Wyatt: Hades Knights MC : He’s A Dark Dream, She’s Hope, Together, They’re Magical! (Dark Alphas MC Romance) (NorCal Chapter Book 8) Read online

  Laura looks at me, crossing her arms, then lower her eyelids looking away, pressing her lips into a straight line.

  Fuck!

  What’s wrong with her?

  She never acted so childishly before.

  This is all wrong?

  I take a step closer, taking her arm to pull her into my arms. Laura pulls away, taking a few steps away from me.

  Some girls exit the diner, laughing and running under the awning.

  I take a couple of steps to get close to Laura sliding my arm around her waist.

  “I can’t do this,” Laura yells, pulling out of my arms, running into the street.

  “Laura,” I yell, running after her.

  Everything is happening so quickly; the scene in front of me takes place in slow motion; it’s surreal.

  I see the car hit Laura, the impact propels her body up into the air, twirling around, and lands on her back on the other side of the street.

  My heart is pounding hard, against my tight chest, as I reach her. I lean down next to Laura, staring into her pained eyes. She slowly closes them.

  “Baby, please don’t leave me,” I yell, running my fingers along her smooth cheek.

  “Oh my god,” yell the girls behind me.

  “Don’t move her,” the man, the driver that hit her yells, running over to stand next to Laura. He looks down at Laura, shaking.

  “Someone, please call the ambulance,” I yell, checking Laura’s pulse.

  “I tried to stop. Oh my God,” the driver cries, pulling out his cell phone.

  The ambulance and police finally arrive.

  “What happened,” the officer asks, walking over.

  “I was driving down the street, and she ran out in front of me! I slammed on the brakes, but I hit her,” the driver says, pulling at his short hair.

  The paramedics rush over to Laura; I move to the side. I watch the paramedics check her vitals.

  Everything took place in slow motion. I only wanted to take Laura home.

  The officer was relentless with the questions. The girls and the driver were witnesses and were able to provide the police officer with the fact that Laura ran out.

  The next few days were a nightmare. Laura’s parents blame me for her death.

  Hell, I blame myself.

  I lost Laura and my baby.

  I don’t know why she did it.

  She left me alone.

  She tore my heart out.

  Maybe I didn’t do everything I could.

  Maybe I should have tried harder to get a job.

  My parents are relieved, I know it even if they say that they’re sorry.

  My heartaches and I feel that they don't understand how much I loved Laura; that my soul died with her and my baby.

  I don't think anyone understands that I feel that Laura didn't love me enough when she ran into the path of that car and killing me with her.

  My parent's act like they don't care, and that is hurting me even more.

  I'm so confused as to why Laura ran into the street.

  Fuck, I need to disappear from this nightmare.

  Now, I'm ready to get out of here. I'm leaving tomorrow for my training.

  One

  Wyatt

  Ten years later.

  Today is hard for me because it’s been ten years since Laura passed. I need to clear my mind riding my bike is the best therapy ever.

  The wind swirls around me as I ride down the country road. The exhilaration that flows through my body and the feeling of being part of the world is a rush that I get every time that I ride my Harley.

  The long ride helps me release the stress, the memories, and the pain. Yeah, the pain of losing Laura, the baby, and the horror in Afghanistan.

  I grind my molars, twisting the throttle to accelerate, speeding down the road. I need to feel the air on my face, clearing my mind.

  An hour later, I walk into the Hades Knights clubhouse nodding at my brother Seth, the Prez.

  Seth is the grandson of the Hades Knights MC founder. The prior Prez, his Father Joseph Ward retired a few years ago after he had an accident that left him in a wheelchair. The MC is their legacy.

  “Hey, Ice,” Seth shouts, waving at me.

  He calls me Ice. That’s what our unit called me in the Marines because nothing fazes me. Some brothers call me Ice; I don’t care. They know that I’m dead, so nothing bothers me.

  The main clubhouse room is where we hang around drinking at the bar, playing pool, and talking. The pool tables are in one corner, and the bar is at the opposite corner. We have a huge screen TV and several sofas scattered around the room.

  We also have some rooms, mini suites, where we can stay. Some brothers have their homes and stay at the clubhouse when they need to.

  I look around, lifting my chin to greet my brothers playing pool in the far corner of the vast room. The club whores are messing with them, trying to get their attention.

  The club whores are girls that want to hang around, helping the brothers unstress. Yeah, they want to snag a brother, become their old lady, but I don’t see it happening since they only want to fuck. The girls usually hang around for a couple of years or so. The girls help our housekeeper with cleaning and cooking.

  The MC’s brothers don’t abuse the club whores, use them for drug trafficking, and we don’t prostitute them, like other MC’s, but they don’t fall in love with them either.

  “Hey Seth, how are you doing,” I say nodding as I walk over to the bar. I swing my leg over the stool leaning my forearms on the bar countertop.

  We’re close since we were brothers in the Marines, and he’s the one that introduced me to the MC.

  Seth invited me to check it out, and I signed up to prospect after getting out of the military.

  The day that I walked into the Hades Knights clubhouse and talked to the brothers, I felt at home. My head cleared for the very first time in a long time, and I felt at peace. I never regretted it. I know that the lifestyle isn’t for everybody, that it’s crazy, rough, and even at times dangerous, but I love it. We’re not saints, and we all have done our share of dark deeds, but it’s for survival. In my mind, it’s no different than the dark deeds we carried out in Afghanistan.

  The MC gives me a reason to live because my soul died a lift time ago. I will give my life for my brothers, and they will do the same for me. That’s what makes me feel at home because they’ve given me what I didn’t get at home, especially after my loss. I haven’t gone back home, and I don’t plan on it.

  “Hell, yes, I’m so damn happy. I can’t believe that Lexi is pregnant,” Seth says, smirking.

  Seth met his old lady when her fucking crazy Father, the Mayor used her as collateral. The Mayor got out of debt with the MC but got himself in trouble with the Cartel. Lexi and Seth fell in love, and the Mayor asked the MC to Allow his son Keith to prospect since he was interested in the lifestyle but also to hide him from the Cartel

  “Congrats, brother, I’m very happy for you,” I say, ignoring the sharp pain in my soul.

  Fuck!

  I can remember when I was so happy to be getting married. I fucking need to forget about it!

  I look up at the large tv mounted on the wall watching the game.

  “Fuck brother, you need to find yourself an old lady. I can’t wait to see you happy, enjoying life,” Seth says, slamming my back.

  “Yeah, sure,” I say, laughing.

  Keith walks up, laughing, shaking his head. He’s Seth’s brother in law, and he’s prospecting for the Hades Knights. We have two other prospects working for their patch.

  “What can I get you Ice,” Keith asks, wiping the bar countertop.

  “Get me a beer,” I say, nodding.

  “On it,” Keith says, walking away.

  “Ice, the caveat is to feel that she’s the right one,” Seth says, looking at me.

  My brother Seth doesn’t know about Laura and the baby. I never told a soul in the Marines or the MC.

&n
bsp; Keith walks over, setting the beer on the countertop.

  “Right, I’ll remember that,” I say, grabbing the beer, taking a long pull.

  I look at the beer bottle in my hands, focusing on the label, not reading it. My mind is racing around in circles, and Laura’s face pops into my mind. My chest tightens, and I force the image of Laura out of my mind.

  Fuck!

  It’s been ten fucking years, and she still creeps into my mind. I don’t want to think about her. She took my life with her. I fucking hate that she did that to me. My soul is cold, dead.

  I force myself to think about the job that needs to be done at the Styx club. We own the Styx strip club, and I manage it, among other duties.

  We also own several other businesses, the Eros Hotel, Hades After Dark cage fighting that’s really popular, and Knights repair shop. The establishments are very lucrative; therefore, it provides the MC with a good income to live.

  Nicolas walks into the asylum, doing his usual happy dance, chuckling.

  “Hey, Ice, Seth, what’s up,” Nicolas says, walking over to the bar. He waves, whistling at the brothers playing pool. He takes a seat next to me, grinning.

  “Hi, why are you so happy,” I ask, rolling my eyes.

  Nicolas is my other brother that was in the same unit in the Marines. So, you can say that we’re like the three musketeers. We’re close, and I’m happy to call him a brother.

  Nicolas is the MC’s Enforcer, he takes care of enforcing the bylaws, terminates objections and obstacles, collects, and handles all threats. I’m happy for my brother, he has recently fallen in love and is enjoying life with his old lady, Cassandra. Nicolas saved Cassie from her own Father who wants to use her as collateral to be an associate with the Cartel bar. The Cartel doesn’t play games; they killed her Father when he couldn’t deliver.

  The brothers are walking into the main room in the Hades Asylum, the clubhouse. I sit at the bar, taking a pull of my beer with my brother Seth.

  “Fuckingtastic reason of all! Motherfucker, my baby is growing. Cassie’s tummy is getting bigger every day! I can’t wait to hold little Nick in my arms,” Nicolas says, sliding onto the stool.

  “I bet that you’re excited,” I say, nodding. I take a pull of my beer closing my eyes tight.

  I need to stop the fucking tears before the brothers start asking questions. Times like this are the toughest to ride, especially today.

  Fuckingtastic!

  “Fuck, Nicolas! That’s fucking awesome! Lexi is pregnant, and I can’t wait to learn what we’re having,” Seth says, chuckling.

  “Fuck Motherfucker! It’s the greatest feeling ever listening to the heartbeat and watching your baby on the screen,” Nicolas says, nodding at Keith.

  “Keith, get me a beer,” I say, grinding my molars.

  Brice walks into the asylum, waving walks over to the bar. We call him Bruiser because he gets pissed, goes wild punching until you’re black and blue, almost dead.

  “Hi,” Bruiser says, grinning.

  “Motherfucker, how did it go with Lori,” I ask, amused.

  “Shit, she was wild,” Bruiser chuckles, standing against the bar.

  “How’s Styx,” Seth asks, looking at me.

  “Yeah, it’s good, I stay busy,” I say, rolling the beer bottle in my hand.

  “Yeah, I know that you like to stay busy. It’s almost time for Church,” Seth says, looking at his cell phone.

  “I’m ready,” I say, taking the beer.

  We hold Church in the Chapel, which is the conference room located behind the security steel door. Only the brothers have access to the secured area. Church is mandatory, so the Knights religiously attend since there are no excuses.

  The MC has charters throughout the state, and we’re notorious, powerful, and respected. Yes, you would be right, we do, or should I say that we did some illegal activities, but slowly we’re going legit. We stopped the drugs; however, we do intend to continue with the distribution of ammunition since we have a good client base, and it’s very lucrative. It provides the Knights the funds to acquire and run the businesses that give the MC a comfortable living.

  Yes, sometimes, we need to get rid of the threats to protect the family, the brothers, and our territory.

  The Hades Knights MC brothers are loyal; we’re a family, we live our life on our own world, on our own terms, it's our culture.

  Two

  Ashley

  The noise outside is deafening loud, making it hard to concentrate. I need to study for the test, or else I’ll fail. I’m going to the community college, and I have a final on Monday.

  My brother and his asshats are hanging around in the parking lot drinking, talking with the music as high as their damn old car stereo will go.

  The guys are talking to the girls from the neighborhood that come out to mess around. I can’t fucking believe it. These hoochie mamas are so damn easy.

  “Fuck, so much noise,” I murmur, pushing off my twin bed, adjusting my messy bun.

  I walk over to the window pulling the curtain back, pulling the window close. I move my hand up to push my black eyeglasses up my small nose. I turn, stretching closer to the window to look to the far-right corner in the parking lot.

  I watch Jason and his friends laughing and jumping onto the hood of their car.

  Nodgecocks, jump off the hood, landing on the ground standing or in a heap. The jerks love to smoke weed and drink over here.

  What in the world is Jason doing with those no-good friends of his? I don’t understand it because I know that my brother is smart, has a heart of gold, but recently he’s been hanging around with that gang.

  They’re always fucking around here in our complex. It would be great if the hoods fucked around at their place. They love to party out in the apartment parking lot; it’s not like they come around once in a while, no, it’s like every fucking Friday.

  Nodgecocks.

  Dad doesn’t care because he’s not here most of the time. He only comes home to sleep after he spends all his time after work at the damn bar down the street, drinking his life away.

  I don’t get it.

  Nodgecock.

  Dad’s drinking and abuse is the reason that Mom left us. He’s always been drunk. As long as I can remember, he’s always been drunk except when he’s at work. He would come home at night and hit Mom when she pleaded for him to stop drinking.

  Yeah, he pays the rent, the utilities, and gets us some food. I’m grateful that he does that, it’s not much, but we survive.

  As soon as I could, I started working at the strip club.

  Yeah, I lied that I was eighteen.

  The owner is a douchebag; he didn’t care that I was lying. I work on Friday and Saturday; nobody knows it’s me because I use makeup to disguise my features. It pays well. I save every penny that I can for my dream.

  Nodgecock.

  I have to work there because you see I have goals. I have a list.

  I need to save money.

  Get out of Redding.

  Get a good job.

  Finish college.

  To live a different lifestyle.

  Forget about love; I don’t need it.

  I wouldn’t get enslaved to a man.

  I saw how miserable Mom was.

  It’s not happening to me.

  I don’t want to worry about having enough money for food or essential needs, such as shampoo, laundry stop, god, I can go on and on.

  That means that I never enjoyed going to work as a stripper but it’s good money.

  I dream of living a different lifestyle where I don’t have to worry about the food, money, shampoo, laundry, and I can go on and on. I’ve learned to take care of my needs because Dad doesn’t care.

  Like most of my friends, I didn’t get to shop for a prom dress with my Mom or enjoyed a shopping trip for new cute outfits. I always went to the thrift shops for my clothes.

  Mom is long gone.

  Mom left ten years ago with some
dude, promised her the stars and the moon.

  Yeah, for a better life.

  Nodgecocks.

  I was nine years old, and Jason was twelve years old. Mom didn’t think twice about leaving my brother and me behind. She didn’t care that I needed her.

  I still remember that day that she left; that image runs through my mind causing my heart to ache.

  I came home from school, and Jason was at his friend’s house. Yeah, a nice friend, not like the ones that he’s hanging around with now. Dad was working at the mechanical repair shop. I walked into Mom’s room looking for her because she needed to sign a paper for school.

  Mom was singing off tone, from her heart, her favorite song by Tina Turner, What's Love Got To Do With It. She was ecstatic, bopping around in her room, grabbing her clothes.

  “Mommy, why are you so happy,” I ask her leaning against the wall, looking at her wide-eyed.

  Mom looks over at me, winking, walks over to me.

  “Ashley, I’m going away with my Prince charming, he’s going to give me everything that I ever wanted,” Mom says, smiling.

  “What about Jason and Dad,” I asked wide-eyed.

  “Your Dad can take care of you and Jason,” Mom snaps, crossing her arms.

  “Am I going with you? Let me get my stuff Mommy,” I ask her, smiling.

  “No, you’re staying here to take care of your Dad and Jason, they need you,” Mom says, walking away.

  “Mommy, I want to go with you,” I say, blinking my eyes to stop the tears. I push my eyeglasses up my nose.

  “Ashley, you can’t come with me. This man, he’s my last chance to live my life as I deserve,” Mom says, shaking her head.

  “Please, Mommy,” I say, taking her hand. I look up at her; my heart is breaking.

  “Asley, I said no. Go to your room and do your homework. Remember that you need to do good in school if you ever want to leave this life,” Mom says, pulling her hand. She grabs more clothes from the drawer.

  I ran to my room, did my homework like she requested, hoping that doing everything she wants, she would change her mind about taking me with her.