by Lila Rose
Ruin Copyright © 2021 by Lila Rose
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Editor: Hot Tree Editing
Photographer: Wander Book Club
Cover Designer: Covers by Juan
Interior Designer: RMJ Editing & Manuscript Service
All rights reserved. No part of this eBook or book may be used or reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without the permission from the author as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
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Ruin is a work of fiction. All names, characters, events and places found in this book are either from the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons live or dead is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
First Edition 2021
Introduction
Ruin is book 2 in the Hawks MC: Next Generation series and is based in Australia. The book focuses more on the love interest than MC life.
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Joshua “Ruin” May has been a dick in the past. He’s trying to rectify one such dickish moment by helping out a friend, and he wants to make sure this time he doesn’t let her down. His journey leads him to Melbourne and a whole heap of unexpected trouble, namely an irritating crime boss.
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Wolf.
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A man who gets on his nerves and seems to revel in winding him up.
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The good-looking douche sparks something unexpected in Ruin, leaving him confused.
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With so much to lose and potentially everything to gain, Ruin has a choice to make. Will he figure himself out and make the ultimate decision that will change his future?
Prologue
Ruin
“Enter,” Talon called. I opened the door and stepped through with Coyote, my closest brother in the club, at my back. Already in the office were Griz, Blue, Vicious, Killer, Stoke, and Cowboy. Cowboy was a younger member, just twenty-one—a good guy who helped Coyote out at his Harley store.
“You should be restin’,” Talon told Coyote. The guy had not long been in a car wreck with his bakery girl after some thugs tried to take them out. It was lucky I’d arrived when I had, with the brothers not far behind. Coyote stared the prez—his dad—down, earning a snort from Talon. “Yeah, I’d be the fuckin’ same.” We all knew what he meant. He’d still keep going to deal with the fuckers we’d caught.
“Heard from their leader?” Coyote asked.
Talon answered, “We’re expectin’ a call any second, since Killer used one of the guys’ phones and sent a video of one of the captives gettin’ worked over.”
“They tell you anythin’?” I asked.
Griz snorted. “Sang like cockatoos.”
“You mean canaries,” Cowboy said.
Griz glared. “What?”
“The sayin’ is sang like canaries.” When Griz just stared Cowboy down, he added, “But it doesn’t matter what kind of bird it is.”
Blue snickered while my dad, Stoke, flat-out laughed.
“What did they say?” Coyote asked, wincing when he moved the wrong way.
“Sit before you fall down, Coyote.” Talon eyed his son, nodding to the chair in front of his desk.
“Apparently the main guy, whose name’s Cub, was goin’ after Channa on his own. He roped those guys into helpin’ because he wanted payback on her since she made him look like a little pussy,” Dad explained.
“Did they say what they think we stole off them?” I asked, since I got the feeling they only attacked after the bakery girl made a fool of them in the first scuffle outside her place.
“All he said was that we’d have to take it up with their leader. But if that fucker doesn’t tell us what it is, we’ll do some more work on the guys we have. I want this finished by the time night falls.” Talon rapped his knuckles on the worn oak desk.
“Agreed,” Coyote stated coldly, alongside a few of the other brothers.
The phone rang, pausing the conversation. We shared a look before Talon put it on speaker. “Speak,” he ordered.
“This is Wolf. I’m the leader of the Takahashi family and see you have some of my men.”
“I’m not sure what you’re talkin’ about.” Talon’s voice was guarded. In case the phone call was compromised, he couldn’t say too much. “But how about we meet and sort a few things out?”
There was silence for a few beats. “I’m out the front of the compound.” The call ended, and shock rocked through us all.
Blue’s eyebrows shot high. “He’s got some damn big balls.”
“He does. Let’s go see what he has to say.” Talon stood, and we followed him outside. Other members tried to join, but Talon told them to stay back. When we neared the locked gate, a lone man stood on the other side.
This Wolf guy, who had an Asian background, didn’t look like he belonged to a thug gang. A mobster one, yeah, with his crisp white suit, black shirt, and long jacket. His long dark hair was neatly tied at the back of his neck. His eyes told a whole other story. Confidence mixed with something a little crazy bled through their depths.
“Talon, I presume?” He even didn’t sound like a damn gang member. Each word was clear and correct.
“Yeah, and you’re Wolf.” Talon stopped just on the other side of the gate and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ve come alone.”
He nodded. “In good faith.”
Blue snorted. “Good faith? After one of yours caused not one, but fuckin’ two crashes and near-deaths of some of ours?”
Wolf’s jaw clenched. “Cub acted alone. He’s… let’s say… unruly. I never wanted anyone hurt. I only ordered him to ask questions, but he has something against your club that isn’t a part of my gang. I reside in Melbourne and have a few members who travel from here to the city. Cub was one of them. It was lucky I was in town checking on them when the situation happened.”
“You sayin’ he went out on his own for all this shit?” Talon asked.
“Yes.”
Talon’s silence told us he wasn’t sure whether to believe this guy. Still, Talon put his hands on his waist. “He has to pay for what he’s done. Two brothers are injured, and so is a woman who’s under the club’s protection. He was going to kill them all if he had his damn way.”
“I wouldn’t think he’d kill—”
“He had a gun to a brother’s head. A gun to the woman’s, and everyone who was there could see the intent in his fuckin’ eyes. He was gonna kill them. If you don’t believe that, I can give you the reports on the damn injuries. No one gets away with hurtin’ anyone in Hawks.”
Wolf’s nostrils flared, and the hands at his sides fisted. “Fucking fool,” he snarled to the ground. He looked up and met Talon’s hard gaze. “He’s yours.”
“What?” Talon’s brows shot up in surprise. I wouldn’t have seen it if I wasn’t standing beside him.
“Do with him what you will. He acted alone, thinking he could climb the ladder by doing something foolish without consequences. He was wrong. Punish him however you choose. I don’t want problems with the Hawks MC, just an answer.”
Talon ignored the last part and asked, “The others that were with him?”
“Three, I believe?”
Talon nodded.
“They were stupid to follow Cub in the first place. Put fear in them, and then if they haven’t done anything to anyone in your club, release them.”
“You want us to teach them a lesson?” Griz asked.
&
nbsp; Who the fuck was this guy?
“If you believe they need it, yes.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Talon barked. “And what do you think we stole off you?”
He smiled. It was only slight but still there. “As I said, I am Wolf. I control a large part of Melbourne, the women, drugs, and weaponry. I have seen what the Hawks MC can do. I want you to know we don’t have an issue with one another unless you get involved in my business.”
“Stay out of our territory, and we won’t,” Talon warned.
He nodded once. “I have heard this and will abide by it.”
Talon snorted. “Jesus, you’ve got some damn balls comin’ here without anyone with you. Tell us what you think we stole and then this shit will be done.”
“Mimi Takahashi.”
“Mimi?” I said, and everyone looked at me. Mimi was a club girl. She and I had had a night together, but no more. “She’s a club girl.” Meaning he wouldn’t get his hands on her.
Wolf snarled. “So she is here?”
“What do you want with her?” Talon asked.
“She’s my sister.”
“And?” Blue pressed.
A tick started at Wolf’s temple. He breathed deeply through his nose, which seemed to help him compose himself. “Mimi disappeared. I have been looking for her. She needs to come home.”
“When a woman becomes a part of the club, they’re protected.”
His upper lip rose. “She shouldn’t have left in the first place.”
“Why did she leave?” Griz asked. We wouldn’t even bring her into this if she’d been treated badly in the first place.
“It is not what you’re thinking,” he said roughly.
“Then tell us, and we’ll see if we bring Mimi out he—” Talon’s words were cut off.
“Taro?” I tensed at the word sounding from behind me, ready to step in front of Mimi, but Talon held up his hand, halting me.
Wolf’s whole body became taut at seeing his sister, his gaze shifting behind us. “Mimi.” The single word was barely a whisper.
“What are you doing here?” Mimi stepped between Talon and Blue, her hands positioned protectively around herself.
“Finding you.”
“I’m not coming back.” Defiance lifted her words.
“Mimi—”
“No, Taro. I told them I refuse. I know it brings shame to the family, but I won’t do it.”
Wolf glanced around at us, obviously hesitant to speak in front of us, and I couldn’t blame the guy. Obviously, it was a family issue.
“I have control over the family now, Mimi.”
A small gasp escaped her as she cupped her throat. “Father?”
The clenching of Wolf’s jaw was the only tell he gave, letting us know he didn’t want to be discussing anything right now. “I would rather speak with you in private.”
Mimi inhaled, the sound ragged, and she nodded.
“Come with me then.” Wolf’s gaze and tone softened.
“Ruin, you go with them,” Talon ordered.
With pleasure. I’d have her back, even if she was pissed at me for not taking up her offer for another hook-up.
Wolf’s gaze hardened when he speared Talon with it. “She is family. She does not need a guard dog with her when with me.”
“She’s also been Hawks for six months. She’s family to us, and she left your family for a reason. I won’t have her goin’ on her own.”
“Mimi.” Wolf’s single word was clipped.
Mimi turned to Talon. “It’s okay, Mr Marcus. I’m sorry I brought this trouble to your doorstep, but I will be safe with my brother.” It did sound like she trusted her brother, but there was still a situation with her family.
Talon shook his head. “Mimi, girl, you’ve been here for a while. You know how this works. You walked into this compound and became a part of Hawks. No matter where you’re goin’ or what type of situation it is, we’ll have your back. Take Ruin. He can stand away while you talk. But I’d feel better with a brother there.”
Before Mimi could say anything, Wolf did. “Thank you for protecting her. Ruin is allowed to accompany us.”
“Ruin?” Talon called.
“I’ll follow behind,” I said.
“Keep us posted.” Talon hit me with a solid look, making his expectations clear.
“You got it, Prez,” I replied and patted Coyote on the back before I moved off to my ride.
Chapter One
Ruin
The situation was fucked.
I’d do anything for Mimi because she was a sweet woman. The problem was she just wasn’t mine, and it made me feel like a heartless jackass since she’d made it clear she wanted me for more than just the one-night stand.
While we had our personal shit to deal with, I hoped it didn’t mess with her other crap we were heading into. I followed Mimi and her brother as they drove to a nearby diner that was always open in the early hours. Once parked, I slipped off my ride and went inside after them.
Sitting a couple of booths away from them, I rested back and waited for the server to come and take my order. I needed a damn strong coffee to keep me going, and the day was just getting started. I hoped, with being far enough away but still in earshot, it would give Wolf a sense of comfort that I wasn’t listening in, which I totally was.
“As I was saying in the car, Mimi, Father is on his deathbed. He wishes to see you, and you’re telling me you do not want to come home?”
She winced and shook her head. “No, Taro.”
“Mimi, I would not have come if I didn’t believe I could take care of you.”
“I know, brother, but you know what our uncles are like.”
“They are not in charge. I am. They will listen to whatever I say. I will make sure of it.”
“Taro, I trust you, I do. Leaving you has been the hardest decision in my life, but I knew you were strong, not like me. Women in our family aren’t respected. We’re ordered.”
“I will change this.”
She gave him a sad smile. “I hope you can, but it has been this way for decades.”
The waitress approached them, and they asked for coffee. When she stopped at my table, I ordered two extra hot, double-strength coffees.
“Under my ruling, it will. Please, Mimi, come home with me this final time. I know you will regret this if you don’t see him one last time.”
“Taro….”
“Please. I will protect you. You could even bring him along for extra security.” He thumbed over his shoulder my way.
Her nose screwed up as she shook her head. Mimi drew in a deep breath. “Are you certain the uncles can’t force this marriage on me?”
What the fuck?
“They won’t. I will not allow it.”
“My intended was fifty, Taro. Fifty to my nineteen years. Father was going to give me away to an old man for an alliance. Why would I want to see him?”
That was so messed up, I didn’t even know what to think about it. Her father, the man who was supposed to take care of her, wanted her to marry an old fucker. I had a shit dad who beat my mum, but then Declan Stoke came into our lives, became my dad, and he was a man who loved with every fibre of his body. I goddamn looked up to him in many ways. He wouldn’t stand for this shit if it was happening to anyone he knew. I wasn’t going to either.
If Mimi was heading home, I’d go along for the ride and make sure no one screwed her over, since I didn’t completely trust her brother. I’d feel better for having her back.
“Do it for you,” Wolf said. “Tell Father exactly what you think. Be there for Mother. She will need you.”
“She is the one who told me to run in the first place. If Father found out, he would have killed her.”
“I wouldn’t have allowed it. I have control over the family, the faction. I have my own people within the gang, ones who will only follow me, ones who I trust with my life and the lives of those I love. It will never be that way again. You and Mothe
r will be taken care of. Things have changed. Trust me, Mimi, everything is better.”
It had better be.
I gave a smile to the waitress when she dropped off my drinks before I pulled my phone out, placing it on the booth.
“Thank you,” Mimi said to the waitress before she left and then looked back to her brother. “All right, Taro. I’ll come back, but I will not stay long.”
“I understand.”
I shot a quick text to my club president, Talon.
Me: Mimi’s heading back to Melbourne. Her dad’s on his deathbed. But shit at home don’t look good. She ran because the dick dad tried to marry her off to a fifty-year-old dude for an alliance.
Talon: Fucking hell. You going with?
Me: Was thinking it. For added security. She still seems worried about her uncles trying to control her.
Talon: Yeah, go. Since the shit here has calmed, you’ll have the time on your hands. If you run into any shit, have the brothers in Caroline Springs back you.
Me: You got it, boss.
Talon: Get back here and pack.
Me: On it.
When I finished my second coffee, and they looked like they’d had enough chit-chat for one night, I stood and went to the counter to pay for all the coffees. They were just getting out of the booth when I turned and waited for them at the front door.
I tipped my chin up and said, “Talon has me on her security, so I’ll be coming with you—”
“No!” Mimi snapped and glared up at me. She was cute when fiery. It was a damn shame I didn’t see her as my one. I wished to Christ I did. She was stunning. I hated that I’d hurt her when I was an arsehole by telling her I didn’t see us going further than that one night. I couldn’t lie to her though. I couldn’t have her thinking there was more between us.
