Ruin (Kings of Carnage MC - Prospects Book 1) Read online

  She scoots backward, swinging her legs on the bed, and I hit play on the movie, relaxing back in my pillows. I get into the movie, finally feeling more like my usual self and not so conflicted by Leigh upset. Her mood has to be the reason why I was paying more attention to her earlier. It explains it, my protective instinct taking over and then seeing her in only a towel, I mean, I’m a red-blooded male after all. Anyone else witnessing her like that would have their dick in mind as well.

  Her head hits the pillow beside mine and I clear my throat. "Your father is like an uncle to me. I've known him my entire life," I inform Leigh needlessly. "Our fathers are best friends, basically brothers separated at birth."

  With a jolt of her shoulders, she snuggles in closer and murmurs, "Yes, and our mothers are friends, growing close enough to call each other family."

  Which is exactly why I brought this up in the first place, as a reminder. My reminder. "I've stood next to your brother since we were in diapers. He's my closest friend."

  "As have I."

  "Excuse me?" I say, tilting my head down to meet her gaze. She’s lying next to me in my bed, and it’d be too easy to have her wrapped in my embrace. I’m an idiot if I don’t put a stop to this, right now before it ever has a chance to begin.

  "I've stood next to you as well. You've always been either at my side or had my back."

  "You're Ruin’s sister. Of course I have," I reason, although I do consider her a friend of mine, aside from being my best friend's younger sister.

  "You know that's not the only reason. You're close to my brother, but admit it, we have our own friendship."

  She’s reading my mind and I can’t have that. She can’t realize that I’m looking at her in an entirely unfriend-like manner…I’m seeing her as one hundred percent woman. Ruin will attempt to kick my ass with this. I nod. "We do. I won't ever deny the truth." Or that she’s the club princess and her father would bury me six feet in the ground. He’d probably pour concrete over the top as well, just to make a point.

  “Thank you, Sterling. I was a mess when I got here and you didn’t hesitate to let me in.”

  “I would never turn you away.”

  “I know,” she whispers, her voice sounding a touch off. She’s still upset over what happened, with good reason. I can’t believe that motherfucker killed her dog. Only a piece of shit would purposefully swerve for someone’s dog and then laugh about it. Fury builds inside me with every moment I think about what went down. Leigh didn’t deserve any of this being thrown in her direction, and I’ll see to it that punishment is doled out. That much I can promise.

  ***

  I wake to the sound of a lawnmower. It’s daylight but must be fairly early. This is Georgia. It’s hotter than sin this far down south, so people mow when the rest of us normal folk are still attempting to sleep. There’s a soft, warm body tucked up next to mine, a head on my chest. It takes a moment for me to get my bearings about me and realize I didn’t bring a chick home with me last night. The fragrance of my shampoo floats up, and I inhale deep. It smells good, clean, and even better knowing my scent is coming from Leigh’s dirty blonde locks. She shifts, one hand tucked between us while the other sprawls out over my chest.

  I can’t believe I fell asleep. I cast my gaze on the TV. It’s black. I have it set on a timer, too lazy to turn it off most nights. Fuck. Leigh must’ve fallen asleep around the same time I did. I can’t believe she stayed the night here, and in my bed no less. We’re friends. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. I know what Ruin would think and how he’d react if he showed up right now. The last thing I’d ever want to do is break his trust in any way. Nah…this is Leigh. He’d believe me if I told him nothing happened. It’d look suspicious, but he knows I wouldn’t lie to him like that.

  “In This Moment” blares from my nightstand as Leigh’s ringtone blows up the quiet room. It may as well be a warning bell, as it has me jumping out of my bed, heading for my bathroom. The lyrics repeat as the phone rings a few more times before eventually going silent. I need my space so I head for the kitchen to get the coffee going.

  Leigh eventually makes her way out of my room, helping herself to the fresh coffee before joining me on the couch. “Thank you for yesterday,” she begins.

  “It was nothing. You shouldn’t have been alone.” I already texted Ruin about Leigh being here upset because of Duke. He needed to be made aware of what happened, and I’d rather he know she’s over here through me, versus Leigh mentioning it and him wondering why I never did.

  “I’m not a little girl anymore, Sterling.”

  “I never said that.”

  “No, but I can see the way you’re looking at me. I’m an adult you know…I’m just upset over Duke.”

  I nod, not saying anything in response. She has no idea about the way I’ve truly been looking at her, and I can say it’s not anything close to what she’s describing. Chaos would gut me if he could read my mind right now—or yesterday, for that matter. She’s upset and I’ve got my damn cock clouding my thoughts.

  “I’m going to go. Mom and Dad should be back from Atlanta by now, and I need to let them know I buried Duke on their property.” She sniffles, quickly wiping away a stray tear, and stands. She sets her cup on the bar between the living room and kitchen. “I’ll wash your clothes and bring them back.”

  I swallow and nod, standing. My clothes have never looked better before. “I’ll hold you to it. I like that shirt. Make sure you use those scent things.”

  “The laundry scent beads.”

  I shrug. “Whatever you put in Ruins, I want in mine.”

  She shakes her head, rolling her eyes. “I haven’t done his laundry in so long. Me and Mom had to figure out something to do since he smelled like sweaty boy all the time.” It brings a smile to her face, and that’s all the reassurance I need that she’ll be okay. Leighs a strong bitch and seeing her otherwise is alarming.

  She heads for the front door and I jolt up to open it for her. I may be a biker and grew up a club brat, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have manners. “Drive safe. Call me if you have any sort of trouble.”

  She flashes a grateful smile in my direction and I swear it lights up something inside me. “I’ll be fine, but on the off chance something does, I will call.”

  “Good,” I grunt, watching her ass as she steps down my rickety stairs. I really need to get those fuckers fixed. “Later.”

  “Bye, Sterling,” she calls as her booty sways. I swear to God that woman is going to be the death of whatever dude she finally lands. She’s trouble, but then you have Chaos, Ruin, and me watching her back as well.

  Once she pulls out of the driveway, I grab my phone. I quickly shoot another text to Ruin and jog for my room. I grab the first pair of jeans I find, a white T-shirt, and my boots. I tug them on, grab a baseball cap, flip it backward, and slide it on. I stuff my phone in my pocket, snatch my wallet, shades, and keys, and stride out the door. Leigh's had plenty of time to leave, so she won’t know what I’m doing. The last thing we need is for her to get involved any more than she already is.

  I glance around out of habit, seeing that she’s indeed left my place. I had to wait her out all night, but no more. I have this fuckface’s address and I plan on paying him a visit. I hop in the destroyer-gray Charger that used to belong to my pops. He gave it to me when he found out my mom had raced another member along the highway that’s out front of the club. Mom’s been known to be a bit wild, and Dad’s crazy, so I guess you can say I come by my own hellish ways through them.

  I crank the ignition, the engine roaring to life, and Marilyn Manson has the speakers screaming and the subwoofers rattling everybody’s thin-ass windows in the trailer park. This car is the only warning Bruce will have that I’m coming for him. Everybody in this shithole town knows this Charger belonged to Bash, the Kings of Carnage’s vice president, and he’s a bad motherfucker.

  Shifting into gear, I release the clutch and peel out of the trailer park. I’m f
urious inside. The emotion has been festering in my chest ever since Leigh told me what happened. The feelings have grown until this all-consuming rage nearly blinds me. The illegal straight pipes roar as I gun the gas, flying down the pavement, not giving a fuck about anyone’s hearing or comfort.

  I fishtail, pulling into Bruce’s yard, the lot being mostly dirt and dead grass. I pop the car into park, leaving it running and the driver’s side door open as I hop out. The thunder of motorcycles doesn’t escape me as I storm towards the front door. Ruin must’ve read my last text and grabbed some guys. Hell, if he told Chaos then there’s a chance it may be the prez heading my way to take his vengeance.

  I twist the unlocked handle on the front door and then lay into it with a solid kick. It flings open, smacking into the assclown standing next to it. He bellows in pain, the door distracting him from me. It’s all the time I need as I snatch him from behind the neck, grip clamped hard as fuck, as I drag his punk-ass outside.

  “What the hell?” he screams, and I bellow in rage. I toss him to the ground and my boot finds his ribs with my next kick.

  “You went for Leigh? You have a motherfuckin’ death wish?” I lash out at him again with another strike. The bikes rumble into the driveway as I’m leaping on top of Bruce, going to town on him with my fists. I get a few hits in when strong arms wrap around me, dragging me backward.

  “Calm down, son,” my pops barks as Ruin lunges for Bruce next. North is quick to yank him off, but Ru still manages to bust Bruce’s eyebrow open. He’s dragged back to the bikes, while Chaos steps over the scum sprawled out on the ground.

  “You should’ve let me keep going,” I huff, chest heaving. “He needs to be taught a lesson.”

  “And take the honor from Chaos? I think not. It’s his daughter. He should have the chance to dole out the punishment.”

  I keep the retort to myself that he wouldn’t know about it had I not texted Ruin in a fit of rage. I thought I may end up killing Bruce and needed someone to know what the hell was going on. I’m still a prospect, so I have to keep my mouth shut. Twenty-two and been prospecting for the Kings of Carnage for what feels like damn near my entire life. Pops and Chaos don’t see it that way though, the stubborn old mules.

  My father is too important. He’s the club VP and an arms dealer. He used to peddle drugs back in the day but got out of it when I came into the picture. Anyhow, he’s been teaching me the ways of the club since I was a toddler, but once I officially started prospecting, he brought me into his gun business as well. It’s not a typical career you hear of a father passing on to his son, but we use what we’ve got.

  “You and Ruin stick him in your trunk,” Chaos orders and Dad agrees, releasing his firm grip from my shoulder. I shoot my best friend a look that says he better not hurt the fucker without me. He sends me a grin and I can read the look immediately. He’s on the same page as I am. North stands next to our fathers, watching us with his hands on his hips.

  “You gonna call Leigh?” I ask as I grab Bruce’s feet and Ruin goes for the arms. Bruce has been knocked the fuck out, no doubt done by Chaos while I was busy watching Ruin get torn from the bastard.

  “I’ll text her on the way to the bike. Can’t just yet or they’ll know something’s up.”

  “Right,” I press a button under the trunk to release the latch. We stuff the body back there, wrapping his legs and arms with some bungee cords to make it’s more difficult for him should he wake up. I don’t want Leigh to know I went after Bruce just yet. She’s barely had time to process the death of her dog. I was trying to keep her out of it. She’s Ruin’s sister though, he’d know what she can handle more so than me, I suppose.

  “I appreciate you being there for her last night. Chaos won’t say shit, but he’s wrecked inside he wasn’t around to handle it.”

  I shrug it off. “No biggie. We’re family,” I mutter, and he dips his head, agreeing. I need to keep reminding myself that family doesn’t look at ‘family’ the way I was at Leigh last night.

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