by Simone Elise
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chase & Chloe
Simone Elise
Copyright © 2017 by Simone Elise.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This book is published by Inkitt – Join now to read and discover free upcoming bestsellers!
Want to receive free novels by Simone Elise?
Click here to get your free eBooks!
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 1
Chase’s Point of View
Mom smiled brightly before leaning forward and blowing out her candles.
Being the eldest brother of eight, I learned quickly that their needs came first. Mom did a great job, but when dad died suddenly in a motorcycle accident, her life became all about us kids, and I went from a child to a grown-up at the age of ten.
I was thirty now and, as I looked at my brothers and sisters fussing over my mother, I wouldn't change a thing. Mom was a model when she met dad. Even now in her sixties, she still looked incredible. Her gray locks were cut off at her shoulders and those deep green eyes sparkled with love.
"I think I've already got my wish." She looked up, smiling at me. "Having the family together."
My brothers and I traveled a lot, because, well, we were part of a motorcycle club. Dad formed it when he was young with his best friends. All of them lived in different states starting a charter in each capital. Before long, the clubs grew and now we were one of the most feared outlaw motorcycle clubs in Australia, and we were always targeted by the police and always feared by the public.
So, the fact we were all home, at one time, in one place, for one special moment – it meant a lot to mom. Sammie and Jess still lived at home with her. It was us boys that were always in a different state.
"Come on mom, there has to be something else you want." Dan sat next to her, stroking her hand. "Maybe for Sammie and Jess to move out?" He snuck a quick little smirk their way. They, of course, just ignored his insult, because we all knew it was them that kept mom sane while we were on the road.
Mom looked at each one of us. Dan, Declan, Oliver, Archie, Marc, Sammie, Jess and then finally me. In fact, her eyes were glued to me, and a small smirk spread across her lips.
"Maybe for one of you to find a soul mate. You know, I wouldn't mind grandchildren." She kept her eyes on me.
Mom wasn't just hoping that one of us would get married and have kids; she was hoping that one day, her boys would settle down. Maybe get off those machines that took her husband too early. She was hoping that one of us would be happy because she seemed to think that the happiest time of her life was when she settled down with dad and had kids so she was hoping we would have the same happiness.
Little did she know that each one of us were happy with our lives. Sure, I rode from state to state, but it was with love. I loved the club. I loved what we stood for. I loved the fact when people read Horsemen on my back, it struck fear in them.
But most of all, I loved that I was keeping dad’s memory alive.
"Chase, do you want a piece of cake?" Sammie asked while sucking the icing off her thumb. She was holding the knife just above the cake. Her long black hair was framing her white face and those darn green eyes were the same as mom’s which usually had me never being able to say no to her.
"I'm good, thanks Sammie. Think I might go for a run." I walked around the table and leaned down and gave mom a kiss on the forehead. "Happy Birthday, Mom."
"You sure you are okay in the guest house? I don't like the idea of you all alone on that hill." Mom frowned, but knew well enough that I could look after myself.
"I'll be fine, Mom. What was the point of building all the guests houses if we don't use them?"
Mom didn't need a giant house to clean or look after so instead, us boys paid for her to have a house with expensive taste, but
small enough for just the three of them. Mom wanted us boys to have our own rooms. Our solution was to build us a guest house each with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, lounge room and dining room. It was just as big as the main house really.
Mom gave me a half nod and I left them to eat cake and drink. If there was one thing my brothers could do, it was drink.
I, however, thought a nice long run would be a good way to spend the night so I walked out of the house with the idea of changing clothes and going on that run. Little did I know what I would run into would change everything.
***
If there was one thing I was obsessed with when in town, it was that all the boys didn't wear colors. Sure, it was only a small town and everyone knew who we were, but I didn't like the attention and problems it caused mom so when we were in town, it was strict no colors - which meant no club colors.
It was starting to pour when I ran into town. I was running around a bend when I saw it; a car off the side of the road. It looked like it had lost it around the bend.
I scanned the car. The window wipers were going fast and then the driver's door swung open.
"You okay?" I asked. The rain was coming down cold and fast whipping across my skin. It was getting dark now. I shouldn't have run so far.
She was tall with curves. Her long blonde hair stuck to the side of her face, wet from the rain. She slammed the door shut.
"Fine, thanks.” She didn’t give me a second look. Instead, she reached into the back seat and pulled out a bag.
She obviously thought I was gone because she was surprised when she looked back up and saw me standing there in the dark. There was something about her keeping me glued to the spot.
"Um, where is the town?" She looked over at me warily, not taking a step closer to me. She was only dressed in a t-shirt and jeans and was clearly freezing; her body shook.
"Just around the bend" I gestured with my head and raised my voice so she could hear me over the rain.
She glanced up the road and then started walking. I automatically started walking next to her.
"Are you following me?" She paused, the rain pouring down. She took another step away from me, as if I was about to attack her at any moment. She kept one hand on her left cheek.
"Actually, it’s where I'm heading too." It was the truth, but, at the same time, a lie. I should head back or at least catch a cab home.
We rounded the corner and the small fish and chip shop was still open with its porch lights on. She jogged slightly to get to it and then took shelter under the porch.
"God, it’s freezing," she muttered to herself, pushing her blonde hair out of her face. It was only now under the dim lights that I could see her sea-blue eyes. They were incredibly bright and you could easily get lost in them.
Women don't usually do this to me. I had been with lots of women, sure, but I had never been amazed by one yet.
"Yeah, typical Cardigan weather for you."
She looked up at me, keeping her hand over her left cheek. "Right." Her words were clipped and short. "Thanks again."
She wanted me to leave. I could sense it. She wanted me to get away from her. She clearly didn't trust me - or men maybe.
"So, you planning on getting a tow?" I was hovering. Didn't know the fuck why, but I was.
She scoffed. "It's dead."
She wouldn't be old. I would guess late teens or early twenties. Her looks were what you would see on a magazine, although with her wet clothes, maybe not.
When I looked at her more, I could pick up on two things. One, she was running and two; Cardigan wasn't where she wanted to end up.
"Where is the closest hotel?" She looked up from her feet nervously. "A cheap one?"
And it seemed she didn't have money either. "Cardigan doesn't have one."
Her nervous face dropped of expression. "You're joking?"
"No."
"Looks like I'm going back to the car." She picked up her bag and was about to head back out in the rain when I stopped her.
"I've got somewhere for you to stay the night."
"I don't know you."
"Yeah, but you can trust me."
"I don't trust anyone." Her words were firm and strong. I didn't need to second guess her. She really didn't trust people. Clearly, someone had broken it once too many times.
"Well, I trust you. I'm sure you won't trash my place overnight. Don't worry, it's a guest house, you won't be sleeping anywhere near me."
She was thinking about it, and just knowing she was considering it caused my heart to beat a little quicker. Why did I care if this girl had somewhere to stay tonight? But thinking of her staying in that car just didn't sit well with me. Mom had brought us kids up with manners and, if she knew I was leaving a girl to sleep in a car, she would whack me from head to toe.
She finally deflated. "Okay."
My heart warmed at that. She was trusting me even though she didn't think she was. Maybe she figured that there was much worse that could happen. I hoped she wasn't that down that the thought of me killing her was okay with her. After all, a dark stranger on the highway offering you a place to stay the night, only to kill you, sounded like something you would read about.
But it wouldn't be the ending to this story.
***
I closed the taxi door. After my directions, we ended up here. The taxi driver was slow driving into the property, and sure it was big, but it wasn't a fucking maze.
"You going to get out?"
I looked at her puzzled face. "I thought you said it was a guest house?"
"It is one of several." I paid the taxi driver.
She didn't open the door right away. I got out and moved around the taxi. I was going to open her door when it swung open.
"I'll pay you back for that," she muttered, holding her bag close.
"Don't worry about it. Had to get a lift back anyway." I brushed it off, but it seemed like it bothered her. Maybe she didn't like being looked after?
I unlocked the front door and pushed the double doors open, then felt the wall for the light switch. We had only ridden in this morning. My bags were still on the floor of the foyer.
I went straight to the heater and switched it on. It was freezing, and I had a feeling she would be just as cold. After all, she was dripping wet.
"You going to come in?" I asked her over my shoulder, still sensing her by the front door as if she didn't want to close it.
I heard the door shut softly and I had to turn around to make sure she was still there. It was as if she was ready to bolt at any moment.
To my surprise, she was still there, now standing under a downlight. Her true beauty was radiating from her. She was breathtakingly beautiful and I wondered if she knew how pretty she was. She wasn't just pretty - she was beautiful. Her white skin glowed. Her sharp eyes were slicing through mine, and I had to pull myself together because it was clear I had just been openly staring at her.
"I can show you the room if you want?" I scratched the back of my neck, needing those intense eyes off me.
She lowered her hand from her cheek and picked up her bag. It was only now I saw it. The slice across her left cheek and the purple bruising that was occurring.
"Fuck. You said you weren't hurt?" I moved across the room at a fast pace until she was only centimeters from me.
Her eyes widened and her hand shot back up and shielded her cheek. She was ashamed of it. It was clear on her face, but why?
"I'm fine." She stuttered and took a step back from me, clinging onto her bag. "Um…you said you were going to show me a room."
"Yeah, I will, after you put some ice on that." I left her and walked into the kitchen, going to the fridge and pulling out some ice. It was already bruising, so it was going to be an ugly purple tomorrow.
I handed her a tea towel with some ice in it. She took it …slowly.
I got another good look at the slice across her cheek and knew
now this hadn't been caused by the car accident. I had been in too many punch-ups with my brothers to know what the receiving end of a punch looked like but I wasn't about to ask her if someone hit her when she was clearly uncomfortable about it in the first place.
I watched her wince at the coldness, and my jaw clenched.
Chloe's Point of View
I had left with the intention of never going back. I had stolen that car, planning on never returning it. Sure, it was my stepfather's car, but I knew he would have reported it stolen as soon as I left in it.
He hadn't told me his name. Then again, I hadn't told him mine. His shoulders were broad which framed a chiseled chest and his waist that came into a narrow v. His tousled black hair was wet from the rain and was dripping across his perfectly tanned face. Those deep green eyes were glued on me and I felt like I was suffocating under his attention.
I took the ice from him and applied it to my cheek, wincing from the pain.
"Thanks," I said to him and to be honest to God, I was thankful. Thankful I had got this far and put so much distance between my stepfather and me. Still, it wasn't enough. I needed to get on the first bus tomorrow and leave.
I was thankful he had offered me a place to stay. No one would look for me here.
"You sure you are okay?"
I looked up at him. God, he was good-looking. I bet he had multiple ladies on the go or had multiple ladies after him. I didn't have time for another man. Men weren't worth my time. Time and time again, I was shown they didn't deserve trust.
"It's just a bruise," I muttered.
"It's more than that." His eyes flashed with something I didn't understand. I hadn't seen it in a man's eyes before. "Someone hit you." He didn't beat around the bush or not tell it how it was. There was something about him, something strong and powerful. You would feel safe around him.
"Maybe I deserved it." I was dry and up front with him.
His jaw clenched. "No one deserves to be hurt." His hand took the ice from me and he gently held it to my cheek. "Unless you're one of my brothers, then in that case, you had it coming."
"You have brothers?"
"Five and two sisters." He nodded his head.
"Wow. All from the same family?" I was shocked. Surely they would have to be stepbrothers or sisters.
He held the ice to my cheek. "All blood."
"Are they all as good-looking as you?" The question tumbled out before I could stop it.
