by E. C. Land
Badger’s Claim
Devil’s Riot MC Book Seven
E.C. Land
Contents
Acknowledgments
Devil’s Riot MC
Playlist
Silence of a Scream
Prologue One
Prologue Two
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Social Media
Available Now
Coming Soon
Badger’s Claim
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Badger’s Claim. Copyright © 2020 by E.C. Land. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information, contact E.C. Land.
Within this book there will be mention of characters from the Emerald Isle MC series by Courtney Lynn Rose. I have obtained written permission from her to use these characters. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to either myself or Courtney Lynn Rose.
https://www.facebook.com/e.c.landauthor
Publisher: Knox Publishing
Publishing Link: www.knoxpub.com
Cover Design by Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design
Developmental Editing by Courtney Lynn Rose, Knox Publishing
Formatting by E.C. Land, Knox Publishing
Proofreading by Rebecca Vazquez, Full Bloom Editorial
Created with Vellum
Acknowledgments
My Family – I’ll always be thankful toward my husband as he continues to show his support in my writing. No matter how annoying I become he lets me ramble on and on with the different things I come up with. Even sends me music when I need encouragement. My kids now are a huge part of this as I show them you can follow your dreams and shoot for the moon if you put your mind to it.
My Betas – Thank you for being the first to read. And in doing so pushing me to keep going with all the different plots that form in my head. I’m grateful to you all have done with helping and giving me input.
Knox Publishing – I don’t know what I’d do without you all. Your all so wonderful in your own right. From encouraging me to keep going when I feel like giving up to kicking my ass when it needs it. The best thing I’m grateful for is when you listen to the different plots and scenarios I come up with.
Liz and Courtney – I honestly don’t know what I would do without either of you. Both of you are two of my best friends. Working with you not only as Publisher/Boss/Editor but as a friend means more than you know. You allow me to be me and don’t try to change the way I am. Instead, you put up with my dorkiness.
Diane – I couldn’t be more grateful to. You have quickly come into my life and wormed your way in. I don’t know what I’d do without you as you make sure my head stays on straight.
To those who have been abused— know that you always have someone on your side, whether it be family, a friend, or even a complete stranger— you are never alone.
No matter what others say, someone will be there to listen. All you have to do is speak up.
If you need someone to talk to, pick up a phone. Someone will always help you, even if it’s just to hear them say it will all be okay. To release the breath you're holding.
https://victimconnect.org/resources/national-hotlines/
Devil’s Riot MC
O — Ol’ Lady, C — Child
Twister – Prez / Izzy – O
Leanna – C
Horse – VP / Kenny – O
Jason Cole (JC) – C
Kayla – C
Thorn – Sargent At Arms / Lynsdey – O
William Michael (Bud) – C
Anna-leigh Cleo – C
Rage – Road Captain / Cleo – O
Reagan – C (deceased)
Rosaline – C
Dragon – Medic / Connors – O
Gadget – Tech / Connors – O
Logan – C
Kagan – C
Keegan – C
Hades – Enforcer / Emerson – O
Burner – Treasurer
Badger – Member/ Jordan – O
Shadow – Member
Mac – Prospect
Playlist
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Fade into Black – Metallica
Under Your Scars – Godsmack
Monsters – Shinedown
Gone Away – Five Finger Death Punch
Through the Ghost – Shinedown
If You Only Knew – Shinedown
Torn to Pieces – Pop Evil
Numb – Linkin Park
Another Brick in the Wall – Korn
7 years – Sully Erna
How Do You Love – Shinedown
When the Seasons Change – Five Finger Death Punch
Angels Fall – Breaking Benjamin
Awake – Godsmack
Life Goes On – Adam Calhoun
World Went to Waste – Demon Jones
Ones Like Me – Adam Calhoun & Ryan Upchurch
Warning
This content is intended for mature audiences only. It contains material that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, rape, and extreme violence.
Silence of a Scream
Are you able to hear me?
I’m screaming for help.
No one looks my way.
Don’t they see I’m in pain?
Will they even listen?
I can’t take it anymore
The silence is too much
I hear screams
Though they’re in my head
Someone please help me
The pain continues
Same as the day before
Same as it will tomorrow
Long as the silence continues it won’t stop
I’ve got to open my mouth
Scream to the top of my lungs
If not the silence will go on
Someone please help me
Can’t you hear me?
See the pain behind my eyes?
It’s too much
The screaming in my head must stop
The silence must end.
Only I can do that
Scream out
End the silence
~E.C. Land
Prologue One
Badger
Age 10
“Brett, where the fuck are you?” I flinch at my mom’s voice and bury myself further under all the stuff in my closet. It’s the only place I feel rela
tively safe. I don’t want her to find me. Not in the mood she’s in. I can’t take it again. Every time she gets in one of her moods or after a guy turns her away, I end up getting it.
“I swear to God, Brett, when I find you, I will beat your ass before anything else.” Her voice sounds closer as she moves through the room. I cover my mouth to keep her from hearing me breathing heavily. If she finds me, I know she will shove one of those little blue pills she keeps with her in my mouth and force me to swallow. I don’t like the way they make me feel. And I really don’t like what happens after. But after last night, I don’t want to do it again. I was scared. She lies and says it’s exercise and it’s good for me, but I know it’s not.
Even at my age, I know it’s wrong. They teach us about it at school. But I’m scared to say anything. What would happen to me? I don’t have anyone else. My dad’s in jail for something I know he didn’t do all because of her. He doesn’t get out for another three years and that’s with good behavior. By then, who knows what could happen.
My heart is pounding in my chest as I hear her opening the closet door. Please don’t see me. Please don’t. Squeezing my eyes closed, I pray.
“Where the hell did that kid go?” she mutters, slamming the closet door. I don’t let out the breath I’d been holding until I know for sure she exits the room.
I’m safe now, but for how long? I wish my dad was here. None of this would be happening. He’d kill her for what she’s been doing. Why she had to lie to the cops about him I’ll never know, but I know the truth. If only I could find a way to tell my story.
In school, they teach us to speak up. But how? With my dad gone, this is all I know. They probably wouldn’t even believe me if I did. “It’s our little secret, baby. You don’t say a word. If you do, no one would believe you anyway. No one ever believes boys.” Her words pop into my head.
Shaking my head, I wish there was someone who would believe me. However, in this community, my mom is well known.
I thought about going to my dad’s friends. The guys my mom thinks he didn’t hang out with anymore. Bear, my dad’s best friend, catches up with me every once in a while, and Stoney too. Usually, it’s when they know my mom isn’t home. So many times I’ve wanted to say something to them. I want to trust that they would help me, but would they believe me?
Maybe when I get older, I’ll be just like my dad and his friends and ride a motorcycle. Least then I can feel free. Who knows, maybe I could even join the club? The one my mom made dad supposedly leave. But again, I know the truth to that as well. I know everything. Like how the only reason my dad married mom was because of me. He didn’t want her to keep me from him. Now, he’s in jail and I’m stuck with her.
I’m stuck in this house with the worst kinda monster who I want nothing more than to escape from.
Prologue Two
Jordan
Age 16
Terror fills me as I hear him scream my name. I wish like hell I didn’t have to live with him. But he threatened to beat my momma if I didn’t.
Granted, my momma shouldn’t be worried about him so much. Not with her sister being associated with a motorcycle club. Yet, I still didn’t want to take the chance.
“Jordan, get your fuckin’ ass in here now,” my dad demands. Why I still call him dad is beyond me. He’s nothing but a monster who rules my life. If not for school, I’d be lucky to ever have an escape from him.
Sighing, I clutch the towel tighter against me. I usually try to have my shower out of the way before he gets home. However, I was running late getting home from school.
Opening the bathroom door, I step out into the hallway, hanging my head down. I’m not supposed to look up unless he tells me to. Says it’s not a woman’s place to look at a man unless she’s told to.
“About damn time, you worthless bitch,” he spits out. “Why isn’t dinner ready yet?”
“I’m sorry, I ran late getting home from school,” I murmur.
“Excuses is all that is. What, you had to wash off the smell of the men you fucked when you got home?” He growls, grabbing my arm and throwing me against the wall. “I swear, you're more pathetic than your older brothers.”
Why does he always bring up my brothers? Brothers I’ve never even met.
Clutching the towel tighter around me, I straighten myself off the wall and begin to head for the kitchen. But Dad seems to have other plans for me. Wrenching me back by my hair, he rips the towel off my body. I learned not to let nudity bother me a long time ago. He once withheld my clothes for an entire week in the middle of winter.
“You know the rules, Jordan,” he says snidely as he drags me against him and grips my throat.
As tears fill my eyes out of fear, I nod my head. I know the rules. Hell, I fear those rules more than anything. But I know what will happen if I try to speak up. He will have no problem going after my mom and no one will stop him.
“Now, bend over the couch and take your punishment,” he mutters, throwing me toward the floor.
Leaning over the couch, I clench my eyes shut and wait. When dealing with my dad, I know better than to talk back or even attempt to fight back. He will always make it worse.
I inwardly cry out as his belt lands against my ass. I’ll take this over having him do other things. Things I don’t want to think about. Though he’s never personally done anything with his body, he’s made sure I never want to be with a man.
“I’ve told you, Jordan, I fuckin’ own you. You’re my daughter and will do as you’re told. Learn now or I will up your punishments to even more. Am I understood?” he says, hitting me three more times before stepping away.
Nodding, I don’t move. I can’t.
“Good, now get your ass in the kitchen and fix dinner. I’ve got friends coming over later and you need to be in your room unless you want to be the entertainment.”
God, that’s the last thing I want. Honestly, this isn’t the life I wanted— not one bit. But to keep him away from my mom, I’ll do anything. I don’t even think she knows exactly what kind of monster he is. Otherwise, she would have demanded I stay with her. Instead, the courts sided with my dad, probably because he had the judge in his pocket.
Will my life ever get easier? I highly doubt it. Like my dad says, he owns me.
Chapter One
Jordan
The lights come on and the music has turned to my song as the DJ introduces me by my stage name, Vixen. Stepping out on stage, I walk seductively to the middle and begin by wrapping a leg around the pole as the words to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica come through the speakers.
And right now, nothing matters. Not while I’m dancing. It’s the only time I really feel free. Between working with Dr. Connors at the clinic, seeing my brothers without speaking to them, and my dad, this is the only time I can be myself. When I can express my pain through my body.
Most people think being a stripper is unbecoming of a woman, but I love it. The boss here is respectful of me and doesn’t make me do anything I don’t want to. Meaning I don’t do anything but dance. I think he likes it that way too. Draws more money having a dancer that you can only watch and never be touched by.
It’s one of his rules. No touching the dancers. Well, unless you pay the hefty fee that gets you more than just a lap dance. And that’s only with certain dancers. Me, no, thanks. The thought of a man touching me is repulsive. I’ll stick with using my fingers when I want to be touched.
As the song continues, I lift myself to the top of the pole and reach for one of the metal beams in the ceiling. It’s not usually part of my routine unless I’m alone, but after today, I really need to do this. Holding myself up, I sway my hips and move my legs in a way that has the men in the room cheering. However, I don’t hear them, only the music fills my ears.
When the song gets to the part about trusting who we are, I finally move back to the pole. Slowly, I slide down with my legs wrapped around the cool steel as my back presses against it while leaning upside d
own. Soon as I get to the bottom, I place my hands on the stage and kick off the pole, doing an upside-down split before standing to grab hold of the pole again and swing myself around it once more before the song ends.
Taking a breath, I lean against the pole with my hands above my head as I wait for the next song to begin. Every night, we get to pick which songs we want to dance to. Normally, the dancers pick something fast-paced to get this part out of the way. But me, I stick to rock and tonight's no different. The moment Fade to Black, also by Metallica, starts playing, I feel at peace. Something about their music soothes a part of me.
Lifting myself onto my toes, I begin to dance to the beat as I remove my top. Running my fingers along my nipples, I pinch them while throwing my head back. It’s one of the things that really riles me up. With just tugging on the barbells I have in, I could make myself come in front of these men and they’d think it was just part of the act.
Leaving my chest, I lift my hands above my head at the same time as one of my legs, spinning a couple times to give them a good view. Even though my bottom is completely covered, I’m sure they can use their imagination.
