by Hart, Lane
“You still won’t if you survive, will you?” I finally mutter. “This was just your bullshit ploy to get me to call an ambulance instead of watching you die,” I whisper, so low the phone can’t pick it up.
“God, you know me…too well, Ev. I don’t think that’s…going to be an issue, though,” he says as he forces another grin. “You know, I did love you…just not as much as I loved myself,” he pauses as a coughing spasm rips through him, spraying blood across the carpet. “I’m glad it was you, Ev…and not that prick Cedric. Figured it would be him…”
When I hear sirens growing closer, I stand up and rush over to the window. An EMS vehicle roars into the apartment parking lot, its brakes squealing as it spots the building number and pulls up out in front. As I walk over to the door to open it up and guide the first responders, I see Lowell’s ragged breathing begin to slow as his eyes follow me across the room. Once I’m outside, I wave the three men past me into the apartment, unable to think of anything further to say or do for Lowell. I simply clutch at the papers in my hand, only vaguely realizing that the shock of what has happened has completely driven all the thoughts of drugs out of my mind.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Cedric
When we pull into the apartment complex parking lot, War suddenly slams on the brakes, causing Torin, Chase, Abe, Reece and I to jostle around violently in the back. “Whew, boy,” War mutters as we all struggle forward to look out the front glass. “Parking’s going to be a bitch up in here,” he adds.
The lot is filled with emergency vehicles. We had passed an ambulance speeding away back on the main road, but I hadn’t given it much thought until now. With the four police cars and firetruck sitting outside of Rita’s old apartment, the memory of that ambulance suddenly punches me in the guts.
“Evelyn,” I whisper. “Oh God, Evelyn. Let me out!” I yell as I hurry over to throw open the side door, leaping out and hitting the ground running.
I let out an explosive breath I didn’t realize I was holding when I see Evelyn wrapped in a blanket, flanked by two uniformed police officers. I run straight towards them, before another officer steps into my path.
“Sir, I’m going to need you to step back, please,” the officer tells me.
I come to an abrupt halt, and yell, “Evelyn!” to get her attention.
She raises her head, her tear-streaked face and swollen eyes a testament to whatever horror must have happened here.
“Cedric?” she calls back to me, starting to walk over towards me. The two officers flanking her come along, one of them nodding to me as he approaches.
“You said her name is Evelyn? We believe she is the one that called this in, but she hasn’t said anything since we arrived on the scene.”
“Her name is Evelyn Young,” I tell them as I step forward and wrap my arms around her.
“Oh God, Cedric. I’m so sorry,” Evelyn sobs as she buries her face in my chest.
The officer pulls out a notebook, and then asks, “Can you confirm the name of the stabbing victim?”
“She can’t confirm anything,” a deep voice interrupts as Torin and the rest of the Kings approach. “We’ve called an attorney who will be happy to give you her statement after she speaks with him,” he adds.
The officer snaps the notebook closed and gives the Kings, who have now gathered around Evelyn and I, an appraising glance. I can see his expression soften as he decides discretion is the better part of valor, and he gives a small nod. “Have the lawyer meet us at the station, and we’ll get her statement. We’ll need to escort her there.”
“I’ll be coming with her,” I tell him, my tone brooking no argument. He gives me another small nod; then the two officers who had escorted Evelyn over back away, leaving only the single officer standing guard outside the ring of Kings.
“Are you okay?” I whisper to Evelyn as I place a kiss on top of her head, my lips forming the words against her silky raven hair.
She nods into my chest, her shoulders hitching as she cries softly against me. “I’m so sorry, Cedric. I came to see Lowell. No, I mean, I came to get…”
“I know,” I whisper into her hair. “I know you wouldn’t go back to him. I know it was for the drugs. I’m sorry, too, baby. I put you in this position, and…”
“I killed him,” she whispers into my chest, so quietly that the only one who apparently hears her is Reece, the bat-eared bastard, who mutters a curse.
“Hush, baby. There are a lot of ears nearby.” I keep my lips pressed to her head, keeping my eyes on the officer nearby. “We’ll have plenty of time to talk about it later. The important thing is that you’re safe.”
“There’s something else important,” Evelyn says, turning her gaze up to meet mine. She pulls a blood-spattered envelope out from under the blanket she has wrapped around her, turning it towards me so that I can see the word ‘WILL’ written on the outside. “I tried to give it to the ambulance driver, but he wouldn’t take it, and I don’t know what to do,” she trails off as her voice hitches and another sob breaks from her.
Reece steps closer and holds out his hand. “May I?” he asks Evelyn.
She nods and hands over the envelope. Reece unfolds the papers inside; and after scanning them for only a few seconds, he nods in understanding. “I know how to handle this,” he assures Evelyn. “Torin, Chase, Abe, you guys ride with me. We’re going to the hospital. I’ll need one of you to drive so I can make some calls on the way. War, you stay with Evelyn and the kid. Make sure neither of them say anything stupid. Ride with them to the station and meet the attorney.”
“You heard the man,” Torin grunts as he takes the van keys from War and leads my other brothers away. “We’ll meet you at the station later to pick you up. All of you,” he adds threateningly, with a long look at the officer, who steadfastly refuses to meet his gaze.
“You see, baby? We’ve got you,” I tell Evelyn. “Where goes one, there goes us all, or something like that.”
“What are you talking about?” Ev snorts into my chest, where she has burrowed her head again.
“I don’t know, I thought it was a famous saying or something. The whole crew has got our back. Come on, let’s hitch a ride downtown with these fine officers, maybe even get a cup of coffee. Feel like going on an adventure with me?”
“With you, I can do anything,” Evelyn agrees. “Thank you, Cedric. I love you, more than you can know.”
“Oh, I know, baby. I’ve felt the same way most of my life,” I assure her.
Epilogue
Cedric
One year later…
For the past few months, Evelyn has been busy with making wedding plans, which have helped keep her mind off of her cravings. I still take her to some of her NA meetings, but not because I’m worried about her. She just loves riding on my bike now that the warm weather is back on the coast. Ev went so far as to get an almost indecently short wedding dress so that she could ride away on my Harley after the ceremony.
I told her that we could wait, that there was no rush on tying the knot. I don’t want her getting dragged from one unwanted marriage to another. I wanted her to have time to decide if spending the rest of her life with me is what she really wanted.
Besides, now that her mother has received a kidney, a used one from an outlaw addict that was in surprisingly good shape and a perfect match, Rita’s doing great. Better than great. There have been no signs of rejection, and we’ve been able to easily afford her anti-rejection meds. Rita’s even been spending a lot of nights in a certain retired Savage King’s place that Ev and I love to give her hell over.
Evelyn still has a few bad days now and then when she asks me to tie her down on the bed so that she can’t go out to try and score some oxy. At least, she says it’s ‘to fight the urges’, but with the things she enjoys doing while she’s restrained, I’m starting to suspect she just loves the bondage.
The spouses of the Kings have all welcomed Ev with open arms and made her feel like fami
ly. Cynthia has especially taken her under her wing. Seeing how much fun Evelyn has with real girlfriends makes me ache even more for how lonely she must have been with Lowell.
“You ready for this?” Chase asks me, breaking me from my thoughts.
“Oh yeah,” I reply, tugging the unfamiliar black tie one last time to make sure it’s straight.
“Then let’s go,” Miles says with a clap of his hands.
All of us file out of the Savage Asylum and make our way across the street to the beach. That’s when I notice that Evelyn has made a few additions to our gazebo the guys and I put up last night. There are blue and white flowers winding around the lattice work, but there are also snowflakes falling down around the entire structure. From what I can see, the snow machine must have been on for hours, because it’s several inches deep.
The tide is starting to come in and wash away the back edges of the piles of snow, but there is still plenty.
We’re finally going to get to see the beach covered in snow together, the only way I would have it.
I make my way toward the front of the gazebo while the rest of the guys take a seat with their wives and kids in the white chairs set out in rows. I pause to let my eyes sweep over Ev as I take my place at her side, her beauty dazzling me as the sunlight plays across her features. When our eyes meet, we both break into broad smiles, our hands reaching out to find each other. My fingertips slip over her seashell bracelet before I grasp her fingers in mine.
I couldn’t have imagined such a perfect moment last year as we sat together at the police station. When Evelyn explained what had happened to the attorney, I’d sat with my arm around her, holding her close when her emotions overwhelmed her. Listening to her describe Lowell’s attempted rape, and how she had been forced to stab him, had ignited such a rage inside of me that I seriously considered making my way to the hospital to make sure he never walked out.
Reece had been smart to send War with us, as he was able to talk me down and convince me to let events take their course, for Evelyn’s sake. While the lawyer gave a statement to the police, Reece kept in touch with War to let him know what was happening at the hospital. Once we were released by the police, I took Evelyn back to the Savage Asylum, where I could protect her from reporters looking for the story of the woman who had killed her husband, whose kidney was then going to be donated to save her mother.
Evelyn and I stayed sequestered for a few days, until Rita was able to receive visitors. By that time, the district attorney had announced no charges would be pressed in this case of justifiable homicide, and the worst of the spotlight had passed us by. Evelyn and I were able to be with Rita during her recovery, largely uninterrupted thanks to the Kings’ constant presence by our sides.
“Things are finally settling down,” I whisper to my radiant bride as the chaplain begins addressing the crowd gathered on the seashore.
“A little,” Evelyn agrees with a smile. “I didn’t put it in my vows, but one thing I will promise you is that I won’t do anything to make our life together more difficult than necessary!”
I can’t contain a snort, which draws a sharp glance from the chaplain and the front row of guests. I mime a cough into my hand, and then wave for him to continue speaking, before whispering again to Evelyn. “The first night we were together, even with everything that happened, I knew that I would spend my life working to get back to you. No matter what comes for us, Evelyn Young, I love you. There is nothing that we can’t overcome together. Nothing.”
“Would the bride and groom like to address the assemblage?” the chaplain asks with a hint of frustration.
“No, no, carry on,” I tell him, flashing one more smile to Evelyn before turning my full attention to the proceedings.
Ev may not have added that little line to her vows, but I certainly put an addendum in mine. Besides the traditional ‘to love, cherish in sickness and in health,’ I made sure to recite a vow I made to her in my heart many years ago.
“No matter how far, no matter how long, no matter who or what may stand in our way…I vow to always love you, more than my life itself. You are my Queen, Evelyn Young, and I am forever at your side.”
The End
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much to the readers who have stuck with us from the beginning with Chase to the end of this series with Cedric! We can’t thank you enough for your support over the past few years, through all twelve Savage Kings’ books!
Angela Snyder, thank you a million times over for being an amazing friend and an awesome editor. I don’t know what we’d do without you!
We also owe a huge thank you to our incredible beta and ARC readers who take time out of their busy lives to help out with proofreading and reviewing each and every book.
David and I were so excited to work together on this series and it turned out better than either of us hoped. Often, as I read back through the chapters, I can’t tell where my words end and his begin. I’m so lucky to have a husband who can literally finish my sentences, paragraphs, and even my stories.
Please stay tuned because David and I have more exciting MC romances in the works!
We’ll soon be releasing the Savage Kings of Myrtle Beach as well as the Dirty Aces MC.
Be sure to click below to sign up for our newsletter so you’ll be the first to know about those release dates!
http://bit.ly/LHDBWNewsletter
For now, we’ll leave you with a sneak peek at the first Dirty Aces’ cover and synopsis.
~ Synopsis for Malcolm ~
Covered from head to toe in tattoos and leather, Malcolm Hyde was born to be a ruthless outlaw.
As the president of the Dirty Aces MC, Malcolm is known for being cold and calculating. One bad decision – getting into business with the wrong person – is all it takes to bring down the entire MC. It’s happened before to his predecessor, which is why Malcolm refuses to let it happen again on his watch. He doesn’t trust anyone except for the few men who wear the same ace of spades patch on their back.
And that’s exactly why he doesn’t ever take his eyes off of me – the new girl. I never intended to make an enemy out of Malcolm or the MC when I was sent to steal everything I could from them.
After Malcolm finds out what I’ve been doing, he’s furious and shows no mercy until I spill all of my secrets, ones that could very well end my life. That’s when he makes me a surprising offer – he’s willing to take care of all of my problems, and the only thing he’s asking for in return is for me to completely surrender myself to him.
Spending two weeks in bed with a bad boy biker sounds more like a reward than a punishment.
There’s just one little catch – once he claims my body, there’s no guarantee he won’t steal my heart too.
Look for Malcolm’s book in May!
Until then, catch up with the Cocky Cage Fighters!
Also by Lane Hart
MMA Middleweight World Champion, Jackson "Jax" Malone has just entered the fight of his life. Known for his viciousness in the cage, and his playboy ways out of it, Jax is arrested and charged with a brutal rape. The thought of spending decades in prison is one of the few things that actually scares the shit out of this cocky fighter.
Newly admitted attorney Page Davenport is willing to do anything it takes to get out from under her father's thumb and finally prove herself in his law firm. Anything except representing the infamous miscreant, Jackson "The Mauler" Malone. Despite her protests, Page is powerless to avoid becoming the sacrificial lamb, the token female, who will be the face of the violent, angry Neanderthal's defense team.
Jax is a bad boy with a temper, doing whatever the hell he wants in life while flipping the bird at all his haters. Page is the prim and proper rich debutante her parents want her to be. They've been pulling her strings, telling her what to do, where to go to school, what to wear, and even who she should marry.
Page and Jax struggle to work together, engaging in a knock-down drag-out fight for dominan
ce. When they finally stop taking swings at each other, they're both surprised to realize that sometimes first impressions are completely wrong. In fact, opposites really do seem to attract. However, there are lines that attorneys and their clients can never cross if Page wants to keep her license to practice law.
Will Page risk it all and submit to the cocky fighter? Or will Jax's temper and jealousy prove too much for her to take on outside of the courtroom?
Either way, one thing is for sure - neither Page nor Jax are going down without a fight. In the end, the secret for them to find heaven may be to battle their way through hell first.
START READING JAX NOW!
About the Authors
New York Times bestselling author Lane Hart and husband D.B. West were both born and raised in North Carolina. They still live in the south with their two daughters and enjoy spending the summers on the beach and watching football in the fall.
Connect with D.B.:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDBWest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordbwest/
Website: http://www.dbwestbooks.com
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Lane:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WritingfromHart
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lanehartbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlanehart/
Website: http://www.lanehartbooks.com
Email: [email protected]
