by Wilder, L
INFERNO
A Devil Chaser’s MC Romance
Copyright 2014 L Wilder and Brooke Asher
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Some of the places named in the book are actual places found in Paris, TN. The names, characters, brands, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and owners of various products and locations referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people.
I dedicate this book to my brother,
Josh
Thank you for always pushing me to
follow my heart.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1- Tessa
Chapter 2- Bishop
Chapter 3- Tessa
Chapter 4- Bishop
Chapter 5- Tessa
Chapter 6- ACE
Chapter 7- Bishop
Chapter 8- Tessa
Chapter 9- Bishop
Chapter 10- Tessa
Chapter 11- Bishop
Chapter 12- Tessa
Chapter 13- Bishop
Chapter 14- Tessa
Chapter 15- Bishop
Chapter 16- Tessa
Chapter 17- Bishop
Chapter 18- Tessa
Chapter 19- Bishop
Chapter 20- Renegade
Chapter 21- Tessa
Chapter 22- Bishop
Chapter 23-Tessa
Chapter 24- Bishop
Chapter 25- Tessa
Chapter 26- Bishop
Chapter 27- Tessa
Chapter 28- Bishop
Chapter 29- Bishop
Chapter 30- Renegade
Prologue
The loud crash of a bottle breaking against the wall startled Myles as he walked up to his dad’s bike garage. It was late, and he wasn’t expecting anyone to be there. His dad had sent him to grab his backpack that he’d left there after school. As he got closer, he heard male voices coming from the rear of the building.
“You better get this shit settled with Bishop. The shipment is due in Memphis by the end of the week, and I expect it to be there!”
This was an unfamiliar voice. As he looked in the garage window, Myles didn’t recognize the man, but he knew he was furious. It made him even more uneasy when he heard Goliath’s heated tone. Goliath was the Devil Chaser’s VP, and he was not someone you wanted to piss off.
“What the hell are you thinking, Duce? You know this isn’t the way to handle this. If you have a problem, you take it up with Bishop. You do not show up unannounced and try to conduct business behind his back. This shit isn’t right.”
“He’s been putting me off. I know something’s up. I’m giving you a chance to fix it before I have to handle things myself. If Bishop can’t get this shit done, he’ll be taken out and replaced with someone who can.”
Goliath shouted, “Are you seriously threatening our President? I know you’ve got these gangs giving you trouble, but you don’t wanna go there, man. You don’t come here and make threats without consequences.”
“I expect my goddamn shipment to be made by the end of the week. Either Bishop steps up and gets shit done, or he’s out. No explanation necessary!” the stranger shouted.
Goliath moved towards him with fire in his eyes and snarled, “The shipment will be there. But this shit here tonight does not fly, asshole. Bishop will hear about it, and he’ll expect a meet with you. Plan on it.”
Myles quickly turned and headed back home. This encounter definitely had him freaking out. At only eleven, he’d already had to deal with a lot. After his mother, Cassie, left when he was just four, his dad and the club had been the only family he’d known. His father, Bishop, was the President of the Devil Chasers MC. His dad was an exceptional leader who always thought three steps ahead. His men trusted him and knew that he would lead them with conviction. Bishop believed in his brotherhood, and he was an inspiration to those that followed him. Goliath had been his vice-president for three years and helped communicate the expectations of the club. The Sergeant of Arms, Ace, had been in office for four years and led with an iron fist. He kept the meetings under control and handled any outside issues that came up with the club. Sheppard, Renegade, Pops, Hag, Crack Nut Bobby, and Doc had been members since the club began ten years ago. There were two prospects, Otis and Bulldog, still waiting to get patched in. When Cassie left, these men and several of their old ladies had become Myles’s family, and the clubhouse had become his second home.
Things had been going pretty well for Myles until Cassie had returned after two years hoping to start things back up like she had never left. Myles had known his dad didn’t really like that she was back, but he had tried to hide it for Myles’s sake. Bishop had wanted him to have his mother, and Myles had actually liked having her back. It had made him feel better knowing that his mother wanted him again. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t get her act together. She loved to party and hooked up with different men in and out of the club. She always seemed to be looking for something more. Eventually, one night of partying had gotten out of control, and she’d ended up dead. Myles still didn’t know all the details, but he knew it had pissed his dad off even more.
The conversation he’d just overheard in the garage worried him. Was his dad’s life in danger? Would Goliath protect him? Goliath was a big dude, and no one messed with him unless you wanted to get a fist in the face.
Chapter 1
Tessa
“You know idioms are just phrases that people use to add humor to conversation. They aren’t meant to be taken literally. Actually, you use them all the time. I often hear you all talking about ‘checking’ each other. When you say, ‘Laurie was checking me’, it doesn’t mean she’s actually putting a check mark on you. You know it means that she is saying bad things about someone.”
Tessa had been a 5th grade teacher at Henry County Elementary for almost two years. She loved teaching, and she always felt that she learned more from her students than they learned from her. She had moved to Paris, Tennessee with her two children, Isabelle and Drake, shortly after her divorce. She needed a change of scenery for her family, and the move had been a good choice for them. She had visited Paris Landing as a child, and had always loved being at the lake. She had been excited to come back, and she’d needed the distance from her overbearing ex-husband. Her marriage had not been a happy one, and she’d wanted a new start for her kids. The schools in Paris were some of the best in the area, and she’d been glad to get a teaching position there.
Daniel said, “Like ‘skating on thin ice’ doesn’t mean that you’re really skating on ice. It really means you’re about to get in so much trouble!”
“That’s right, Daniel. Does anyone else have an idiom to share?” Tessa asked.
“How about ‘hot, hot like a tater tot’? That doesn’t mean you feel hot. It means you are HOT! Good looking! Smoking… You know, HAWT!” Lindsey shouted from the back of the classroom.
“Yes, that could work. Actually, that one is pretty good, Lindsey. Anyone else?”
“Mom told my dad to ‘break a leg’ last week when he had to go to a big meeting at work. I don’t think she meant it,
though,” Luke added.
“You’re right, Luke, that means good luck. That’s an old one. Not really sure how someone came up with that,” Tessa chuckled.
Bradley, a known troublemaker in the class, turned to face Myles and said viciously, “I’d like to ‘knock you into next week’. That would work, wouldn’t it, Ms. Campbell?” He smirked at Myles.
Myles immediately jumped out of his seat and began punching Bradley in the face, shoulder, and back. Bradley tried to tuck his head in towards his desk, as Myles shouted, “How ‘bout I ‘high five your face’?!” He kept hitting Bradley as Tessa scrambled to the back of the room.
“Myles Bishop, stop that right now! What are you thinking?” Tessa screeched. Myles popped Bradley one more time on the side of his face, and Tessa lost her temper. “Myles! I. SAID. STOP!” She pulled Myles from Bradley and led him out of the classroom and into the hall.
“Before you start yelling, Ms. Campbell, he was asking for it! He’s such an idiot. I can’t stand that fucker!” Myles shouted.
“Language, Myles! And there’s no excuse for laying into him like that. You know I have to write you up now…. Your dad will have to be called, and I’m sure the principal will want to suspend you. You’re too smart for this. I expected more from you,” Tessa said with concern.
Tessa hated to see Myles get in any trouble. Yes, he was wrong to hit Bradley, but she knew that kid was a jerk. He’d caused issues with several of her students, and she was tired of dealing with him. Seeing the worry in Myles’s eyes only made it worse. His shaggy brown hair trimmed his angelic face, and his dark brown eyes pleaded with her to understand. He wasn’t exactly small for his age, but he seemed so vulnerable. God she hated dealing with this part of her job.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Campbell. I just couldn’t let him get away with that. He really is a jerk face, and you know he’s a pain…. Hey, did you like my idiom? You gotta admit it was pretty good, right? ‘High five your face’!” Myles said with a smile.
“Don’t go there, Myles. This isn’t funny. Stay here while I get an assistant to watch the class. We have to go see the principal.” Tessa did her best to hold back her smile. He was right, that was a pretty good one. She might have to use it sometime.
As they made their way to the office, Myles was quiet. Tessa knew he was worried about facing the principal, and he probably wasn’t all that happy about seeing his dad afterwards. She put her hand on his shoulder and guided him in.
The secretary called Tessa and Myles into Principal Morrison’s office. He sat behind his large walnut desk that was too big for the small room. He was in his early fifties and wore a navy business suit. His rotund build reminded her of the dad from Family Guy. As she walked in, he gave her a wide leering smile that gave her the creeps. She still hadn’t gotten used to the way he checked her out every time she walked by. He obviously had a thing for curvy girls, and he didn’t mind letting her know it.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, Ms. Campbell? You are looking very well today,” Principal Morrison said, his gaze loitering on her chest as he spoke.
Tessa cleared her throat in hopes of getting his attention to her eyes instead of her boobs. It didn’t work.
“Thank you, Mr. Morrison. Unfortunately, Myles is in a bit of trouble. He hit Bradley several times in class today. I wouldn’t really consider it a fight, because Bradley didn’t get a chance to hit him back.”
Morrison spoke firmly and never even looked at Myles, “Call his dad in. You can decide on a fair punishment, since it happened in your class. Make sure he knows that he’ll deal with me if it happens again. Is that all I can help you with today? Maybe you would like to meet for dinner tonight so we can discuss the school fair next month?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’m really busy. I have tons of papers to grade. I’ll call his dad in, and we’ll work something out. Thanks for your time. I’ll let you know what we plan to do.” Tessa smiled and slipped out of his office before he could say anything else. Myles followed her quietly out the door. She pointed to one of the seats in front of the office. Myles sat and waited for her.
Now, she had to make the phone call. This was another part of her job that she wasn’t crazy about. She really thought a lot of Myles, and she was worried about him. One minute he seemed perfectly happy, and the next, his temper would flare. On more than one occasion, he had argued with students in the class. He was often quiet, and he didn’t contribute to their classroom discussions. There were those days that he seemed to be a regular, happy fifth grader, but other times, he seemed to be lost in his own world. Maybe there was something going on with him. Hopefully his dad would be willing to help figure it out.
Chapter 2
Bishop
Tension filled the garage as Bishop listened to Goliath discuss the meet with Duce, the President of the Diablo MC. They had been working with their club for the past ten years distributing handguns to Memphis gangs. It had been a profitable arrangement, but it was getting more dangerous by the day. The Memphis Gang Unit was working in full force throughout the city, and it was only a matter of time before they caught on to the Devil Chasers’ part in the distribution of the weapons in their area. Bishop knew they had to follow through with their delivery at the end of the week, but he was ready to move on from this shit. It just wasn’t worth it anymore. There was too much at risk.
Bishop spent a great deal of time creating a state of the art motorcycle shop, and it was one of the best in the south. They did everything from basic oil changes to complete bike restorations for people all across the country. He wanted to expand the shop to include the renovation of high-end classic cars and trucks. Bishop knew the expansion would help bring in legitimate money, and he thought this would create a safe environment for his MC family. It would take some convincing to get all of his club members to see things his way. His guys knew gun distribution was risky, but it brought in the cash.
"We’ve got to do something about Duce. He had no business showing up here unannounced making demands. Who the hell does he think he is? The dumbass was even stupid enough to make threats against you! It’s only a matter of time before they really fuck up and someone gets hurt!” Goliath’s shout echoed through the garage.
"How are you planning to deal with them?” Pops demanded. “You know they’re gonna be pissed and maybe even try to take us out when you stop the shipments. We've been at this a long time. They aren't gonna be happy about us cutting them off."
"You let me worry about that. I’ll take care of it,” Bishop stated with his fists clenched. “We’ll make the run as scheduled on Thursday night. Take Ace, Sheppard, and a couple of the prospects with you. Keep me posted. That run on Interstate 40 is on the feds’ radar for deliveries in and out of the city. The Diablos don't care about the guys they lose in these exchanges. We have to watch out for our own."
"You got it. I'll set it up," agreed Goliath.
"And get with Renegade. Tell him to meet me at the club tonight at 7:00. It's about time to start discussing some changes in the club. I want him in on this," Bishop shouted as he was leaving the garage. He wanted the right man to help him with the transition. He would need someone that was trustworthy and strong enough to deal with any conflicts they faced when the expansion began. He knew Renegade would be just the man for the job.
Just as he was getting on his bike, his cell phone rang. He didn't recognize the number and wondered who the hell it could be. It gave him an uneasy feeling.
"Yeah?" Bishop snapped.
"Mr. Bishop, this is Tessa Campbell. I'm Myles's teacher. I need you to come to school to meet with me about a situation that happened at school today," Tessa began softly.
"What the hell happened?" Bishop demanded.
"Well… I would really like to discuss that when you get to the school. I’m sure we can work it all out once we sit down and talk," Tessa replied tactfully.
"I’ll be there in ten," Bishop growled, clicked his phone off, and shoved it into his
back pocket. His bike roared to life as he took off for the school.
Bishop was worried about his son. Myles had been distant over the past few months. Lately, he seemed to be getting even more withdrawn. He'd thought it was because of Cassie's death, but now it seemed like there was more to it. Myles just didn't seem like the same kid. He had always been so open and happy. He was lost in his own world, and it was really starting to get old. He wanted his son back, and after today, it looked like things might be getting even worse.
As Bishop pulled up to the school, he realized most of the cars and kids had already gone for the day. His patience was wearing thin, and he struggled to keep his irritation in check. The last thing he needed was another problem to deal with. He had too much on his mind, and he didn’t need to add Myles to his concerns. He walked toward the school doors as he rubbed the tense muscles in his neck. Glancing up, he saw Myles standing just outside the front doors, watching cautiously as he approached. Bishop's eyes moved to the woman standing protectively next to his son. He immediately liked what he saw. His gaze slid up her long, tan legs to the gray pencil skirt hugging her full hips, and he inhaled a sharp breath. His eyes continued traveling upward to the black button-down shirt she wore. He noticed the shirt clung to her hourglass figure and stretched tightly over her ample breasts. Her long brown hair was pulled into a low ponytail which rested on her shoulder. As he finally met her dark chestnut eyes, he was surprised at how they penetrated him. Damn I'd love to see those eyes looking up at me while she’s sucking my cock. I’d grab that ponytail just as I....
"Hi, you must be Myles's father. It's nice to meet you. I’m Tessa Campbell," Tessa stated. He suppressed a smile as he watched her eyes travel over his large six foot five frame with raised eyebrows. Her wide eyes roamed from his black biker boots up to his faded jeans and tight black t-shirt. They lingered on the ink trailing down his arm, then moved to the President’s patch sewn on his leather vest. He ran a hand through his thick shaggy hair. It was dark with a hint of gray, just like the stubble of his beard. The ladies had always told him that his dark hair made his blue eyes seem more intense. When her eyes finally met his, he found it hard to keep his focus.
