by Ashley Lane
The worn picture shows me at age fourteen.
Less than a year later, the life I loved was over and a painful, new reality took its place.
“You okay, sweetheart?” Angel squeezes my hand between his. Jax follows by doing the same, and they squish me between them. Their strength is the glue that holds me together.
I nod. “Yeah. I mean, I can’t believe he’s finally dead, but I can’t say I’m surprised either. He caused a lot of bad men to lose a lot of money when the church was seized by the FBI. Honestly, I can’t believe he lasted this long.”
Jax and Angel stare at the screen in silence, confirming their shock as they take it all in. “Honestly… and I know this is going to sound terrible, but it’s kinda a relief. Yes, he was in prison, but things happen, you know? People get out. I don’t think I would have ever been able to feel free knowing he was still alive.”
While the words make me feel dirty for even thinking them, it’s also freeing to be able to speak them aloud. Jax and Angel will never judge me, but I never want them to think badly about me either. “Do you think I’m—”
Angel cuts me off. “That doesn’t make you a bad person, sweetheart, it makes you human,” he stresses.
Jax nods in agreement. “It’s also a thought and worry that we’ve shared as well,” he admits.
“It is?”
Jax rubs his hand over my thigh. “It’s no secret that we plan on making a life with you, little one.”
Angel snorts. “Well, I’d hope so…” He playfully rubs my flat belly. “You’ve been drinking Mama’s tea for months, we may already have you pregnant right now.”
They don’t and they both know it seeing as I had my period last week, but the meaning behind their words stands. We—well, they—have known where this was going from the start. It took me a little time to catch up, but there’s no doubt in my mind that as the years pass, our family of three will continue to grow.
I take Angel’s hand. “You know I’m not pregnant,” I say, “Besides… that soft and gentle stuff you guys call sex is not the way I’m planning to get pregnant. You actually need to fuck me hard enough to shoot past my cervix.” I raise my brow and Angel’s eyes grow wide.
“Maybe it’s time we get to work on changing that,” Angel says.
“Right now,” Jax growls into my neck.
Oh my God, it worked! Yesss!
Jax is the first to stand, and when he does, he grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder while I cling to him, smacking his ass as he heads to the bedroom, Angel hot on our heels.
Together, they spend the next hour draining every ounce of themselves inside of me, nearly guaranteeing I’ll be knocked up by tomorrow.
Mama will be thrilled.
***
ANGEL
My phone rings and Priest’s name flashes on the screen.
I accept the call and hold the phone up to my ear, waiting until I’ve stepped out of the room before speaking.
“Yeah.”
“Did I interrupt something?” Priest’s teasing tone tells me he knows it was a close call.
“Nah, just finished,” I confirm, chuckling.
“I take it you saw the news earlier.” Something in his tone has me taking pause. Realization creeps in as the pieces fall into place. “Yeah, I did. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that would you?” I question my Prez.
There’s a long silence before he confirms, “It was past time you got your happy ending, brother. Now you can do that without any concern about the past hanging over your head, it’s time to focus on your future.”
A surge of love and gratitude washes over me. “Thank you, brother,” is all I can say. But my voice is thick with emotion, and I hope Priest knows the true meaning of what seems like three simple words.
Love you, brother.
When he replies, “Bottom of my heart... same.” I smile.
Yeah. He knows.
“Have you heard from Demon?” I ask.
“I’m afraid that’s the other reason I called.” He pauses briefly, the sound of a pen tapping against his desk is all I can hear. “It’s time.”
I inhale and close my eyes as pain and dread envelop me. A grim sense of foreboding settles deep in my bones. “Fuck,” I curse in a pained whisper.
“We always knew this day was coming, Maddox,” Priest reminds me.
I grunt. “Yeah, but now it’s here.”
“We owe this to him. To be at his back until the very end.” Priest’s tone holds no room for argument, and before I can consider doing exactly that, he finishes with, “Enjoy the honeymoon while you can. I’ll call you when it’s time.”
I end the call and drop my phone on the couch. Standing in the living room alone, I breathe out a sigh. It’s time to come to terms with what Priest said. And to let his last words be the ones I focus on for now.
Back in the bedroom, Jax and Oakley are snuggled together, talking quietly. I climb between them and hold them close knowing these carefree days will soon come to an end.
The Demon will wait no more. It’s time for war.
THE END… For now.
PREORDER NOW
Devoured By Demons
Heaven’s Guardians Book 5
Colt: Slugger Rejects
Book 1
BANDIT
Thanks to Bandit for making a special appearance!
AVAILABLE NOW
Washed In Blood
Heaven’s Guardians MC Book 1
Blinded by anger, the man who had sworn to protect me,
shot me in a fit of rage when I was only sixteen years old.
He thought he killed me.
But my job wasn’t finished yet.
My days are spent as President of the Heavens Guardians MC.
Nights are spent searching for the scum of the earth.
Rapists, Murderers, Pedophiles.
They all answer to me.
I thought I’d seen it all.
Thought my heart couldn’t be any darker.
Thought I knew exactly how far I was willing to go.
Then a battered and broken woman was found behind our clubhouse,
and I realized, I’ve never had a clue about the monster that lurks within.
They may call me Priest,
but I’d sell my soul to the devil before I let anything take her away from me.
Silenced By Sin
Heaven’s Guardians MC Book 2
Patch
The smallest caskets weigh the most.
I lost myself the day I buried my daughter.
Her death was only the beginning of my downfall.
I will not play God.
As a doctor, the oath I took bound me.
As a father, only blood could set me free.
Pain is my prison.
With guilt my only companion,
I bought myself a life, Silenced by Sin.
Alaska
You are not defined by your mistakes.
I refuse to regret the choices I’ve made.
I embrace them.
I will bow to no one.
Fear does not make me weak.
In the face of fear, I find my true strength.
I will rise.
With fire in my veins and embers in my soul,
I will give my daughter the life she deserves.
Haunted By Regret
Heaven’s Guardians MC Book 3
Haunted (adjective)- Preoccupied with an emotion, memory, or idea; obsessed.
It’s what happens to a man that loses his entire family.
The first years that followed their demise were the worst.
Determined to inflict even a fraction of my pain onto those responsible,
I paid them back the same way they paid me.
I was content to live out my days knowing justice was dealt at my hands.
Consumed with rage.
Obsessed with revenge.
Haunted by regret.
Years lat
er, I take in two boys and suddenly it’s no longer only about me.
That’s where she comes in.
A broken nanny who heals us all.
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Devoured By Demons
Heaven’s Guardians Book 5
How do you save a man that’s devoured by demons?
You don’t.
OFFICIAL BLURB COMING SOON
WARNING
Devoured By Demons is NOT a love story.
Please proceed at your own risk.
Colt: Slugger Rejects
Book 1
SERIES BLURB
How do you punish the bad boys of baseball when they've been naughty?
You send them to run a camp for reckless teenage boys of course. But it's not the boys they need to be worried about.
Forget fly balls—these men need to keep their eyes peeled for baseball moms... and dads.
They may be the hard as steel rejects of baseball, but unfortunately for these players, all the gear in the world does nothing to protect their hearts.
COLT: OFFICIAL COVER & BLURB COMING SOON
COMING SOON
Reid: Slugger Rejects
Book 2
Easton: Slugger Rejects
Book 3
Miller: Slugger Rejects
Book 4
Top Shelf
The Brewing Brothers Book 1
Last Call
The Brewing Brothers Book 2
On The Rocks
The Brewing Brothers Book 3
WAVES
Ashley Lane & Julie Anne Addicott
Blurb coming soon!
RELEASE DATE: November 14th, 2020
Heard It In A Love Song
Charity Anthology
Over 30 authors bringing you LGBT+ stories about love in all its forms.
Songs about love have been around since the beginning of time.
They told us we could love whoever we chose, but they weren’t always right.
I refuse to believe otherwise, I heard it in a love song.
CLICK HERE TO PREORDER
AUTHOR BIO
Being the boy mom of a 10 and almost 3 year old, means Ashley Lane lives off Goldfish crumbs and Diet Coke. When her life isn't being ruled by her tiny minions and their endless activities, you can typically find her parked on the couch, Kindle within reach, catching up on the previous week’s episode of Grey’s Anatomy or Hell's Kitchen.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First and foremost, to my mama. Whether it’s watching my tiniest monster, or listening to my verbal vomit as I try to plot, thank you for all the help and support you give on a daily basis. I know I’m not great at voicing my emotions, and unfortunately, saying thank you comes with that. So if you ever need a reminder of how much I appreciate you, check here at the back of any one of my books and you’ll always be the first one I list.
To the men in my life. Michael without you, I wouldn’t have an ounce of knowledge about how to tell a love story. Thank you for giving that to me. Boys, you won’t see this until you’re older (Logan, because you can’t read. Luke, because if I find out you’ve read ANY of this book you’ll be grounded FOR LIFE.) But I want you both to know that mama loves you more than anything and you two are my entire world.
Julie, there was a brief moment where I thought you were literally going to die while I was writing this book. Next time, please wait until after I’ve finished. Mmkay? (Kidding)
Not kidding, I love you. You are my best friend and I would be lost without you.
Nana, I love you a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck. Even though you’ll never read this (because you can tell everyone they should read my books, but you don’t read them yourself).
Jill- You’re my person that I can go weeks without talking to and we pick right back up without missing a beat. I hope you know that our friendship is the very definition of a mom-ship (mommy friendship) that I’ve always wanted. You da bestest!
My beta: Diane, you read my first words that didn’t deserve to be written on a bathroom stall, still the love and encouragement you gave me pushed me to finish. You also deserve a medal for ninja level patience. Hopefully next time I can prove I’m not a total nutcase.
My Chaos Organizer—AKA: Brittany- You came into my life in the middle of this book and I still fully believe that God sent you to me when I needed you most. You are such an important part of the inner workings of all that is Ashley Lane, but more importantly, you have become a close friend, and that girlfriend—is invaluable.
Misty Walker, my second friend in this new world, you believed in me from the start, without your words I wouldn’t be where I am today. For that, I’ll always have a special place for you in my heart.
To my Biker Bitches. You ladies are the real MVP.
And last but most definitely not least, to my readers. Thank you for taking a chance on me and my men. I hope that a piece of each story stays with you when you go.
