When I get to the trailer, Sunshine has all of the kids put to bed. Jamie and Dawn are in her bed and Colt and Miracle are in mine. She informs me that my father called, he will be home shortly. They think Romeo had a mild heart attack but Romeo being Romeo is refusing to stay. The news that Romeo is okay brings me some relief. I’m exhausted so I go crawl in the bed with Colt and Miracle, although I doubt I will get any sleep with the two of them in the bed with me. They are both kickers.
A steady rain is beating against the roof. I glance at the clock it’s well after midnight and I can’t sleep. I tip toe into the kitchen for a glass of water and pain reliever for my headache. Grim and Sunshine are asleep on an air mattress in the middle of the floor. I have so much on my mind. So many unresolved questions and feelings. I grab a hoodie from the closet and go to the one place I know I can clear my head.
Chapter 26
Romeo
There are so many emotions going through my head. I am so thankful to be alive though I don’t deserve to be. The doctor on call in the ER said I suffered a mild heart attack, he wanted to admit me, but I said fuck that. Not staying there where they can poke and prod me all night when I can come home and sleep this night from hell off.
I walk into my empty house after Grim and Foxie drop me off. It’s too damn quiet. I look around at the life I had built with LL and I can’t understand how it all went so wrong so fast. Why did I think the worst in her? Why did I turn a blind eye to the signs that she was using again? Guess I checked out on our marriage long before Miracle came into the picture.
I feel little relief with the fact that I won’t be going to prison after all. I take the gun—my gun that Foxie gave me out from my cut and turn it over in my hands. So much hurt and devastation, brought on by this piece of cool metal. I think of my kids being raised by Sunshine. I know she’d take good care of them. Baby and Striker will work their shit out. I know she will make him one hell of an old lady.
I take the gun and put the barrel inside my mouth. My finger is on the trigger, and I look to the left seeing a picture of all three of my children smiling at me. A tear rolls down my cheek.
I pull the gun back from my mouth and throw it at the wedding portrait from the day I married LL that hangs over the mantle. I’m no coward or pussy.
I make a vow to myself that I will be the best-damned father I can. My kids won’t be forced to pay for my sins, they are mine and mine alone. I sit and stare at their picturing a bit longer, enjoying this moment of silence and clarity.
There is a knock on my door. I open it to find one of the last people I expected to see. A sexy redhead who knows how to make me smile.
“Foxie called me. She thought you might want some company.” Smoky.
“Come on in sweetheart, excuse the mess.” I step back allowing her to walk inside.
She smiles at me and hands me a bag of weed. “How about you smoke this and then you can do whatever you please with me.” She purrs seductively. I figure what do I have to lose. Smoky might be just what the doctor ordered, even if that doctor is Foxie.
Striker
There is no time to worry about shit I can’t change, but I think given tonight’s craziness Baby and I will work our shit out. I walk back inside the Roadhouse and grab Tread and Grady to help me. Grady comes over to the table where I am standing, looking at the dead body of the whore that nearly took everything from me.
Tread comes back with a shower curtain and a tarp. Him and Grady spread the tarp out first. Next we layout the shower curtain. Tread takes her feet and I get what is left of her head. Fuck, I think I am going to puke.
We lay her in the center of the clear curtain and wrap it tightly around her. Junior and Liberty have started scrubbing the blood from the floor and off of the table. I feel bad for Liberty. I know they were friends, but maybe now she sees what happens to dumb fucking whores, and she won’t ever try to pull some dumb shit on Tread.
After we get the body sealed up, we load her into the back of Grim’s truck. I grab a few shovels and toss them in as well. Tread has to drive, I’m not able. My nerves and thoughts are all over the place. All I want to do is get home, take a shower, get to Baby and Colt—bring them home with me where they belong.
It has started to rain, at least it will soften the ground, makes it easier to dig.
When we get deep enough in the woods, I grab a shovel from the back of the truck and get to looking for a good spot. Taking a body out in the woods and burying it isn’t as easy as some people might think. Picking the perfect location isn’t stress-free. You have to look for a place that isn’t frequented often by hikers or campers. Then there is finding a place that isn’t going to be easily exposed by nature. Fuck, I am exhausted, and I have barely been a mile. Once I have found a spot I signal for Tread on his walkie-talkie.
I start digging while they pack the body. It takes a few hours. With the rain pelting down, shit got messy, but we got the job done. By the time we get back to the Roadhouse I feel like a nasty motherfucker. I get Grim’s truck cleaned out and go home for a shower.
When I get home my mom is waiting for me. She explains how she found the gun she shot Diamond with. I hadn’t even thought about who killed the bitch until my mom just mentioned it. I hug her neck and kiss her goodnight. I don’t know what brought her to the Roadhouse in that moment, but I thank God she was there.
When I get out of the shower, the rain is still hammering down, and I can’t get comfortable in my bed. I haven’t slept right since Baby and Colt moved back out. All of their stuff is still here, it gives me hope that she plans to come back. I roll from one side of the bed to the other. I switch my pillows out and flip them over. I kick my sheets off and pull them back up under my chin. Finally, I give up and I get out of bed. I pace across the floor. Nothing seems to be calming me. I look out the window and see all the lights are off over at Grim’s. Baby must be in bed. I don’t want to wake her in the middle of the night. I throw on a ball cap and head out for a walk.
I find myself out in the woods behind our property, at the tree I planted with Baby all those years ago. The rain is coming down harder and I can hardly see, but I would know her anywhere, even in the pouring rain under the dim light of the pale moon. Baby. She doesn’t notice me, and I watch her as she looks to the sky, she is holding her arms open and letting the rain wash over her. I shuffle my feet and a twig snaps under my boots. Baby turns with the sound and she is looking at me wide eyed with a smile on her face.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she shouts over the rain.
“Me either.” I smile back at her. A moment passes where we say nothing at all. We both start to speak but cannot find the words.
“You first,” she offers.
I go down on my knees not caring that I am getting muddy again. "Your happiness is the only thing on mind, make me the luckiest man." I stand before her in the pouring rain down on my knees, and only hope she understands just what she means to me.
“You hurt me a lot. I don’t know how we can move past it all. But I know I’m not perfect either.”
“Right now in this moment, we are those carefree kids we were years ago. I am just a boy and you are just a girl under a tree, but I am done asking, Baby, marry me.”
“Yes, Striker. I’ll marry you.” She flings her arms around me, both of us soaked through from the rain. I lay her down right here in the middle of this storm, under our tree, and make love to my woman.
I peel her wet, rain-soaked clothes from her body and do the same with my heavy jeans. Her ass is squished in the mud and she laughs about how it feels. We roll around naked in the mud and the rain, showing each other just what we mean to one another. We will probably catch one hell of a cold, but it doesn’t matter.
“I love you, Striker. I love all of you. The good, the bad, the ugly and the true.”
“I love all of those things about you and more.” I smack her right in the side of the face with a clump of mud.
“You don’t fight fair.�
�
“Never said I do,” I tease her.
She gets a handful and smashes it in my hair knocking my glasses off.
“You breaking my glasses is becoming a habit.” She laughs and I help her up. I find my glasses and shove them in my pocket. We run back to my apartment—our apartment and make love again in the shower, on the kitchen table, and in the hallway floor. She’s mine completely. Only thing missing is Colt, but we will get him first thing in the morning.
2 months later
“Do you, Thomas Black, take Baby Jones to be your wife, to have and to hold, to cherish through sickness and health?”
“I do.” I wish this dude would hurry the hell up. I am ready to get started on our honeymoon. Now that Colt is getting older and more active our little brat has turned into quite the little cockblock. I look over at him now sitting in my mother’s lap wearing his little leather jacket and jeans. He is squirming and trying to get down in the floor.
“Do you, Baby Jones, take Thomas Black to be your husband, to have and to hold, to cherish through sickness and health?”
“I think I’ll keep him,” she teases, and everyone lets out a low chuckle. The preacher pronounces us as husband and wife. I take her in my arms and plant a sloppy kiss on her lips and she bites down on my lip ring tugging on it slightly.
‘Fools Rush In’ begins to play. My brother lets out a whistle. We stick around the inside of the church for a few minutes to say our goodbyes. We are leaving on our honeymoon in a few minutes. I’m taking Baby away for a week to the Smoky Mountains. Just my woman and me alone in a cabin in the woods for a week. Can’t fucking wait to have her all to myself with no interruptions or distractions.
“Congratulations, man, real fucking happy for you guys.” Tread grabs me around the neck and acts like he is going to choke me. I feel bad for the brother. Liberty up and left him. The chick got spooked by all the shit that happened with Diamond. I feel partly responsible, but that crazy bitch got what she deserved.
“Have you talked to her? Liberty I mean?” I ask as Baby joins me by my side with Colt.
“Nah, shit is what it is. Onward and upward or some shit, brother.” He walks off with a lost expression on his face. Shit maybe I shouldn’t have brought her up.
Colt is tugging on my hand. I lift him up and hug him tight, going to miss my little man this week. My mom comes over to say her goodbye and get Colt so she can take him home with her. Sunshine wasn’t too thrilled when she found out he was spending part of the week with my mom instead of her. Those two women kill me. They treat everything like a damn competition. It’s like battle of the old lady royal around here anymore.
Outside of the church, Grady is waiting with my Harley. Baby cocks her brow at me wondering how I expect her to ride. I took care of that I had Rumor get the dress designer to add a little change to her dress. I put my hands around her back, undo a Velcro snap and remove almost the whole bottom of her dress leaving her in just a corset, her panties, her hose, and her heels. Some of the brothers whoop and holler. Grim gives me a dirty look but I don’t care. Nothing he can do now. Baby is all mine. She wears my name down her right arm. I even had Inkman tattoo property of Striker over her pelvic bone. Ain’t nobody going to touch what’s mine.
She climbs on the back of my motorcycle and wraps her arms around me tight, right where she was always meant to be.
About the Author
Glenna Maynard is a Kentucky native with a passion for romance, best known for her bestselling romantic suspense novel I'm with You and The Black Rebel Riders' MC series. When she isn't arguing with the voices in her head or drinking reader tears, she enjoys watching classic TV shows with her two children and longtime leading man.
You can also find Glenna on several social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Blogger, Google+ and Goodreads. You are also invited to join her reader group on Facebook just search for Glenna’s Rebels.
Available Now
Black Rebel Riders’ MC
Grim The Beginning
Rumor
Baby
Striker
Romeo
Heart of A Rebel
A Rebel Love
A Rebel In The Roses
Blood of A Rebel
The Devil’s Rebel
Moonshine & Mistletoe
Devils Rejects MC
Hades’ Flame
Boogeyman’s Dream
Reaper’s Till Death
Cupid’s Arrow
Uno’s Truth
Cocky’s Fight
Sons Of Destruction MC
Dark Paradise: The Apocalypse
Paradise Lost: Wasteland
Paradise Found: Resurrection
BRRMC Roadhouse Tales
Devil Dick
Pecker Wrecker
Cock Blocker
Sassy Pants
Cruel Love
The Story of Killian & Liri
The Conclusion of Killian & Liri
Stand Alone Titles
Beauty & The Biker
Born Sinner
Lil’ Red & The Big Bad Biker
Making Her Mine
Dirty Love
Dirty Truth
Don’t Let Me Go
Stone Deception
Jameson’s Addiction
Cowritten with Dawn Martens
You Wreck Me (Prospects)
You Break Me (Prospects)
The Boom
Allie Faye Books
Crashing Into You
You Rock Me
My Best Friend’s Girl
Then There Was You
Must Love Curves
Acknowledgments
I have to thank all of my readers who fell in love with Grim. I had no idea going into this series how my Kentucky moonshiners were going to be received. The amount of support is overwhelming and I am so grateful. You all, have no idea how it makes me feel to receive a message from ya’ll.
To my girls in Glenna’s Rebels you are so fanfuckingtastic, you guys are always pushing me to keep going. I love you for that. I love how enthusiastic you are; you always put a smile on my face.
To my book whores you girls keep me sane, you know who you are. Thank you for all the laughs and chats.
To my dumb dumb Dawn, ha ha I love the shit out of you! #TeamFork I would totally fork a bitch for you. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. We will have our world takeover one day. World you have been warned.
To my HBIC Liz, you have been with me from day one. I loves you to bits. You are my ride or die bitch and one of my best friends, don’t know what I would do without you. I need to see your face one day soon Jax misses Connor.
To my Morgan Jane Mitchell, yes she’s my Morgan LOL! You can’t have her. Thank you for being my go to in all things whether it is life, books or screaming kids phone calls. I love you. I would probably die without your continued support and friendship.
To Laura why are you reading this shouldn’t you be pimping, don’t make me break out the cane. Ha ha thank you for being an amazing supporter, friend, and second pair of eyes. Thank you for not holding back and always telling me how you really feel.
To Nickie thank you for always having my back and being there when I need you. You are a fantastic friend and I cannot wait for your adventure to begin with baby Seidler. You are going to be an amazing mom.
To Chelsea thank you for kicking my ass into gear and for being an awesome friend. You are one hell of an author and I cannot wait to see what ride you bring my way in the future.
To Brett, Brandon and Ava once again thank you for not firing me from being your wife and mom, for always being handcuffed to my computer when I am writing the next book. I do this for you. I love you. Thank you for pushing me to keep pursuing my dreams.
A Note from Author Glenna Maynard
Hey guys, for those who are curious about Untamed Angels MC, it is a project in the works by my wonderful friend Author Dawn Martens.
Until
she is ready to share it with you, here is a peek at her upcoming release, It’s Just love, Not A Time Bomb, a romantic comedy.
This is unedited and subject to change.
Blurb
When Jordan moves in with his friend’s cousin, he thinks things will be easy. Yeah, screw that. The woman is a pain in his ass from the start, giving him whiplash with her hot and cold act. Still, Jordan can’t help wanting Alix—even if he does spend half the time trying to decide if he wants to kiss her senseless or choke her.
For Alix, men are worthless jerks. She’s made a vow to steer clear of relationships, but the moment Jordan pushes his way into her life, her vow is shot all to hell. Every attempt at avoiding the cocky bastard ends in tangled sheets and Alix wanting to kill the man. But she wants him, more than she cares to admit.
Will this jaded couple give into their feelings? After all, it's Just Love, Not a Time bomb.
Excerpt
Ok, sexy time sex, is not how it happens in the movies or books. I swear, if I trip again trying to get these pants off, I’m gonna scream. There is no, slow, sexy looks, or removing of clothes. It’s trying to rush out of clothes, as they get stuck a few times, then its sexy time.
“Are you laughing at me?” I ask Jordan.
His shoulders keep moving. “Yeah, uh, need some help?” He says through his laughter.
I throw my pants at him, that I finally got off. “Fuck you.”
“Oh Princess, I intend to fuck you.” He says, turning around.
Have you taken a ride with the Hellions MC by Chelsea Camaron yet?
One Ride
The Hellions Ride #1
Delilah “Doll” Reklinger never imagined her life with anyone that wasn’t a Hellion. She never imagined there would be a Hellion that could prove himself worthy enough to her father, Roundman, Hellions Club President. Content in living in the bubble of safety the motorcycle club family has always provided, Doll never thought that danger surrounded her.
Just Ride Black Rebel Riders' MC Volume 1 Page 53
