Savage Kings MC Box Set 1

by Lane Hart

  Chapter Nine

  Maddox

  It’s taken weeks, unfortunately, but Reece and I have narrowed down our potential prospects to four guys. We’ve put them through hell, and they still keep showing up for more punishment and humiliation. All except for Pete, that is, who realized after the debacle at Avalon that he, literally, didn’t have the balls to be a member of the Kings.

  Now, though, it’s time to select the two guys who will get to wear the Savage Kings leather prospect cut.

  Finally!

  The faster I get them trained up and ready, the faster I’ll get my patches.

  “I think Mike and Cedric are our best picks out of the four,” I tell Reece when we convene down in his apartment to discuss our potential recruits, who are waiting upstairs.

  Grinning, he slaps my shoulder and says, “You’re a natural at this, kid. Just like your old man.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, wanting him to tell me more about Deacon since he’s the only one who knows he was my father.

  “I mean, you have the same intuition as he did about who can cut it as a King and who can’t. That one boy, Carl, he wouldn’t have lasted a day. And the ginger? He looked like he was ready to piss his pants. That’s a pussy rat if I ever saw one.”

  “So, Deacon picked all the prospects?”

  “When I was coming up, he did. He handpicked me,” Reece says. “I was right out of the Army, had only been a hang-around for a few weeks, while some of the other guys had years on me. Still, Deacon chose me over them, said he knew I was a King by the way I held myself.”

  “Really?”

  “Apparently, I looked like a stubborn son of a bitch who could take a punch and keep kicking ass.”

  Yeah, I could see that about him from the first time we met too.

  “Torin is the one who picked me, and Cooper picked Holden,” I say, and Reece nods.

  “Torin’s got the same eye as his uncle. He had watched some of the guys give you shit when you were a hang-around, and could tell that you bottled up your anger but weren’t a hothead like Holden was. You keep your cool and play shit smart. He trusted you right off the bat, which is rare for Torin, even before Hector Cruz fucked him over.”

  “Why did he trust me?” I ask. “I was just a homeless kid who thought everyone saw me as a leech. And I didn’t tell him the name I was born with…”

  “Everyone has their secrets,” Reece says. “And that’s fine as long as those secrets won’t screw over the MC. Yours isn’t anything shameful or hurtful.”

  “You think he knew I was lying?” I ask.

  “Maybe. But you held your own and didn’t back down to anyone, even him. You may go around saying, yes, sir to the brothers, but we can all hear it in your tone and see it in your eyes—you think you’re an equal to us, not a subordinate, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We may make prospects do the grunt work, but we don’t want pissant pussies. It takes a man with confidence and a little swagger to become a King.”

  “And you think I have confidence and swagger?” I ask with a grin.

  “I said a little, don’t be twisting my words,” Reece mutters. “Now, if you’re done talking about your feelings, let’s go get rid of the trash and tell our boys the good news. I’ll even let you do the honors.”

  On the way back up the steps, he says, “You’ve been a workhorse long enough, Mad Dog. Now it’s time to start showing us what you’re made of. Don’t be scared of pissing anyone off. That vote of yours is as good as done.”

  “Thanks,” I say on an exhale of relief before we get to the door at the top. Switching on the badass soon-to-be-King version of myself, I walk into the bar saying, “Look alive, wannabes. Two of you have made the cut.”

  The boys all straighten up as they form a line, standing shoulder to shoulder.

  “If you think we decided that you’re one of the two that has the balls it takes to be a prospect for the Kings, take a step forward,” I tell them as I pace in front of the line. I pull out the big Ka-Bar knife War gave me from the holster and spin it around for them to all see it. “But, if you step up and you’re wrong, we’ll have to take one of your toes off before your dumb ass is sent out the door.”

  This is the final test to see if we’ve picked the right guys—not boys, but men brave enough to step up, even if there’s a chance they’ll face an incredible amount of pain.

  After a few seconds of hesitation, Cedric finally mutters a curse but then takes a step forward. Riding his wave of confidence, Mike eases up beside him.

  “That everyone who wants to be a King?” I ask. It’s so quiet in the bar, I can hear crickets chirping outside. “All right, the rest of you out. Mike and Cedric, take off your shoes.”

  The two chumps run from the bar like their asses are on fire.

  Cedric bends down to start untying his boots while Mike looks at me and licks his lips. “You’re fucking with us, right?”

  “Take your goddamn shoe off,” Reece, who had been quiet, barks at him. “If he has to tell you again, he’ll take two toes instead of one.”

  “Dammit,” Mike huffs before he kneels down.

  While their heads are both lowered, Reece reaches behind the bar and grabs the two leather cuts with prospect patches that were draped over a stool and tosses them to me. I throw one down on Cedric’s shoulders and the other on Mike.

  “Put your shoes back on and don’t make us regret this decision, or you’ll be losing more than a toe,” I warn them, channeling my inner savage.

  “Pussy training starts at four tomorrow afternoon at the salvage yard,” Reece informs them. “Don’t be late.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” both guys say before they stand up and put on their cuts with grins splitting their faces.

  I remember the day Torin gave me the one I’m wearing. He sent me and Holden on a scavenger hunt to find the cock-cycle. It was just as awful as it sounds. The two of us knew we were looking for a Harley, but had no idea until we spotted it that it was Chase’s old rat bike…that was covered in dildos. Still, Holden and I fought for who would ride it, and I won. Pulling up in the clubhouse parking lot that night, with the guys waiting around at the bonfire, was fucking amazing. That’s when Torin and War gave me my cut and War told me he wanted to be my sponsor.

  It was one of the best days of my life. Before that, I knew it was possible they would never give me a chance to be one of them.

  After hanging around for two years, I had seen a lot of guys come and go. Not to mention how terrifying it was to see Holden eventually meet his end.

  Still, I didn’t give up and it paid off.

  Soon, I’m going to finally be a King.

  Chapter Ten

  Audrey

  “You do know how to work a dishwasher, don’t you?” I ask Mindy, my wonderful roommate, when she comes into the kitchen and I’m cleaning her crusty macaroni pot from last night.

  “I was gonna wash my shit if you had given me a chance,” she grumbles.

  “Yeah, right,” I mutter. “And could you try not to slam doors when you come in after midnight?”

  “You’re such a nag,” she huffs. “A slag nag.”

  Rolling my eyes at her insults, I finish cleaning the dishes and then grab my purse, keys, and phone to head out to the store. I need a few groceries for the weekend and Stella needs more cat food. I swear she eats as much as a lion.

  Although, she hasn’t been eating as much the last few weeks. I think she misses Maddox too, even though he was only in our lives for a short time before he disappeared.

  And while I’m not completely sure, I think he was pissed the day he left. He didn’t even ask for my phone number. I had created this grand fantasy in my head, where he would confront my brother Warren and profess his feelings for me, then demand to know how to contact me. When that didn’t happen, I started imagining every time I heard footsteps in the hall, that it was Maddox, back with a cake and a bottle of wine. It never was, just our neighbors returning an
d the police coming through to get statements about the looters. I don’t really know why I’m surprised. Have any of the other guys I’ve slept with wanted to see me again? No. At least, not unless it was to fuck.

  Speaking of which, my shitty day gets even better when I’m picking out fruit in the produce section and a man steps up next to me.

  “Hello, stranger.”

  Ugh, Professor Burrows. While he’s nice to look at—tall and lean but still muscular, with shaggy dark hair and facial hair to make him look more distinguished—he was a selfish lover. While I was hoping for a one-and-done to keep from failing his class, he would always hold the power to change my grade back if I failed to fuck him whenever he wanted for the rest of the semester. He always enjoyed himself, but it wasn’t much fun for me. Not like when I was with Maddox…

  “Hi,” I reply, while adding a few more peaches to my plastic bag.

  “I see you endured the summer.”

  “I did,” I agree.

  “Looking forward to starting your senior year?”

  “I am,” I reply, eager to get my Marine Biology degree to escape the all-girl campus and work in one of the local aquariums.

  He takes a step closer to me so that the front of his body is pressed against my side and one particular part of him is hard against my hip. “I’ve heard you’re taking Professor Talbot’s Organic Chemistry class. That’s a tough one, and you and I both know that science isn’t your strong suit.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I say, stepping away from him.

  “Talbot’s a good friend. A real good friend,” he says again for emphasis. “In fact, we tell each other everything, you know, share notes on students.”

  “Good for you,” I reply.

  “He can’t wait to meet you.”

  “Yeah, same here,” I mutter. “Anyway, I have to get going, but it was good seeing you,” I lie before I grab my buggy and hurry away to the checkout, even though I only have two of the ten things I needed on my grocery list. I’ll just go to another store to get the rest, one where I hopefully won’t run into any creepy professors who have seen me naked.

  But once I’m in my car, I find myself driving back to my apartment. And once I’m there and hear Mindy’s radio blaring with her god-awful hick music, I start packing my suitcase without a second thought.

  I need a break from this place. The city, the apartment, and all the people here before classes start.

  I can head home with the excuse that I want to spend some time with my nephew before school starts on Monday, and maybe even run into Maddox. But I really do want to spend time with Ren. I was worried sick about him and I’m so glad that Warren got him back.

  My brother is always telling me to come home more often, and while he isn’t fond of cats, once he sees Stella’s cute fluffy face, I’m sure he’ll love her and not mind her visiting too.

  …

  I slip my key into the lock on my brother’s garage door and ease inside, closing it softly behind me before I set Stella down on the cement with my suitcase.

  Warren’s truck is here, so I know he’s inside the house somewhere.

  What I’m hoping is that I’ll have a few minutes to look around before he realizes I’m here.

  Going over to the black tarp draped over his bike, I quietly peel the plastic off until I can see every inch of the big, shiny black Harley. While I knew he had a bike because I had heard it on the street, and seen the tarp, I didn’t know it was this damn nice. I mean, my brother deserves to be able to buy nice things for himself, it’s just that I’ve felt guilty for the ten years I’ve had to depend on him. Especially the last three years of college when he’s had to waste a ton of money on my apartment and tuition. If he can still afford a bike like this, then I’m wondering if he’s earning more money at the auto shop than I thought.

  Going around to the briefcase-looking satchel on the side of the bike, I pop it open and then reach inside to pull out a leather cut so similar to Maddox’s, I even hold it up to my nose to get a whiff of his scent. Why didn’t I ever notice this smell on my brother?

  Unfolding the leather, I first find the “Sergeant-at-Arms” patch on the front before turning it around to examine the enormous white patches on the back. The bearded skull king is not anything I would expect my brother to wear.

  “Come on, Stella. Let’s go have a talk with Uncle Warren.”

  Still holding the leather cut, I step through the door that comes out in the kitchen and find the living room empty.

  “Warren!” I start down the hallway. “Oh, brother where art thou?” I call out before I come to a stop in his bedroom doorway…and find him scurrying around the room with so much skin showing, I immediately turn my back. “Why are you naked at four o’clock in the afternoon?” I shout at him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” he grumbles.

  “It was going to be a surprise!”

  “Sorry,” he says.

  At first, I’m assuming he’s talking to me, until I hear a woman say, “It’s okay. I’ve been wanting to meet Audrey, just with more clothes on.”

  “Nova?” I ask aloud without turning around when I recognize the social worker’s voice. “You’re sleeping with Nova?”

  “Ah, yeah. We’re seeing each other,” War says from behind me. “We’ve been seeing each other, for a few weeks now, actually.”

  “Wow,” I mutter in surprise since my brother hasn’t talked to a woman, much less had one over, since the Marcie debacle.

  “Could you give us a little privacy?” War asks when I refuse to budge from my spot in the doorway.

  “I didn’t see anything,” I assure him. “And this can’t wait.” I hold up the leather cut by one finger and ask, “What is this?”

  “Ah, where did you get that from?” my brother asks before he snatches it away from me. “First, you bust in on me without calling and now you’ve been going through my shit? Have you lost your damn mind?”

  “Have you been lying to me?” I ask when I turn around to face him, glad to see he’s dressed in jeans and a tee and that Nova is too. She’s beautiful and tall and skinny, so I want to hate her, but I can’t if she makes my brother happy.

  “Did Maddox say something to you a few weeks ago?” Warren asks, making my eyes snap back to his narrowed golden ones.

  “No, you don’t get to be angry at someone else for telling me what you should have told me!” I declare. “Jesus, he showed up wearing a damned vest just like this! You’re in a biker gang and you send a member to my house, not thinking that I might notice something odd?”

  “It’s a motorcycle club,” he says before putting his arms through the cut. “And it’s none of your business. Maddox should’ve kept his mouth shut! Or at least changed his clothes!”

  “He was only trying to convince me that he knew you. What was I supposed to do when a random guy shows up at my door to pick me up? And it turns out, he knew you better than I did!”

  “War…” Nova starts when she comes up beside my brother. “She’s a grown woman. Don’t you think she deserves to know?”

  “Fine,” Warren agrees. “Let’s go talk in the living room.”

  “Okay,” I say, glad that he’s willing to talk instead of blowing me off. I guess I have Nova to thank for that.

  “And this is your home. I’m not saying you have to call when you’re coming, but a heads-up would’ve been…what the fuck is that!” Warren yells when he stumbles into the hallway wall because Stella was rubbing on his leg.

  “I got a kitten,” I explain, reaching down to grab her and pick her up in my arms. “Isn’t she cute? Her name is Stella.”

  “What are you doing with a cat? You can’t have pets in your apartment!” Warren grumbles.

  “Ah, well, I talked to Joe and he said he’s okay with Stella.” I leave off the bit about what I had to do to convince him. Besides, I liked it. We would probably still be going at it if he wasn’t allergic to cats. And if I hadn’t met Ma
ddox…

  “Really?” Warren asks in disbelief.

  “Really. Call him and ask him if you don’t believe me,” I tell him. “I’m actually telling the truth, unlike you.” It’s a low blow but he deserves it. “Where’s Ren? Still at daycare while you get naked at four in the afternoon?”

  “He loves his teachers and missed the kids,” Warren huffs. “He asked to go back until kindergarten starts, so that’s where he is for another half hour.”

  “I’m not judging,” I tell him when I flop down on the sofa. “I just want answers. What’s with the MC?”

  “Fine,” Warren mutters. “I moved here to join the Savage Kings. That’s where I’ve been working for the past six years.”

  “You work in their garage?” I ask, and he trades a look with Nova who gives a supportive nod.

  “Not exactly,” he replies. “I help oversee their businesses and watch out for the president. In exchange for being a member, I get a portion of the business profits.”

  “The MC owns businesses?” I ask.

  “Yes, several that are very lucrative.”

  “And that’s how you afford…everything?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is it dangerous?” I inquire and again he trades a look with Nova who gives another nod of encouragement.

  “Sometimes,” Warren finally answers through clenched teeth. “That’s why I have a million-dollar life insurance policy, in case something happens to me.”

  “Happens to you?” I repeat with my jaw gaping. “Like what?”

  “Sometimes the MC makes enemies…”

  Enemies?

  “Like you could get shot?” I ask, and then a memory from the year before hits me. “The pregnant woman?”