Between Embers (Lost Kings MC 5.5)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m lucky to have a lot of supportive and encouraging people in my life. This seems like a good place to express my appreciation.

Mr. Lake, thanks for always being in my corner.

Thank you once again to Shelly, Angi, Clarisse, Tamra, Elizabeth, Amanda, Robin, and Iveta for your feedback. Than you to Andrea, Tanya, and Elizabeth for reviewing these short stories on short notice.

Thank you to my crit partners, who encouraged me to go ahead when I was ready to give up.

Thank you to my editor, Vanessa for giving me this idea.

Most of all, thank you to my wonderful readers who keep pushing and inspiring me every day.

FOREWORD

If you’ve purchased Between Embers and are now reading this, I’ll assume you’re more than just a casual fan of the series. These short stories are for you. Let me share with you how Between Embers came to be.

While we were in the process of editing White Heat, my editor made a comment about how it seemed an awful lot was going on with the other guys and she wanted to know what they were up to during the wedding. Of course, in my head, I knew exactly what everyone was up to. My secondary characters don’t know they’re secondary characters. However, it was impossible to show their activities through Rock and Hope’s point-of-views, or even Wrath and Trinity’s and it would have been extraneous in a book that was ready approach 125,000 words.

But the idea wouldn’t go away!

I’d been planning to do another book of short stories like Three Kings, One Night for a while now. I really love those stories—not everyone does because they’re “too short” (to which I always think which part of short stories was misleading?) To me they’re important to the series to give background on some of the characters who at the time when I published them, hadn’t been featured yet. I have referred back to them on several occasions.

Anyway, I’ve wanted to do another collection similar to Three Kings for a while and just haven’t been able to fit it in my writing schedule. My plan was to add Infatuated, the story featuring Z and Lilly that was included in the Pink: Hot & Sexy Anthology, since that is no longer available, one of Rock and Hope finally using their basement, and one other couple.

Except, I’ve been so caught up in Murphy’s world, toiling away at More Than Miles (Lost Kings MC #6) and one or two other projects, that this was pushed aside.

The damn idea for “between the wedding” stories wouldn’t go away, though!

Then I came up with—what I thought—was a killer title “Between the Embers” (then I whittled it down to Between Embers so it had two words like White Heat, since it’s a companion piece to White Heat) while sitting in a CR-RWA workshop (I get some of my best ideas at my CR-RWA chapter meetings—thanks guys!) Once I figure out a title, I get so excited, I’m committed to the project, but damn that Murphy didn’t make things easy on me!

As is my process, I had bits and pieces of each story written out. A few things that happen in Between Embers are critical (in my head) to future books, but this series is my baby, so naturally I think everything is critical.

There it is. Between Embers is intended to be a fun collection of stories to go along with White Heat. If you haven’t read it yet, these stories won’t make a lot of sense to you.

If you’re still reading—thank you! I hope you enjoy these little “between the scenes” glimpses into the world of the Lost Kings MC.

TIMELINE

* * *

Between Embers contains chunks of time that were not seen in White Heat. Each story covers the same time period. Some events you did see in White Heat and you’ll now see them here through a different character’s eyes.

Teller’s story starts early the morning of the wedding and ends when he goes to bed. Murphy’s story also starts early in the morning and ends after the reception. Z’s story starts before the wedding and ends the following morning.

The day hasn’t even started, and I’m exhausted. I’m up at this hour so I can run home and pick up Heidi. I’m not expecting to run into the bride in the kitchen.

“Oh, Teller. You startled me.”

I run my gaze from her shiny robe, shorts, over her bare legs, and down to her fluffy slippers. “What are you doing in here?” My voice comes out harsher than I mean it to, so I force a smile.

Hope sets a carton of milk down on the counter. “I don’t know. I was going to eat breakfast, but I’m too nervous.”

“As long as you’re not plannin’ a getaway.” I was trying to be funny, but I just sound like an overbearing jerk.

She ignor

es me and pulls a loaf of bread out of the fridge, popping two slices in the toaster. “Do you want anything?”

“Coffee.”

“You’re on your own there. Every time I try to make coffee, it tastes like burned beans.”

“Trinity’s the one who knows how to make the coffee.”

She chuckles softly. “Yup.”

“So, you happy you’ll be out of the clubhouse after tonight?” Again, I sound more like a cop interrogating her rather than the respectful way I should talk to my president’s ol’ lady and I’m not sure why.

“I don’t think the house is ready for us yet.”

Prez said it would be ready tonight. He also said it was a surprise. I’m not sure why it bothers me that they’re moving out. It’s none of my business. “No. You know what I mean.”

“It will be nice to be alone with my husband.” Her lips curve into a dreamy smile. “But I’ll probably miss you guys. It’s impossible to be lonely here.”

Her words sock me in the gut, but I cover it up with a joke. “Come on, you’ll be happy to get away from all us dirty horndogs.”

“Well, I’ve definitely seen my share of things that can’t be unseen.” She fake shivers and I can’t help laughing.

“You’re so calm. I remember when he married Carla, she was a maniac. Screaming and yelling at everyone.”

Her jaw drops and her cheeks redden.

“Shit. I’m sorry. That was rude to—”

“It’s fine, Teller.” She shrugs and tosses her hair back. “It’s not like I don’t know he was married before.”

She grabs her toast, smearing butter all over it, then tossing the knife in the sink. “You must have been young then.”

“Fifteen? Sixteen? I don’t really remember.” No, what I remember is that Blake and I had gotten used to going to Rock when things were shitty for us at home. Once Carla married him, she made it clear we were not welcome. She especially hated Heidi or basically any female who might be competition.

“Were you in the wedding?” she asks, dragging my head out of the past.

“Fuck no. She tried to discourage us from hanging around as much as possible.”

“I’m sorry.” She tilts her head, green eyes spearing me. Not in anger or pity. Disbelief maybe. “Well, you’re always welcome at our house.”

Yeah right.

“As soon as our kitchen’s sorted, Heidi’s supposed to come over to show me how to make applesauce. You’ll have to come too.”

The idea of my sister teaching Hope how to cook something so simple pushes some of my black mood away. Or maybe it’s that she’s still planning to do stuff with Heidi after the wedding. I guess I keep figuring at some point, Hope will drop the concerned mom bit she does with my sister. You know, when she doesn’t need to impress Rock any more.

“There you are,” Trinity yelps as she enters the kitchen. My heart thuds at the sight of her. Her messy blonde hair with different shades of blue at the ends, grazes her perfectly round ass. As ass I should absolutely not be staring at. She doesn’t even notice I’m in the room at first.

They laugh and Trinity hipchecks Hope out of her way. “Teller needs coffee,” Hope informs Trinity as she sits down across from me. “And we all know I suck at making coffee.”

Trinity whips her head around, a quick smile lighting up her face. “Morning. Why are you up so early?”

“Need to go grab Heidi in a bit,” I answer, focusing my attention on the window behind Hope.

“She could have joined our slumber party last night,” Hope says.

Trinity snorts, and no matter how much I don’t want to, I turn her way. “Nah, he doesn’t want us corrupting his sister. You should hear the potty mouth on that girl,” she says, pointing at Hope.

“Whatever.” Hope snickers.

Tearing my gaze away from Trinity, I catch Hope’s eye. “She said she had school work she wanted to get done last night so she didn’t have to worry about it over the weekend. But it was probably an excuse for Axel to sneak over.”

“I don’t know,” Hope says. “She’s a pretty good student.”

“I got your back, Teller,” Trinity assures me. “I kept Axel out at the wedding site late last night hanging lights. Even if he did stop by, he would’ve been too exhausted to fool around.”

Not the visual I needed. “Thanks, Trin.”

“So, basically, everyone’s seen the wedding site, but me?” Hope asks.

“Pretty much.” Trinity turns and eyes Hope’s toast. “You need to eat an egg or some other protein. I can’t have you passing out at the altar.”

“Okay, Mom. Geez.”

“Morning, ladies.”

I turn at the sound of my best friend’s voice, relief washing over me. “Thank fuck, bro. I can’t listen to any more of this girl shit or my nuts are going to shrivel up and fall off.”

“What nuts?” Murphy asks with a straight face.

“Asshole.”

Actually, I’d never admit it, but I was enjoying Trinity and Hope goofing around. Who am I kidding? I like being around Trinity no matter how I get her. “Where’s your other friend, Hope? She sneak off to visit Z?”

Trinity shakes her head. “She was sound asleep when I woke up.”

“Tell me there was at least one naked pillow fight last night?” Murphy laughs, so they know he’s only kidding.

“You wish,” Hope teases.

“That ain’t right,” he says, pulling out a chair and sitting next to me. He jabs his elbow against me.

“What?” He’s tense, his gaze darting between the girls and me. “Spit it out.”

“Nothing. We got church in twenty.”

“Fuck.”

Murphy raises an eyebrow. I never complain about club duties. But lately I’m feeling stretched thin.

“It’ll be quick.” Wrath’s rumbling voice reaches us before he’s even in the room. “There’s my girl.” He hooks an arm around Trinity’s waist, and I turn away.

“Where’s Heidi?” Murphy asks. That’s enough to make me forget about the make-out session going on by the stove. Blake and I have been tighter than brothers for most of our lives, and I love him. Would do just about anything for Blake, but goddamn am I getting tired of him sniffing after my baby sister like an unneutered dog.

“I gotta pick her up.”

“When?”

“Right after church, apparently.”

“Trinity,” Hope calls out. “Should we bring Lilly breakfast?”

Trinity pulls away from Wrath a little dazed. “Sure.” She probably didn’t even hear the question.

“Uh-oh.” Murphy laughs as Rock walks into the kitchen. Hope shrieks and jumps out of her chair when she sees him.

“No, no, no. You can’t see me before the wedding.”

Rock doesn’t seem overly concerned with her outburst. His mouth slides into a smirk and he catches her around the waist. “You plannin’ to wear this to the wedding?” he asks, pointing at her short, shiny robe and thin shorts.

“No.”

“He can’t see you in your dress, Hope,” Trinity adds.

They’re standing close enough to me that I hear Rock murmur to her, “Why are you running around like this?”

“Like what?”

Rock takes that as an invitation to molest her in front of everyone.

“Uh, prez. Some of us are trying to eat,” Murphy jokes.

Hope backs away, nervously tugging at her robe, but Rock doesn’t let her go far.

“For fuck’s sake,” Wrath groans. “Can’t you save it for your wedding night?”

“You know, they say like sixty-five percent of couples end up not having sex on their wedding night,” Trinity offers.

Everyone stares at her and she tips her head back, laughing. “I’m serious. They’re too tired after all the wedding hoopla.”

“No alcohol for you to tonight.” Rock says it low, but we all hear it.

The kitchen lovefest is working my grouchies

t nerve, so I make a few excuses and get the hell out of there. I’m moving so fast, I almost knock Mariella down outside the dining room.

“Sorry, hon.”

Her big brown eyes stare up at me. “What’s wrong?”

Something about Mariella always calms me down. The pressure in my chest eases, my shoulders drop. Everything. “A lot to do. Gonna be a busy day.”

Her hands twist together in front of her. “I’m happy to be invited.”

As if on cue, Hope’s voice echoes behind me. “Good morning, Mariella.”

“Happy wedding day,” Mariella answers softly. She’s always so damn nervous around Hope. I hate it, because no matter how many times I explain Hope doesn’t hate her, Mariella doesn’t believe me.

“Thank you.”

“I better go help Trinity,” Mariella says. Before she scurries away, I grab her hand.

“Come find me when you’re done.”

A brief smile flickers over her mouth. “I will.” She slips from my grasp and darts away.

Next to me, Hope sighs. “Is she all right? You seem to be the only one she talks to.”

“She’s still worried you hate her—”

“I—”

“I know you don’t.”

Hope looks so troubled. Shit, if Rock finds out I upset his bride on their wedding day, he’ll fuckin’ murder my ass. “Don’t worry. I’ll look out for her.”

“Okay.” Hope nudges my arm. “Tell Heidi to come see us when she gets here?”

“I will.” Before she leaves, I want to do something to erase all my dickishness this morning. “Thank you.” She raises an eyebrow. “For letting Heidi hang out with you and stuff.”

“Teller, you don’t have to keep thanking me. I really do enjoy spending time with her.”

Christ, hanging out with the girls must have altered my brain chemistry or some shit. I clear my throat, thank her again, and take off before I do anything else to embarrass myself.

“All right,” Rock shouts over the noise in the war room. “Simmer down. We don’t have a lot of time.”