“Londyn! Londyn!” Ember’s voice pierces through the chaos. “Silas, what’s happening? Who’s here?”
“Baby, listen to me!” I shout, my pulse racing. “I need you to hide, now!” Panic claws at my chest as I yell, “Ember! Ember!” But there’s no response. A gunshot cracks through the phone, followed by more screams, and then…nothing… but …silence.
TEN
EMBERLYNNE
The phone slipsfrom my hand as I spring into action. Silas is yelling my name, but I need to help my friend. I reach for the nightstand and quickly press my thumb to the lockbox, retrieving my gun. My father drilled into me, how to survive in an MC. It’s the one thing I’m grateful that I listened to. The sounds from the front of the house tell me there’s more than one intruder. As I edge toward the door, I spot a large figure moving down the hallway, and to my shock, he’s wearing a Savage Knight’s kutte.
How in the hell did they find me? I’m never going back to that life and if I have to die to prevent that from happening, then so be it. Steadying my aim, I shoot him right between the eyes before he can reach me. His body hits the floor, blood pooling around his head. This can’t be happening. This can’t be real.
Londyn’s pained grunts cut through the chaos, jolting me back into focus, and without hesitation, I rush toward the commotion, preparing to take down every Knight in the room. But I freeze, locking eyes with him, just like all those years ago…Fury; the man who made my life a living hell after my brother murdered his VP. The shiver that runs down my spinehas nothing to do with the cool night air. His arm is wrapped tightly around Londyn’s neck, a gun pressed to her temple. She’s surprisingly calm considering our lives are in danger. Fury’s gaze is as empty and soulless as I remember.
South Dakota– 6 ½ years ago
“I need to hit the restroom!” I shout over the music to my best friend, Kelly. The dance floor is packed, but I’m loving every second of it. After some serious begging on my part, my dad finally let me go out to celebrate my eighteenth birthday with my friends. He thinks we’re at the movies and grabbing dinner, but as soon as Kelly’s dad dropped us off at the theater, we called an Uber and headed to a club a few miles away. Brittany hooked us up with fake IDs, and we’re making the most of it.
I’ve been under lockdown for the past couple of years, thanks to my older brother and his temper. He murdered the VP of a rival MC, and now they’ve sworn revenge. With the threat on my life hanging over us, my dad hasn’t taken any chances. My world’s been sheltered, and I’ve been desperate to breathe for once.
There’s another reason I’m celebrating tonight. I got accepted to college in Atlanta and I haven’t told my dad yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, daydreaming about leaving South Dakota and starting a new life. Pushing my way through the crowd, I finally reach the bathroom. It’s empty, so I head straight to the last stall and lock the door behind me. I hear the door swing open and assume it’s Kelly coming to check on me.
“I just need to wash my hands, and I’ll be right out,” I announce, unlocking the stall and dancing my way over to thesink. The music’s so loud, I can still hear it clearly, even with the bathroom door closed. This is the best night ever!
“Hello, Emberlynne,” a male voice calls out, stopping me in my tracks. From the corner of my eye, I see his Kutte, his intimidating presence suddenly suffocating me. It’s Fury, president of the Savage Knights. “I knew it was only a matter of time before daddy let you out to play,” he taunts, stepping closer, invading my space.
Backing into the corner, my chest tightens as I struggle to pull in air. Frantically looking around, I try to find an escape path, but there is none. My pulse thunders in my ears, overpowering the music I was dancing to just ten minutes ago. Every muscle in my body tenses, screaming for me to run, but I’m rooted in place, knowing there’s nowhere to run. My body shakes uncontrollably as he wraps his hand around my throat, choking off my air. Forcing me into the stall, he slides the lock, turns me around, and slams my face into the door with such violence it makes my head swim. My mind races, consumed by the instinct to survive, but every second feels like it’s slipping away, dragging me deeper into this nightmare.
“Make a sound and I’ll slit your fucking throat the way your big brother slit my VP’s throat,” he threatens, the sharp smell of alcohol and cigarettes assaulting my senses. His body presses into mine as his free hand snakes between my legs, pushing my panties to the side. Panic grips me as I struggle to break his hold, knowing my life will be forever changed if I can’t get away.
This has to be some sick, twisted dream because this wasn’t how I imagined my birthday celebration, where for once, I did something reckless. Is this my punishment for lying to my father? Tears burn my eyes, spilling down my cheeks as two calloused fingers roughly penetrate the place where no one hasever touched me before. The part of me that I wanted to remain sacred until I was married.
Over and over again, he drives mercilessly into me, taking away the innocence I desperately held onto while growing up in this life. If I survive this, I’m leaving with or without my father’s blessing. Spots form in my vision as pain slices through me. I’m not sure how much time has passed but I want this to be over. I want to crawl into a bubble and disappear without a trace.
“Don’t worry darlin’, you’ll learn to love this,” he teases, laughing as I cry harder. “Your brother is a dead man, but you…I think I’ll keep you for myself,” he breathed against my ear, grunting with every thrust of his fingers. “Nice and tight just the way I like it.”
“Pl-please… let me go,” I manage to stammer, my throat burning with every word. “I swear I won’t tell anyone… just… let me… go.” The pain intensifies as I fight against his grip.
“I'm not worried about you telling anything. As a matter of fact, I want your father to know he can’t hide you forever,” he sneers, abruptly releasing me. “This is just the beginning, sweetheart, so buckle up for a long ride. Your friends will come looking for you soon, so we’ll finish this later. But don’t think for a second you can escape me, Emberlynne. You can run all you want, but you’ll never hide.”
Without another word, he opens the door, shoves me against the sink, and walks out of the bathroom. I collapse onto the filthy floor, curling up into a ball, shivering in disgust. The door swings open again, and I flinch, retreating further into the corner. Kelly and Brittany rush over, bombarding me with questions, but I can’t get a word out. Kelly calls my father, but I’m too far gone to care. All I want is to disappear, to be swallowed up by the earth and never face the world again.
Present Day…
When I told my father what happened, the MC went on the hunt for Fury, determined to kill him. He was so angry with me for lying to him but we both agreed it was best for me to take the offer from Scheller College of Business, over a thousand miles away, where I’d be safe until they found him. All these years later, he’s here, in the flesh, invading my safe space once again. His presence catches me off guard, pulling my attention from the task at hand.
A wicked grin spreads across his face as one of his men presses a gun to the back of my head, effortlessly disarming me. I exhale sharply, close my eyes, and silently curse. The last shred of hope we had is ripped from my hand and tossed across the room. I scan the room, spotting two other Knights. One clutching his groin, while the other wipes blood from his busted lip, scowling at Londyn. She must’ve put up one hell of a fight because my living room is completely wrecked.
“What the hell do you want?! How did you find me?!” I demand, my voice shaking with a mix of anger and fear. After all these years, Fury is here, and I need to know why. I thought he would’ve let this vendetta go by now, but clearly, I should’ve believed him when he said I could never hide from him. Without a word, he slams the gun into Londyn’s temple, her body crumpling to the floor and as I try to get to her, I’m yanked by my hair with such force that it feels as if it’s separated from my scalp. The pain takes my breath away as tears sting my eyes. Smirking, Fury steps closer, his familiar stench making my stomach churn. I turn my face away, his breath hot on my cheek as he says,
“Now, darlin’, we both know why I’m here. Your brother took my VP’s life, it’s only right that I get something in return. Did you really think you could hide from me forever?”
“You’re out of your mind if you think you can get away with this,” I scoff, trying to distract him so I can strike.
“I’ve already gotten away with it, sweetheart. You and your friend are coming with me, like it or not. Cause me any trouble, and you’ll regret it. My punishments aren’t exactly pleasant,” he murmurs, dragging his nose along my skin with a twisted smile. Bile rises in my throat, but I force it back down. With every ounce of strength I have, I slam my head backward, smashing the nose of the guy holding me.
Fury’s eyes widen in shock, and I take the chance to knee him in the groin. But I must’ve missed my mark because before I can continue my attack, his leg sweeps out, and I hit the ground hard. His steel toe boot drives into my stomach, over and over again. Yanking me up by my hair, his fist slams into my jaw, the sharp metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth as my teeth slice into the inside of my cheek.
Blinding pain bursts behind my eyes as his fists continue to pound into my face. My past has come crashing into my present, shattering any hope for a future with Silas. My sweet, loving husband doesn't deserve to be dragged into this dark part of my life. Now that Fury has followed through on his threat to find me, I’ll never get the chance to explain why I kept it hidden. Choices I had no option but to make, all because of the world my father chose to live in. Hope slowly begins to bloom, that with his connections in the MC and Silas’s resources, they can join forces to find me.
