Sentinel

by Brook Wilder

  No, it was more than just the clubs. It was the bond we’d built, one forged by Jack Carry the moment he’d taken me in and made me a part of this life I hadn’t even thought about living. Because of him, we’d met the women who made our lives complete. They were the reason our futures were bright.

  Derrek walked back in and slid the shot glasses around the table, filling them with whiskey as he went. I took an empty one, holding it up along with the rest of the group.

  “To Jack,” Derrek said, clearing his throat. “He’s the reason we’re all here today. May we never forget the bond between brothers.”

  “Here, here,” Fox said, holding up his glass. “And may we always lean on each other in the good times and the bad, remembering no matter what happens, we’re always there for each other.”

  “Salute,” Emilio said before throwing his whiskey back.

  I gave Becky a grin, setting my glass back on the table. My good times were just starting.

  END OF BOOK 6

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  PREVIEW – MONSTER

  Felicity

  I was in a bad part of town. Mesa, California was located 20 miles from Fresno and divided in half by a busy four-lane highway with freestanding stores on either side. The Southside of Mesa was wealthy, residential, and safe; while the Northside was poor, urban, and dangerous. I lived on the Southside, but today, I was waiting at the bus station located on the Northside. I looked out of my window for any sign of my friend, so I could yank her into my car and speed out of there. Over the last hour, I’d watched five buses from Whiterock Lake pull in and pull out soon after unloading. I’d watched every single person get off each bus, but there was no sign of Jane.

  My hand trembled as I gripped my purse on the passenger seat. I knew I looked scared because I was. I pressed my back against the driver’s seat and closed my eyes taking deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth.

  I spoke out loud in a calming tone to myself. “Felicity, don’t be scared. There is nothing to be afraid of. You are inside a locked car in the middle of the day with plenty of people around.”

  I opened my eyes and saw a man staring back at me like I was nuts. He looked homeless, with a matted beard and layers of dark, baggy clothing. Muttering to himself, he shook his head and walked away. Guess acting like a nut keeps the crazies away; probably takes one to know one. Thank goodness.

  Another bus from Whiterock Lake pulled in, and my eyes searched the passengers for my best friend. No Jane Wheeler. I dug into my purse for my phone, careful not to lift it too high, just in case anyone saw it through the closed window.

  What was wrong with me? Twice a week I went to the soup kitchen on 8th to volunteer and I was acting like a clueless tourist. I whipped my purse up onto my lap and dug for my phone. It was at the very bottom, but I don’t know how I could’ve missed it. Its hot pink case, covered in gold glitter, sparkled up at me.

  My finger scanned the screen for a new text. There were several from my mother. Yes, I’m twenty and still live at home. The last text from Jane was six hours ago telling me she was leaving. She had to be here by now. Mountain Lakes is only 15 minutes away by car once you get on the highway. I hit the call icon and waited for her to answer.

  “Felicity?”

  “Jane,” I replied in a panic. “Where are you? Are you on the bus?”

  “No, I’m down the street. Hold on.”

  I heard laughter and chatter in the background as Jane spoke to someone, reassuring them I was a girl.

  “Listen,” she said to me, “I met a guy at the bus station. They’re throwing a party for his cousin. Come over.”

  I almost peed myself when she suggested it. I wasn’t going to a party in this neighborhood.

  “Why didn’t you call me? I’ve been waiting here for over an hour.” My eyes spotted the homeless man again. He’d been begging for change and now he was heading for my car. I tossed my purse onto the floor behind the passenger seat and checked the locks.

  “I tried to call…” Jane’s voice trailed off. “Oh, sorry. I’ve been calling your parents’ house.”

  I felt sick from the pit of my stomach. I wasn’t convinced she was telling me the truth. “This is the only number I call you from,” I responded.

  Jane’s voice hitched into a peal of laughter as I heard the man’s voice in the background again. “I’m sorry, Fee," she replied. "Why don’t you come to the party?”

  “I should go home,” I said. “You know where I live. Call a ride to my parent’s house when you’re through.”

  “Oh, Fee,” Jane sighed. “Don’t be that way.”

  “What way? Responsible?” I shrieked. I was beyond frustrated at this point. I was ready to explode after spending over an hour waiting for someone who had made other plans.

  In my anger, I was struggling to come up with the words to tell her how infuriating she was when I decided to bite my tongue and wait for her response. The other side of the line was quiet, though, and I wondered if she might be ready to apologize for the inconvenience she’d caused me.

  “Hello. Who is this?”

  I froze. It was a man’s voice on Jane’s phone.

  “Hello?” he repeated.

  “Hello?” my voice shook, and I stared wide-eyed as if this man was somehow sitting next to me in my car.

  “Hello, this is Luis,” he said with a light accent. “Come to the party. 116 Mission Avenue. Take Salta Boulevard. You coming?”

  Too shocked to reply, I said nothing.

  “I think she hung up.” And then, the call was disconnected.

  I shook my head to pull myself back into reality. The act made me aware of my surroundings again and I found myself in an awkward situation. I’d been staring at the homeless guy who was standing right outside my window, staring back at me. Before I had time to get nervous about it, he gave me the finger, then walked away.

  All my life, I’ve done the right thing. If I had to choose between something wrong or right, I always did what I thought other people would think was the right thing to do. It wasn’t always what I thought was the right thing to do, but I did everything I could to stay out of trouble and not be judged by others. I wasn’t going to that party, and Jane would have to find another ride to my home.

  Heaving a sigh, I turned the key in the ignition. The key clicked, but instead of the engine roaring to life, there was silence. I banged my head once on the steering wheel. I needed a new car. My parents didn’t want me to have a car at all. They claimed it was too expensive, but the real reason was that they wanted to keep me leashed to their side. Because I drove rust on wheels, it broke down a lot, and today, it had broken down in Crimeland, USA.

  If I called Mom or Dad, they would have a fit if they knew Jane wasn’t with me and I’d been waiting alone in a seedy bus terminal. Days earlier, I’d finally convinced Dad to let Jane stay with us. He didn’t approve of her life choices that had led to her quick, almost-finalized divorce. He was fearful her negative attributes would leap off her and land on me like some weird flu virus. What had he called her? Appalachian trash? Did I mention my dad is a raging racist and bigot?

  I reached under the dash, feeling for the ignition wires. Sometimes I could bypass the key and get the car to start. I had to laugh at myself. I was in a bad neighborhood hot wiring my own crap car. My twin sister, Faith, could do this easily. She had taught me how.

  Faith would have taught me a lot more th
ings if she’d lived.

  I tried again, but it wasn’t working. At least I didn’t have to worry about my car being stolen, but I needed another way to get home safely. I’d rescue Jane, hire a ride, and then get us the hell out of here in one piece. My phone rang and I grabbed it, hoping Jane had come to her senses. My shoulders hunched once I saw the screen.

  “Hello, Mom.” Somehow, I felt ashamed though I’d done nothing wrong. I was an adult who would remain a willful and ungrateful child in her mother’s sheltered world.

  “Hello, dear. I’m waiting for you to come home with your friend.”

  “I’m looking for her now.”

  “You can’t find her? Where is she?”

  Obviously, I couldn’t tell Mom Jane had ditched me. I never lied to my parents, but at times, I omitted the truth.

  “She’s nearby. I just have to let her know I’m here.”

  “Should I call your father?”

  “No!” I almost shouted. “I’ll text you when we’re on our way. Okay? I think I see her. Bye, Mom.”

  “Felicity...”

  I tapped ‘end call.’ Mom would be annoyed I’d hung up, but I didn’t have another excuse to give her. I shoved my stuff back into my purse, locked the car doors out of habit, and walked quickly in the opposite direction of the homeless man. I headed away from the bus depot toward Salta Boulevard, practically running, to what I don’t know.

  I saw a large, green street sign that said ‘Mission Avenue.’ It was only a couple blocks away. Hopefully, number 116 wasn’t too far from the intersection. Faith knew her way around here. In my prayers, I would talk to my sister when I was alone and ask her to keep me safe. Or give me a little good luck. I hoped she was my guardian angel right now.

  Continue reading MONSTER today

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  A Word from Brook Wilder

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading Sentinel, the sixth standalone book of nine in the Southern Bikers series!

  In the Southern Bikers series, you’ll meet nine dirty-mouthed badass bikers, see them go toe-to-toe with nine equally sassy women who’ll bring them to their knees, and ride through nine adrenaline-soaked adventures to their happily ever afters.

  Are you ready to see what comes next?

  If you enjoyed Sentinel, you’ll love the rest of the Southern Bikers series. The stakes are higher, the sex hotter, and the story will have you holding your breath until the end.

  I hope you’ll join me.

  Brook Wilder

  READ WRECKED HERE

  READ SHATTERED HERE

  READ DEFILED HERE

  READ PROTECTOR HERE

  READ GUARDIAN HERE

  READ SENTINEL HERE

  READ MONSTER HERE

  READ SAVAGE HERE

  READ HELLION HERE

  Books in the SOUTHERN BIKERS Series

  BOOK 1: WRECKED

  HE CLAIMED MY BODY AND WRECKED MY HEART.

  Zack Hale was all of my firsts.

  My first kiss. My first love. My first heartbreak.

  He was the bad boy who destroyed my good girl reputation.

  He was the reason I had to leave.

  Fate pulled us back together to find a girl taken from her family.

  And I found myself needing him more than ever.

  Unfortunately, the years made him irresistible.

  I can’t give in to him. I can’t let down my guard.

  But each moment tempts me more than the last.

  I know what I’d let him do to me if I give in.

  I know what he’s capable of all over again:

  To leave my heart wrecked beyond repair.

  Until the only thing that I know for certain…

  … is that I belong to him.

  READ WRECKED HERE

  BOOK 2 – SHATTERED

  HE WAS MY BROTHER’S BEST FRIEND WHO SHATTERED MY HEART.

  Everyone warned me to stay away from him for my own good.

  Instead, I craved his hard gaze and his rough hands.

  He gave me what I wanted: but it cost me everything.

  All I ever wanted was for Neil Wheeler to give me his attention.

  He was my brother’s best friend, and I was off-limits.

  That didn’t stop him from pursuing me.

  We were together for a brief time, but each day was hotter than last.

  But being with him cost me everything.

  I wasn't prepared to see him again.

  I wasn’t prepared for the fact that I wanted to see him again.

  But this time, I want to prove that he didn’t break me.

  This time, I want to prove that he can’t break me.

  READ SHATTERED HERE

  BOOK 3 – DEFILED

  I DEFILED THE KING'S DAUGHTER BY KNOCKING HER UP.

  She had been my captive, my plaything, my prize.

  But I had no idea about the baby I put in her belly.

  Amy Travis was the daughter to the President of the Devil's Horsemen MC.

  I was the outcast son of a known traitor to the club.

  I wasn't supposed to get anywhere near her--until she was delivered to my doorstep, trussed and bound.

  One look at her, and I knew nothing could keep me from getting a taste.

  The only thing is, a taste wouldn't be enough.

  I had to have more, I needed to have more.

  One night was all we had, and I thought that'd be the last time I see her.

  It'd be our little secret. Nobody else was supposed to know.

  But secrets in our world don't stay secrets for long.

  And little did I know, Amy had a secret of her own.

  Or I should say: a secret of our own.

  A secret that will put both our lives in danger.

  A secret whose consequence none of us was ready to bear.

  A secret, that once revealed, will mean hell to pay.

  READ DEFILED HERE

  BOOK 4 - PROTECTOR

  SHE JUST MADE AN EASY PROTECTION JOB GET REAL HARD.

  But her father’s paying, and I won’t turn down an easy job.

  One look and I know she’s anything but easy.

  I was supposed to keep her safe. But now, I’m making her mine.

  Nataliya Zebrovskaya is the heiress to an empire built on drugs, guns, and women.

  An heiress whose father is willing to pay very good money to keep safe.

  Money that only a fool would turn down.

  Keeping a spoiled princess safe?

  Easy.

  But from the moment I put my eyes on her.

  From the moment I caught a glimpse of her spitfire attitude.

  I knew things are about to get harder than either of us expected.

  She’s used to people bending over backwards for her.

  But I’m going to make her bends for me.

  Some other bastard may think that Nat belongs to him.

  But before long, I’ll have the whole world know:

  She belongs to me.

  READ PROTECTOR HERE

  BOOK 5 - GUARDIAN

  I WAS HER FIRST, AND I’LL MAKE SURE THAT I’M HER ONLY.

  I play rough, and I go hard.

  I break beds by night, and hearts the next morning.

  In my world, there’s no room for ‘No.’

  I was supposed to keep an eye on her.

  Instead, I took her away.

  She didn’t ask to be put into this arrangement.

  She didn’t ask to become my prisoner and property.

  But from the moment I pull her into my bed...

  I realized just how inexperienced she is.

  Uncorrupted and pure, she accidentally let it slip that I’ll be her first everything.

  There’s no way anything in this world will make me let her go.

  I might be her first, but once I’m done, I’ll make sure that I’m her only.

  READ
GUARDIAN HERE

  BOOK 6 - SENTINEL

  I’LL ENJOY TEACHING HER TO OBEY.

  It was supposed to be a hands-off protection job.

  But with her, I knew it was going to be all hands on.

  I had orders to keep Becky White safe.