Mouser (Reapers MC Book 9) Read online

  Mouser

  Reapers MC Book 9

  Elizabeth Knox

  Contents

  Available Now

  Coming Soon

  Acknowledgments

  Billings, Montana Charter

  Las Vegas, Nevada Charter

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Sneak Peek

  Mouser

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Mouser. Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Knox. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information contact E. Knox.

  https://www.facebook.com/elizabethknoxbooks

  Cover design: Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations

  Editing: Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing

  Proofreading: Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing

  Formatting: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing

  Photographer: Reggie Deanching, RplusM Photo

  Models: Nick & Madena

  Created with Vellum

  Available Now

  By: Elizabeth Knox

  Series: Skulls Renegade

  Reign

  Redemption

  Revenge

  Relentless

  Reckoning

  Reclaimed

  Regret

  Reckless

  Reclusive

  Retribution

  First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset

  Series: Steele Bros.

  Tough as Steele

  Stripping a Steele

  Protecting a Steele

  Steele her Heart

  Series: Reapers MC

  Scarred

  Blackjack

  Here Kitty, Kitty

  Booger

  Widow

  Kade

  Hawk

  Bull

  Cobra

  Mouser

  Series: Iron Vex MC

  Enraged

  Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Defiant

  Shattered

  Ruthless

  Covert

  Heretic

  Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine

  Switched

  Full Throttle with Erin Trejo

  Against All Odds

  Coming Soon

  By: Elizabeth Knox

  Twisted Steel: An MC Romance Anthology

  Dixon

  (Reapers MC #10)

  Venomous

  (The Clans #11)

  Playlist

  Wrong Direction — Hailee Steinfeld

  Vulnerable — Selena Gomez

  Give You What You Like — Avril Lavigne

  Devil’s Don’t Fly — Natalia Kills

  I Love Me — Demi Lovato

  Acknowledgments

  My Betas, Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— You ladies help me more than you can possibly imagine. Whether it’s brainstorming plots, helping me narrow down title options, or simply giving me opinions on which color I should go with on an upcoming cover design. I cherish each one of you that are on my team and I’m forever grateful that you continue to help me day in and day out.

  My Cover Designer, Clarise— Thank you for always somehow understanding whatever it is I’m aiming to do, even if I suck at explaining it. You’re one of the best designers in this industry and an even better friend. Love you so much!

  My Blogger Team— We’ve been in this for the long haul now. Thank you so much for dedicating the last three years to me and continuing to support and share my work, no matter what’s coming your way. I appreciate you all so much and can’t thank you enough!

  My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie— Hands down I think the three of us make the best team. I know I always say this, but thank you both from the bottom of my heart for keeping up with my insane writing schedule. I know it can’t be easy editing and proofreading every night, and I hope you know how much I appreciate that you don’t mind accommodating my crazy writing habits. You two are an amazing team and even better friends.

  Rae, E.C., and Raven— You ladies are the ride to my die. I’ve known one of you for over three years, one for a little over a year and a half and the other for just a few months and it’s crazy how our friendships have grown, but not only that, our business relationships too. In all honesty, I’ve found a sisterhood with you three that nothing can ever replace.

  Rae— I can’t fucking wait for everything that’s happening. You have so much fearless determination when it comes to this industry and I’m just sitting back here watching as your success grows. Keep it up! On a side note: the stuff we’re brewing is making me more and more excited each day. I can’t freaking wait for our collaborations to release.

  E.C.— You have come such a long way in a year and a half. Whether its writing, formatting, etc. I hope you’re proud of yourself, because you should be. Don’t let anyone ever make you think any differently.

  Raven— It’s crazy that we’ve known one another for three years. It blows my mind to this day, how time can just pass us by in the blink of an eye. Over those three years you and I have grown so much, whether it’s personally or professionally. I know it’s not always easy to keep pushing through in this community, but I know we both have it; even when we’re having our hardest days. Thank you for always being my sounding board.

  To the fighters,

  Fight for what you want— always.

  Even if it tears you apart, never give up on that happiness.

  Grab it from the sky and clench it so tight with your fists. But most importantly, never let it go.

  Trigger Warning

  This book is intended for mature audiences only. If darker books are not for you, please do not move forward. After re-adjusting my trigger warning system, I will not be giving any spoilers. Please understand that this is not your run of the mill romance and tough subjects will be spoken about in this storyline.

  Billings, Montana Charter

  Fist — (Deceased)

  Cracker – VP (Deceased)

  Zane – Prez

  Blackjack – VP (interim) – Ol’ Lady – Ashley

  Children: Dex (Blackjack’s previous relationship) & Noelle

  Bull – Enforcer — Ol’ Lady – Alexa

  Grim – Sgt. at Arms

  Tex – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy

  Children: Kat

  Dracus – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy

  Children: Nova

  Bolt – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy

  Children: Jordyn

  Zorro
– Full Patch

  Axel – Full Patch

  Hammer – Prospect

  Las Vegas, Nevada Charter

  Damon — Prez — Ol’ lady — Kat

  Amara – VP

  Booger – Enforcer – Ol’ Lady — Camila

  Dixon – Sgt. at Arms

  Chaz – Full Patch

  Widow – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Tania (A Jackal)

  Children: Zoe (Widow’s previous relationship)

  Cobra – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Izzy

  Hawk – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Raven

  Kade – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Ivy

  Children: Orion & Fate

  Mouser – Prospect

  Prologue

  Develop a strong mind and you will lead a strong life.

  ~ FearlessMotivation.com

  5 Months Ago . . .

  Sakura

  Two screaming voices echo through the wide halls and I take in a deep breath, closing my eyes, wishing I was anywhere but here. This has been the cycle of my family for the last few months— yelling, every single night.

  Both my father and my mother’s men act like they don’t hear it, but they do. They hear two people angered by the fact their eldest daughter is dead, blaming one another for her walking away from our family. Yet as they do so, they simply shove their own insecurities on the other person.

  I pick up the oversized skirt of my white lace dress and sit up a bit straighter on the couch outside of my father’s office. You see, my father is Hiromitsu Kobayashi, the Emperor of Japan. Meanwhile, my mother is Sora, who plays the dutiful wife by day, constantly tricking the Japanese media’s eye. At night she doesn’t play the same part. Instead, she turns into the cruelest most vile of all women— the leader of the Yakuza, or in other words, the woman in charge of the Japanese Mafia.

  Since I’m their prodigal daughter I’m required to have dinner with them every evening during the week unless I’m out of the country on business. Luckily, the weekends are for myself. We have a tradition to eat with one another and enjoy sake afterward. Although, tonight I won’t be drinking. Every evening I’m here, they both go into the office ahead of me and it’s always the same. They can’t even last five minutes alone in a room together without going at each other’s throats, ready to slice a jugular.

  Months ago we discovered my sister, Asami, was murdered by a motorcycle gang out in America. When it came to my sister, things were complicated at best. She was eleven years older than I and honestly, she was the strongest one out of the two of us. Asami was a vigorous, determined woman. At first when she left I was scared, but I knew in my heart she’d be fine. Asami always found a way to get out of whatever threat was in front of her.

  My mother and father usually undermine the other. However, this time things were different. They didn’t go behind the other’s back and hurt the people who she was staying with. The only reason they didn’t go after the Reapers MC is because I convinced my family they weren’t the ones who hurt her. They didn’t burn their entire clubhouse to the ground on purpose, that Asami was killed in the heat of war, and how we couldn’t go there and rip Sydney from the only family she’s ever known.

  Sydney is Asami’s daughter, one who is dearly loved by the men and women of this club from what I can see. I’ve had my ex-boyfriend, Lucian, sending me satellite images of them as well as having one of his men located close by. Lucian is a hacker with undeniable talent. Someone who I wished things could’ve worked out with, but they never will. We’re two different people. Two different people who never have a problem falling back under the same sheets beside the other.

  Things have been heated enough already. My godfather, Eduardo Diaz, got into a huge argument with my father. I don’t know what it was about, but my godfather did send me a text message apologizing for leaving so abruptly.

  Unlike my father, my godfather isn’t a politician. He’s the type of man who uses his hands to get the job done. However, he’s just as deadly as my father. He’s the cousin of the current Mexican Cartel leader, Francisco Lopez. Before the Cartel was being run by a man named Rafael Ramirez, and he made a massive mess of things from what my godfather tells me.

  I shift my eyes back to the dark bamboo doors, seeing the shadows of my parents throwing their hands up in the air.

  I decide enough is enough after sitting here for over twenty minutes and approach the door. Sliding it open, I glare right at my parents, who always seem to act like children. “Unlike you, I have somewhere to be tonight.”

  My father raises his brows while my mother shoots a glare right back at me. “What is so important that you would leave your family. Hmm?” She questions, walking up to me. “You have a fancy date or something?”

  I roll my eyes, not even bothering to respond to her ridiculous question, “I’m going down to the women’s shelter this evening to give exams to anyone who needs it.”

  “Why do you even bother going to that place?” My father asks, turning his nose up in disgust.

  “The place you prefer to have media shots at? You know, with the battered women and children.” My father is sickening. Any time he’s ever seen in a low-income area or at a shelter is because he’s trying to make himself look better in the public eye. Meanwhile, I’m the one who attended college until I was able to be a fully certified nurse practitioner. Much to my parents’ dismay. You see, they prefer I’d simply be a public figure and completely reliant on them.

  They might think I’m incoherent, although I know what they’re doing. They don’t want me to achieve anything in life because it will make me fully reliant on them.

  Father sneers, while shaking his head in a disapproving way. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Yes, you’re right. I don’t understand why you don’t genuinely want to help them— your people. Do you even care that domestic violence has been the highest it’s ever been? Women and children leave their homes to go to shelters where they have to share a bed or sleep on the floor. How does that not matter to you?”

  “What happens in someone’s home is none of our business,” He’s quick to respond.

  “But what happens in ours, is. You must stop practicing medicine, Sakura. It’s only going to your head and we need you to be a Kobayashi, not a pretend doctor.” Mother is quick to interject. I assume she’s joking at first, but then I remember, she doesn’t know how to tell a fucking joke.

  “Are you truly telling me to give up something that helps the people who need it most?” I bellow, angered beyond belief.

  “I am. It’s something you never needed to do. We need you to be Sakura Kobayashi, daughter of the Emperor. Your job is to be a political cannon, nothing more. So, go off and treat these lower-class individuals tonight because it will be the last time you act as a vigilante, trying to make the world a better place. You are our daughter whether you choose to accept it or not. Us Kobayashis, we don’t make the world better Sakura. Surely you understand that.”

  The cruel reality of what they’re both asking me to do cuts through me like a rusted out saw. They want me to give up the one thing that brings me joy, the thing that helps the ones who need it most . . . all to be their pawn.

  I know my sister had her own reasons for leaving our family, but until today I didn’t understand them. I will go to the shelter tonight and help whoever I can, however, I’ll be calling my godfather on the way and getting the soonest available flight out to Mexico.

  I can’t be here anymore, and I know the moment they realize what I’m doing they’ll come after me harder than they’ve ever hunted anyone down.

  Chapter One

  Family is supposed to be where we find our safe haven. Very often, it’s the place where we find the deepest heartache.

  ~ Unknown

  Present Day

  Sakura

  I’m sitting in my house at the kitchen island, staring down at the steaming cup of coffee in my hands. It’s the first week of June and my air conditioning isn’t p
umping out cool air fast enough. Slowly, I’m sweating until I become a puddle on the floor— or so I think. We’ve hit a record of 117 degrees. One that hasn’t been hit since 2017. Fuck, I’ve never hated being in Las Vegas more than I do right now.

  Everything has been pretty quiet here today, especially since Cobra and Izzy left early this morning to see his mom. It’s the first time Izzy will be meeting her, so fingers crossed it goes well. Knowing Izzy though, everything will go smoothly. You can’t hate a bone in that woman’s body.

  My doorbell rings so I release the grip I have on my cup and walk out to the front, surprisingly seeing my godfather. “Uncle Eduardo?” I say in complete shock.

  He smiles sweetly, placing a hand on my shoulder as he comes inside and shuts my front door behind him. “Hello darling, I hope you’ve been well.”

  “W-what are you doing here?”