by E. C. Land
K-9’s Fight
Devil’s Riot MC Book 9
E.C. Land
Contents
Acknowledgments
Devil’s Riot MC
Trigger Warning
Playlist
The Same
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Author’s Note
Social Media
Available Now
Coming Soon
Viking
Rebelling Rogue
Cedric’s Ecstasy
Brielle’s Nightmare
Viper’s Touch
Forever’s Tombstone
Entrapped
Spiral into Chaos
K-9’s Fight
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.
K-9’s Fight. Copyright © 2021 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.
Published by Knox Publishing
Cover Design by Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design
Editing by Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing
Formatting by E.C. Land, Knox Publishing
Proofreading by Alecia Rivers Goodman, Knox Publishing
Created with Vellum
To my brothers, who are always there for me. Both the ones here and watching over me.
Acknowledgments
My Husband – For years, he’s worked himself to death to give our family everything we needed or wanted. He encourages me every day to follow my dreams just like he did the day he told me to take the chance. He’s my best friend, and I wouldn’t know what to do without him. Or the fact he listens to my non-stop rambling or my constantly having a notepad with me in case I need to write something down that pops into my head.
My Three Kiddos – Every day, I watch them grow up into little people who want to take over the world. Well, in their own way, that is. They are inspirations all by themselves. They love to find out what I’m working on and give me ideas. One of my favorite things is to ask them what I should have someone do or how they should act. Some of their ideas are wicked.
My Alphas – You guys rock big time! Thank you all for being the first to read the stories as they come alive. It means the world to me. Especially when you all start to get mad. That’s when I know I’m doing something right. And in doing so, pushing me to keep going with all the different plots that form in my head. I’m thankful to you all for being ready and willing to read and give your input.
My Knox Publishing People – Thank you guys for being such great people to work with.
Liz – My sister from another mister, my best friend, and Publisher/Boss/Co-Writer extraordinaire. You’re my go-to when I need it. I love working with you on all that we do. No matter how much chaos we go through to get it done.
Diane – If not for you, I’d swear I would lose my head. You set me straight when I don’t know which way to look. Thank you for everything you do in being the best PA I could ask for. However, you’re also one amazing friend.
My Editing/Plotting Team – Thank you all for working with me. I truly do enjoy working alongside you all as I bring each and every book to life. I don’t know what I would do without each and every one of you helping me when I need it most.
DRMC
Franklin Charter
O – Ol’ Lady, C – Child
Twister – Prez – Izzy – O
Leanna Mercy – C
Lark – C
Callum – C
Horse – VP – Kenny – O
Jason Cole (JC) – C
Kayla – C
Caden – C
Thorn – Sergeant at Arms – Lynsdey – O
William Michael (Bud) – C
Anna-leigh Cleo – C
Rage – Road Captain – Cleo – O
Reagan – C (deceased)
Rosaline – C
Devin – C
Dragon – Medic – Connors – O
Gadget – Tech – Connors – O
Logan – C
Kagan – C
Keegan – C
Hades – Enforcer – Emerson – O
Alec – C
Burner – Treasurer – Ally – O
Lincoln –C
Badger – Member – Jordan – O
Nico – C
K-9 – Secretary – Anabelle – O
Derick – C
Red – Member
Striker – Member
Brass – Member
Wolf – Member
Sabor – Member
Mace – Member
Chaz – Member – Bethany – O
Melody – C
Tanner – Member – Alexis – O
Lex – Member – Mackenzie – O
Hunter – Member – Annaleigh – O
Huntson – C
Mac – Prospect (Deceased)
DRMC
Originals Charter
O – Ol’ Lady, C – Child
Stoney – Prez – Rachel – O
Horse (Scotty) – Stoney’s C
Luca – C
Corinne – C
Sebastian – C
Talon – C
Tracker – VP – Victoria – O
Jamie – C
Jason – C (adopted)
Blaze – Sergeant at Arms – Raven – O
Matthew – C
Mark – C
Dove – C
Coyote – Road Captain – Tinsley – O
Cody – C
Chase – C
Bear – Former Road Captain – Momma B – O (deceased)
Rage (Travis) – C
Jane – C (deceased)
Nerd – Tech – Cara – O
Shadow – Enforcer – Luna – O
Daniel – C
Ranger – Medic – Harlow – O
Venom – Secretary – Amaya – O
Lincoln – C
Whip – Chaplain – Harper – O
Viper – Treasurer
Neo – Member – Harley – O
Cane – Member – Parker – O
Piper – C
Cyprus – Member
Fist – Member
Aries – Member
DRMC
Southeast Charter
O – Ol’ Lady, C – Child
Hammer – Prez – Avery – O
Tate – C
Malice – VP – Willow – O
Gates, Gavin, & Gemini – C
Axe – Sergeant at Arms – CJ – O
Aiden – C
Savage – Road Captain
Gunner – Enforcer
Delilah – C
Cy – Tech
Bruiser – Treasurer
Dagger – Medic
Rogue – Secretary
Brass – Chaplain
Glock – Member
Ruger – Member
Blade – Member
Colt – Member
Carbine – Member
DRMC
&n
bsp; Tennessee Charter
O – Ol’ Lady, C – Child
Blow – Prez
Nines –VP
Keys – Tech
Lucky – Sergeant at Arms
Shiner – Enforcer
Griz – Road Captain
Surge – Treasurer
Scorn – Chaplain
Sniper – Member – Rain – O
Nerd (Nick) – C
Storm – C
Flash – Member
Switchblade – Member
Torch – Member
DRMC
Colorado Charter
O – Ol’ Lady, C – Child
Grinder – Prez
Blue – VP
Driver – Sergeant at Arms
Flicker – Road Captain
Wrecker – Enforcer
Tic – Tech
Beast – Treasurer
Rock – Chaplain
Trigger 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.
Proceed with caution. This book does entail several scenes that may very well be a trigger to some.
Also, tissues are a must with other scenes.
Not for the faint at heart.
If you don’t like violence and cannot handle certain subjects, then this is not a book you’ll want to read.
Check out E.C.’s playlist for Keeping Reaper to see what helped inspire her!
Beautiful – Michele Morrone
You and Me – Yelawolf
Number to Heaven – Justin Champagne
Heaven’s Got A Backroad – Savannah Dexter
Someone You Loved – Mitchell Tenpenny
All Eyes On Us – Jon Langston
God Gave Me You – Peyton Parrish
Love Like Never Before – Seckond Chaynce
Safe With Me – Justin Champagne
Right Now – Fire From The Gods
The Same
Fight me if you must
Nothing will change what is
Darkness is just that
Light is the same
Without fighting, there is nothing
My love is the same
My hatred goes hand in hand
Fighting is pointless
The heart does what it wants
Laugh if you can
Sneer down at me if you will
No one will know your pain
Only you will feel the hurt
I will not bow
I cannot relent
Fight me if you must
Either way, nothing will stay the same
It’s never supposed to be this way
Or that’s what we tell ourselves
Staying the same is pointless
~E.C. Land
Prologue
Anabelle
Three Years Ago
I love being at the music shop my brother and his friends—more or less family—owns together. The atmosphere is beautiful, and it makes me feel relaxed in a way I haven’t felt in a long time.
“You know she’s been in love with you for like ever, right?” I ask, toying with the keys of the grand piano. My question comes out innocently enough. I like the thought of my brother being with my best friend. Mackenzie has been in love with Lex for a long time, and now they’re together. Lex swings his gaze to me—he’s been staring out the door as Mackenzie follows Chaz and a very pregnant Bethany leaving the shop.
“Would you believe me if I said I’ve been in love with her just as long?” He grins. My heart hurts, but I hide the pain. I wish I could have the happiness he’s feeling right now.
I lost my right to that happiness. I can at least say I’m happy for him and my best friend. The two of them have been through enough and deserve a wonderful life together.
Pushing the thoughts out of my mind, I tilt my head to the side. “Yeah, I suppose you have, considering every girl you’ve been seen with always seems to have some kind of feature to match Kenzie’s.”
“What?” Lex sputters, seeming shocked I’d notice something like this. I’m not blind. Honestly, I feel I have more life experience than a lot of other people think I do. At the age of eighteen, I’ve been in love with a total of four men in my life. Yes, men, not boys. One is standing in this room with me, another is my daddy. He may be gone, but I still remember him. The other two who hold a place in my heart are Derick, the father of my baby I’m carrying, and the brother to the other man I’ve been in love with, Dylan—it was love at first sight.
The first time I met Dylan, he’d come home on leave from a deployment while Derick and I were still friends. I instantly felt my heart reach for him. Unfortunately, we couldn’t be together, no matter how much he made me laugh. Derick wasn’t stupid. He knew I’d crushed on his brother. He didn’t care. Derick wasn’t the type to get jealous.
Nope, he’d been laid back and loved his music, just like my brother. Now he’s gone, and I miss him more than ever.
Inwardly, I shake these thoughts away. I can’t be thinking about it. I’ll end up in tears and not able to stop them from falling. Focusing on my brother, I move from behind the piano and place my hands on my hips. “Don’t what me. I may not have said anything before now. I may have let you both do your own thing, but I’m not dense. I knew you were it for each other. You look at her the same way Derick used to look at me.” I ignore the way my voice hitches as I speak Derick’s name. The pain hits, and I have no choice but to sit back down, or I’ll fall in a heap to the floor. It’s only been seven months since that fateful night. A night I blame myself for—one I’ll never forget.
“I’m sorry,” Lex whispers tenderly, closing the distance between us and sitting on the bench next to me. “I wish I could take the pain of losing him away from you, Anabelle. I really do. Guts me to know this and not have known who he was.”
I wish he could’ve, too. I lay my head on my big brother’s shoulder and let out a heavy breath. “You know, I barely remember Mom and Dad. I only know them now from pictures and what you, Lisa, and Nick tell me about them. Uncle Justin never wants to talk about Dad for some reason.”
Lex tenses when I mention our uncle’s name.
“You talk to Uncle Justin?” he asks inquisitively.
“Well, yeah. Granted, he’s not the best at raising kids—he’s always nice to me, though, and keeps up with what I’m doing. He even gave me five hundred dollars for a graduation present.” Okay, so this was true until I realized he’s not a good guy. He’s a monster. A monster for what he’s done. What I’d witnessed him doing to a man in his own house. My uncle swore me to secrecy and told me not to tell, and I’d promised him I wouldn’t say a word about what I saw. I thought he might hurt me. He’s strong enough to do so, but he let me go, and I haven’t been near him since.
“Anabelle, I need you to tell me exactly everything Uncle Justin did or talked about in your presence,” Lex demands, soft yet firm.
“He would ask me about my future and what I had planned. We talked about the possibility of me going overseas for school, but I didn’t want that, for the obvious reason you now know,” I shrug. Sometimes I wonder back to that conversation about him wanting me to go to school overseas. Did he have something planned for me? I can at least be thankful I didn’t spend more time with the man.
“Is that all he talked to you about?” Lex asks.
“Pretty much,” I nod, wishing my brother would change the subject. I’m tired of the sorrowful talks.
Lex kisses the side of my head and stands from the bench, pulls out his phone. I’m sure to call and check on Mackenzie. He’s like that. He wants to know she’s okay at all times. Especially after what she’d endured at my uncle’s hands.
I start to play a song Derick had taught me as my brother talks on the phone. I go into my head, not listening to what Lex is saying. Instead, I hear Derick�
��s last words to me swirling through my head. “Love him, Belly. Love him as much as you love me.” Derick had stated those words while I tried to staunch the blood spilling from his chest.
Why would he say that to me? It’s been nearly seven months since that night, and I can still feel it like it were yesterday.
The sound of my brother rushing my way pulls me back out of my head when I see the look marring his face. Somethings happened. Lex takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.
“What’s going on?” I ask quietly.
“There’s been an accident, we gotta go. Come on,” Lex states, rushing us to the front door of the music shop.
Lex helps me into the truck while Hunter climbs in behind me. My mind is racing a mile a minute about what’s happening. What accident? Who? Lex hasn’t told me anything. Other than we had to go.
Oh God, I hope it’s not Mackenzie.
Lex floors it, getting us to the hospital in record time. He slams on the breaks right outside the emergency room doors.
Everything seems to blur around me as I stand off to the side, listening to my brother, Hunter, and Tanner get into it with a nurse. Only when Connors, a doctor I’d met after Mackenzie was hurt severely, comes in do they calm down.
We all move to the waiting area, with several other large men filling the space as well.
