The Stealing Conleigh Duet
Stealing Conleigh Part 1
Stealing Conleigh part 2
Must Love Curves
The Roommate Pact
Cowritten with Dawn Martens
The Boom
You Wreck Me (The Prospect series book 1)
Grim The Beginning
Chapter 1
There’s nothing but the open road, my chopper between my legs, and the moon. Just the way I like it too. There’s nothing better than the sound of a motorcycle roaring down the road, nothing sweeter. At least that’s what I thought until Gypsy Red put her spell on me...
The night I met Gypsy Red my world was turned upside down. All my self-imposed rules died like a slowly burning ember fighting for oxygen. She came out of nowhere, literally. It was the night and me, and then there was her. One minute the road laid out empty for miles as far as my eyes could see under the pale of the moon, and then I saw her. She was lying across the hood of her broken down, rusty Nova. I might have missed her if it weren’t for them long, white—creamy legs, and her fire engine red hair. Looked like a damn cotton swab on fire.
First, I thought she was dead as I came to a slow roll, as I was passing her by. I don’t know why I felt compelled to stop. I suppose I have a few manners left in me, even if I am a dirty son of a bastard, and the vice president of the Black Rebel Riders’ MC. Women are to be cherished and respected and damn it if I ain't a fool for a woman in need of help. Had I known Gypsy Red, I’d known she didn’t need no man to take care of her; she clearly could handle her own. Like I said, I thought she was dead, she was just lying there, like a fish, hours out of water.
Parking my bike, I approached her real slow. It could be a setup. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman was used to lure me and my brothers into trouble. But then I heard the soft sobs and the closer I inspected the woman. Her chest was heaving uncontrollably. Even if she didn’t want it, she needed my help.
“Humph,” I cleared my throat to get her attention. “Miss, are you broke down?” You see Highway 32 is not a place you’d want to run out of gas or have a breakdown. Many besides my brothers’ and me don’t travel this road. Doesn’t she know this is the road to hell? The only place for miles is our bar, The Roadhouse. You see my brothers and I own and run a beer and pizza joint, but it is really just a cover for our moonshine business. The Roadhouse serves as our clubhouse. We take care of our own and we only deal with our own kind, if we can help it.
Anyway, back to my story…
“Go away,” she wipes her tears and slowly peeks out at me through her slender hands.
“Now look here, I might look scary, but I won’t hurt you. Just want to see if I can assist ye. There ain’t nothing for miles and the only people this far out are on their way to hell.” Shit, I am a scary looking son of a bitch. I already have full sleeves tatted up both arms and scars on my face to prove how tough I am. I ain't pretty to look at. Most women look down at their feet when I talk to them. I haven't found one I’d make my top bitch. I figure I have plenty of time; fuck I am only twenty-seven years young. But at twenty- seven I have done seen my share of shit. More than one ought to go through, but I didn’t choose the life it chose me.
She gasps, clutches her chest, and then she lets out the most musical laugh I have ever heard. It is like a damn siren singing in my head. I need to get close to her…I need to see her face. “Well that’s where I’m headed—hell.” She starts laughing again like some sort of loon this time. I swear the crazy bitch just slapped her knee like I just told her the funniest thing she done did heard.
“Are you high?” I can’t stand a bitch that’s tweaking.
“No, I got a busted tire and I think my battery’s dead and well, I ain’t got no gas either.”
“Well shit, you is in a bind, ain’t ya, Red? Here’s your choices, you can stay here hoping someone bigger and meaner than me don’t try to drag you off for some fun, to leave you in a ditch. Or you can come with me and I’ll bring you back tomorrow to get your car situated.” I walk closer to her. I am only going to offer my hand to help her off the hood and she flinches. “I said I ain’t going to hurt you, damn it.” I mumble to myself that I shoulda just kept rolling by. That’s when I see her face. She has been sliced up real good across her top lip. Fuck, I don't know who did this, but I don’t like no man putting his hands on a woman. The moonlight hits her cheekbone casting light on her bruised jaw. I run my finger over the bruise and she winces as a hiss escapes my lips.
“Who hurt ya, Red?”
“Don’t worry about me, you should see him. But I guess he won’t be seeing much since I killed that sorry bastard.” Her lip curls up with a proud smile, earning her my respect. I like a person who can own what they have done.
I don’t know what to say to that. But whatever that sorry bastard did, by the looks of her, I am sure he deserved it.
“Well that’s that, you comin’ or not?” She looks at me really funny like, but without any hesitation or doubt she puts her hand in mine. With her bag slung over her shoulder, she climbs behind me on my chopper and I take her home with me. Normally a brother doesn’t bring a piece of strange to the clubhouse, but Red is different. I don’t know why but she just is.
Maybe it was the moon that night or the fire in her eyes, but I couldn't leave her there. I couldn’t help myself, something inside of her calmed the beast raging inside me.
We ride thirty miles in silence before I turn down the dirt path that leads to the back of the compound. You wouldn’t know the secret path is hidden behind the brush unless you are a Black Rebel. The road twists and turns so much a normal person would never be able to stay on the narrow road, but we have it like this for a reason. Any of my brothers could drive this path blindfolded but anyone else would end up nose first in a tree. You don’t live the life we lead and not have ways to protect your livelihood.
We have a trailer park behind the bar, but not all members have one. The trailers are reserved for the families. The other brothers live in the apartments over the bar. However, being Vice President I get my own trailer, but if one of the brothers were to take and start a family and needed it, I'd give it to them. Not because I would have to, but because I would want to.
We hit the clearing that is home to all the trailers, the place looks like a redneck dream. I have one of the larger ones since I am vice president, but I really don't have much use for it since I don't have a family to house in it. I have just broken two rules— one bringing Red here, and number two bringing her in on the back road. I bring my bike to a stop and takeout a flashlight to light the way to the steps.