by Marie, Kay
Joyride
Savage Menace MC Book 4
Kay Marie
Contents
Acknowledgments
Playlist
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
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
Epilogue
Available Now
Joyride
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.
Joyride. Copyright © 2019 by Kay Marie. 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 Kay Marie.
https://www.facebook.com/KayMarieAuthor/
Cover designer: Charli, Childs Cosmic Letterz Design
Editor: Courtney Lynn Rose, Knox Publishing
Formatter: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing
Copyeditor/Proofreader: Rebecca Vazquez
Publisher: Knox Publishing
Publishing Link: www.knoxpub.com
Created with Vellum
Acknowledgments
My husband – Thank you for continuing to be so supportive and encouraging when it comes to my writing. xoxo
My editor, Courtney – Thank you for helping me make my books the best they can be.
My KP family – Thank you for everything. From being there to talk to, for bouncing ideas off of each other. Y’all mean the world to me.
My readers – Thank you for your continued support.
My Betas - Pamela and Jackie – Thank you for all your feedback.
Trigger Warning
This material contains content that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, and extreme violence.
Playlist
There’s no way — Lauv and Julia Michaels
The Way I Are — Bebe Rexha and Lil Wayne
Something Just Like This — The Chainsmokers and Coldplay
Under Your Scars — Godsmack
Senorita — Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes
Call You Mine — The Chainsmokers and Bebe Rexha
Good Girl, Bad Boy — Florida Georgia Line
Rumor — Lee Brice
Written in the Sand — Old Dominion
Tip of My Tongue — Kenny Chesney
Prologue
Wren
March 2020
Buster and Cali’s wedding was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to. The more I’m around the club, the more I crave the family connection they all have. Being associated with a motorcycle club is something I never envisioned for myself. Before meeting the Savage Menaces MC, I imagined bikers as awful criminals. Don’t get me wrong, the Menaces are very intimidating guys and are into some illegal things, but they are some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. Unless you mess with someone close to them, then all Hell breaks loose.
I don’t spend much time at the clubhouse, but when I do, they welcome me with open arms. I blame it on being Shade’s sister. He doesn’t ride a motorcycle, though. Shade is part of the Savage Riders, an extension of the MC. Honestly, I have kind of resented the club to some extent. They’re what brought my brother to Texas, not me.
I’m sitting at one of the reception tables alone, watching everyone laughing and dancing. I’ve always been quite a bit of an observer. Movement in my peripheral catches my attention. I turn and watch as Shade walks away from the reception area and up to the clubhouse where some of his friends from Arizona are. Along with resenting the MC, I resent those guys, too. They’ve been Shade’s family since he left my mom and me six years ago. I’ve never told him what happened after he left. I try to talk to him as little as possible. It’s not right, but I’ve always blamed him a little. We needed him and, he up and left us.
I come around the clubhouse more for Minx and the girls. Cali is a good friend of mine, but also my boss at A Novel Bunch Bakery. I work there between going to class during the week. It’s such a fun place to work.
It’s getting late and with Cali being four months pregnant, I’m sure she and Buster will be heading home soon. They’re sitting at a table with no one else around for the moment. I take the chance to go talk to them.
“Hey, Wren!” Cali starts to stand and I stop her.
“Don’t get up, it’s okay,” I tell her. “I wanted to come give y’all my congratulations while I had the chance.”
“Thank you,” Buster replies.
“Cali, you look absolutely beautiful. I’m so happy for the both of you,” I say.
“Thanks, and thank you so much for being here and helping get everything set up,” Cali replies.
“You’re welcome. I’m going to head up to the house. I’ll see y’all later.” I lean down to give each of them a hug before I leave. As I start to leave the reception, I’m stopped by Sketch calling out my name.
“Where are you headed?” He reeks of alcohol, which isn’t normal for him. Even drunk, he’s still a gorgeous, God-like creature. That plus his personality, it’s hard not to be attracted to him. We met in October when Cali and Buster were reunited. We’ve been friends ever since. He’s easy to talk to and never pushes me to talk if I don’t want to. Nothing like my brother.
When the clubhouse was on lockdown in November, Sketch and I spent a lot of time talking. Zack, my boyfriend, would rather us not be friends, but he leaves it alone. He’s not much of a fan of the club. Sketch is extremely respectful of me having a boyfriend and has never tried anything with me.
“I’m headed to the house to go to bed,” I explain to Sketch.
“Want some company?” He gives me a small smile.
“Sure,” I reply. He stumbles a couple steps ahead of me. He must have had quite a bit to drink tonight. I’ve never seen him drunk like this. I link my arm in his to help keep him steady. The scent of tequila mixed with his smoky vanilla and musk cologne invades my nose. I take a deep breath, breathing it in.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” he half slurs out.
“I did.” I try to focus on not letting him fall over.
“I didn’t see you dance at all. We should have danced,” he says.
I huff out a laugh. “I don’t think you’ll be doing much of anything for the rest of the night.”
“You might be right,” he admits.
“Why don’t you crash on the couch,” I offer. We walk up the front steps and into the house.
“That sounds lik
e a good idea.” He turns to face me. His eyes flick between mine and my mouth before his lips are covering mine. The kiss sends a zing throughout my body. I’m a beat away from kissing him back before I realize what’s happening and quickly pull away, shaking my head.
“Sketch, what the hell?” So much for respecting me having a boyfriend. I run upstairs before he has a chance to say anything. Once I’m in my room, I lock the door and lean against it. I bring my fingers to my lips— I can still feel his on mine.
That kiss made me realize two things. The first being, I truly do have feelings for Sketch. And the second, I need to stay as far away from him as possible.
1
Wren
June 2020
I made it to mine and Sienna’s apartment in record time. Sienna and Shade have been staying at the house this week so Sienna can be there to help Cali while Buster is working and to help them get the house set up for when the baby comes. They’re going to be great parents. It's too bad I won't be here to see it.
Walking into the apartment, I head straight for Sienna’s closet, tossing my phone on the counter as I go. Sienna keeps a safe hidden in here in case either of us has an emergency like I do now. I quickly open the safe, grab the money, prepaid phone and keys to a beat-up car. Once I have everything I need, I leave, only stopping to lock the door.
I don’t bother telling anyone where I’m going or that I’m even leaving. I can’t tell them. If I go to the Savage Menaces or anyone associated with them, they’ll end up in danger, too. I won’t do that to any of them.
With the windows down and the music up, I drive to the one place I know no one will find me. New Orleans, Louisiana. I have friends there who aren’t linked to the club in any way. It’s the safest place I can come up with at the moment. Since I don’t have much time to stop and think, I go with it.
As I pull onto the highway, There’s No Way by Lauv comes on. Sketch’s face pops into my mind and it pulls at my heart. I’ve been such an awful friend to him lately, but I had to put the distance between us, though. Someday, I’ll explain everything to him. I can only hope he’ll forgive me. It’s been painful not talking to him after we had become such good friends.
After driving for roughly four hours, I stop for gas and food. I end up eating while I drive, so I don’t waste any time. At the pace I’m going, I should arrive in New Orleans around midnight. I’m not even sure if my friends will be home. The more I think about it, I decide to call them.
“Hello?” Thank the gods she answered.
“Aria, it’s Wren. I’m on my way to New Orleans and need a place to stay,” I tell her.
“Say no more. We’ll be here,” she replies. I tell her when I should be arriving and we hang up. I’m constantly reminded of Sketch with every other song that comes on. It’s like the universe is trying to tell me something.
I pull up to Aria’s house a quarter after midnight. Being in the car for eight hours with the bare minimum stops is exhausting. On top of what happened before I left, I don’t know how I’m still functioning.
Aria meets me at the front door. She’s wearing a sympathetic expression. “Whatever happened, we can talk about it in the morning. The spare bedroom is set up for you with some clothes. Go get some sleep.” Aria was the closest person I had to a best friend in high school. I’m thankful we’ve stayed in touch over the years.
“You are an angel,” I tell her. I follow her through the house.
“You know that’s just an illusion.” She teases.
She brings me to the spare room. “Thank you so much, Aria.”
“Girl, no thanks needed. We got you,” she replies. “Get some rest. We’ll catch up tomorrow.”
I walk into the room as she walks to hers, closing the door behind me. I inhale a deep breath, holding it for five. Four. Three. Two. And letting it out. I do it a couple more times. Inhaling the good, exhaling the bad.
“You’re safe,” I whisper to myself. I glance around the room. There’s a window across the room from the door. I close the blinds then head into the attached bathroom, turning the light on and groaning at my reflection. A new toothbrush and a travel size toothpaste sit on the side of the sink. I brush my teeth, and before leaving the bathroom, I toss my hair into a messy bun. I peel my clothes off and slip into the pajamas Aria left for me.
My body sinks into the mattress as I lay down. Coming down off the adrenaline high, my body starts to ache from the abuse today brought. As tired as I am, my mind is wired. It feels like hours before sleep takes over.
The next morning, I wake up close to ten in the morning. I’m exhausted, as if I didn’t get but a couple hours of sleep. The aroma of coffee fills my nose, dragging me out of bed. I stretch my arms up, stretching my back, then head into the kitchen. Aria is sitting at the kitchen table, eating waffles and drinking coffee. She turns around when she hears me walk in.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. How’d you sleep?”
“Not great, honestly. My mind was going a hundred miles an hour all night,” I admit.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Ehhh,” I groan. “Food and coffee, first.” I place a couple of frozen waffles in the toaster and make myself a cup of coffee. When my waffles pop up, I butter them and drench them in syrup. Sitting at the table with Aria, I start my story.
We spend the next two hours talking. I pour my heart out, telling her everything that’s happened since the last time we saw each other. We text each other but don’t always have deep conversations about our lives. She listens and only responds when truly needed.
“You know you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need,” Aria tells me. “We can get you set up with whatever you need.”
“I appreciate that more than you know,” I reply. “I haven’t given any thought to how long I’ll stay. I’ll let you know as soon as I decide.”
Elena and Harper come home shortly after our conversation. We get them caught up on why I’m here and it’s the last we discuss it. These girls are some of the best people I know outside of the Savage Menaces MC.
“So what are we going to do this weekend?” Leave it to Harper to change the conversation to plans for the weekend. She must have this weekend off work.
“Let’s go out dancing. Just us girls,” Aria suggests.
“I could use a girls night,” I agree.
“Me too,” Elena replies. Thus the planning begins. I knew coming here would be a good choice.
2
Sketch
Buster and Cali’s baby shower was a couple weeks ago. They announced they're having a boy. That kid is going to have the world’s best family surrounding him. Savage Menaces and Riders teaching him everything there is to know about cars, motorcycles, and fighting. May the gods help any kid that ever tries to pick on him. Poor Cali looked ready to pop, but she still has another month until her due date.
Now, I’m in New Orleans with Clutch, Diesel, and Kicks to do some club business. The plan is to recruit some guys for the Menaces and Riders. Gator told Buster there were some potential recruits for the Menaces. He also said that he and a few guys were interested in becoming Riders. We want to expand into other states, so this is perfect.
Tonight is our first night in New Orleans and the guys want to go out. Which is nothing new and I don’t usually mind going out, but a certain blonde hair, brown eyed girl has been clouding my mind. I’ve had feelings for Wren since I first saw her at A Novel Bunch, but I’ve kept my distance for two reasons. The first being that she has a boyfriend, and the second being she’s my best friend’s sister. Her being Shade's sister never stopped us from becoming friends, but our friendship has hit a rough patch. I'm not even sure what happened.
Shade has since figured out I have some kind of feelings for Wren, and he hasn’t seemed completely freaked out. To be fair, we haven't had a conversation about it either. As far as her boyfriend goes, he’s a prick that doesn’t deserve her. Not saying that I do deserve her, but I would treat he
r a hell of a lot better than he ever has. I don’t know the whole story with the two of them, but from what Wren has told me, I’ve been able to connect the dots. I can’t figure out why she stays with him.
“I don’t know what or who has you so twisted up, but we’re getting you drunk and laid tonight,” Diesel tells me. Maybe that’s not such a bad idea. Maybe fucking some random chick will help get Wren out of my head.
“Bring on the drinks,” I say. I'm ready to drink my sorrows away.
We walk into Saints and Sinners bar on Bourbon Street. Everything about the interior is red. Red walls, red chairs, everything. There are gorgeous women everywhere. It shouldn’t be hard to find someone to have fun with. We find a booth to sit at and a waitress, wearing red booty shorts and a skin-tight black tank top, comes by right away. As we’re ordering drinks, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and have a text from Shade.
From Shade: Call me ASAP.
“I gotta step outside and call Shade. It’s too loud in here,” I tell the guys. Diesel nods, letting me know he heard me. I walk outside and dial his number.
