RoadKill: Savage Hell MC Book 1

by K. L. Ramsey

  “I thought you agreed to be a part of this team,” Repo said. “I know you’re an outsider, Hart. We’ve all been at one point or another. Hell, it hasn’t been that long since I was new to Savage Hell. We all just have to prove ourselves—you included. Too much is at stake not to speak up. They had little Chloe—we can’t let that happen again,” Repo whispered.

  Hart sighed and nodded. “You’re right. I won’t let them take another little girl. My guy on the inside got a message to me. The Dragons have a new Prez,” Hart said.

  “What does that mean for the human trafficking business they were running?” Cillian asked.

  “It means that we can all safely go home,” Hart said.

  “How can you be sure we’ll be safe?” Savage asked. “Do you know who the new Prez is?”

  “Yeah,” Hart admitted. “You didn’t hear this from me, but I think the guy can be trusted.”

  “And, we’re supposed to just take your word for this? We’re talking about the safety of our families,” Savage challenged. “I won’t base their safety on a feeling, Hart.”

  “It’s more than that,” Hart admitted. “Shit, I can’t tell you this but their new Prez, Outkast, is my inside guy. He’s been deep undercover for years now. If word got out, he’d be killed.”

  “Fuck,” Cillian cursed.

  “I know Outkast,” Savage admitted. “I had no fucking idea he was working for the cops.”

  “This whole thing has to stay between us. He’s been working to bring down that trafficking ring for a while now. If you blow is cover, all that work will be lost,” Hart said.

  “You have my word,” Savage said. “Outkast’s secret is safe with all of us. Right guys?” Repo, Ryder, and Cillian nodded their agreement. “Just let us know what we can do to help out. Name it, and it’s done.”

  “I appreciate that, Savage,” Hart said. “There is something I need. We need to keep up appearances and one of the things that will need to happen is Outkast will need to meet with you—Prez to Prez.”

  “Yeah,” Savage said. “That’s the way it usually works. One club will invite the other over and either declare war or ask for peace. Which will Outkast want between the Dragons and Savage Hell?”

  “Peace,” Hart said. “He’ll need that to focus on the group's business. He’ll put on a show, but he’ll agree to peace.”

  “I guess we all go home in the morning,” Savage said. “Can you have the plane ready, Ryder?”

  “Yep. I was ready to fly Viv and Savage back. I’ll adjust the passenger list in the morning when I turn in our flight plan.”

  “That works. Let’s be ready to roll out by ten,” Savage ordered. They agreed and Kill had to admit it felt damn good to be heading home. As far as he was concerned, this shit storm with the Dragons couldn’t end soon enough.

  _______

  They had only been home for a day and a half before Savage Hell was summoned to the Dragon’s bar. Kill had barely enough time to catch his damn breath before the meeting was set up and when Savage asked him to have his six, he immediately agreed. What else could he do but tell Savage yes after the guy had saved his ass on more than one occasion?

  Viv was glad to be back home and she was even gearing up to re-open the diner in a few days. Kill worried that she was taking on too much but she went to see her doctor, just to confirm the diagnosis they got in the ER, and she had the all-clear to return to work. She promised to rest and let others do the heavy lifting, but he knew his Viv and she was as stubborn as the day was long.

  “You ready to do this?” Savage asked. They were sitting in his pickup and neither made a move to get out of the truck.

  Kill shrugged, “As I’ll ever be,” he breathed. “It’s just weird being back here and I’m worried we’ll say something to blow Outkast’s cover. I don’t want to fuck this up,” he admitted.

  “So, don’t,” Savage said. “Let’s just get in and have this damn meeting and get this shit show over with.” Kill and Savage walked into the Dragon’s bar and he pushed down the moment of panic he experienced being back in that hell hole. He could still taste the blood from his busted lip every time he thought back to that night just weeks prior. The smell of urine in the basement, from the cages that lined the walls, still made him feel nauseous. The cages that he knew held those poor women awaiting their fate to be sold off to the highest bidder. But, they weren’t there under the same circumstances this time—at least that was what he was telling himself. Dante’s reign was over and Kill had to remember that despite the way things appeared, their new Prez—Outkast, was on their side. They just needed to keep their heads for this little meeting and not blow the guy’s cover. This meeting was just a formality and then their families would be safe—at least that was the plan. Kill knew that was what Savage was hoping for and he felt the same. He couldn’t settle for anything less, not with Viv and a baby girl on the way. He wouldn’t let anyone threaten his family again—ever.

  “Gentlemen,” Outkast said, meeting them at the front door. He was flanked on either side by his enforcers. Kill choked back the bile that rose to his mouth at the sight of the two guys he had to take down during his time in the cage they kept in the basement. They still had the faded bruises and cuts from their fight. The big guy wore a sling on his left arm and he seemed just as upset to see Kill, although he had to give the guy credit—he didn’t back down.

  “Come on in and make yourself at home,” Outkast offered, holding his arms wide. “Our bar is at your disposal. Can I get you a beer?”

  “It’s nine in the morning,” Savage protested. Kill wanted to take the guy up on his offer. Hell, he could do with a shot of whiskey or two, but Savage was right. They needed to keep their heads straight if they were going to get through this little meeting.

  “Of course,” Outkast agreed. His smile was warm and Kill could tell the guy was trying for friendly, but it was a lie. His smile didn’t reach his eyes and Kill knew that the Dragon’s new Prez was putting on a show. Kill almost wished he wasn’t privy to the news that Outkast was an undercover cop. Their meeting would be easier to get through if Kill could just hate the guy.

  “Let’s just get down to business,” Savage challenged. “Why have we been summoned here, Outkast?”

  “I’ve always liked your no-nonsense way of ruling Savage Hell, man,” Outkast said. On the flight home, Savage filled the guys in on the research he had done on Outkast. He seemed to have a complete disregard for the rules, both written and implied. There was usually no room for someone like that in the MC world, but Outkast wasn’t a part of that world. He was straddling the right side of evil and he had to make his own rules. Otherwise, he’d be discovered. Savage’s MC world didn’t work quite that way. Kill knew that his friend valued loyalty above all else and trust was king. Without those things, Savage Hell wouldn’t exist.

  “Funny,” Savage spat. “Usually, when someone admires someone else, they don’t stab them in the fucking back,” he growled. Savage took a step towards Outkast and his enforcers blocked him with their bodies. Outkast had the poor judgment to find the whole scene funny and for just a minute, Kill was sure things were about to turn ugly. Savage was certainly playing his part in all this. Hell, maybe he was looking for someone to take his anger out on for taking Chloe. He still hadn’t worked through all that and now, with Dante gone, Outkast was the next best person to pound his anger out on.

  “Easy man,” Kill warned. “This isn’t why we are here, Savage.”

  “You should listen to your man, Savage,” Outkast said. “He’s not wrong.”

  “Fine, let’s just get this over with,” Savage ordered. Even when he wasn’t in charge, Savage seemed to take the position of power. He was just one of those guys and Kill would follow him to hell and back.

  “Okay,” Outkast agreed. “I called you here to make sure that we understand each other, Savage.”

  “What’s there to understand?” Savage asked. “Your club took my little girl and threatened our
women. There’s nothing to understand here, Outkast.”

  “This is on your club, really,” Outcast said.

  “How do you figure?” Savage barked.

  “Cut off the serpent’s head and two more grow in its place, Savage. Did you think that Dante was as high up as they run in the Dragons? Like your Savage Hell club is just a small piece of the Royal Bastards, the Dragons are a part of the Anarchy Kings. We answer to them and they make sure that everyone on our end is on the up and up. Dante wasn’t, so they took care of him. Good news for you is, I don’t have a problem with you, Savage. You keep your little gang out of my way and out of my fucking business and I’ll leave Savage Hell alone. You good with that?”

  Savage looked at Kill and God, he wanted to believe Outkast. All they wanted was to live in peace and that’s what he was offering them. But, at what price? Kill knew what was waiting in the basement. Could they turn a blind eye to the fact that the Dragons were trafficking women and girls, just to save their own families?

  Kill watched as Savage seemed to struggle with the same thoughts. Outkast held his hand out for Savage as if waiting for him to accept his deal. Savage didn’t take it. “You can’t believe you’ll get away with it, right?” Savage asked. “Trafficking women and children won’t be tolerated—not by Savage Hell.” Jesus, Kill wanted to tell him to back down, but his friend was right. They couldn’t allow something so evil to exist in their town. It wasn’t who they were as men or as a club. The guys in the club weren’t angels by any stretch of the imagination but they weren’t evil assholes either. Trafficking women and children was just plain evil.

  Outkast lowered his hand, his smile was mean. “Suit yourself, Savage. You can’t say I didn’t warn you. You come after my club or my business and we won’t pull our punches. Is Savage Hell a sacrifice you’re willing to make to bring down my little business? Is your family something either of you is willing to forfeit to bring down the Dragons?” Outcast challenged.

  “We’ll see,” Savage shrugged. “If the Dragons keep their noses clean, we won’t have a problem.”

  “I’m sorry that this meeting didn’t go the way I was hoping for, Savage,” Outkast said. “You can see yourselves out, I’m sure.” Outkast turned his back on them and walked back to his office, leaving his two sentries to stand guard. Savage chuckled and turned to leave.

  “This is over, Cillian. For now, at least,” he added. Kill hated that they were leaving their meeting without resolving the issues, but he followed Savage’s lead. He smiled at the two goons staring him down, even winking at them before turning to walk out the front door. Kill had a sick feeling that wouldn’t be his last run-in with the Dragon’s enforcers, but that would be a fight for another day. For now, he’d have to settle for the promise of tomorrow with Viv as his wife. He was going to meet his woman at the courthouse and make her his, officially.

  “Well, that was a shit show,” Kill grumbled. “I have to give it to Outkast, he was pretty damn convincing. You think that was all for show or what?”

  “I have no idea, man,” Savage admitted. “I guess we only have Hart’s word to go by and well, time. If Outkast is one of the good guys, we’ll know sooner or later.”

  “So we wait?” Kill asked.

  “Yeah besides, we have bigger things to think about today. You ready for this?” Savage asked.

  “If you mean marrying the woman I want more than my next breath—then yeah,” Kill admitted. “I think I’ve been waiting my whole life for Viv.”

  “Then let’s go and get you hitched,” Savage said, patting Kill’s shoulder. “We’ll worry about all this other shit another day.” Kill nodded and smiled, knowing his friend was right. The rest of the crap could wait. Today, he was going to begin his forever with his woman and that was enough for him.

  _______

  Cillian stood at the front of the courtroom and wanted to laugh at how different things were from the first time he was in that same room. Last time, he was being sentenced by a judge for grand theft auto. This time, he was going to be professing his undying love for Viv, in front of the justice of the peace, making her his wife. Viv walked down the short span of the aisle, wearing a beautiful white lacey dress she borrowed from Dallas. It was the same dress she had worn for her commitment ceremony with Bowie and Savage. Kill loved the sweet friendship that was forming between his and Savage’s woman. It was fitting that their two families would be close. Kill could see their kids growing up together, family birthday parties and even vacations. He wondered how his parents would feel about the way things had turned out for him. Kill knew his father trusted Savage with his own life, time and again. He had to believe both of his parents would approve of him leaning on Savage and offering him his friendship. It was what his father had asked of Savage before heading back to Ireland; him keeping an eye on Kill. Now, it was his turn to help Savage keep an eye on the people he loved and his club. It was the least Kill could do for his old friend after he stood by him for so many years.

  “Hi,” Viv said, smiling up at him. She carried a small bouquet of lilies and she looked perfect. Her long blond hair laid in soft curls on her bare shoulders and the dress hugged her every curve, even the baby bump that Kill was fascinated with. He never thought that any of this would be possible for him—a wife and kids, but here he was with everything he’d ever wanted in life.

  “Hey,” he whispered, pulling her against his body to brush his lips against hers. The judge cleared his throat and the two of them laughed. “Sorry,” he lied.

  “You look beautiful,” she whispered. Kill looked down his own body and smiled. He was wearing the blue suit that Dallas had bought for him when he got out of prison. It was supposed to be for job interviews, but he never needed it. He found a job that led him to his happily ever after—his forever.

  “Right back at you,” he whispered. “You look lovely, Viv,” Cillian said. Her blush was adorable, reaching up to her ears and Kill wondered how he had gotten so damn lucky in finding Viv. “Thank you for agreeing to marry me,” he said, taking her hand in his own.

  “Thanks for asking, Cillian,” she whispered.

  “Are you both ready to begin?” the judge asked.

  “We are,” they said together. Their beginning was just the start of what Kill wanted to build with his new wife. He could tell by the way she looked at him, Viv felt the same way. He was ready for today and every day after because of the promise he saw in her eyes. Viv was his home and he’d finally found his way to her. Cillian was exactly where he was supposed to be—home.

  EPILOGUE

  VIVIAN

  It had been one year since Cillian James walked into her life. Viv’s life changed forever that day. It was the day she hired the hot as sin ex-con, covered in tattoos and able to melt her panties with just one word in his sexy Irish accent. Yeah, Cillian was a nice surprise and just when she thought life couldn’t take her by surprise anymore, the universe sent her their baby girl.

  Viv looked down at her sleeping two-month-old daughter and sighed. Little Jessica was the spitting image of her father and she had him completely wrapped around her tiny finger. They debated on the name until one night when they were at Savage Hell and one of the guys in the club said they should name the baby Jesse James, like the outlaw. Cillian was immediately on board but she worried that the name was too masculine. Cillian came up with Jessica and she agreed to let him call her Jesse, for short. She had to admit, knowing her daughter’s short temperament and hot head, the name seemed to fit her.

  “Let’s go on a little walk, Jesse. I think your Daddy is going to work late tonight and we’ll bring him some dinner,” Viv whispered, kissing her daughter’s fuzzy little head.

  Viv had hired a full-time manager at the diner to keep up the place. She still went in every morning but was home in time for Cillian to go into his shop by lunchtime, most days. They had a great little system worked out and were lucky enough to both be business owners, allowing them time with Jesse. While she was
still pregnant, Viv worried that their schedules might be too much on their growing family, but it seemed to work for them.

  The guys at Savage Hell had decided to give Cillian a loan to start his shop. It had been his dream to open a garage in town and Savage even helped him to find the perfect location. The place had been a garage back in the day and it just took a little bit of elbow grease and the guys all pitched in to help get it up and running. It was so special to watch Cillian’s dreams realized. She remembered what it was like her first day on the job as the owner of her grandmother’s diner and not just an employee. She knew that the garage meant everything to Cillian and she was so proud of him. He called his place Roadkill and she had to admit, she loved the name. It seemed to fit both who Cillian was and the man he had become.

  He had even made enough in the first few months to pay back most of his loan to Savage Hell. Savage had told him not to rush, but her husband didn’t like to be in debt to anyone, not even men he considered family. They had decided to save everything he made from the shop until he could pay the club back, living off what she could bring home from the diner. Things were tight, but they were doing it. In just a few more months, Cillian would have his debt paid and own his garage free and clear.

  Cillian worked on the club’s vehicles at a discount and the guys gave him enough business to keep his place going for a good long time. Cillian hated taking money from the guys, after everything they had done for him, but Savage insisted that was the way it was going to be. Word got around town that he was not only a damn good mechanic, but trustworthy and charged a fair price, and people started taking their vehicles to him.

  Viv put Jesse in her stroller and walked the mile to Cillian’s garage, to take him the food she had brought home from the diner. “Well, there are my two best girls,” he said, as they turned the corner. “What brings you in tonight?” he asked. He pulled Viv in for a quick kiss and peeked in on the sleeping baby.