Table of Contents
Copyright
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
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Authors Note:
Greed
Copyright
Greed (Seven Deadlies MC)
©2017, Kaitlyn Ewald.
Published in United States of America.
First electronic publication: August, 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Content Copyright
Disclaimer: The following eBook is a work of FICTION. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for third party websites or their content.
Cover: Edit done by Victoria Cooper
Photos taken by: FXQuadro, Sarii Lullia, Shuttershock
Table of Contents
Copyright
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
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Authors Note:
Prologue
His name always fell from her lips like a prayer.
Rushed, half-hearted, and altogether shaky in its finality.
He’s scorned her, burned her beyond recognition, but she can’t help it- she craves him.
Even though she’s spiraling, even though she’s a hot mess…
She told herself she wouldn't taste him again, that she would not let him taste her, but what do you know?
She's always hungry for the flavor of Killian O’Laughlin.
He's not the kind of man she usually finds herself tangled up with- in fact, she reminds herself of that every time he falls between her sheets. He's too soft. Too big.
Too sweet.
He doesn’t try to manipulate her body or her mind, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s broken her heart.
Now, she’s cold.
She's a viper, a cold-hearted bitch that can never seem to get attached...unless you count her obsession with Killian. She has no idea why he's her own version of freckled-faced-mossy-eyed-kryptonite, but he is.
He's her only weakness.
He feeds her body and soul and she's sure that if she wanted to, she could own him.
But she doesn't want to own him.
She wants to love him
That scares her more than anything else ever could…
Chapter 1
Emily Monroe adjusted her off-the-shoulder top and touched up her bright pink lipstick in the mirror.
Lot parties hadn’t been much fun as of late, but now that Fury and Rayna were taking care of their little girl, Flora, and Esme and Prettyboy were back to being mischievous love birds, Emily was hoping she’d be able to get back in the game.
Especially since Limit and Scarlett were newly engaged and doing their own thing, she didn’t have time to be a third wheel anymore.
“Em? You ready? The lot is fillin’ up!,” Esme called from the other side of the bathroom door.
Emily smiled at herself in the mirror; true, her reflection wasn’t someone she recognized, but she didn’t have time to focus on that anymore.
It was close to get-drunk-o’clock, and Emily knew she needed to chase the pain before it settled in her chest like a disease.
“I’m ready!”
As she opened the bathroom door, she saw both Esme and Prettyboy waiting for her on the other side.
“Jesus, you’re not fuckin’ around,” Prettyboy said as he raised one eyebrow.
Emily shrugged and tugged on her leather skirt.
“Sorry, Prettyboy. I wanted to look good tonight.”
Esme chuckled and weaved one of her arms through Emily’s before she tugged her into the hallway and led them both towards the great room.
“Don’t apologize to him, he has no idea what he’s talkin’ about.”
Prettyboy snorted but he patted Emily’s shoulder just the same, his green eyes dancing with happiness.
“Beware, Loretta and her girls from the club are here tonight.”
Emily rolled her eyes at the mention of the Seven Deadlies newly opened club, Sexy Sinners. But, isn’t that where everything had fallen apart for Emily in the first place?
At least, the second time around?
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah you are, come here and let me get a good look at you,” Emily heard.
She smiled in Slayer’s direction and giggled when he whistled at her.
“Lookin’ like a sweet glass of water, baby. You have fun tonight, okay?”
His blue eyes said so much more to her than his words did…
Are you okay?
How can I help?
I’m so fucking sorry it didn’t work out…
Still, Emily ignored anything and everything that had to do with…him.
“I’m gonna do my best, honey. Now, tell Torch I need two shots of Tequila.”
Torch winked in her direction, something Emily considered a personal victory, and handed her two shot glasses filled to the brim.
“Here ya go, Elsa.”
Emily frowned at his nickname and shook her head.
“I’m not that icy,” She snapped.
Torch barked a short laugh as she swallowed the tart liquid.
“You could freeze a man with your stare alone. Who’re you kiddin’?”
Emily shrugged before she turned back to Esme and Prettyboy who were too busy kissing behind her to realize she was ready to move on.
“Ahem!,” She said with a smile.
Esme broke away from Prettyboy and patted the front of his jeans.
“Sorry, Em. Let’s go find you a good time, huh?”
Prettyboy held an arm out for each of them, and Emily smiled thankfully at him.
“Thanks, bud.”
He nodded, his dark hair falling into his eyes.
Emily walked outside with them, wincing at the sight of all the girls she’d recognize with her damn eyes closed. She’d seen a lot more pussy lurking around the clubhouse ever since the strip club had opened, but she knew that was a given. Even Axel and his men were hanging around a lot more, something that didn’t exactly ease the tension along her spine.
See, ever since Emily and Green called it quits three months prior, Emily had made it her life’s mission to get over him. And, getting over him meant getting under someone
else.
A couple of those ‘someone’s’ were in Axel’s club, and while Emily made it a point to not sleep with every man that looked in her direction, because there were more than a few, she did make it a point to have a good time.
At least, she tried- and inevitably, her eyes would wander yet again until they landed on a familiar Irishman that still made her belly fill with butterflies she’d rather suffocate than entertain.
“Em, are you okay? You’re tense as fuck,” Esme whispered in her ear.
Emily tucked her curly hair behind her ear and nodded, plastering that tell-tale icy smile on her mouth.
“I sure am.”
“Green’s watching you,” She said softly.
“Don’t know who that is, baby. Come on, I love this song, come dance with me!”
Prettyboy and Esme smiled at each other as all three of them moved to the center of the lot, Emily’s hips moving in tandem with the beat of the song.
Dip, dip, twirl.
Remember to smile…
Emily’s eyes closed, and she did what she always did- lost herself in the music while her heart and her mind battled one another for the win.
Would she go to Green and make everything okay again?
Or, would she keep her pride tucked close to her chest and ignore him?
Her mind won out and soon enough all thoughts of Green faded too, and just like that, her switch flipped. ‘Elsa’ surfaced, Emily’s apparent alter-ego, the ice queen.
Frigid bitch was more like it, at least according to Ox, who often tried to console her into forgiving Green, but why bother?
She didn’t need him anyways.
Two hands landed on her hips and Emily opened her eyes to see a familiar man hugging her from behind.
“You look so lonely over here, baby.”
Axel smiled and she turned to hug him close, her manicured fingers weaving through his hair.
“How’s my favorite president?,” She joked.
Axel laughed, a booming sound from deep in his chest.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t go tootin’ my horn, baby. I just may believe you.”
Emily let go of him as he lifted a beer to his lips and appraised her.
“I like the outfit, you sure you don’t wanna work at Sexy Sinners?,” He asked.
Emily rolled her eyes jokingly at him, knowing full well he was getting her goat on purpose.
“Yes, I’m sure. I’m getting ready to start a new job anyways,” She said.
Axel’s eyes widened.
“No shit, where?”
“Well, I’ve been putting it off for a while, but my father owns a gallery out here. He’s been pressuring me to get to work on my own show, and I’ve finally decided to do it,” She announced.
Esme clapped her hands together happily and Axel whistled at her.
“Good for you, Em! That’s so awesome,” Esme cried.
Axel nodded and smiled at her, tipping his beer in her direction.
“Yeah, that’s amazing. I can’t wait to go.”
Esme hugged her from behind and tugged on her hair gently.
“I’m so proud of you! You’re gonna do so well,” She encouraged.
Emily felt that compliment all the way down to her bones, because she’d told them all the truth; she had put off painting for as long as possible. For as long as she possibly could. Now, the time had come to pay the piper, and the piper was her father; she didn’t have a choice when it came to paying him.
“Am I missin’ out on something good?,” Slayer asked as he joined the fray.
Emily opened her mouth to tell him no, but Esme beat her to the punch.
“Emily is finally going to start preparing for her own gallery show!”
Slayer’s handsome face filled with happiness as he clapped her on the shoulder.
“That’s fuckin’ great, Em! Scarlett and Limit know?”
She nodded as she smiled at him.
“Yeah. I called earlier today to tell her, she was so excited.”
Emily reached for Axel’s beer and he gave it to her willingly, his dark eyes swallowing every shadow on her face.
“I’ll go grab another one, you want something else to drink?,” He asked sweetly.
Emily paused for a second.
“Actually, I do. But, I’ll go get it. You guys hang here for a second,” She said as she lifted to kiss his cheek.
Axel patted her back and she moved through the crowds until she made it safely to the bar, where Torch was still manning his station. He was hannding Rider a drink just as Emily caught his eye.
“Back already?”
“What can I say? I find it hard to resist your repugnant behavior,” Emily said dryly.
Rider laughed and gave her a high-five as Torch glared at her while he poured her a drink he knew she’d enjoy.
“What is it this time?”
“I call that one the Royal Bitch. Should be right up your alley.”
Emily smiled warmly at him and blew him a kiss.
“You understand me so well, you big jerk.”
Rider snorted and Torch smiled at her as she turned back towards the exit.
“Wait for me, Elsa!”
Emily smacked Rider’s chest.
“Don’t you start calling me that, too!”
He laughed and threw an arm around her shoulders, tugging her into his heated body.
“Don’t be such a pain in the ass, and maybe we wouldn’t call you the ice queen.”
Emily sighed and swallowed some of her drink before she whispered, “You know why I’m cold.”
Rider’s face fell as he cupped her shoulder.
“I know, sweetheart. So, does he. Green knows he fucked up, okay? He does. Are you ever going to forgive him?”
“No.”
Emily glanced at Rider and saw him nod; saw the resignation on his face when he realized he was barking up a dead tree. Saw the sadness mirrored on his face that she’d felt for months before she decided to just…let it go.
Move on.
Become the woman she used to be, before she had high hopes for her love life and her future.
Rider pulled her in close, and Emily took a second, only a second, to revel in the comfort he offered her.
“Thank you,” She whispered.
Rider released her as soon as he felt her pulling for it. She took a shaky step back and fought like hell to smile at him.
“You don’t have to do that for me, Emily.”
Desperate to get him to just shut up, Emily pressed her mouth against his. She had no interest in Rider, he had no interest in her, and at this point in the evening she was just starting to chase the pain. Rider didn’t reciprocate and she was happy. Emily was glad he didn’t kiss her back, but she got what she wanted.
He shut the fuck up, and he got her point.
“Come on, Esme and Prettyboy are waiting for me with Axel and Slayer.”
Rider gripped her hand with his, his hard fingers wrapping around hers.
“No hot date tonight?”
“No. I don’t feel like it anymore.”
As she said this her eyes fell on someone across the lost. Someone she didn’t want to see, hear, someone she didn’t want to know anymore.
Green.
He’s watching me again.
He was watching her and he looked pissed. Irritated beyond belief actually, but Emily did what she’d been doing for months and ignored him.
He didn’t deserve to know what she was up to anymore.
He didn’t deserve her, and he damn well knew it.
Chapter 2
As Emily and Axel joked alongside her other friends, Ox soon joined them..
“What are you troublemakers up to tonight?”
Emily grinned at him and accepted his hug, her skinny arms getting lost around his wide shoulders.
“Not much, Ox.”
“Not much? Tell him your good news, baby!,” Axel said.
Emily blushed, but only for a second;
ice queens didn’t blush.
“Daddy called. He wants a gallery show out of me, and I agreed to pay up,” Emily told him.
Ox’s neutral expression transformed into a grin that lit up his entire face.
“Awe, Em! I’m so proud of you!,” He said.
Emily let him hold her for a little longer before she pulled away. She’d already let too many people touch her in one evening.
Ox seemed to notice, and he gently released her.
“Good for you, Em. You’re gonna do great,” He said.
She fiddled with her fingers as she nodded.
“Thanks, Ox. I’m nervous as hell, but I’m sure I can come up with something.”
Ox patted her on the back and Esme piped in with, “We believe in you!”
It meant the world to Emily that she had so many people who believed in her. That she had so many people pushing her to do better, to be better. Her parents were supportive and loving to a point, but much like Scarlett, Emily felt much more at home amongst the Seven Deadlies.
At least, she had before Green went and broke her heart.
Her head started to fill with images of him, of them together, and she urgently tried to pull the curtain forward before all of them could spill out.
“Hey, let’s get some more music pumping, huh? I wanna dance!”
Esme smiled and Prettyboy groaned when Esme practically punched him in the eye in an effort to get to the center of the lot, right near a burning fire. Emily giggled and Rider took her hand again, something he’d taken to doing ever since they’d grown closer.
They weren’t dating, they weren’t even close. Rider was her best friend, and in a lot of ways, he filled the voids that Scarlett left behind. Not that Scarlett ignored her by any means, but Emily respected the fact that she was busy living her own life.
So, the night that Green had broken her heart, Rider was the one to find her. He found her and scooped her up off the pavement and carried her inside until she could make enough sense of her own tears to tell him what had happened.
“Hey, you wanna roast a marshmallow with me?,” Rider asked.
Emily grinned like a maniac.
“Ugh, Miles, you are by far the smartest man on this lot!”
Greed (Seven Deadlies MC Book 4) Page 1
