Uncle Kenny being a patched member promised to look out for me and not let me get in over my head. If my mom only knew what got me in this situation to begin with. Bull, as my uncle was named by the Hellions, doesn’t tell my mom my secret. But he makes sure I bust my ass to repay my marker, my debt owed to Roundman. He also won’t let me get off track with my own life, even for the club or the shop.
“Franky, tell Roundman what you told your momma boy,” Bull commands while a shit eating grin spreads across his face.
I should’ve known he wouldn’t let it go. My uncle is named Bull appropriately. Not only is he a big man, as in stocky, but he’s stubborn and won’t back down. He’s staring me down much like a bull would a matador in a fight. There’s a challenge in his tone, one that says he’s going to win. He’s the one waving the red cape at me rather than the other way around. Taunting, testing, and teasing, all with a knowing smile.
Gathering my resolve and reasoning, I begin to share with Roundman and Danza my thoughts. “Business is good. I’m learning more every day. I’m more productive and gain more life skills here in the shop than I do at school. Mom and I were talking the other day. If I drop out of school I could work more here or get a job with Rocky down at his garage,” I state confident in my reasoning.
Danza pipes up before Roundman can. “Have you lost your damn mind kid?”
Maybe I have. At seventeen, I’m ready to break free. The stuff in those history books won’t help me face the hard knocks of life. I know basic math. I can read and write. What more do I really need? I don’t see the importance behind a high school diploma. It’s just a piece of paper.
“Danza, I want to work on cars. There ain’t nothing in that school gonna teach me about that,” I reply making eye contact with the biker.
“You’re gonna finish school. I get that you think it’s bullshit, but you finish what you start. You finish school, get your certification, you can work here as a full time mechanic. If you drop out of school, we’re done with you,” Danza states clearly not joking.
“Done with me? Really, Danza, I bust my ass and have from day fuckin’ one. Has the last year not shown I finish what I start?” I reply as the anger in me boils into a rage.
I move to make a step toward Danza when suddenly Roundman is in my face, standing over me. He’s around six feet tall to my current height of five feet eight inches. He’s full of muscle from the years of hard work. Looking down at me, he glares.
“I believe it was your mistakes that brought you to our doorstep. We don’t owe you shit boy! You don’t want to go to school, fine, don’t. However, there is no place left for you here. You start something you finish it. One day a woman will come along, you’ll fall in love, have kids, and shit’s gonna get boring, you gonna walk out on your family? At seventeen, you think you have all the answers. You don’t know shit! Go to school, learn what they teach you, and take your time growing up. You got the rest of your life to work your ass off and be a man. Do what teenagers do, go to school, date some girls, come to the shop and work, go home, and stay outta trouble. You get through school, Franky, and I’ll send you to get certified. After that, I’ll make sure you have a good job. You drop outta high school though I got not one second to waste with you.” With that, Roundman turns and walks away from me.
Danza is shaking his head at me. “Dumb fuck. We’re gonna make a man outta you son. Not a piece of shit man either, but a good man. Stop thinking you know everything and look at what’s in front of you. I get it, your old man, he did some shit that rained down on you and your mom. We’ve straightened that out for you. Franky, you got a chance here to be somebody and do something with your life. The Hellions will look out for you as long as you look out for yourself. Dedicate finishing school to that thought.”
With that memory, the fatigue consumes me. I fight to stay with my thoughts. My graduation, the Hellions were all in attendance with my mother and sisters. Roundman true to his word paid for my mechanics certification. He set me up with a good job at the garage. The cards life had dealt me were starting to feel like a playable hand. It’s not kings and aces yet, but it’s a start.
Her touch is long since gone. My hand is now empty and cold. Her voice is more like the fading sound of a faraway angel. The hold she has is slipping with each passing second as I succumb once again to the darkness and the sleep.
Available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Smashwords.
Don’t forget to grab One Ride, book one from the Hellions Ride Series!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Selene Chardou is a world traveler and a professional liar.
Ms. Chardou’s writing is all about hot romance and exciting times with the wild, damaged, out of control, rich and famous set in the world of Contemporary Romance.
She is currently working on a vast array of books about politicians, good girls gone bad, bikers, gangsters, fighters, lovers, and anyone else she finds remotely interesting. When not writing, she enjoys daydreaming about her next trip to France, jet-setting across the country to author signings and playing taxi driver to her school-age daughters.
Ms. Chardou currently resides with her two children and their multitude of stuffed animals in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Contact & Resources
Website: Novels That Rock
Blog: The Realm of Selene Chardou
Goodreads Author Page: Selene Chardou
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If you would like to email Selene Chardou, she can be reached at: [email protected]
Published & Upcoming Books by Selene Chardou
Dance With The Devil Duet (Grifters/Romantic Suspense/Contemporary Romance)
Devil’s Prey (July, 2014)
Devil’s Pawn (November, 2014)
The Rough Riders Series (MC Series / Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance)
Deadly Seduction (Gisela Jackson & Cillian “The Killer” Cox’s story)
Naked Dirty Love (Trey Lennon & Kyra Hughes’ story)
Dangerous Alliance (Ronan “Puck” Cox’s story) [Autumn, 2014]
Dangerous Temptations (Maeve “Misty” Cox’s srory) [To Be Announced]
Unbreakable Hearts (Quinn “Tech” Cox’s story) [To Be Announced]
Love Unexpected Series (Romantic Suspense / Contemporary Romance)
Love TKO (Torin Duffy’s story)
Love TKO: Out For The Count (Kieran Duffy’s story) [Autumn, 2014]
Good Girl Gone Bad (Fiona Duffy’s story) [TBA]
One More Kiss (Shane Duffy’s story) [TBA]
Stripped To The Bone (Devin Duffy’s story) [TBA]
Love Stoned (Seamus Duffy’s story) [TBA]
One More Night Trilogy (Rock star Series / New Adult / Contemporary Romance/Women’s Literature)
Falling Into Lust
Falling Into Us
Falling Into Love
Scarlet Fever Series (Rock Star series / New Adult / Contemporary Romance / Women’s Literature)
Rock My Heart
The Will to Love
Jaded Faith (Winter, 2014)
Grant’s Muse (Spring, 2015)
The Lovers Duet (Rock stars & MC series / New Adult / Romantic Mystery & Suspense / Contemporary Romance)
Out From Under
In Too Deep
Above The Fray (Winter, 2015)
DC Affairs (Politics / New Adult / Contemporary Romance/Politics)
Book 1
Book 2 (May/June, 2014)
Book 3 (July/August, 2014)
Book 4 (September/October, 2014)
The Covet Duet (MC Series / New Adult / Romantic Mystery & Suspense / Contemporary Romance)
Covet
Capture (Summer, 2014)
Take Him Now: A Novella (Fall, 2014)
Young, Rich & Talented Trilogy (Pop stars Series / New Adult / Contemporary Romance)
Rock Me Out (Chyna Bleu’s story, To Be Announced)
Ro
ck Me Sideways (Damian Phillip’s story, To Be Announced)
Rock Me In (Ava Martin’s story, To Be Announced)
Novels & Novellas by Elle Chardou
The Ties That Bind Trilogy (Contemporary Romance / Romantic Suspense with erotic and BDSM elements)
Killing Time
Killing Heartache: A Novelette (Book 1.5)
Killing Time (The Bonus Collection)
Killing Desire
Killing Me Softly
The Ties That Bind Omnibus Collection
Seasons of Love & Lust (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women/ New Adult)
A Summer to Remember
Falling for Autumn (TBA)
Winter’s Regret (TBA)
Spring Fling (TBA)
Exploitation of Love Series (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women)
Reckless Behavior: A Prequel Novella (TBA)
Indecent Behavior, A Novel (TBA)
Undertow Trilogy (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women / New Adult)
Undertow
Falling Under (Coming TBA)
Drowning in You (Monika & Dylan’s story, TBA)
The Atonement Series (Contemporary Romance / Contemporary Women)
Atonement, A Novel
Only Love
Only Time (Caitlyn & Liam’s Story, To Be Announced)
Only You (Drew & Aubrey’s Story, To Be Announced)
Crazy in Love (To Be Announced)
The Vamp Saga (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Mortal Death: Book I
Immortal Lair: A Novella (A Prequel to Death Wish)
Better Off Immortal: Book II
Queen of the Immortals: Book III
Immortal Dawn (Autumn/Winter, 2013)
The Vamp Saga Omnibus Collection (Re-issue To Be Announced)
The Hart Family Saga (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Hart Attack
Troubled Hart: A Novella (Book 1.5) [To Be Announced]
Change of Hart (To Be Announced)
Superstar Marriages Novella Series (Contemporary Romance)
Lara & the City of Angels
Jenna & the City of Light (To Be Announced)
The Supernaturals Novella Series (Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy)
Darkness Rising
The Dawn of Darkness
The Supernaturals Collection No. 1
Darkness Awakened
The Cloak of Darkness
The Theft of Darkness
Cling to Darkness (To Be Announced)
The Plague (Dystopian Romance / Horror)
The Beginning: Book I
Apocalypse 2013: Book II (To Be Announced)
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