She even ate over a napkin. Me? I had crumbs and wrappers and ketchup all over.

Abby giggled. “You’re messy.”

“Just add it to my list of amazing qualities.”

Once I gathered up the trash and wiped the table down with a napkin, Abby followed me. I tossed everything into the bin, stopping to suck down the last of my Coke.

Outside, she looked up at me, blinking long black lashes. “Micah?”

“Yeah?” I asked, wondering why my belly fluttered with a funny tickle. Warmth flooded my chest, sending a rush of heat through my body.

“Will you hold my hand?”

Surprised, I just stared.

“Daddy holds my hand when I’m scared or upset. It makes me feel better.”

Swallowing hard, I nodded, ignoring the clammy feeling in my palm as I reached out, clasping our hands together.

We began walking toward our street.

“Micah?”

“Yeah, Abby?”

“I think you’re right.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. You’re my guardian angel. Mama says all little girls have one. That means I was opposed to move across the street from you.”

I didn’t correct her for using the word opposed instead of supposed.

“I’m always right, Gingersnap,” I joked, smiling as the warmth in my chest lightened the usual heaviness I felt in my heart. Since Heather’s kidnapping, a heavy pressure settled on my shoulders. My father didn’t mean to add to the burden I felt, but it continued to stack on top of me since that day my uncle rushed into the house.

Now, five years later, I found another sweet, innocent soul who needed protection. There was something special about Abby. A fire and stubborn will that I immediately found irresistible. Even as young as we were, I couldn’t deny the potent connection we formed.

No matter what happened in the future, I knew I would always fight to be by her side.

Chapter 3

Age twelve—

The backpack felt far too heavy on my shoulders as I stood beside the bleachers, watching Micah Sturges make out with Penny Dolittle. Everyone knew Penny had sex with multiple guys, and if the rumors were true, she was pregnant too. Didn’t Micah know better?

Scowling, I tried to tear my gaze away from the boy who had become everything to me over the last four years—friend, protector, confidant, and tutor. He was the only boy my mama trusted in the house when she wasn’t home.

To the world, he was the only son of a notorious outlaw. A criminal before he ever broke the law. At seventeen, Micah already smoked cigarettes and weed, indulged in liquor, rode a Harley, and regularly added more dark ink to his lean muscular body.

To me, he would always be the guardian angel I adored.

The strange, overprotective boy who made sure I didn’t run away had grown into a lethal, charismatic teenager already on the cusp of becoming a man. He changed before my eyes. I blinked . . . and he grew up. No longer tossing around a football in his backyard or playing baseball in the park with his friends.

Micah switched out his grimy t-shirts and Converse high tops for a black leather vest with a patch that read PROSPECT and dark boots. He started spending time away from Heather and me, choosing to ride off with his biker buddies and cause havoc. He lived a wild, carefree life that no longer had room for two young, giggling girls who hadn’t reached puberty yet.

The only thing he seemed to chase with consistency were girls. He didn’t appear to have a preference. I caught him making out with a new one almost every single day. Some he liked more than others but none of them lasted long.

Until Penny’s older sister Rebecca rejected him.

Micah took that rejection hard. Watching him shove his tongue down Penny’s throat, I wondered if he kissed her to make Rebecca jealous. How silly.

As I waited for the bus, I pulled out my notebook, sketching Micah in his leather vest and jeans. For reasons I couldn’t quite explain, he became my favorite muse. Not to mention his physical form was a delight to draw. All that sculpted muscle and endless black ink stretched from his knuckles, up his arms, wrapping over his shoulders, and spreading across his back. I saw every inch of his tattoos last weekend when he worked on his bike, tearing off his shirt in the blazing heat of the Nevada sun. I sat across the street, watching from the porch swing.

Something about the way his bronzed skin grew slick with sweat mesmerized me. He oozed power and strength. My gaze dipped to his hands and the long, graceful fingers that could have chosen to play piano or throw a baseball for a living but decided to grip handlebars on a motorcycle instead. Such an odd thing to focus on, but I understood Micah’s choice. I knew him better than he knew himself.

Maybe it was the artist inside me that picked up on every detail. But I could sense his mood too. His expression never hid his feelings. From the moment we met, I knew he would never harm me. No matter what choices Micah made with his life, his heart was good. He respected his mama and kept his promises. He would always be someone I could rely on.

“What are you sketching?” Heather asked as she joined me, staring down at the pad as my pencil brushed across the paper. She sat beside me on the sidewalk, folding her long legs as she picked up a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingertips.

“Micah on his motorcycle instead of sucking face with Penny.”

“Ewwww!” she shrieked with a laugh. “So gross!” Her nose wrinkled as she shook her head at her cousin, noticing how he devoured Penny’s lips. “Hey, Micah! Let her come up for air!”

We both began giggling and couldn’t stop as he broke apart from Penny, narrowing his eyes at Heather.

Penny swiped across her mouth and blushed, ducking her head as she walked away. Her short skirt barely covered her ass. Maybe that was why the boys all liked her.

Micah crossed his arms over his chest as he joined us. He shook his head, unable to hide his humor. I couldn’t help staring at the light brown color of his eyes or the warmth reflected within. He seemed to have endless patience with me and Heather, even when we annoyed him.

“That me on my bike, Gingersnap?”

I ignored the nickname he gave me the day we ate at McDonald’s, and I almost ran away. Secretly, I kind of loved it. No way would I ever tell him that.

“Yep,” I answered, rising to my feet. “I still can’t seem to get the bike parts quite right.”

“Let me take a closer look.” He reached out as I handed over the notepad, whistling as he took in the image. “Damn. You sure know how to capture a moment. This is fucking awesome!”

Heather smacked his arm. “Don’t cuss. Your mama will whoop your ass.”

He snorted. “Yeah. Probably.” Micah winked at me. “You have an eye for detail, Gingersnap. I think it’s perfect.”

I reached for the pad, tucking it into my backpack. “Thanks.”

“Seriously. You need to go to art school. You’re way too talented not to pursue this for a career.”

“But I like to write too,” I reminded him.

I certainly kept enough journals to prove that fact. My desk and dresser were full of volumes I filled with notes, poems, and diary entries.

“Then you gotta figure out which you want to do.” He tugged on one of my braids before slipping an arm around my shoulders in a bear hug.

Groaning, I shoved him away. “You’re never serious,” I chided.

“About you and your art? Always!”

Heather rolled her eyes. “Come on. I’m starving! I want to get home.”

Micah ticked his head toward the bus. “Forget that big yellow banana on wheels. I’ve got the Charger. I’ll give you both a ride.”

Heather’s brown eyes, the same shade of dark honey as her cousin, widened. “Uncle Hale let you drive his ’69 Dodge Charger?”

Micah’s chest puffed out. “Yeah. He trusts me.”

Heather snorted. “Uh-huh. You do something to that car, and he’ll kick your ass. You’ll be grounded until you’re thirty.”

“Fuck, Heath. Why you gotta bust my balls?”

I couldn’t help giggling at two of the people I loved most in this world. Micah and Heather were more like siblings than cousins. And they sure knew how to push each other’s buttons.

“Well, I’m hungry too. Better get us home safe, Micah.”

He scooped both of us up at the same time as we squealed, running toward the parked Charger. “I accept the challenge!”

“HEY, CARROTTOP!”

Ignoring the rude comment, I kept walking, refusing to acknowledge the jerk behind me.

“I’m talking to you!”

I held the straps of my backpack tighter, determined not to lose my temper.

“Are you a natural redhead? Let me see!”

Roaring laughter echoed behind me as I picked up the pace, moving as fast as I could without running. I stayed late after school to finish a project for the science fair and missed the bus. My mom wouldn’t be off work until six, which meant I didn’t have any other option except to walk.

I never thought Randy Brewer and his eighth-grade group of idiotic friends would follow me as I left. Didn’t they have anything better to do?

“Red! Why don’t you slow down?”

“I like it when she walks fast like that,” another joked.

Gross!

Silence followed, and I thought they would leave me alone—no such luck.

I got tackled from behind, slamming my elbow and one knee into the ground as I winced. My head bounced off the asphalt. Dazed, I lashed out, connecting with someone’s cheek. “Get off me!” I screeched.

I managed to roll to my side, trying to push off the ground, when a fist hit my gut. Groaning, I nearly puked.

“Why the fuck did you hit her?”

“I don’t know!”

“Hold her down!”

Blinking, I noticed two things. One, the group of boys was bigger than I thought. Six of them. Each stared at me with an unknown intent. Two, a much taller figure stood behind them. He wore a leather vest and shitkicker boots. Murderous rage brewed in the dark honey of his eyes.

My savior.

“Get the fuck off her!” Micah roared, shoving the boy closest to him to the ground. His fists swung, connecting with precision as he bowled through my attackers, knocking them around like pins in an alley.

In only a couple of minutes, all of them scattered, holding onto bruised jaws and busted ribs, swelling, blackened eyes, and stumbling over one another in haste.

“You come after her again, and I’ll bring a bat next time!” Micah threatened.

I believed him.

“Oh, Gingersnap. You okay?” A muscle twitched in his jaw as he helped me to my feet. “Fuck. You’re bleeding.” He scooped under my legs, lifting me close against his chest, not giving me a chance to protest. “Goddamn bullies.”

“How did you find me?” I asked, closing my eyes as my head spun, and I rested my forehead against his shoulder.

“Shit. Don’t pass out on me!”

“I won’t,” I slurred, wondering how hard I hit my head when I fell.

“Hey, Gingersnap. Wake up!”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumbled.

“Abby! Please. Don’t go to sleep. You can’t!”

It barely registered in my head that he said my real name.

“You said Abby,” I whispered.

“Sure. I know your name, little Red. Won’t ever forget it.”

Micah stopped, and I saw the row of swings in the park next to my house—the one with the old metal slide that burned skin in the summer if you wore shorts.

“You gotta wake up. Keep talking to me.”

I couldn’t say why, but one thought popped into my head. “I’ll never be kissed.”

He turned his head, staring at me with a frown. His beefy arms wrapped around me tighter. “Why do you say that?”

“I’m not pretty. That’s why the boys make fun of me.”

“You’re wrong, Abby.”

“It’s true. No boy will ever want to kiss me.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “Trust me. That’s a lie.”

“All the girls want to kiss you. You’ll never have to worry.”

The corner of his lip lifted into a smirk. “How about I make you a promise?”

Blinking, I moaned as my head began pounding and my vision tunneled. “Micah.”

“Hey, listen. You gotta wake up, Abby.”

I tried to look into his eyes as my chin lifted, but the image blurred.

“Someday, I’ll be your first kiss. You tell me when you want it, and I’ll be the one to do it.”

Relieved, I managed to choke out “okay,” before my head turned, and I vomited over his shoulder onto the sidewalk.

“Fuck! I think you’ve got a concussion.”

A groan spilled from my mouth as I wrapped my arms around his neck. “It hurts.”

“I know it does, Gingersnap. I’m gonna take care of you. I swear.”

The ground beneath us seemed to roll as he moved. I breathed into his neck, letting the familiar scent of leather, cologne, and fresh soap fill my senses.

“Micah?”

“Yeah?”

“Why would you want to be my first kiss?”

“Because you’re beautiful inside and out, Little Red. And I would be damn lucky if you chose me.”

The rumble of motorcycles alerted me to the fact we were no longer alone. Raised voices filled the yard. I heard Micah’s uncle Macon and Hale Sturges shouting orders. My mother’s frantic voice. Chaos.

“Don’t leave me,” I begged as I lost my grip on Micah’s shirt.

“Abby! It’s going to be okay. You hear me? I’ve got you.”

“I know.”

The world faded, but I knew nothing else would harm me.

I was safe.

My guardian angel would make sure of it.

“WHO DID THIS?” A QUIET but menacing voice asked. “They’ll answer for it by my hand or her father’s.”

The familiar tone came from my right. Hale Sturges.

My brain was fuzzy, but as I awakened, I realized I rested in bed, not my own.

“Randy Brewer,” Micah spat. “I found his little group of thugs pushing her down. They tried to touch her, Dad.”

I heard a fist pound the mattress close to my feet.

“I’ll take care of it.”

“No,” Micah argued. “I want in on this. That little shit hurt my sweet Gingersnap. I want to see him bleed.”

“Yours?” Hale growled. “She’s a child.”

“Not much longer,” Micah argued. “She’s almost thirteen.”

“What are you saying? This girl is family. We’re her protection. You understand me, son?”

“I’ve learned what it means to protect the ones I care about and love since the day Heather was taken,” Micah replied quietly. “You know that.”

“Shit. That’s not what this is about.”

“It is to me,” Micah argued. “No one hurts her or Heather.”

“Now’s not the time to be belligerent.”

Micah sighed. “I’ll be taking care of this with or without your help.”

“This isn’t about your cousin. Give it to me straight. I don’t have patience for bullshit.”

“Abby’s always been—”

The door opened, and I heard a woman’s soft voice. “Visiting hours are over. I’m sorry, but I can only have one immediate family member overnight.”

Where was my mother? Working?

“I’ll stay,” Micah quickly answered. “I don’t want Abby to wake up alone.”

“I’ll bring you a pillow and blanket.”

The door shut with a click.

“We’ll discuss this later at home, son. Dwayne Harrington is on his way. We need to talk.”

Oh no. My dad would flip out when he learned what happened. My fingers began to twitch as I slowly opened my eyes, squinting as a hundred hammers started pummeling my skull. Pain exploded behind my eyes as I nearly whimpered. The sun’s rays were so bright, even through the closed blinds on the window.

“Ow,” I whispered as a cough followed. My dry, scratchy throat felt unused and thick as a shovel full of gravel. Eyes fluttering, I never realized I had fallen asleep again until I noticed the moon trying to peek through the blinds in the hospital room.

How long was I asleep?

I caught Micah’s back as he stood in the doorway, staring at his father and mine as they argued in low tones.

“That wasn’t our agreement, Harrington,” Hale growled. “My club doesn’t answer to you.”

“You should have thought about that before you took on my contract.”

What contract? What did my father mean?

“Leave the hospital. I don’t need your protection any longer. My daughter’s association with your son has put her in unnecessary danger.”

“That’s not true,” Micah objected.

“You’ll stay away from my daughter, Sturges: you, your son, and that club. I’m done. No more deal.”

“I don’t think that’s wise, Harrington.”

“It’s a good thing your opinion no longer matters.”

Hale seemed pissed.

Micah pushed off the door, approaching my father. “I’ll keep my distance, but Abby is my friend. Nothing changes that.”

“Put a leash on your son, Sturges. Or I will.”

Micah took a step in his direction before Hale gripped his shoulder, pulling him back.

“You’ll regret ending the agreement this way.”

“I don’t deal in threats, only absolutes. Leave this hospital. You’ve no reason to stay.”

My father turned his back on Hale and Micah, heading in my direction with angry strides.

I caught Micah’s concerned gaze as I blinked, upset with my father for making decisions without my input. It wasn’t fair. The Sturges family were as close as blood to me and my mother. Once I left this hospital, I would find Micah and smooth things over.

He gave me a sad smile before following his father down the hall, with no choice but to leave.

As my dad rushed into the room, I glared at him.

He never tried to understand what I wanted, and this proved it.

Chapter 4

Age twenty—

“Where are you headed, son?”

I snatched up the keys to my new motorcycle, itching to take her out for a ride. The sun was shining. It wasn’t too hot. And maybe I could catch a glimpse of the curvy redhead across the street I absolutely intended not to stare at in her bikini.

Just like I ignored her through my bedroom window after I showered, nearly beating off at the generous swell of her perky tits and flat stomach that tapered down to the dangerous vee between her thighs.

“Out,” I muttered, finally answering my dad.

“Stay away from Abby,” he reminded me.

Yeah, I knew that. Two years of this shit. It was getting old.

“Got it.”

It wasn’t like I could avoid her when she spent all her time with Heather. Uncle Macon moved her in and sold the house next door to another brother in the club. I saw Abby almost every day. It was unrealistic that we wouldn’t talk. I just tried not to hang around the two girls often.

Not like I didn’t have my own life or shit to deal with. My old man kept me busy. He was my sponsor, and now that I was a prospect with the Royal Bastards, I wasn’t home nearly as much.

I slammed the door on my way out, heading into the garage to fire up my bike.

Don’t look across the street. Don’t peek.

I sure was a dumb motherfucker because I turned my head, trying to play it cool.

Fuck. Me.

On closer inspection, I could see the indent of her pretty little camel toe and every inch of her lightly golden skin glistening in the sun. She shouldn’t be wearing that bathing suit, especially not in her front yard, for the whole damn neighborhood to ogle and add to their spank bank. The white bikini barely covered the necessary areas, and more flesh fell outside the fabric than behind it.

No fucking way. I couldn’t let this go.

How could I protect her when she insisted on flaunting her sexy ass to anyone on the street?

Wait. Shit. Fuck.

Abby is only fifteen. Don’t go over there. Don’t. Go.

Goddamn. I couldn’t resist.

She’s too young. Don’t think about her like that.

My gaze swept over my cousin and the black bikini she wore, nearly losing my shit at the sight. Too. Much. Skin.

These girls had no idea what kind of shitstorm was coming their way. I clenched my fists, barely holding back.

Heather sat up in the lawn chair, pulling a long shirt over her body. Thank fuck. She said something to Abby and crossed the street, entering the garage as I scowled.

“Hey, cuz,” she greeted me with a smirk. “Enjoying the show?”

Ugh. “Don’t make me puke.”

She smacked my arm. “Not me, you idiot. Abby. Doesn’t she look amazing in that bikini? I picked it out for her yesterday when we went shopping.”

Great. My eyes narrowed. “Stop it.”

“What?” She batted her eyelashes, feigning innocence. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you checking her out all summer.”

Please stop talking. “You’re wrong,” I growled.

“Am I?” She tapped her chin, pushing her sunglasses down slightly to stare into my eyes. “Why are you getting all worked up?”

“For fuck’s sake,” I muttered, not bothering with any further reply. “I’m going for a ride.”

“You should take Abby.”

Christ. “Knock it off, Heath.”

She held up her hands with a chuckle. “Fine. I’m going inside for a bit. It’s too damn hot out.”

I shook my head as Heather entered the house, refusing to stare at Abby. I had my bike fired up, rolling down the driveway when she stood, walking toward her backyard. When she picked up the hose to water the flowers on the side of the house and the garden in the back, splashing that white material and soaking the bikini in the process, I knew I couldn’t let her wear it ever again.

No motherfucking way. You. Could. See. Her. Nipples.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I spat, annoyed as fuck.

Without hesitation, I rumbled down the driveway, turning the corner once I reached the end of the street.

In less than a minute, I parked behind her house. I didn’t think this through. The image of her pebbled nipples poking through the material as it molded over the curve of her breasts burned into my mind. And then the sight of her perfect virginal pussy bare and pink did me in. That material hid nothing when wet.

Rock fucking hard; I adjusted my dick before I stomped through the yard, finding her next to the garage. My fingers reached for the hem of my shirt, and I whipped it over my head.

“Put this on. Now,” I ordered in a gruff voice, swallowing hard when I glimpsed far too much ass cheek. Goddamn.

Abby was fucking gorgeous.

Stop. Staring.

She spun around, gasping as I shoved the shirt into her hand.

I snatched the hose, getting far too close to the tempting little goddess I should never want as badly as I did. Forbidden. Fruit. She was the definition of it.

“Okay. What has you so grumpy?” She lifted the shirt over her head and shoved her arms through the sleeves. The material covered her body but had the opposite effect of the one I intended.

Long tanned legs peeked from the bottom of the shirt that barely concealed the curves beneath. She looked too fucking good in my clothes. I couldn’t resist a leer when I thought of her wearing it and her sweet scent soaking into the material. I’d never fucking wash it again.

Pathetic. What the hell was the matter with me?

“Micah?”

I dropped the hose, slowly pinning her in until her back met the wall of the garage. My hand slapped against the cool stucco beside her head, caging her in with my body. “You won’t ever wear that bikini again.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

She scoffed. “Stop being a caveman.”

“Not joking, Red. Take it off. Right now.”

Fuck. I had to throw it out or burn it. No fucking way I could handle her prancing around in the white bikini again.

“I’m not getting naked in front of you.”

“You have my shirt on,” I pointed out.

Blue eyes blinked. “You’re serious.”

“Hell yeah, I am. Take. It. Off.”

“What’s the matter with it? Tell me first.”

My chin dipped as my head lowered, putting us eye to eye. “You can see everything.”

She tilted her head to the side, listening to my words. Confusion flitted over her flawless features before a pink flush rose across her neck and up into her cheeks. “When you say everything . . .”

“That material hides nothing when wet.”

Her eyes widened.

“I can see every inch of your body.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah, Gingersnap. Shit is right.”

“I’ll take it off. Promise. Just not in front of you.”

Yeah, that was a good idea. I didn’t think I could control my reaction. My fingers twitched as the hand that wasn’t resting on the wall seemed to have a mind of its own, reaching out to caress the side of her face.

“I can’t handle the idea of anyone else seeing you like that. It pisses me off,” I admitted.

“Is that why you’re acting like this?”

“Yes,” I huffed, pressing my body closer to hers.

Back off. Stop thinking with your cock, asshole.

“I’ll always be your protector, Abby.”

Her expression softened. “I know, Micah.”

My gaze slid over her high cheekbones and bright blue eyes, finally dropping to focus on the dark pink, cherry-flavored gloss I could smell on her lips. A hint of honeysuckle and suntan lotion merged with the scent as I inhaled.

Fuck. I wanted to kiss her. Ravage that pretty mouth and plump lips. She had lips created for kissing, and the thought of her wrapping them around my cock nearly set me on fire. Holy shit. I had to stop reacting to her like this. All summer, I watched her, drawn to the young girl blossoming into a woman. She was so fucking innocent and sweet. A goddamn virgin.

What the fuck was I thinking?

This could never happen.

I had to walk away before I did something stupid.

One of her hands rested against my bare chest, and the unmistakable attraction in her eyes surprised me.

Abby wasn’t immune to our connection. She felt this wild, greedy thing that formed between us. Raw. Ravenous.

We had to end whatever was happening before it went any further.

I started to pull away from her when her palm slid over my heart.

“We’re in sync, Micah. You breathe, I breathe. Your heart beats; mine follows. Maybe it’s cheesy, but I don’t want to fight what we feel.”

Shit. I was so fucking screwed.

“WE’RE IN SYNC, MICAH. You breathe, I breathe. Your heart beats; mine follows. Maybe it’s cheesy, but I don’t want to fight what we feel.”

I had no idea how he would react to my words. In just a few months, I would turn sixteen. I wasn’t a little girl anymore, content with the friendship we shared. Over the last year, the physical attraction I felt for Micah had grown, becoming a raw need I couldn’t deny. The chemistry between us had gotten intense. Whenever he was around, I could sense the unspoken desire radiating off of him in scorching waves.

Micah had never been good at concealing his emotions. Even as a kid, I easily picked up on his moods. A protector by nature, he never strayed far from me or Heather growing up. Naturally, that formed a tight bond between us. Micah might be older, but that didn’t change how we all felt. The three of us were family—us against the world.

When he stormed into my backyard, tearing off his shirt and barking orders, that only confirmed how much we meant to one another. Micah couldn’t fight it.

He wouldn’t stop growling his words either. His intensity bolstered my courage, especially after my hand pressed to his skin right over his heart. I felt the steady thrum of his heart as it raced in his chest. His lungs worked overtime to pump oxygen into his bloodstream. A ragged breath escaped his lips.

“Abby.”

He spoke my name in a half-tortured, half-desperate plea.

I understood his need. “Kiss me.”

He blinked, gripping my waist in one hand before sliding around my back, tugging me closer. Not an inch of space remained between us. Our bodies melded, and only the thin shirt prevented us from being skin-on-skin.

The hard outline of his erection pressed into my belly and provided the proof I needed to grow bolder.

“You promised,” I reminded him.

“To be your first kiss?” The words spilled from his lips in a deep, guttural tone. “Tell me, Red. Anyone steal what’s mine? Touch you? Taste those sweet lips?”

Never. “No. I saved myself for you.”

The corner of his lip twitched as his gaze intensified.

“Every part of me,” I clarified.

“Fuck,” he cursed. “We can’t do this.”

“But we are,” I insisted.

“I’m too old for you, and your dad fucking hates me.”

“I don’t care, Micah.”

His forehead lowered to mine as I breathed him in. A light sandalwood cologne. Leather. Motor oil. A hint of mint.

“Kiss me,” I repeated with more force. “Please.”

A soft sigh escaped his lips. “Not yet.”

Frustrated, my voice was sharp when I replied. “When?”

“When you’re eighteen.”

“That’s almost two and a half years from now,” I whined.

“It’s gonna fucking kill me, Red.”

“You won’t touch me before that?” I asked to clarify.

“No,” he grumbled.

Fine. I would just have to tempt him into it.

“I see that look. Don’t do anything stupid, Abby.”

Pushing at his chest, I separated us. Not bothering to tell him what I was doing before I did it, I slipped my arms inside his shirt and untied my bikini top, letting it fall to the grass. My bottoms followed.

Micah’s nostrils flared as he took a step backward.

Yeah, he wants me.

“There,” I announced. “I obeyed like a good girl. White bikini gone.”

He groaned.

“Want the shirt too?”

“You’re fucking killing me right now.”

I started to lift the shirt, and he spun around, panting.

“Get inside and put some clothes on, for fuck’s sake.”

“You want your shirt back later?”

“No,” he hissed. His back straightened as he turned around with a smirk. “No,” he repeated in a calmer tone. “Keep it. I like knowing a part of me is with you.”

“Always, Micah.”

Chapter 5

Age sixteen—

The loud rumble of multiple motorcycle engines roused me from sleep. The heavy machines rattled the windowpanes of my upstairs bedroom window as I slid off my mattress. My bare feet padded across the floor as I yawned, pausing to stretch while loud laughter filtered into the shadows. Opening the blinds, I peeked at the men gathered outside in leather vests. The familiar Royal Bastards MC logo with a skull and crown proudly displayed on each back reminded me of the life Micah had chosen. Being a biker was in his blood.

He stood next to his bike, smoking a cigarette that lit up his face for a brief moment. Smoke rose and drifted away in the wind above his head while swirling high into the clouds. The embers burned as he inhaled, casting a glow that flickered hungrily over his features. His grin flashed, and I heard his low masculine laughter in the silence that followed as the engines quieted, silenced by their owners.

Hale headed inside, followed by most of the guys. Only Micah and a few others remained outdoors, and it never occurred to me until now it was intentional. A guard was always present.

Was that Micah’s job in the club?

It made sense considering his protective nature.

Someone always remained with the motorcycles and kept an eye out. Usually, there was more than one biker ready if trouble came around. I heard Heather call them prospects—guys who wanted to become members of the RBMC.

I thought of Micah’s leather vest. He called it a cut. The patch on the front read Prospect. He would become a member soon, and now I began to understand a little about his life and the outlaw he would become. Some people, like my father, would argue he already carried that title along with most of the men he associated with. I didn’t care what they thought.

As if he sensed that I watched him, Micah lifted his head and stared into my window. I flipped on the tiny lamp on my desk, illuminating the room in a soft amber glow. He ticked his chin at me, and I waved back.

I recognized the other prospect beside him, elbowing Micah in the gut. Robert Williams. He graduated from high school the same year as Micah. A big beefy guy who liked to lift weights and play football. I guess he changed his mind about college. I heard he dropped out last year.

Heather used to crush hard on him in middle school.

A light knock rapped on my door before it opened. I didn’t have to guess who snuck inside my house. Heather’s purple head poked into my room. I figured all the noise woke her up too. She had a key and never hesitated to use it, even in the middle of the night.

“Hey. Wanna sneak out and do bad things?”

Like I needed to be asked twice. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

She flopped onto my bed, shoving her feet into black boots and zipping them up her calf over her tight jeans.

True to my word, I dressed, fixed my hair, and applied makeup in record time. Eighteen minutes later, I glanced at my alarm clock. It was after two in the morning.

Heather grabbed my hand, and we left, tiptoeing past my mom’s bedroom door before rushing outdoors.

Micah, Robert, and another biker I didn’t know stood on the lawn, immediately noticing us.

“Lookin’ good, Sturges,” Robert flirted, not bothering to hide his appreciation for Heather’s lowcut top or the cleavage spilling out of it.

Heather winked before sliding her hand over his arm. “I ever tell you how much I love your tattoos?”

“Nah. Remind me, baby.”

I had a feeling she would explain in detail for most of the night.

“Hey, Gingersnap,” Micah greeted me when I reached him. “You’re up late.”

“No. I’m up early.”

He snorted. “Right.”

“Important meeting inside?” I asked, gesturing to all the Harleys in front of his house.

“Something like that.”

Heather tried to explain the whole club business concept to me and how details were never shared. Any information regarding the club, its members, location, or affiliations remained a closely guarded secret between the patched members. A safety issue first and foremost, especially for the officers like the president. No one could leak details about things they didn’t have knowledge about. This kept family members protected too.

“I understand.”

His brow lifted. “You do?”

“Sure. It keeps everyone safe.”

“You bet it does, Red. Family comes first.”

“And family is blood and the club,” I recited, remembering Heather’s words.

“That’s right, doll,” the unknown biker agreed, joining us. He lifted his chin in greeting. “Haven’t met you yet, beautiful.”

Micah reached out, pulling me to his side. “And you won’t tonight either.”

A chuckle left his lips. “Let her choose. You wanna get to know Bear, honey? I promise you won’t regret it.”

“She’s sixteen, Bear,” Micah growled. “And Heather’s best friend. She also happens to be under Vice’s protection. So hands fucking off,” he spat.

“I’m almost seventeen,” I interjected. Just five months away.

Micah frowned, clearly not interested in the specifics.

“Damn, Sturges. Don’t get all twisted. I hear you.” Bear left us alone, walking to the bikes a few feet away to light up a cigarette, inhaling while his lungs filled with smoke.

“You shouldn’t be out here, Abby. It’s not safe.”

I tore my gaze from Bear, turning to Micah. “Seems safe enough to me. There’s hardly anyone around. No reason to worry at all.”

“I never said the danger wasn’t me,” he replied quietly, sliding his hand across the nape of my neck. “You said you wanted to be kissed earlier. Is that right?”

Definitely. “Yes.” I pressed against him, feeling the hard lean lines of his body against my own.

Wicked. The word described Micah in so many ways.

“I want you to be first.”

“Your first what, Red?”

“First everything,” I whispered.

His blue eyes darkened. “We agreed to wait until you’re eighteen.”

“I remember the conversation a bit differently.”

“Is that so?” he asked, murmuring the words as his warm breath draped over my ear.

“Are you gonna kiss me or not, Micah Sturges?”

“Fuck, Abby. Have a little patience, my little gingersnap.”

I pursed my lips, annoyed with his constant teasing.

“Tell you what, Red. We should get out of here.”

“And go where?”

“I say we hop on my bike and ride until the sun rises.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you supposed to stay away from me, Micah?”

“I don’t think I can do that anymore.”

As much as those words thrilled me, they also felt far too reckless. Not that it stopped us.

“Can you leave? Isn’t that against biker code or something?”

Bear chuckled, overhearing our conversation.

Micah flipped him off. “Come on. I want you to see the world from the seat of my Harley.”

Micah led me to his bike and reached for a helmet. “You never ride without this. Okay?”

“I won’t.”

I buckled the straps and slid behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “This close enough?”

“Yeah. Watch those exhaust pipes. They get fucking hot.”

“Alright.”

The engine roared to life as I felt the massive iron beast between our legs rumble.

“Oh, wow,” I whispered.

“This ain’t nothing, Red. Wait until we’re ridin’ on the open road.”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

“Hold on tight, Gingersnap. I’m taking you on a wild ride.”

FREEDOM. EXHILARATION. Heart-stopping fear. An adrenaline rush. I felt all those things and more as the wind blew in my face and nearly snatched the breath from my lungs.

I never wanted the ride to end.

Eventually, Micah pulled to a stop at the park closest to our street. The same park we both played in as kids. The massive beast beneath us grew silent as Micah shut down the engine.

We both stood, and I wobbled slightly, giggling as he reached out to steady me.

“Well, what did you think, Red?”

“It’s terrifyingly awesome!” I gushed, unbuckling the helmet. “The turns, oh my God! My knee almost touched the ground twice,” I laughed. “Wow, Micah. I don’t have enough words to describe it.”

“You’ve got the bug now. You’re addicted.”

“I think I am.” I couldn’t help smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

Micah reached for my hand and intertwined our fingers, pausing to hang the helmet on the handlebars of his bike. He led me through the park to the swings, sitting on the seat and pulling me onto his lap.

The first golden rays were just peeking over the horizon, bathing the desert in shades of pink, purple, and red. As the sky brightened, Micah’s arms circled my waist. His chin rested on my shoulder as I relaxed against his chest.

Peace like I’d never known filled every inch of my soul. I could stay like this forever, snuggled into his warmth, knowing I was safe and protected from the harsh realities of this world.

Maybe it was naïve to wish and want those things, but the love blossoming in my chest for Micah was a tangible, fragile thing I longed to clutch with both hands so it could never escape.

We gently swayed as the dazzling bright, nearly blinding sun began to ascend. The gentle rocking motion soothed and relaxed me to the point that I fell asleep, awakening to Micah’s lips pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Hey, Gingersnap.”

“I didn’t realize I closed my eyes.”

“Only for a few minutes. You said my name.”

“I did?”

“Yeah.” He smirked. “And lots of other naughty things too.”

“What?” I gasped, sitting upright. “Tell me!”

Laughter erupted from deep in his chest. “Maybe I’m the one dreaming the dirty fantasies.”

I swatted at his chest. “Micah—”

His chin dipped, and his mouth captured mine, molding our lips together in a kiss I never saw coming. The way he pressed harder into me, grasping my hips as he groaned into my mouth like he could never get enough set my body on fire. Heat and pleasure burst across my spine and spread into every cell. Literal stars danced behind my eyelids.

I had never experienced desire, lust, or longing quite like this. My lack of practice didn’t seem to make a difference to the young man who clutched my body to his with a desperate need I soon recognized because it pooled between my thighs.

Micah didn’t want the kiss to end. His teeth nibbled on my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth before kissing me again, hungry for more. A hundred kisses later, he finally pulled back, cupping the side of my face with his hand.

“I’m so addicted to you, Abby. I fucking love the way your lips taste. I don’t want to stop.”

Breathless, I leaned into his touch. “Then don’t.”

He cursed, shaking his head. “You can’t say that to me. I’ll fucking do it.”

“I know,” I replied smugly. “I’m irresistible.”

“You’re temptation and trouble, my little gingersnap, but that only seems to make me lose control. I can’t help what I feel.”

“Don’t worry about me. I love it,” I admitted. “Kiss me again.”

He huffed a breath in frustration. “Babe, you’re not making this easy.”

“So? Forget the rules. They’re not any fun.”

“Jesus, Abby.” His forehead pressed to mine. “You’re so young. You’ll grow up and see the world differently someday. Maybe I won’t be what you want anymore. I can’t live with the thought of hurting you.”

“That’s easy. Don’t hurt me.”

“Sometimes life is a lot more fucking complicated.”

“I’ll simplify it for you. Kiss me. Be with me. Do what feels right. The rest doesn’t matter.” I didn’t speak of love because I didn’t want to spook him. My heart swelled as he lifted his head to stare into my eyes.

“I’ll make whatever choice keeps you the safest. Always.”

I wish those words hadn’t been so prophetic.

Chapter 6

Age twenty-one—

Every other prospect for the Royal Bastards chased pussy day and night. Not me. I only had eyes and a continual hard-on for one girl. The sweet redhead who dominated my thoughts. My sexy little gingersnap. Both naughty and nice. A good girl with the fire and passion of a woman with far more experience in bed.

She. Consumed. Me.

Every hour of the day, she popped into my thoughts. I fucking lived for the days when Abby spent time at her mom’s house. She only left with her dad when she had to, preferring to stay across the street or in my house with Heather.

I couldn’t get enough of her and made excuses just to walk by Heather’s bedroom. Goddamn pathetic. Bear gave me constant shit, and I ignored him.

My old man shook his head as I entered the kitchen the following day, preparing to ride out. He leaned against the counter, sipping on coffee. I could tell he wanted to talk by his stare.

“What’s eatin’ at you, pops?”

“You know what,” he grumbled.

“If this is about Abby,” I began.

“You were told to stay away,” he reminded me, holding my attention with his stern gaze.

“She’s here all the damn time. Am I supposed to ignore her?”

“That’s not what I’m referring to, and you know it, son.”

One thing about my dad, he could be lethal when pissed, but it was almost scarier when he was calm. The low tone of his voice held just enough of an edge to clue me into his mood.

“It’s hard,” I sighed. “I care about Abby. She’s been in our lives since she was nine. I can’t just turn that off.”

“I understand. It’s where your cock goes that worries me.”

Damn. He didn’t hold back. “Uh, I haven’t done anything with Abby.” Total truth.

“Not yet.”

Yeah, I didn’t fool him. He knew it would happen at some point.

“I promised to wait until she turned eighteen,” I confided. Swallowing hard, I turned to him. “I think I might love her, Dad.”

He stilled, blinking a couple of times as he processed my words. “Fuck.” His mug rested on the counter as he walked toward me. “Feelings are dangerous, Micah. We’ve been over this. Once you get that deep, it’s too late to turn back.”

“I know. That’s what I’m telling you. I can’t walk away now.” I swallowed hard as the realization hit me. I fucking loved Abby. Her stubborn nature. That sexy ass. Her beautiful smile. It happened so gradually I didn’t understand until now.

My father saw the truth written on my face. “Shit. Things just got a lot more complicated.”

Yeah, probably. I couldn’t stop my stupid grin from widening, though. Thinking of Abby made me feel happy. It had been a long time since I felt that way.

My mother left us a year after I met Abby—one of the lowest points in my life. I never talked about it. My father avoided the subject. There was too much hurt involved for both of us. For the first time, I wanted to know the real reason she walked out and never came back.

“Did mom leave because of your life in the club?”

His head lowered, and a sigh escaped his lips. “The short answer is yes.” He took a minute to gather his thoughts. When he looked up, tears glistened in his eyes. “I fucking loved your mother more than anything in this world, son, except for the Royal Bastards. Some women can handle it. Others embrace it, and those are the ones you hold onto when you find them. Then there are women like your mother, far too delicate and sensitive for club life. She chose to walk when it got hard.”

Frowning, I wondered why he never explained before today.

“The way we live is brutal. Rely on your instincts and trust only those who earned it. Women complicate shit if your heart gets involved. Love has the power to rip you apart.”

“Fuck, Dad.” I walked to him, wrapped my arms around him in a hug, and squeezed like I used to do when I was a boy. “I understand.” I thought he’d gotten over my mother, but maybe he never did.

Me? I missed her. She broke a little piece of me when she left, and it took years for my father to repair the damage she caused when she left. Now? I was fine. I dealt with that shit a long time ago and moved on.

I never stayed in the past. Took too much out of me to dwell there. My future was all that mattered, especially with Abby in it. Once I patched into the RBMC, all the pieces would fall into place. I’d have my girl and my club.

My father cleared his throat. “We need to ride. Daylight is burnin’.”

Finishing off my coffee, I joined him in the garage. We left together, our bikes side by side as we rode toward the Crossroads. The sun glistened off the metal on our hogs, and life felt perfect at that moment. A snippet in time I never wanted to forget.

It was dark by the time we returned. I was itchin’ to see Abby and rushed into the house, climbing the stairs three at a time to reach her. Soft feminine laughter drifted down the hall, and I grinned.

Stopping at the doorway, I found Heather and Abby giggling as they stared at a magazine. Looked like they were taking a quiz. Why would anyone want to do that outside of school?

“Hey, Gingersnap.”

Abby’s head snapped up, and she scrambled to her feet, rushing into my arms as I held them open. Fuck. She smelled good. And so sweet. Like sugar and cherries.

“Let’s get out of here. Yeah?”

“Okay.”

Abby’s arms wrapped around my waist five minutes later, and her hot core pressed into my ass. Her fingertips nearly grazed my cock a dozen times. I was so fucking distracted I didn’t know how we reached our destination.

I brought her to one of my favorite places. A hideaway from the world. Outside Tonopah, beyond the old silver mines, stood a forgotten warehouse abandoned by the military—one of several scattered around the desert. The best stargazing in the whole U.S. could be seen from the giant hole in the roof.

Before I left with my father earlier this morning, I rode over and stowed a few blankets, pillows, and some drinks. I hoped she would be surprised by the date I set up. It wasn’t much, but I didn’t need more than her tonight.

I parked my bike and led her inside, climbing the stairs as I tugged her with me.

“What’s going on, Micah?”

“You’ll see,” I murmured.

I found the stash of items I had brought and let go of her hand to set out the blankets, spreading them across the floor. The pillows followed. I kicked off my boots and gestured to the ground.

“We’re stargazing,” I explained. “Come here.”

“Oh, my God! This is a date!”

I couldn’t help laughing. “Yeah, babe. It is.”

“I can’t believe you’re so romantic.”

“Hey, I can spoil my girl.”

She paused, biting into her bottom lip. Big blue eyes blinked. “I’m your girl?”

“Yeah, Red. You know you are,” I teased.

Her chin lifted. “Damn right, I do.”

Christ. How could she be so feisty and sweet at the same time?

Abby joined me on the blanket. She didn’t hesitate to remove her shoes and jacket, laying half on top of me as I brought her close to my chest.

She stared down at me as she perched on her elbows. Didn’t even look up at the stars. “You’re my first kiss, Micah.”

I knew that.

“I want you to be my last kiss too.”

How the fuck did you know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with someone at such a young age? Some people had old souls. They knew things. I’d seen that in the short time I lived on this earth. Then there were those whose souls connected, and it was like they reincarnated hundreds of times so they would never be apart for long.

That was what I shared with Abby.

Her words didn’t scare me or sound crazy. They were a reflection of the emotions swirling inside my heart. Maybe it wasn’t an accident that her mother divorced her father and moved across the street from us. It wasn’t hard to believe that fate forced us to meet the morning she tried to run away. A dozen things could have prevented us from talking that afternoon, but they didn’t.

“Then that’s what I’ll be,” I promised, sliding my palm across her lower back as she straddled me. My fingers itched to push aside the material of the little yellow dress she wore. Thin straps slipped over her shoulders as she closed the distance between us, mashing her lips to mine.

The innocent way she plunged her tongue into my mouth ignited a fire inside me. I wouldn’t take her virginity on a dirty floor, but I sure wanted to do other things.

The kiss became needy and wild. I slid my hand lower to cup her ass, rolling her body into mine as my hips snapped upward. She could feel my hard cock and moaned, breaking the kiss.

I grabbed her hair and gently pulled, exposing her neck as I placed open-mouthed kisses along the smooth, flawless skin. She tasted like summer and sweet cherry cordials—my favorite.

I nibbled and licked at her until I couldn’t take anymore. Turning my body, I let her back rest against the blanket. Far too eager, she pushed up her dress and opened her legs wide.

Fuck. Me.

I had dreamed of seeing her pussy for weeks.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she pulled the material aside. So fucking naughty.

My eyes were glued to her glistening pink core and the bare lips she exposed. Without hesitation, I lowered to my stomach. Tasting her became my only priority.

With two fingers, I spread her wider, dipping my head between her legs to swipe my tongue across her core. She let out a needy whine.

“Micah.”

“I’m just getting started, baby.”

I began licking, sucking, and teasing her, using my tongue to lap at her folds while slowly circling her clit. The white panties she wore were in my way.

“I need to take these off.”

She helped me, kicking off the material before rolling her hips into my face when I resumed my feast. I couldn’t get enough of her, hungrily devouring her pretty little cunt. When I slid a finger inside her, she jolted.

“You okay?”

“Oh, God. Yes, Micah. Please. Don’t stop,” she panted.

I didn’t plan on it.

I ate her out while my cock throbbed, and I couldn’t help moving my hips, thrusting in tandem with hers. She wasn’t aware of the sexy noises she made or how her body reacted so perfectly. Inserting another finger, her tight pussy squeezed me.

Fuck. How would she feel when my cock plunged inside her?

I began to move faster, taking cues from her reaction. She was close. I could tell.

I sucked on her clit, teasing it with light flicks while my fingers pumped in and out of her tight channel. A faint wail fell from her lips as she contracted around my fingers, gripping them tight as she came.

She was so fucking beautiful, writhing in my arms as she came apart. Her pretty skin turned pink. Glassy-eyed, she gazed up at me with adoration and awe.

I wanted to fuck her. Make love to her. Ensure she was mine forever. It took every ounce of control I had not to do it.

My tongue swiped across my mouth, gathering the last of her juices. I was experiencing all her firsts and loving every second of it. Her first kiss and orgasm. All mine. First ride on a Harley. Mine.

Hell yeah.

For the first time, I noticed the vibration inside the pocket of my cut. I reached in, pulling out my phone. I flipped the device open, noting the missed calls.

Fuck. Grim’s number. Rael’s. Mammoth’s. The whole goddamn club was trying to hunt me down.

Well, shit. What the fuck was going on?

“Hey, Abby. We’ve got to get back. Something is going down.”

The bliss in her expression disappeared, and I hated it.

“It’s fine.” She must have sensed my tension. “Let’s go. We can always come back another day.”

Yeah, maybe.

I helped her dress and couldn’t resist another kiss.

Something in my chest felt far too tight.

I dreaded what awaited me at home.

Chapter 7

Meeting the Reaper—

I rolled to a stop in front of my house, squeezing Abby’s thigh. We both noticed her father’s SUV parked on her driveway. This couldn’t be good.

She stood and handed over the helmet, telling me she would come back in a few minutes. I accepted the fact that her father would cause problems, and I planned to deal with it once I could. Right now, I focused on breathing, staring at my front door.

Inside, I could hear raised voices. Arguing. What the fuck went down in the two hours I wasn’t home?

My lungs squeezed as if they couldn’t drag in enough air.

Ever know something horrible has happened before you learn the news?

Has your heart ever felt like it stuttered and skipped beats, alerting you to a life-changing, devastating loss?

I knew my family wasn’t okay. My pops or Heather? I wasn’t sure, but if the persistent ache and raw, visceral pain throbbing inside my chest was any indicator, someone had died.

Someone I loved.

My feet dragged with every step toward my front door. Heavy lead weighed my boots down. I sucked air into my lungs, forcing myself to breathe.

The door opened as I reached it, immediately noticing the full living room. Every member of the Tonopah, NV Royal Bastards faced me but one.

“Noooooooooo,” I cried out, dropping to my knees. My fist slammed into my chest over my heart. I could feel it—the emptiness. The gaping hole left behind because I lost the person I loved most in this world.

My father, Hale Sturges, the enforcer Vice, was gone.

Grief so overpowering I couldn’t hold it in erupted from inside me, pouring out as I screamed, cursed the heavens, and lost my fucking shit. I pounded the floor with my fists. My eyesight blurred with unshed tears.

No. NO!

Footsteps echoed behind me, and then the soft, broken voice of my redheaded angel. She threw her body into mine and sobbed, sharing in my sorrow. I couldn’t fucking handle the shock of it. Learning of my father’s death unhinged me. I would have taken off on my bike and gotten into an accident if not for Abby.

She plastered her body to mine when I tried to move, forcing me to remain with her. I began trembling and couldn’t stop. Adrenaline and pain flooded my body. And then I went numb. No thoughts. No concept of time.

My arms held Abby against me as if I stood and watched everything unfold from a distance. A total out-of-body experience. It wasn’t real. Couldn’t be, right?

My father had to be alive. Please, God. Let this be a nightmare. Ask me to do anything, and I will.

Bargaining was idiocy. No one could bring back the dead.

A hand rested on my shoulder. Grim. My pres.

“I’m sorry, son. This is fucking killing all of us.”

I panted out breaths, still clutching Abby against me. Was it only this morning that I told my father I loved her?

“I can’t, uh, fuck,” I stammered, unable to form words.

No!

My mind kept screaming the word, chanting it over and over in my head, hammering the finality of it into my skull.

“We’ll find the motherfucker who did this,” Rael spat. “I swear to fuck, we will.”

Wait. What?

Blinking, I lifted my head. His expression held a coldness I’d never seen before. Something almost sinister.

“What did you say?” I managed to ask.

“He was run off the road. Vice could handle his bike.”

Fuck yeah, he could. My father was one of the best riders in the club. He had decades of experience on a Harley.

I understood what Rael meant. “It wasn’t an accident.”

“But the sheriff is sayin’ it is until the CSIs go over the scene,” Mammoth added.

Why the fuck were they here instead of with my dad? Where was his bike?

I stood with a growl, never releasing Abby. “Where is he?”

Grim sighed. “Coroner has him.”

I shook my head. “He can’t be alone.”

They stared at me like I wasn’t comprehending the truth.

“Micah,” Grim began.

“No!” I roared.

Rael stepped in front of me. “Hey, I got you. Let’s ride over there now. We’ll keep him company.”

The tension in my body released. I nodded. “Okay.”

“I’m coming with you,” Abby announced, slipping her hand into mine. “I want to ride on your bike again.”

She knew what I needed. The right words to calm me down enough that I could focus. I would have been reckless without her, but knowing she was with me steadied my shaking hands.

“Let’s go.”

A dozen pairs of eyes watched us leave as I rode behind Rael, grateful he was there as a focal point. Abby kept me grounded to her, always touching me, lightly sweeping her hands over my chest, stomach, and thighs.

It felt like I blinked, and we arrived at the coroner’s office. I was asked to identify his remains and then stood with Abby next to the slab they placed him on. No one should ever see a parent or child after death. It’s a hollow, heartbreaking, mind-shattering experience that traumatizes the soul.

“I’m sorry, Micah,” Abby hiccupped as I caught the tears silently sliding down her cheeks. “I loved him too.”

I knew that. My father loved her too. He watched her grow up and protected his niece’s best friend as fiercely as Heather and me. She was family. My father accepted her into our lives from the day I bought her McDonald’s at age thirteen.

“He’s gone,” was all I could manage to say.

“I know,” she wept, soaking my shirt as I held her against me.

I stood for so long, staring at my father’s battered body, that my feet went numb. My mind focused on every detail we spent together that afternoon. The ride down Hwy 95 together. Having a drink at the bar inside the Crossroads. Escorting the shipment of guns inside the truck we followed to Las Vegas.

Fuck. Did someone set us up? Were we followed? Did they track down Vice as a punishment for the club?

“Micah.”

Abby’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“We have to leave now.”

“I don’t want to,” I admitted. As soon as I did, it meant this was real, and my father was dead.

“I wouldn’t want to go either. I’ll stay with you if you want.”

We didn’t get an option.

The staff made us exit the building. To my surprise, Rael paid them to allow me to remain there until one am.

The moon was high in the sky when I headed home, determined to find out from Grim everything he didn’t mention earlier. There was more to learn about my father’s murder, and I intended to fuck up the people who took him from me.

“THAT’S ALL I KNOW,” Grim revealed, sitting back against the seat in his office.

Mammoth and Rael flanked him, listening to the conversation.

“I don’t get it. There has to be a connection.”

“Right now, we don’t see one.”

“That’s bullshit! Are you telling me you don’t think this was a hit on the club? Come on!”

Grim shook his head. “You don’t trust me. I’m your fucking president. I’ve stuck my neck out for you multiple times,” he fumed.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Nothing.” Grim scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s not a discussion we can have yet.”

Because I wasn’t a patched member. Prospects had zero privileges.

“Fuck,” I cursed.

“He needs to take the Devil’s Ride, pres,” Mammoth interjected.

“I agree,” Rael added. “Remember what it was like for us. He’s got it worse. Just lost his old man.”

“Yeah, I know,” Grim thundered. “I lost one of my best friends!”

Well, shit. I slumped in my seat, tilting my head to gaze at the ceiling. “I want to hang his cut in the chapel.”

“Done,” Grim growled.

“It’s time.” I finally sat up, staring into his tortured gaze. “I need my colors. I’m ready.”

“I know,” he admitted. “Vice came to me last week. It was already set up for next weekend.”

Fuck. I bent over like I had been sucker punched in the gut. How could fate be so cruel? I lost my father a week before he voted me into the club and watched me receive my cut?

“Noooooo,” I hissed, sucking air into my lungs. “Fuck!”

Three men surrounded me. Each placed a hand on my shoulders.

“We need to ride to your initiation,” Grim announced. “Let’s see if you’re a Reaper.”

A Reaper? What?

I dragged myself up, holding my emotions in check because I desperately wanted to scream, throw punches at the nearest wall, and drown my sorrows until I passed out.

When we exited the Crossroads, I stumbled, surprised to find our ride gained more than a few members.

News traveled fast.

A long row of motorcycles waited as I took my place in the back, dropping my ass onto the seat of my bike. The rumble of my Harley soothed me as I followed the procession led by Grim, riding down Hwy 95 until we turned, making a sharp right into the desert.

Tumbleweed blew across the sand ahead of us. I squinted at the bright glaring rays of the sun that seemed to penetrate my sunglasses. Cactus sped by in a blur. Almost dizzy, I wondered why we headed so far off the road.

Our speed increased. The bikes formed a circle, and I joined them. My skin began to itch and crawl as if a hundred tiny bugs all dug into my flesh at the same time. I gripped the handlebars tighter as the back of my neck prickled with warning.

Something was about to happen.

Fire erupted along the tires of the bikes and formed a wall of flames that held us pinned inside. Heat seared the tiny hairs on my arms and face. My lungs inhaled smoke, and I lost my bearings, floundering as I felt my bike lose control.

Never once in all the time since I took my first ride did I have an accident.

What the fuck?

Oddly enough, I never crashed.

The smoke around me thickened and then dissipated, clearing out as I noticed a dark figure walking in my direction. The guy had shoulders so vast that I wondered if he was real. A dark cloak covered his body. All I could see were black boots and gloves, shadowed features, and eyes that burned molten silver. Like actual silver liquid.

How fucking weird.

Did I hit my head and hallucinate? Was I fucking dead too?

Fuck.

The man’s hands lifted and pushed back the fabric covering his head. A burned, disfigured face greeted me. Holy shit! This guy resembled Freddy Krueger from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. I would have freaked out if I didn’t enjoy scary movies so much.

“I knew you would appreciate the horror reference.”

Huh?

His dark eyes burned red as I yelped, tripping over my feet as I attempted to stand. When the hell did I fall? Where was my bike?

The itching under my skin increased as I mumbled a curse, wary of the stranger as he approached.

“Come forward, Jason. We have a mutual friend.”

My body jolted. Once. Twice.

And then, I shit you not, a shadowy figure burst free from my chest, zipping forward to circle the man in front of me.

“Yes. I know you enjoy merging with this one. He’s rather unique. I think I’d like to give him a gift a bit different from the others. What do you think? Any ideas?”

The shadow blurred, and a dark, deep voice uttered one word.

“Blades.”

“Ah! Yes. How deliciously macabre.”

“You should return now. He will begin to fade without your support.”

The shadow blinked and then ran back to me, slamming into my body as I groaned. On two feet, I wobbled, staring as the man’s features began to move and shift, readjusting to a new image.

If he was ugly before, he was almost too beautiful now. An expensive dark suit with a bloodred pocket handkerchief graced his athletic frame. He returned my stare, blinking golden eyes. Perfectly white teeth flashed as he grinned.

“You all respond so favorably to this form. I would swear some of you harbor secret fantasies of male-on-male sex. Not that I would mind. I do prefer a variety in the bedroom myself.”

The fuck?

His laughter echoed, multiplying until I heard fifty voices chuckling simultaneously. Christ.

“Don’t use that name,” he warned. “I’m rather partial to slitting throats when it’s spoken around me.”

Shit. Okay.

“We don’t have long, my young Reaper. There’s business to discuss, and I never fuck around with pleasure first.” He snickered. “Or maybe I do.”

I blinked, awareness slow to sink into my brain. “You’re the devil.”

“Finally. I swear my reputation must be waning. I really need to do something about that.”

“Not at the Crossroads. I think we’re good.”

A smirk toyed with his lips. “I’m Lucifer Morningstar, your eternal friend, confidant, and boss.”

Uh. That sounded a bit shady.

“Do you feel your Reaper? Has he made his presence known?”

I felt a stirring within, latching onto my emotions.

“Ah, yes. Your father’s death. A terrible twist of fate.”

“He was murdered,” I snarled.

“And you want vengeance. Protection for your little gingersnap. Yes?”

Uh-oh. How did he know all this?

Lucifer shook his head. His fingers snapped in front of my face as he appeared, closing the distance between us.

“Fuck. Yes. I do.”

“Then sign this little contract. Our deal is a simple one.”

What deal?

“You reap souls for me. I give you a little of my power. As proof of my bargain, I bestow upon you the demon Jason. He’s quite fond of blades in all forms. I think you’ll find the symbiotic relationship quite rewarding.”

“And I reap souls? You mean kill for you?”

“How astute. Yes. You’ll reap the souls of those who deserve to die.”

“Who decides that?”

“Why, I do, of course.”

“And if I disagree about a soul?”

“I’ll allow you to skip the reaping as long as you continue to send souls to me.”

That actually made sense. Weird.

“What kind of abilities do I get?”

“That’s the fun part, young Reaper. You get to figure it out with Jason on your own.”

I knew there was a catch.

“Why is his name Jason?”

“That’s easy. He’s your favorite horror movie villain.”

“You’re a badass, Lucifer.”

His grin stretched his mouth a little too wide. “I do appreciate sincere flattery.”

I didn’t doubt it.

“Here. Sign your contract.”

He shook out a rolled parchment with gold lettering detailing our agreement. I read through it, skimming until I reached the end.

“Any chance you can resurrect the dead?”

“Ah, only one being has ever attempted it with success. Sadly, I am not him.”

Damn. I didn’t linger on my disappointment.

Lucifer’s nail sliced my finger. “Sign.”

In my blood, I swiped my signature across the contract.

Bound to the devil, I belonged to him now.

“Not quite.”

He didn’t elaborate.

“Reap. Your. Souls.”

Lucifer disappeared, and my eyes snapped open.

Every member of the Tonopah Chapter RBMC formed a circle, gazing down at me with humor.

“It never fucking gets old,” Wraith announced, staring down at me as I coughed.

Fuck. My lungs burned with every inhalation. How did it get so smoky again?

Rael laughed. “Watching them come back disoriented and mind-fucked? Hell no! It’s my favorite entertainment.”

Grim shook his head. “You crazy fuckers.”

“Lucifer sure enjoys his theatrics,” Exorcist added.

“How ya feelin’, young Reaper?” Grim asked. “Guess we need a road name for you. Your dad had one picked out. He said it suited you.”

Wow. “Tell me,” I groaned, sitting up.

“Jigsaw,” Grim announced.

Jigsaw? “Why?”

“He said you liked puzzles as a kid,” Rael deadpanned.

I flipped him off as he chuckled.

“Something about you being the smartest person he’d ever met. You could figure out any problem or obstacle you encountered without trouble.”

Jigsaw. I liked it.

“Then it’s my road name,” I agreed.

“Doesn’t Lucifer usually have that discussion?” Bodie asked. “Or did he do something sneaky again?”

“What do you think?” Rael asked, thumbing in my direction. “Look at the kid.”

“The devil and I had a little discussion last night,” Grim confided. “He decided to pop in for a visit while Trish was sucking me off.”

Guffaws erupted around us.

“Shit. My dick would have shriveled,” Wraith joked.

“I think he did something to me. My cock is fucking massive now.”

“No shit?” Rael asked. “Damn. I wonder if I could get him to visit me too. I like the idea of Nylah—”

Mammoth slapped a hand over Rael’s mouth. “He’s fucking joking, dipshit.”

Several of my brothers snickered.

Brothers. I had a whole lot of them now.

I wasn’t a prospect anymore.

I’ll make you proud, Dad. I swear it.

Chapter 8

The day of the funeral—

I stood in front of the mirror in my room, staring at the black dress and sandals and wishing I didn’t have a reason to be attending a funeral today. Across the street, Micah was also getting ready. I might have felt sad about burying Hale Sturges, but it was nothing compared to the grief consuming Micah.

He texted me over an hour ago to say he was showering before we left. I felt restless as I waited for him to come over. Downstairs, my mother and father shared a pot of coffee like old friends. I didn’t want to think about the last two days or the reason my father showed up and never left.

With a sigh, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail. The temps outside were already climbing—another hot day in the desert.

I heard my parents talking as I left the room, taking the stairs slowly to listen in.

“She’s been very clear about this. Abby doesn’t want to live with you.”

My father’s gruff voice responded just as I expected. “I know that, Kay. This is one instance where I don’t think her wishes should trump what’s best for her.”

He always said things like that to persuade my mom.

“Abby is thriving here. We talked about this. Her grades are excellent, and she lives across the street from her best friend. I don’t want to take that away from her.”

Good job, Mom.

“She also lives across the street from that biker family and the boy who’s too old for her. He’s going to knock her up and ruin her life.”

Bullshit!

“That’s ridiculous, Dwayne.”

“Is it? Have you seen the way she stares at him? He’s got her hooked like some gullible fish. Just wait. You’ll see that I’m right.”

I couldn’t believe this. My father was ridiculous!

Stomping into the kitchen, I added my opinion.

“Just so you know, I love Micah. I’m not being stupid because I’m still a virgin! Stop acting like you know everything about my life, Dad. Talk to me instead of assuming shit. Today isn’t the day for this. Micah is coming over any minute.”

“Hey, Abby.”

Oh. Shit.

I turned away from my parents, catching Micah as he shook his head. “So, you love me, huh? I guess it’s a good time for your parents to learn that I love you too.”

Oh, wow. He said it. In front of my father and everything.

“Come on, Red. We’re riding to the funeral.”

I took Micah’s outstretched hand, smiling wide at my parents as we walked outside and joined the long row of bikers honoring their fallen brother. The sight was sobering.

Micah took his place in line, and I climbed on behind him, noticing the rest of the riders rode alone.

“Am I supposed to be riding with you?”

“They all ride alone to show colors. I’m the exception today. I want you with me so you’re staying. Okay, babe?”

Nodding, I agreed. “Whatever you need today, Micah. I’m here for you.”

“I know. I appreciate it, Gingersnap.”

The ride to the cemetery was a quiet one if you ignored the steady roar of all the motorcycle engines. Royal Bastards MC cuts could be seen for what felt like miles. Traffic slowed down as we rumbled by, people staring at the rough bunch of men.

Society sure liked to judge what they didn’t understand.

It was a lovely service. Men kept coming up to tell stories about Vice. I laughed. I cried. More than once, I blushed. Vice had led a full life. He was loved.

Micah’s fingers clenched mine when his uncle Macon spoke. Silent tears trickled down his face, and he didn’t wipe them away. He wasn’t the only man to get emotional. I caught lots of sniffles in the crowd.

Micah was the last to speak, and my heart ached at the agony so visible in his voice. He talked about his first ride on a Harley and how his dad taught him to play football. How he built the engine in the Charger in his garage next to his old man and the miles they rode together the last year as he prospected for the RBMC. He choked up when he mentioned their last conversation and how it ended. Hale told Micah he was proud of him.

I thought my chest would explode from the powerful emotions churning inside me. Feeling our own pain was one thing. Witnessing someone we love in pain was excruciating.

Micah joined me as the clergyman ended the service. Rows of bikers stood, not a single man moving as Hale’s casket lowered into the ground.

Later, we met everyone at the Crossroads. The ol’ ladies and club girls had organized a feast. The bar was busy as the Tonopah Bastards shared the raunchier stories not suitable earlier and shots of Jameson, Vice’s favorite liquor.

“Come on. I want to show you something.”

Micah led me through the bar to a room with double doors. He opened it, walking inside. He gestured to the wall and ticked his head at the framed cuts hanging behind clear glass.

Keys. Lockjaw. Raptor. Boone.

And finally, Vice.

“He’s home where he belongs.”

“He is,” I agreed. “Nothing made him happier than the club. Well, except for you, Micah.”

“He loved this club. I hope I can live up to his memory.”

“You will. You’ll forge your own path.”

“Yeah, I will.” He cleared his throat, dropping my hand. “Got my tattoo last night. I wear the skull and crown now. Lift my shirt, and you’ll see it.”

“Wow. It’s huge.”

“Babe, I’m big all over,” Micah joked.

I appreciated that he could have a sense of humor when he was hurting so much. “I believe you.”

“You know, I’ve been struggling with guilt. I keep blaming myself that I wasn’t around when it happened.”

“Do you regret being with me that night?” I asked, my heart leaping into my throat. I could understand if he did.

He tilted my chin up until our eyes met. “No, Gingersnap. I regret nothing with you. I just wish I was with him. Maybe I could have saved him.”

His voice cracked on the last word.

“Oh, Micah. I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, I’m telling you all this because I don’t want anything to tear us apart. No secrets. No suspicion. We stay honest with one another no matter what happens. Okay?”

“I can do that.”

“Good. Tell me about your dad.”

A scowl replaced the smile on my face. “He wants me to move in with him.”

“I figured as much. You gonna think about it?”

“No way! I don’t want to leave you, my mom, or Heather.”

“Thank fuck. I didn’t want to ride across town to see you all the time.”

“Would you have done it?”

“Every fucking day, Red.”

Chapter 9

No turning back—

“I know you’re in there. I can feel you.”

My face stared back in the mirror as I sighed. The shadowy figure, my Reaper, stayed silent since the night I signed Lucifer’s contract. I could sense him. Feel his emotions. They usually aligned with my own, but sometimes they didn’t. One emotion, in particular, pissed me off.

His lust for Abby.

“She’s mine. You got that? Mine. You don’t think about her. Fantasize about her. Nothing.”

Faint muttering echoed inside my head.

“What? You got an opinion?”

The voice grew slightly louder, but not enough to hear his words.

“You scared to speak up?” I taunted.

A loud growl made me jump because it originated inside me and burst free from my mouth.

“Oh, it’s like that, huh? Gonna finally have the balls to say something to my face?”

As humorous as this was, I meant the words. His silence was growing old. So were the constant daydreams about Abby and the memory of how she tasted. He wanted more.

Fuck. So did I.

Not the point.

“Abby is mine. You need to accept that.”

The Reaper’s anger pushed through his other emotions.

“Stop thinking about her,” I ordered. “I mean it.”

My head flew forward, almost slamming into the mirror.

What the fuck was that?

“You messin’ with me? Take your best shot, asshole.”

If anyone stood outside my bathroom door right now, they would think I was crazy.

“We’re coming to an agreement. Abby is mine. You keep your thoughts to yourself.”

My lip lifted into a snarl.

“That’s right. I’m in charge. Learn to deal with it.”

The smug smile on my face disappeared as I crashed into the corner of the mirror, slamming my face into the medicine cabinet. My eye immediately began to swell.

“You did that on purpose,” I accused. “She’ll still love me, you sick fuck.”

My body reared back, and I glared into my reflection. Silver eyes overtook my blue ones.

Finally. “Abby is mine.”

“Mine,” I repeated in a deeper voice.

Seriously?

“I’m not sharing,” I snapped.

“Mine!” the Reaper shouted.

“No. This isn’t negotiable.”

His rage shook my body. I felt his control slip.

“You hurt me, and you’re only hurting yourself.”

He seemed to understand. I felt his anger begin to fade.

“Maybe you could be something else for Abby.”

His eyes brightened.

“Yeah. We’ll both be her protectors. If she needs you, you help. If I can’t save her, I want you to do it. Promise me.”

My head nodded. So weird for that to happen without my permission.

“We can keep her safe. Heather too.”

I felt the Reaper’s agreement.

“Good. Now leave me alone while I go visit Abby.”

The grumbling in my head started loud and faded to silence.

Whew. I didn’t need him hopping into my thoughts while I snuck into my girl’s room.

I borrowed Heather’s key, slipping inside the house and into Abby’s room. The door closed with a soft click as I flipped the lock. I didn’t want her mom to walk in on us.

Abby slept on her back. The covers were kicked off. She wore only a white tank top and matching panties.

Fuck. Me.

How was that so goddamn sexy?

Unable to resist, I removed my boots and set my cut aside. My shirt joined the pile, followed by my wallet and keys.

I dropped my jeans, climbing onto her mattress in nothing but my underwear. If she wanted me, I’d give her the pleasure she craved. All of me. Every hard inch of my cock.

Losing my dad left a hole inside me. An emptiness and longing that would ache for years. I knew my grief would take time, but I didn’t want to dwell on it any longer. I’d done that for days since the funeral.

I wanted to stop hurting. To feel something else besides the overwhelming sorrow taking root inside me. The Reaper felt it, too, and his emotions echoed my pain. It was almost too much.

Abby moaned as my lips met hers. Her hands glided over my shoulders, lightly teasing the back of my head and neck. I loved how she didn’t hesitate to touch me. Her eyes blinked open as a smile curved her lips.

“Hi,” she whispered.

“Hey, babe.”

“Having trouble sleeping?”

How did she know? “I keep seeing his body in the morgue. The broken parts of him from the crash. I, fuck,” I choked out. “It won’t leave my head.”

“I think that’s normal, Micah. He’s your dad.”

She didn’t say he was my father in the past tense. I didn’t know why, but that meant so fucking much to me. Abby understood me in ways that no one else ever did. Maybe the Reaper did now, too, but I wasn’t aching with need for him.

Abby opened her legs wide, and I settled into the cradle of her body, soaking up all the love she was willing to give. It fed my restless, weary soul. I needed this. I needed her.

My mouth lowered to hers, hungrily devouring her lips, tasting her with my tongue. I couldn’t get enough. The kiss became wild as my hands roamed her body, sweeping over her curves. I reached for the hem of her tank top, lifting it over her head as Abby helped, tossing it aside.

Fuck. She had perfect breasts. I cupped the generous swell and lowered my head to tease the peaks. My tongue swirled around the tightening bud, watching as her back arched.

A soft whimper of pleasure left her lips.

With open-mouthed kisses, I trailed a pathway down her stomach, pausing as I reached the apex of her thighs. Her addicting scent overwhelmed me. I couldn’t stop the groan of need that rumbled inside my chest as I pulled off her panties, diving face-first into her pussy. I licked, nibbled, and lapped at her core before sliding two fingers inside.

So fucking tight. So slick with desire.

She made the sexiest little noises, rocking her hips as I swirled my fingers over her clit. She bucked toward my face, and I grinned at her enthusiasm. It wasn’t long before she tipped over the edge, coming on my tongue and fingers. I lapped at the entrance to her pussy, knowing I would be inside her soon.

My cock grew so hard it almost hurt. I wanted her to explore me and familiarize herself with my body like I was doing with hers. I wanted to commit every inch to memory.

I pulled my mouth from her pussy, kissing and caressing my way to her lips again.

Reaching for her hand, I placed her palm over my erection. She rubbed over the material, teasing me before pushing her fingers underneath the waistband. When she gripped me—fuck—my eyes almost shut with the rush of excitement, and I had to hold back the urge to take her before she was ready.

“You’re so hard, Micah, but kind of soft too. Like steel wrapped in rose petals.”

How adorable. She was so fucking cute.

“Uh,” I grunted, forcing my hips not to rock too hard as she slowly began to stroke me. “You can grip me harder. It won’t hurt.”

The pressure increased as she listened, pumping my shaft as I jolted, slamming my lips to hers.

The air around us grew desperate, charged with the unspoken need coursing through our bodies.

“Make love to me, Micah. I don’t want to wait another minute.”

“You sure?” I asked because I wasn’t holding back after this. I would make her mine, and I didn’t fucking care about the consequences, our ages, or any other obstacle trying to stand in our way.

“Yes. All I want is you.”

“You’re so perfect, baby. How did I get this lucky?” My thumb brushed her bottom lip before I kissed her again, deepening the connection between us before I tugged off my underwear. My cock bobbed between us. I panted, barely able to see straight. I swore all the blood in my body was in my dick.

She reached for me again as my cock bounced toward my abs, precum leaking from the tip. Her bright blue eyes didn’t hesitate to take in the size as she licked her lips.

Fuck.

A shudder ran through my body.

I had to touch her, finding the dripping wet hole that awaited me. Her thighs parted as I slid a finger inside her sopping center. My mouth crashed down on hers, and I swallowed each of her moans, sucking on her tongue, totally absorbed in the moment. She was riding my fingers, clenching around them with every thrust.

“Micah.”

I couldn’t answer her. I was too far gone.

She shivered when I circled her clit, lifting her hips off the mattress. “Micah, please.”

Need took over. I groaned as I stroked my cock with her hand, almost ready to spill my load. I gently moved her hand to my chest, right over my heart.

“I love you, Abby.”

Her features softened. “I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.”

Damn, She was a sweetheart.

Positioning the tip of my cock at the entrance to her pussy, I slowly pressed inside her an inch.

My whole body trembled with the effort it took not to slam my way in. I didn’t want to hurt her, although I knew it would happen anyway. The pain was unavoidable.

She rocked against me, trying to pull me deeper inside her.

“Babe.”

“Please,” she panted. “Move.”

I slid a little deeper. Fuck. She was so tight. So slick and welcoming.

She shifted her hips a second time, a mischievous glint appearing in her gaze as she tried to impale herself on me. This was pure torture. Every move she made, every wiggle, every breath she dragged through her lungs made me feel like I teetered on the edge of madness.

As our eyes met, I pulled back from her sinful mouth, stealing one more kiss. Abby’s back arched. Her hooded eyes and flushed cheeks only confirmed she needed this as badly as I did. I grasped her jaw, staring deep into the bottomless pools of blue. “I know, my little gingersnap. I got what you need.”

I nudged her legs a little farther apart, as wide as they would go. Without wasting another second, I plunged my cock inside, burying myself completely as my hips punched forward. I filled her to the hilt as her nails scraped my back, and a gasp left her throat.

“I’m okay, Micah. I want this.”

“Fuck. You’re so perfect, Abby.”

I reached down and found her swollen clit, rubbing it in tight circles as I began to move. She felt fucking amazing, clenching around my shaft and squeezing it.

I wasn’t going to last.

My hips pulled back and immediately surged forward as we both groaned. So good. I needed more.

My thrusts became harder, faster. I couldn’t help hammering into her as she took everything I gave her like a good girl. My control slipped. I plowed inside her again and again, ruthless and unapologetic.

She was enjoying the rough fucking as much as I was, digging her nails into my shoulders and crying out my name, begging for more. Pulling me to her, she moaned, whimpering as her tits bounced against my chest.

I felt her flutter around my cock. She was close.

“Come for me, Abby.”

Her eyes rolled back into her head as she gasped. She clamped down on me as she jerked and spasmed. A little gush of fluid coated my cock as I kept up the pace, driving into her as the sweat dripped from my brow.

My hips snapped to hers, my thrusts growing erratic. A deep, feral grunt poured from my lips as my release exploded, my body jolting as I filled Abby to the point of overflowing. Euphoric pleasure so intense my limbs quaked followed. My breathing almost stalled.

I rested my forehead against hers, taking a few seconds to hold her before placing sloppy kisses against her lips. Our bodies continued to jerk in the throes of passion while we remained locked together, still joined.

I didn’t want to pull out of her yet. This connection, the merging of our bodies, felt so fucking right.

“You okay?”

“Never better,” she whispered. “That was perfect, Micah.”

Fuck. I loved this girl with my whole heart.

“Come here.” I finally rolled off her, pulling out with a groan as I wrapped my arms around her. “Stay with me, babe.”

“Always,” she promised.

I squeezed her tighter, determined to keep us together. I couldn’t lose anyone else I loved.

Chapter 10

A fragile heart—

Micah stayed with me every night after I lost my virginity. Sometimes he came in late after I was already in bed. Other times we spent the afternoon together and ended the evening with multiple orgasms. We couldn’t get enough of each other.

Almost a month had sped by as I avoided my father and his relentless phone calls. I would prove him wrong. Micah would never hurt me.

I woke up alone the following morning, groggy as I showered, nearly collapsing under the water as a wave of dizziness swept over me. I smacked a hand against the tiles, breathing through it until everything returned to normal. A slight ringing in my ears remained but finally faded as I finished rinsing the conditioner in my hair. How strange.

I dressed and readied for the day, forgetting about the dizzy spell as I ate breakfast.

Mom rushed out the door for work as I cleaned the kitchen, wondering how long it would take before Heather woke up. She was a notorious later riser. It would be noon if I let her.

Deciding I didn’t wait to wait, I locked up the house and crossed the street. Uncle Macon’s van was gone. He must have left already. When I reached for the handle of the back door, it turned. That was odd. The doors were always locked when Heather was home alone.

I headed inside, gasping, when I saw the mess in the kitchen. Overturned chairs. Spilled juice on the table.

And blood. Not a lot, but enough to prove someone was hurt.

“Heather!” I shouted, rushing upstairs to her room.

I heard noises through the closed door. Something crashed to the floor and broke. Grabbing the can of pepper spray from my purse, I busted through the door, aiming the can at the guy who had her pinned to the bed.

“Ow! Fuck!”

The guy lashed out, his fist swinging into my cheek. I fell to the rug, dazed as he launched toward me. His hand circled my throat as I coughed, slapping at his arm.

Heather screamed. “Micah! Help!”

Was he here?

The pressure increased as the big guy squeezed harder. My vision tunneled as dark spots appeared in the corners. I couldn’t breathe.

“Micah!”

Heather jumped on my attacker’s back, pummeling her tiny fists into his head. He fought her off but didn’t release me. I clawed at his wrist, digging deep with my nails.

“You bitch!”

His free hand slapped me. My throat burned as I went limp, wondering if this was how I would die.

Just as I thought I couldn’t take another second without oxygen, he was yanked away from me with a snarl.

My head turned, and I sputtered, dragging air into my lungs. I collapsed as the room spun. My neck felt hot, and my throat was scratchy. It fucking hurt. I tried to swallow and winced.

“Abby!” Heather shouted, falling to her knees beside me. “Are you okay? Open your eyes!”

I didn’t know I had closed them. Blinking, I found her staring at me in horror.

“Oh, my God! You saved me, and you almost died! Micah! She’s hurt!”

I remembered he was in the room and turned, catching his snarl as he punched the guy who attacked Heather and me. His fists flew, slamming into the guy over and over. Something wild and crazed lingered in his eyes.

Nausea churned in my stomach, and I vomited onto the floor. Stomach acid seared my throat. I moaned through the pain, too distracted to notice when the room suddenly went silent. A gun discharged. The loud ringing that followed echoed inside my head. Pain slithered along my skull as the room darkened, fading to black.

I thought I heard voices shouting. Screaming.

Everything felt surreal.

I lost track of time, lingering in the space between dreams and reality. Something warm and sticky dripped across my face. Too thick to be water or tears. I blinked. Red. Blood. So much blood. Was it mine?

“Micah.” I tried to call for him to make sure he knew I thought of him if I was dying. Why couldn’t I wake up?

What was happening? I heard Heather crying. Was Micah hurt? I wanted to ask, but the pain was too much. I felt numb, slipping away into oblivion. Would I ever see Micah again?

“WHAT HAPPENED?” GRIM asked, joining me inside the hospital room where I watched Abby. I never left her side since they admitted her.

“I reaped his fucking soul,” I snarled.

“I got that part, Jigsaw. Need to know what occurred before that.”

Right. “I pulled up to the house to check on Heather. Something felt off.”

He nodded.

“I guess my Reaper sensed the danger. I rushed inside and heard Heather screaming for help.” My hands clenched into fists as I thought of Abby and the motherfucker who broke into my house and tried to hurt her. “Some asshole had his hand wrapped around Abby’s throat. I fucking pulled him off of her, but she was already hurt.” The knowledge that I didn’t arrive soon enough to prevent it pissed me off.

“And?”

“We fought before he reached for his gun.” Agony pulsed through me. “He pointed the barrel at her and pulled the trigger.”

“Fuck,” Grim cursed.

My Reaper snarled, his rage matching my own.

“I moved fast enough to knock the gun out of his hand, but it still went off and grazed the side of her head.”

“Christ.”

“That’s when my Reaper lost his shit, pres.”

My chest felt tight as I tried to breathe. This was too fucking much. How the hell did this happen? I should have been home. Fuck!

“Calm,” he growled, speaking to my Reaper.

I instantly stilled. My shoulders relaxed some of their tension.

“Continue.”

“I imagined a dozen sharp blades swiping through his body, each cutting with precision, spilling his blood and vital organs. The fucking carnage fed the Reaper. He loved every second of it and swore it would happen. I felt his presence, and then the cuts began to appear. Invisible slices ripped the guy open. He began screaming, but I couldn’t stop it. The Reaper wanted to eviscerate him, and I allowed it.”

“Damn, Jigsaw.”

“I enjoyed it, pres. I loved every second he suffered and felt pain. When he approached death, I reaped his soul and sent him to Lucifer for eternal torment.”

Hearing the words spoken out loud from my lips proved I had taken a man’s life. I killed to protect Abby.

“You did what you were meant to do. That’s our agreement with Lucifer. We reap the souls who deserve it.”

“But I killed a man.”

“And he tried to kill your woman and cousin. Fuck him.”

He was right. “I know. I don’t regret it. I’m just trying to come to terms with it.”

“Each of us has had to find a way to live with it. You will too.”

Grim left me alone with Abby after our conversation. She remained asleep, recovering from the emergency surgery that repaired her ear and reattached it after the gun nearly blew it off. The doctors said she shouldn’t have any hearing loss.

I hoped they were right.

The door to her room opened, and Dwayne entered. He glared at me as the door shut.

“You promised to keep her safe,” he accused. “You said you loved her.”

“I do,” I snarled.

“But you can’t protect her, not from your life as a biker. We both know it.”

“I promised to stay by her side. I’m not leaving her.”

“And what happens next month? Next year? When another enemy of the club comes after you? It’s unavoidable. She’ll get hurt again. Maybe you’ll have a family by then, and they’ll get hurt too. Have you even thought this through? Or don’t you care that your choices affect her just as much?”

I hated the truth in his words.

“I’ll keep her safe.” My Reaper swore it. This would never happen again.

“You don’t get it. She’ll give up everything for you. She turned down a fucking journalism scholarship. It’s been a dream of hers since middle school. Did she even tell you about it?”

Shocked, I shook my head.

“Further proof this relationship is toxic to my daughter.”

Was he telling me the truth? Why didn’t Abby tell me about this? Did she think I wouldn’t understand?

“I’m not losing her,” I growled.

“You already have. You just don’t see it.” He sighed. “Look. This isn’t easy for me to admit. I know she loves you. I can see that you care for her. So do the right thing. Walk away. Let her live out her dream and go to college. If she still wants you after that, I won’t stand in her way.”

Gutted, I knew I couldn’t be selfish. Not when I loved her so much.

I wouldn’t stand in her way if she wanted to pursue a career.

“I’ll wait until she wakes up and let her make the choice.”

“You’ll just make it harder.”

Maybe.

Staring down at my busted knuckles, I realized that my life might be too much for my pretty Gingersnap. Was she one of the women my father mentioned? The kind that was too soft for our way of life?

No. I didn’t believe it. Abby was fierce. Stubborn. A wrecking ball when angry. She fit right in.

“I won’t leave without speaking to her.”

“That’s your choice.”

Damn right.

“And when she decides to stay with you and refuse college, you’ll know you’re responsible. Live with the knowledge that you’re holding her back.” His disgust pissed me off.

“You just want to manipulate me.”

“My daughter never should have met you. You’re ruining her life.”

Christ. Dwayne was such an asshole.

But then . . .  He wasn’t wrong. Not completely.

Was she better off without me? Did I hold her back from a better life and future? I convinced myself it was true. She didn’t deserve the danger I placed her in. Life with me and the RBMC would always be a risk to Abby. I couldn’t allow something like this to happen again. Not while I could prevent it. And a journalism career? My girl was smart. She deserved the chance to succeed.

I made the choice that kept her the safest.

And that meant being apart from me.

Agony exploded across my chest as my heart squeezed. I swore I wouldn’t lose her. That I would always remain close. I had to break my promise and her heart in the process.

FUCK!

My Reaper fought to gain control as he realized what I was about to say. I fought him back, refusing to give in.

“I’m going to see my pres. I need to find out why my house was targeted and the girls were attacked.”

Dwayne nodded.

“I,” I began, choking on the words forming in my throat. “Tell her I’ll text her.”

“Will you?”

“Yeah.”

“But you won’t show up again?”

“Not until she’s made her choice.”

If I had known what the future held, I wouldn’t have left. I would have stayed by her side, begging her to forgive me, and done everything in my power to prevent breaking her heart.

Sometimes we inflicted more pain when we tried to help than if we never got involved to begin with. Nothing tasted as bitter on the tongue as regret.

Part 2

Chapter 11

At the bar, Bull’s Saloon—

“Hey, Gingersnap.”

The words had barely left my lips when her eyes glazed over, and she lost her balance, nearly crashing to the floor. She’d had way too much to drink. Or maybe that asshole managed to slip something into her glass before I arrived, and she swallowed some of it.

I caught Abby before she fell, lifting her into my arms as I snarled at my cousin. “Can you walk?”

Her eyes misted over as she nodded. Fuck. I didn’t have time for this shit today. I spun on my heel, stomping toward the door while Abby began to moan, complaining about her belly. I managed to make it outside before she turned her head and puked on the sidewalk. Half of it splashed onto my boots.

With a sigh, I swept her hair aside, holding her up as she emptied the rest of her stomach. When she finished, she swiped across her mouth with a groan.

“Let go of me, Micah.”

“No way. I’m taking you home.”

“Uh, that’s not a good idea,” Heather began when I shot her a look. “Okay. Fine.”

“You can’t go to my house,” Abby screeched in a panic.

What the fuck?

“Calm down. I just want to make sure you’re safe. Both of you,” I added, glaring at Heather again.

“Jesus. Chill out, grumpy ass.”

I blew out a breath, noticing the smirk on Mammoth’s face. The big bastard thought this shit was funny.

In the backseat of the SUV we brought, I spotted Antonio and Vince hogtied beside each other. Mammoth had used rough rope to tie them up. Fucking devious.

“Call Grim. Tell him we need Diablo and Hannibal. A guy in there tried to drug the girls. I saw him drop clear liquid into their glasses. Fucker was gonna take advantage of them.”

The grin on Mammoth’s face morphed into a snarl. “Where is he?”

“On the floor in front of the bar. I busted his nose.”

Mammoth nodded. “I’ve got him. Take the girls home, and then get your ass back to the Crossroads. No fucking detours.”

“Yeah. I hear you, VP.”

Satisfied, he stormed inside the bar. I didn’t envy that stupid motherfucker or what was coming to him.

“Get inside the cage. I’m driving you back to my place.”

Heather shook her head, flipped me off, and opened the side door, shoving Antonio and Vince out of her way.

“You assholes touch me, and I’ll gut you with my knife.”

Damn.

I heard them both assure her they wouldn’t.

How the hell was this my life?

Abby wobbled to the front of the vehicle, opening the front passenger door. She paused, looking at me over her shoulder. “You look rough, Micah.”

Well, thanks. Living in misery for over four years will do that to someone.

I couldn’t believe she was standing this close to me and acting like I didn’t care about her. All this time, she never contacted me. I kept waiting for her to reach out, but she never did.

Just like she never told me about the choice she made from the hospital bed. I heard she attended college. And like a fool, I kept all the articles she wrote in her column, The Tenacious Blayde. I even subscribed to the Los Angeles Examiner so I didn’t miss a thing she printed. I followed her career, proud of her for going after what she wanted.

I just hated that I wasn’t it.

We lost so much fucking time. I hated the separation. Staring into her blue eyes that reflected a pain I thought I understood, I took a step in her direction.

“Save it, Micah. What we had was in the past. No point in dredging up old wounds.”

Old wounds? What the fuck was she talking about?

“I don’t understand what you’re referring to, Red.”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, plopping her ass on the seat and slamming the door shut.

Fuck. What the hell was her problem?

Just when I thought I had a chance to talk to her, she shut me out. Was she pissed I left her in the hospital?

I answered her text. Sent her numerous ones for days without a response.

I sacrificed everything and lost her anyway. Without Abby, I was incomplete. Couldn’t she see that?

Looking rough meant nothing compared to my broken, bitter heart.

We didn’t speak much on the way to my house. Heather tried to start a conversation, but Abby wouldn’t talk. She appeared upset, and I didn’t like how pale she looked.

“You sure you girls don’t want to go to the hospital? I’ll come back and pick you up,” I offered.

“No,” Abby hissed.

Heather leaned forward, shaking her head. “Let it go, Micah.”

“I’m just making sure you’re okay.”

Abby’s gaze snapped my way. “Like you made sure I was okay after I almost died inside your house? Or how you never bothered to show up when I needed you afterward?”

What. The. Fuck.

“Woman. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so,” she sassed. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you, Micah.”

Damn. That fucking hurt. My Reaper wanted to push forward and snare her attention, forcing her to tell us why she was hurting because I could hear it in her voice.

For the last four years, I felt empty. Losing my father and then Abby only a short time later ruined me. I tried to move on with my life after she ignored me, but seeing her now, I knew I didn’t. All the pussy thrown in my face at the club wasn’t enough to fill the void she left behind.

In truth, I still loved her. Probably always would.

It aggravated me to realize it. I would still do anything for her. All she had to do was ask. Give me a chance. Explain why she felt such anger toward me. I couldn’t figure that part out.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Abby. I know I don’t,” I finally replied.

She swiped at her cheeks, brushing away tears.

Fuck. I hated to see her cry.

“Talk to me. Let me make this right.”

A long sigh fell from her lips. “I don’t think that’s possible. It’s okay, Micah. Forget you saw me tonight.”

I pulled up the driveway to my childhood home and watched her exit the car. My heart stuttered as she lifted her chin, refusing to look at me. Somehow, I hurt her. The worst part was I didn’t even know what she thought I did.

“You need to talk to me, Heath.”

“I promised her.”

“I don’t care. Whatever wrong she thinks I did, I can’t make it right if I don’t know. She’s holding something big against me. I have to know what it is.”

“I can’t, Micah.” Heather squeezed my shoulder. “It’s not my secret to tell.”

“Secret? What does that mean?”

“You’ll have to convince her that you genuinely care, Micah. She’s been through a lot. Abby needs you now more than ever. That’s all I’m going to say. This is between the two of you, and I don’t want to be stuck in the middle anymore.”

“Okay. I understand. Does she have me blocked on her phone?”

“I don’t know.”

“See if you can check and unblock me. I need to get ahold of her. Please. I just need a chance.”

“I can do that.”

“Is she back in town to stay?”

“I don’t know. She’s here for the weekend. That’s all I know.”

“I guess I’ll have to be a little pushy.”

Heather snorted. “You always are.”

I didn’t know how I was going to make this right, but after I dropped the two Denali brothers at the Crossroads, I had some shit to sort out.

Chapter 12

At the bar, two hours earlier—

“I don’t know about this,” I announced, opening the car door as Heather laughed.

“You always say that. Try living a little. Not everyone out there is looking to hurt you. Or us.”

If I didn’t know about her past, I wouldn’t think anything significant about her response. But I did. She once told me about the man who took her when she was only five years old. How he touched her, and the endless nightmares that never stopped as a result. Her father paid for years of therapy, and Heather had overcome many of the emotional hurdles that resulted from that horrific day. But the nightmares still haunted her sometimes.

Maybe they always would.

That was why I spent more nights at her house than my own growing up. She needed a friend, and we bonded.

Flashing a broad smile at the young woman I loved as dearly as a sister, I finally relented. “Okay. Let’s go in.”

The bar was crowded. I saw more bikers than I felt comfortable being around after my breakup with Micah. All that leather forced me to dwell on our past and all the hurt I felt. He left me in that hospital and never came back. He didn’t text me. Or call me.

He ended everything without saying a word to me.

When I realized Micah had abandoned me, I broke down. A week later, when my missed period never showed up, I bought a pregnancy test. It turned out positive.

I had more reason to be upset with Micah than he could fathom.

Heather supported me through the process, but she didn’t like keeping my secret. She hated it. Maybe Micah deserved to know he fathered a son, but I was the one who carried him for nine months and brought him into this world. I worked full-time through my pregnancy and took classes too. I got my degree as a single mother, and it wasn’t easy.

My father made my life hell. All he could do was point fingers and say I told you so. Like it changed the outcome. I still had a child at eighteen.

I made my mother promise not to tell either. She didn’t bring Miles to her house. I kept him far away from that street, the biker life, and Micah Sturges. His safety trumped all of the shit left unspoken between us.

“You can stop worrying about Miles for one night,” she joked. “I haven’t been able to get you to visit for months. It’s okay to have a good time once in a while. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom.”

“I know.”

“So let’s have a drink. Let loose. Enjoy life a little, okay?”

I finally relented with a smile. “Fine.”

For the next two hours, I drank more than I ever had in my life. We danced. We laughed. For a short while, I let everything go. The freedom of it didn’t last.

As the night wore on, I realized I didn’t want this anymore. I didn’t feel like partying or hooking up with random guys. It wasn’t me. Never had been.

I tried to date a year ago, and nothing worked out. Maybe I was too picky. Being a single mom meant I had to think of Miles, too, and no guy measured up to my standards.

Slightly depressed, I sat at the bar, tossing back shots until my thoughts couldn’t overwhelm me anymore. My head felt foggy, and the room was spinning.

Not good.

A couple of guys sat with us, buying us drinks. I tried to refuse, but the one with dark hair kept shoving glasses in my direction. His persistence was starting to irritate me.

When I told him to stop, he pulled me onto his lap. The glass lifted to my lips, and a little went down my throat. I didn’t feel well afterward and tried to leave, but his arm hooked around my waist.

The dizziness increased. I thought I saw Micah enter the bar and sit with some of his MC brothers. Panicking, I stood, only to fall toward the floor.

And that was when Micah caught me.

His hands on my body felt so right. Perfect. Just like they did the night he took my virginity. He swung me up and into his arms, saying something about drugs and our drinks.

Was that why I felt so funny?

The night was a blur. I knew I got angry with him. I acted like a bitch. Part of me wanted to tell him the truth.

When I finally made it upstairs to Heather’s room after he dropped us off, I passed out.

I COULDN’T REMEMBER the last time I had a hangover. Groggy, aching, and holding my throbbing head, I made it into the bathroom. Heather shoved aspirin and water my way when I stepped out, and we huddled on her bed, whispering until the meds kicked in.

“Fair warning. We have company downstairs.”

“Please tell me it’s not Micah.”

“I can’t,” she groaned. “You need to deal with this. It’s eating you up, Abby.”

I blew out a breath, deciding to shower. “I’ll talk to him later.”

“He’s making us breakfast.”

Ugh. Why? “I’ll be down in twenty minutes.”

“Good.”

She slid from her bed, winced, and then sauntered toward the hall. “Give him a chance, Abby. You both deserve to know the truth.”

I thought over her words while I showered. She had a point. We never got closure. Maybe it was time we cleared the air so we could both move on.

Micah had his back to me when I entered the kitchen. He flipped slices of bacon as they sizzled on a grill. Stacks of pancakes already covered the island in the center of the kitchen, along with a bowl of mixed fruit and sausage links. He turned and placed a container of scrambled eggs in front of me as I sat down on a stool.

“Morning, Abby.”

“Morning,” I replied softly.

He gave me one of his dazzling smiles, the kind that used to make my heart flutter. “You feelin’ okay?”

“Like a train ran over me. Other than that, yeah.”

He laughed. I missed that deep, masculine chuckle.

“Have something to eat. It’ll be good for you.”

I filled a plate and picked at it, far too worried about the conversation we needed to have to stuff my face.

Heather cleared her throat. “I’m taking this upstairs.” She scooped up her plate and waltzed out of the room, forcing us to deal with the shit brewing since last night.

My gaze slid over Micah. He looked different. Bigger, more muscular. A hard edge settled around his mouth. Handsome as ever, he matured into the cocky bastard I always knew he would become.

Lightning bolt tattoos filled the space on either side of his head, freshly shaved to show off the ink. He’d always been tall with sandy blond hair and killer blue eyes like the deep ocean on a sunny day. I took in all the new ink on his body—a huge chainsaw on his right arm and Leatherface on his left bicep. Micah loved horror movies like his father did. A knife dripped blood on his left forearm next to several skulls. Tribal marks and barbed wire carved a pathway over his skin.

“You look good,” I admitted.

“You’re still beautiful,” he answered, closing the distance between us.

“Why didn’t you—”

“Tell me why—”

We both paused, cracking smiles.

“You first,” he insisted.

“Why didn’t you come back to the hospital? You never answered my texts.”

He frowned. “Yes, I did. I still have them on my phone.”

Surprised, I blinked. “You do?”

“Yes. I’ll show you.” He pulled out his phone, swiping across the screen. It was old but still functional. “Take it. Look. I didn’t stop reaching out to you daily for months. After that, I tried every few weeks. I never knew why you didn’t try to call or message me. It sucked, Abby.”

I scrolled through the messages. Hundreds. Short, but no less effective.

Hey babe.

Don’t shut me out.

Please call me.

I miss you.

And the ones I longed to receive the most. Texted more than any others.

I love you, Abby.

“Oh, Micah.” Tears sprang to my eyes and burned. “I never received any of them.”

“How is that possible?”

“I don’t know, but I bet my father does.” Sighing, I placed the phone in his palm. “I thought you ghosted me. That I meant nothing to you. You have no idea how that fucked me up, Micah.”

“Fuck, Abby. I never meant for this to happen.”

“What do you mean?”

“Dwayne. He spoke to me while you were unconscious. He said I was putting you in danger, and you got hurt because of me.” Micah reached out, sliding his thumb over my jaw. “I thought I was doing the right thing. That leaving you alone was giving you a chance to figure out what you wanted.”

“Figure what out?”

“Dwayne told me about the journalism scholarship. The one you turned down because of me.”

“What?” Pissed, I stood, poking his chest with my finger. “You believed him? My father tried to break us up from the beginning. He lied to you, Micah.”

“Fuck.”

“He lied to you, and you believed him. You didn’t even wait around for me to wake up.”

Micah reached for me, wrapping his arms around my back as I pushed at his chest. “I’m sorry. Fuck. I didn’t want to leave.”

“Why did you? And why didn’t you come back?”

He looked pissed. “Why did you move away to your dad’s house?”

I didn’t want to answer that question. I couldn’t talk about Miles. Not yet.

“You told me once that you would ride every day to see me if I went to live with him. Remember? I thought you would show up.” That was true. I waited and waited. He never came.

“That’s on Dwayne. I told your father I would give you space and wait for you to contact me. I didn’t want you to feel pressured. I thought I was letting you choose.” His expression appeared pained. “I lost you because of a fucking lie. Sonofabitch!”

I lowered my head, resting it against his chest. “You have no idea how fucked up everything got. It’s so bad, Micah.”

He stilled, lightly grasping my chin. “You need to tell me what that means.”

Outside, I heard multiple motorcycle engines. We didn’t have privacy for much longer. “We’ll have to discuss this later.”

“Abby.”

“Later,” I insisted, putting distance between us. Before he could say anything else, I ran upstairs.

In Heather’s room, I couldn’t hold back the tears, explaining how all of this was my father’s fault. He ruined my relationship with Micah, and I hated him for it.

Chapter 13

The same night—

The last thing I wanted to do was leave the house without finishing my conversation with Abby. We had shit to work through, and I wasn’t letting her leave my life a second time.

It didn’t seem to matter what I wanted. Rael, Wraith, and Exorcist pulled up outside, interrupting the tiny bit of progress I started to make with Abby. Grim needed me at the Crossroads. He called church, and I didn’t dare miss it.

Running upstairs, I knocked on the door. “I’ve got church. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Okay,” Heather shouted.

Nothing from my girl. And yeah, she was still mine.

“Abby?”

“We’ll talk later, Micah.”

The sadness in her voice tugged on my chest. I pushed open the door, taking the extra time to check on her. When I saw her tear-stained face, I had to comfort her.

“Hey, I know this is all messed up, but we’re going to fix it. Me and you, together. Okay?”

She hiccupped. “Okay.”

“Can I give you a hug?”

Abby rushed into my arms, and I held her, breathed her in, and promised to return.

I left my heart behind when I rode off with my brothers. My head wasn’t where it needed to be. I couldn’t help that. Not when she needed me, and fate still seemed to force us apart.

Grim seemed impatient when we entered the chapel at the Crossroads. He slammed the gavel down, calling the meeting to order. Agitated, he began to pace.

“The Denali brothers have brought some new intel to me. Information I need to share with the club. We’ve got some decisions to make, and they’re hard ones.”

No one interrupted, waiting for our pres to finish what he had to say.

“You’re not gonna like this, Jigsaw. I need you to stay calm.”

Oh, fuck.

My Reaper hovered near the surface, immediately on alert.

“It seems Dwayne Harrington of Harrington Enterprises is affiliated with Mayor Elliot Goodman and involved with the missing women in Nevada.”

“What?” I snarled.

The Henderson mayor was recently arrested for trafficking girls from an escort service in Las Vegas. Abby’s father lived in Vegas.

“Harrington funnels cash from his oil company into other less legal ventures like the DOLL Agency. He threatened the Denali brothers.”

“How is that possible?” I didn’t get it. Was Dwayne that cold-hearted? Was money all he cared about? No. He cared about Abby. I knew that. He would never have gone through so much trouble to separate me from his daughter if he didn’t believe I was capable of taking her away from him.

“What the fuck could he have on them?” Wraith asked.

Mammoth and Rael stayed quiet. They already knew what Grim learned. Last night they spent hours in the dungeon with Antonio and Vince.

“Their family runs a profitable wine business in California. A few years back, they had trouble with some local drug dealers. They cut a deal with Sheriff Tucker to put those guys behind bars. Apparently, he kept files on everyone involved, dug up a bunch of dirt, and used it to blackmail them for their cooperation. The police found all the evidence when they arrested Sheriff Tucker. The Denali family went into WITSEC.”

“That’s why we couldn’t find them,” Hannibal added.

“Fuck. I was beginning to think I lost my touch,” Xenon admitted. “I couldn’t find those fuckers or their family no matter how much I dug around.”

“Yeah, it wasn’t you. The Denali family is still relocated. Only Vince and Antonio left the program voluntarily.”

“Why?” Exorcist asked with suspicion.

“Because they decided to make things right with the RBMC.”

“Get the fuck out,” Wraith chuckled.

“It’s true. They met with the Bloody Scorpions to hand over the video surveillance and shit they took from Sheriff Tucker’s house before the cops arrived.”

“And what about us?” Diablo asked. “The Denali’s got shit on the RBMC?”

“Yep. And turned it over in good faith. They also shared a file they found on a suspect Sheriff Taylor was following. An associate of Brendon Barnes.”

The name caused my Reaper to growl. “That motherfucker attacked Abby.”

“Brendon, yes. His associate, Culter Holmes, is currently living in Vegas. The same address as Abby’s father.”

What. The. Fuck.

“There’s no way he doesn’t know about who attacked his daughter.”

“Agreed.”

“Vince and Antonio handed over a file folder on Culter. He’s Abby’s half-brother. Her father had several affairs while married to Kay.”

Fuck. This would break Abby’s heart when she found out.

“Did Dwayne order the hit on Heather and my house?”

I had to know.

“Yes. I don’t think he expected Abby to be there. She was attacked because she showed up and surprised Barnes. He didn’t know she was Harrington’s daughter. I don’t think Culter gave Barnes that info.”

“Dwayne thought he would spook me if Heather got attacked,” I guessed. “He was trying to push me and Abby apart. It fucking worked too. Not for the same reason, but he finally succeeded. He fucking ruined everything.”

Fuck. How could I have been so stupid? Why didn’t I stay and wait for Abby to wake up? All of this could have been prevented. I never would have lost her.

Hannibal leaned back and whistled. “There’s some serious fuckery going down, man. Everyone betraying and blackmailing everyone else. Not a fucking one of them can be trusted.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Exorcist agreed.

“We need to pay a visit to Harrington,” I announced. “That motherfucker has some explaining to do.”

“We roll out in twenty,” Grim agreed.

I was getting justice for me, my girl, and the missed years we could never get back.

My Reaper chuckled, his dark thoughts swirling in my head.

Dwayne Harrington would pay for hurting Abby.

If you enjoyed the beginning of Jigsaw and Abby’s story, please consider leaving a review.

The next book in the Tonopah Chapter releases in October. Click here: Spook and Specter

Click here to read more about Mammoth: Infinitely Mine

To read about Rael, click here:

Ridin’ for Hell

Twisted Devil

Viciously Mine

Catch up with the series: Tonopah, NV Chapter

Acknowledgments

The Royal Bastards MC is my favorite chapter to write about. There’s just something about these Reapers that has become addicting and fun, but it’s the readers that have made this series so popular.

Thank you so much for your support, love, and loyalty to the Tonopah Chapter of the RBMC.

My fellow authors, no matter which run we’ve been in together, I truly respect and appreciate you all. We’ve forged some amazing friendships and connections on this journey.

Crimson Syn, my bestie, thanks for being by my side, encouraging me to try something new with the Reapers, and allowing me to use Jameson in Ridin’ for Hell and Twisted Devil as Rael’s best friend and childhood companion. Look what one simple idea turned into!

Kristine Allen, you know I love your Ankeny guys and all their voodoo. Their wicked abilities fit right in with my Reapers.

If you’re new to the RBMC, thank you for taking a chance on me. I hope you enjoy the world of the Royal Bastards MC.

Happy reading!

Love MC Romance?

Check out these other books by Nikki Landis:

Royal Bastards MC Las Vegas, NV

#1 Hell on Wheels

#2 Reckless Mayhem

#3 Jeepers Creepers

#4 Rattlin’ Bones

#5 TBD

Royal Bastards MC Crossover

Manic Mayhem

Twisted Iron

Devil’s Murder MC

#1 Crow

#2 Raven

#3 Hawk

#4 Talon

#5 Crow’s Revenge

#6 TBD

Ravage Riders MC

#1 Sins of the Father

#2 Sinners & Saints

#3 Sin’s Betrayal

#4 Life of Sin

#5 Born Sinner

#6 TBD

Lords of Wrath MC

#1 Tarek

#2 TBD

Iron Renegades MC

#1 Roulette Run

#2 Jester’s Ride

#3 TBD

#1 The Biker’s Gift

#2 Bloody Mine

#3 Ridin’ for Hell

#4 Devil’s Ride

#5 Hell’s Fury

#6 Grave Mistake

#7 Papa Noel

#8 The Biker’s Wish

#9 Eternally Mine

#10 Twisted Devil

#11 Violent Bones

#12 Haunting Chaos

#13 Santa Biker

#14 Viciously Mine

#15 Jigsaw’s Blayde

#16 Spook and Specter

#17 Infinitely Mine

#18 Grim Justice

#19 TBD

Tonopah, NV Chapter

Pres/Founder – Grim Reaper

VP/Founder – Mammoth

SGT at Arms – Azrael, Angel of Death “Rael”

Enforcer/Founder – Exorcist

Enforcer – Jigsaw

Secretary – Wraith

Treasurer – Hannibal

Road Captain – Patriot

Tail Gunner – Chaos

Founder – Papa

Member – Chrome

Member – Bodie

Member/Cleaner – Diablo

Member/Tech – Xenon

Member – Shadow

Member – Toad

Prospect – Spook

Prospect – Zane

The Ol’ Ladies

Trish, property of Grim

Sasha, property of Bodie

Nylah, property of Rael

Mimi, property of Patriot

Tawni, property of Wraith

Bess, property of Papa

Stefanie, property of Shadow

Laramie, property of Toad

Skyla, property of Chaos

Davina, property of Bones

Gina, property of Diablo

Cameron, property of Chrome

Abby, property of Jigsaw

Royal Bastards MC 5th Run

Kristine Dugger: Ride it, My Pony

Lucian W Bane: Butterfly and Kult

Morgan Jane Mitchell: Royal Pain

Crimson Syn: Coerced into Submission

Claire Shaw: REIGN

Daphne Loveling: Cold Fury

Liberty Parker: Waking the Dragon

B.B. Blaque:

Kristine Allen: FACET

Erin M Trejo: Cross The Line

KL Ramsey: LEGEND

Darlene Tallman: Banshee's Lament

M Merin: THROTTLE

Chelle C. Craze & Eli Abbott: SLEEPER

Nicole James: Enforcing the Rules

Nikki Landis: Jigsaw's Blayde

J. Lynn Lombard: Aftermath's Exposure

Kris Anne Dean: No Way Out

Katie Latronico: Wherever I May Roam

India R. Adams: Praying For Lightning

Kathleen Kelly: REAPER

Dani René: REBEL

Amy Davies: Kink's Redemption

Murphy Wallace: Injustice and Absolution

Jessica Ames: Out of the Storm

Jax Hart: Desert Sky

Sapphire Knight: Dirty Boy

Elle Boon: Royally Destroyed

J.A. Collard: In Too Deep

Verlene Landon: Bitten by Zombie

J.L. Leslie: Worth the Fight

One Hell of a ride!

Royal Bastards MC Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/royalbastardsmc/

Website- https://www.royalbastardsmc.com/

Sneak Peek   Hawk, Devil’s Murder MC

“Is he going to make it?”

I turned, so distracted I never noticed anyone else walking in this direction and stared at the pretty blonde at my side, mesmerized by her sweet smile and the dark lashes framing her gray eyes. Something about her seemed familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

Swallowing hard, I hoped I didn’t sound like an idiot as I repeated myself. “Who-who?”

Nope. Not a fucking idiot, just a goddamn owl.

I felt the crow’s presence and his amusement. Cracking my neck, I tried not to let my annoyance show. An SAA should never be that distracted.

“Bree’s new man, Raven.”

My gaze slid over this girl’s ample curves and pear-shaped figure, noting her thick thighs and generous ass. Fuck. I loved a woman with a little extra weight on her frame. She could take a pounding, and I didn’t have to worry about slamming into her hip bones. Driving into her soft, warm body would be fucking heaven.

The blonde bombshell pointed to my cut. “You wear the same brand. Devil’s Murder MC. You’re his biker buddy, right?”

What the fuck? “We aren’t buddies,” I growled.

She giggled. “Oh, right. Biker brothers.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, is Raven going to be okay?”

We stood outside the patient room where Raven had been moved once the doctors stabilized him and his injuries weren’t life-threatening. There was only so much Falcon, our healer, could do with that much blood loss. Raven’s gunshot wound to the stomach almost killed him.

That was how we ended up at the hospital, most of the club taking shifts to watch out for our enemies.

“You a friend of Bree’s?”

She flipped her wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. “Her bestie. I’m Callie.”

Never heard of her. Oh, wait. Yeah, the chick Bree worked with at the mayor’s office—the one with the missing sister.

“Raven needed a blood transfusion, but he’s fine. Too fucking stubborn to die.”

She snickered. “I’m glad. Bree deserves to be happy.”

I gave her my full attention. “Why are—”

The blaring wail of a fire alarm drowned my words. Sprinklers went off overhead and began pouring water, soaking us in only seconds.

“Ahhhhhh,” Callie screeched, covering her hair with her hands. Cute, but useless.

This didn’t happen by accident. My crow immediately alerted me to danger. I noticed an odd musky odor that reminded me of burnt hotdogs over a campfire. Weird.

I reached for Callie’s hand, tugging her out of the hall into one of the empty patient rooms. I had the door shut and her pinned against it, my body caging hers against the wood so fast that she didn’t fight me.

“What are you doing?” She pulled on my arm, but I held tight, refusing to release her.

Peeking out the tiny window in the door, I spotted two men wearing Dirty Death MC cuts. Fucking hell. I needed to warn Crow and Raven.

“Hello? What’s the matter with you?” Callie asked, getting riled up.

“Shhh. Stay quiet. I’m saving your life,” I whispered, tugging her body closer to mine as I moved away from the door.

This room had two ways in and out, and I pulled Callie along, relieved the blinds in this room weren’t open. “Follow me.”

“You’re crazy,” she whispered but obeyed, shivering as her wet clothes clung to her body.

I couldn’t look down again, or I’d stare at her perky tits and the hard nipples I had already accidentally caught when we rushed inside this room.

“You ever heard of the Dirty Death MC?” I asked, pausing at the door as I heard the water shut off. The floor would be slick. I needed to get us out of here without falling in the process.

“Yes,” she whispered, her gray eyes betraying fear.

Fuck. I didn’t like her reaction.

“They’re here to fuck with my club.”

“Shit,” she cursed. “In a hospital?”

Undertaker and his club didn’t give a fuck. Didn’t take a genius to figure that out. Those bastards had been a pain in the ass long before Undertaker ordered the hit on Rook.

“Gonna need you to stick close to me, sweetheart. I’ll get you out safely.”

She bit her bottom lip, nibbling on the plump surface. Goddamn. Perfect, straight, delicate white teeth absorbed my attention until I blinked.

What the hell?

“You okay?”

Christ. She noticed how I stared, completely losing focus.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, not really expecting an answer.

She responded anyway, shrugging her shoulders. “I don’t know you, so I can’t answer that question.”

Irked, I clasped her hand, dragging her against my body. The warmth of her skin and a soft, feminine scent invaded my senses. Sunflowers. Citrus. Fucking addicting.

My palm rose, sliding around her neck as I lowered my head, holding her gently in place. “When we leave this room, I need you to follow my directions. Don’t hesitate. Don’t fight me. If we’re lucky, they won’t notice us.”

“I don’t even know your name.”

Why the fuck was that important?

“Hawk,” I grumbled, tapping the patch on my cut as I released her. “It’s right here.”

“You don’t have to be an ass,” she sassed.

“Well, honey, we don’t have time for this shit,” I shot back.

“Fine.”

I knew enough about women to know the word fine never meant things were okay—usually, the opposite. If I wasn’t trying to get us out of this hospital without being gunned down by the Dirty Death, I wouldn’t be so short with her, but the crow’s agitation became my own.

I didn’t have the patience for this. My mind flipped to protective mode, and when that happened, I became a cold, ruthless motherfucker on a mission.

We reached the door, and I slid it open a couple of inches, noting the busy hall. Hospital staff rushed around to clean up the mess and check on patients. The chaos allowed the DDMC the chance they needed to search the rooms for Raven, Crow, and any of my other brothers. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I checked the screen.

Crow: We’re outside. Get the fuck out of there.

Crow: Use the key at the gym and pick up the package.

I shot back a quick response. On it pres.

I slipped out of the room, clenching Callie’s hand. We moved fast, passing rooms on the floor as I rushed to the stairway at the end of the hall. The elevator was too risky. We didn’t have that kind of time.

I caught that strange odor again as we reached the door, and I twisted the handle, guiding Callie inside before shutting it with a soft click.

“Move, sweetheart,” I ordered. “They’re not far behind us.”

Callie gasped, racing down the steps in front of me.

Only three floors stood between us and freedom. My gaze bounced around, landing often on the jiggly, round ass in front of me. What a fuckin’ view.

I heard footsteps in the stairwell as we reached the final door. Ushering Callie outside, I walked briskly next to her side, reaching for her hand and curling my fingers around her smooth, soft skin. A tiny jolt sped up my arm, and I almost flinched.

What the hell was that?

Caw...caw.

“Shit,” I cursed.

The crow flew above our heads, sweeping in a wide circle as we reached my bike. He sensed danger and sent a warning.

“I know,” I mumbled low.

Callie’s gaze roamed over my Harley with a frown. She didn’t seem like the type to ride but it didn’t matter. She’d have to deal with any issues she had once we got the fuck out of here.

“Here. Put this on.” I pushed the helmet into her hands and swung my leg over the seat. “Hurry, sweetheart.”

She blinked, staring at the black paint on the helmet, then at me. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Hey, I get you’re scared, but we’ve got to go. Now. I’ll take you anywhere you want to go once you’re safe. Okay?”

She bit her lip, thinking it over. “This seems reckless. My car isn’t far away. Those bikers don’t know who I am. If I leave, they won’t come after me.” She held out the helmet. “I can’t leave with you.”

Well, fuck. I stood, taking the helmet from her hands. “Babe. You don’t get it. I think they already know who you are.”

“What?”

“You work with Bree, and they targeted her. I don’t think you’re safe. You need to—”

“No! I don’t believe you—”

I did the only thing I could think of: shut her pretty mouth and get her to listen. My head lowered, and I smashed my lips to hers, drawing her into my chest at the same time. It wasn’t supposed to be a kiss that meant anything other than distraction. I shouldn’t have deepened the connection, forcing my tongue into her mouth. My cock thickened as the kiss seemed to awaken something primal inside. A need so fierce that I hardly contained it.

I longed to trace the curves of her body with my fingertips and groaned, reluctantly pulling away. Callie’s chest heaved, and her eyes closed as she swayed against me. I took advantage of the moment to place the helmet over her head, securing the strap under her chin. “C’mon, beautiful. We need to move. Now.”

Her eyes snapped open, cloudy as the sky after a storm. “Hawk—”

She never got a chance to finish her sentence.

A bullet whizzed past her head, lodging into the hospital’s stucco façade.

Fuck!

Callie screamed as I pulled her to my bike and threw a leg over it, kicking up the stand and starting the engine as a low rumble roared to life beneath me. “Get on!”

She didn’t hesitate, slamming her bottom onto the seat and wrapping her arms around my waist.

I sped off, zooming across the parking lot and around a parked ambulance, increasing the speed as I blew by two Dirty Death MC members jumping on their rides.

Fuck. Me.

I heard the engines growling behind us and knew the DDMC was in pursuit.

Hawk, Devil’s Murder MC is now available. Click here: Hawk

About the Author

Nikki Landis is the USA Today Bestselling & Multi-Award-Winning Author of wickedly fierce romance. Her books feature dirty talkin' bikers, deadly reapers, dark alpha heroes, protective shifters, and seductive vampires, along with the feisty, independent women they love. There's heart-throbbing action on every page. Within her books, you can find suspense, fated mates, instalove, and soul bonds deep enough to fulfill every desire. Like your books on the darker side with plenty of spice? Look no further!

She lives in Ohio with her husband, boys, and a little Yorkie who really runs the whole house.

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