Amara (Reapers MC Book 12) Read online

  Amara

  Reapers MC Book 12

  Elizabeth Knox

  Contents

  Available Now

  Coming in 2020

  Acknowledgments

  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

  Chaz

  Available Now

  By: Elizabeth Knox

  Series: Skulls Renegade

  Reign

  Redemption

  Revenge

  Relentless

  Reckoning

  Reclaimed

  Reckless

  Regret

  Reclusive

  Retribution

  First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset

  Series: Steele Bros.

  Tough as Steele

  Stripping a Steele

  Protecting a Steele

  Steele her Heart

  Stolen Hearts: The Complete Steele Bros Boxset

  Series: Reapers MC

  Scarred

  Blackjack

  Here Kitty, Kitty

  Booger

  Widow

  Kade

  Hawk

  Bull

  Cobra

  Mouser

  Dixon

  Zane

  Amara

  Series: Iron Vex MC

  Enraged

  Series: Royal bastards Mc: Baltimore/Knights of retribution mc

  Bet on Me

  Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Defiant

  Shattered

  Ruthless

  Covert

  Heretic

  Venomous

  Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine

  Switched

  Surrender

  Full Throttle with Erin Trejo

  Against All Odds

  Coming in 2020

  By: Elizabeth Knox

  Grim

  (Reapers MC #13)

  Rely on Me

  (Royal Bastards MC: Baltimore #2 / A Knights of Retribution MC Prequel)

  Flawed

  (The Clans #12)

  Forbidden Love

  (Mackenzies #1)

  Chaz

  (Reapers MC #14)

  Coming in 2021 From

  Elizabeth Knox

  Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology

  (Second Edition)

  The Elites: A Dark Secret Society Collection

  Amara

  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.

  Amara. 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: James Critchley

  Models: George RJ & Jessie

  Created with Vellum

  Playlist

  Why Don’t You and I — Santana & Chad Kroeger

  Joke’s On You — Charlotte Lawrence

  Young & Sad — Noah Cyrus

  Heartless — Julia Michaels & Diplo

  Ghost — Noah Cyrus

  Bitter — Fletcher & Kito

  Live or Die — Noah Cyrus & Lil Xan

  Team — Noah Cyrus & MAX

  Again (Acoustic Version) — Noah Cyrus

  Back to you (Feat. Kiiara) — Ekali

  Sad Together — Olivia O’Brien

  Broken Glass — Kygo & Kim Petras

  Praying for Me — Chloe Mk

  Phobia — Savannah Sgro

  Killing Me Slowly — Bad Wolves

  I’m Sorry — Diamante

  Acknowledgments

  My Alpha Team: Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, Vikki, & Lisa— I really relied on you all so much during this book. When I was nearing the end I grew so uncertain, but y’all reminded me how this was perfect for Amara, and I appreciate your support more than I can ever put into words.

  My Cover Designer, Clarise— You’re a beast. You made me fall in love with our glitter effect for the women in the club. I can’t freaking wait to do more of this.

  My Blogger Team— I say this every time, but thank you so very much for believing in me. Thank you for constantly helping me promote my work. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.

  My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie— We’re really rocking this entire process when it comes to editing. Thank you both so much for helping me make sure my books don’t have nearly as much mistakes as they do before they release. Lord knows I miss some pretty basic stuff every now and again.

  Gloria— Thank you for going through this entire manuscript to help me ensure the Spanish was absolutely correct.

  Heidi— Thank you for reading Amara the night before I was finished. I needed someone who wasn’t part of my alpha team to go through and give me their input as well. It’s because of y’all that I think this book will be one of the best.

  Rae B. Lake, E.C. Land, April Canavan, Jen L. Grey, and Iris Sweetwater— Thank you all for your friendship and support. I’ve known some of you for years, and others for only a few months. Regardless of the time we’ve known one another, I consider you all to be amongst my closest friends. Thank you all for being here in the moments where I need you the most. I love y’all dearly.

  To the ones who make mistakes.

  Just kidding. We all make mistakes because we’re human.

  If someone ever tries to make you feel imperfect in any way, accept it, but don’t let it tear you down. None of us are perfect. Not one of us.

  Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. This is the sole reason I wrote Amara’s story, because she was either very loved or very hated. She is just as human as you and I are in our decision making.

  You are worthy of redemption, even if people say you aren’t.

  If you’re doubting that right now, I hope this book will change your mind.

  ‘Cause I wrote this book for you.

  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.

  Gone But Never Forgotten:

  Fist — Former Prez (Deceased)

  Cracker – Former VP (D
eceased)

  Saffron — Fist’s woman, Sakura’s sister, Sydney’s mom. (Deceased)

  Billings, Montana Charter

  Zane – Prez — Ol’ Lady— Octavia

  Blackjack – VP– 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

  Frost — Prospect

  Turmoil — Prospect

  Las Vegas, Nevada Charter

  Damon – Prez – Ol’ Lady – Kat

  Dixon – VP — Ol’ Lady — Indra

  Booger – Enforcer – Ol’ Lady — Camila

  Widow – Sgt. at Arms – Ol’ Lady – Tania (A Jackal)

  Children: Zoe (Widow’s previous relationship)

  Chaz – Full Patch

  Cobra – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Izzy

  Hawk – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Raven

  Amara – Full Patch

  Kade – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Ivy

  Children: Orion & Fate

  Mouser – Full Patch — Ol’ Lady — Sakura

  Ripper — Prospect

  Jolt — Prospect

  Spark — Prospect

  Poison — Prospect

  Glossary/Definitions:

  Capos— highest position of the drug cartel.

  Tenientes— second highest position of the cartel.

  Sicarios— armed group within the cartel.

  Halcones— eyes and ears of the streets.

  Prologue

  Even the Devil was once an angel.

  ~ Unknown

  Amara

  One Year Ago . . .

  My back burns from the nape down to my lumbar. Lucien dragging me against the floor pulled my shirt up, but the rough flooring scraped against my skin. Even now I know it’s only the first of many wounds I’ll have, thanks to the man who took me.

  I’m on my back, unable to move an inch. Hell, I can’t even move my fucking hand. He jabbed a syringe filled with something in my arm after he slapped me around back at the warehouse. I had managed to stand up, but sadly it didn’t do me any good. I fought as much as I could given the zip ties restraining me. If they hadn’t been on I’m sure I would’ve had a chance. Within a moment of injecting the liquid it was like my body became dead weight, and I staggered to the ground.

  When he saw I was down for the count, Lucien was sneering down at me, mocking the fact I couldn’t move an inch. He made it a point to tell me exactly what he’d be doing, carting my body across the border to Mexico which leads me to my current predicament.

  I’m in the trunk of a sedan. I’m not sure of the make or model, but I was shoved underneath where the tire usually is. It’s typically carved out specifically for the tire, but not this time. It was almost molded for a human body.

  Lucien tossed my body in the alloted area, fastened the liner over me and locked it somehow. Now I’m hearing Santana’s albums play on repeat, blasting through his radio. It’s so loud I can barely even think.

  I’ve tried to hum, to speak, though nothing I’m trying is working. In my head I’ve been counting the seconds I’ve been in the back of this car. I’ve just counted to 4,325, which translates to a little over 72 minutes. Over an hour into this trip and depending on his route we could be there in five hours or eight. I have no idea which way he’s using to get across the border.

  Counting might be useless, yet I know it’s the only thing assisting in helping keep my sanity. I can hope and pray the brothers will come for me, but with the way I pissed Damon off he might just say fuck it. I’m his sister, but . . . I really know how to push the man’s buttons.

  If they do try to find me I don’t know where they’d start. It’s not like our father was close with his family, the Ramírezes. As a precaution most members of the Cartel had a GPS tracking chip inserted in their forearm somewhere. I know my uncle Alejandro had one inserted, yet my uncle Rafael had his cut out if I remember the story correctly. My father is Roman Raines, the half-brother to the Ramírez familia.

  We were never too involved with our uncles, although my father was particular in that decision. He ended up admitting he didn’t want us around our uncle Rafael, but it’s only because he was the most corrupt and vile man on the planet. Thankfully, he met his maker a couple years ago. I have no doubt the world is a much better place with his passing.

  I’m trying so desperately to think of anything to keep my mind focused. I don’t want to feel the beads of sweat on my forehead, the heaviness in my chest that somehow slowly crawls up my throat and makes me feel like I’m choking. To be honest, I’m terrified because I have no control of the situation at hand.

  I can’t even open my mouth to speak, or clear my throat. I’m here, but I’m not here. I don’t know the woman taking control of my mind right now. Actually, that’s a lie. I haven’t seen this woman in years, since I made one of the biggest mistakes of my life that cost me so much. I lost my best friend because I was stricken with fear and sought comfort in the wrong person’s arms.

  I’m not a good person, in fact, I’m the one people don’t want to be around. No one makes a choice to put themselves in the position to be in my company, and I can’t blame them. I’m the bitch. I’m the cruel one. I’m so many things rolled into one, but I’ve accepted it. I’ve accepted my fate because my decisions are what brought me here.

  Maybe this is my penance for the things I’ve done. I could try to list them from worst to the most miniscule of my mistakes, but I know what’s put me here. I was the other woman. I was the one who tore a family apart, not knowing it at the time.

  Sometimes before I drift off to sleep I wonder if I kept Widow and Melody apart. Internally, I debate on whether or not they would’ve been together, or if their break-up was inevitable. At the end of the day it doesn’t matter, because I was the one who ruined it. I suppose I’m good at fucking things up.

  If they don’t come for me, I wouldn’t blame them. How could I? Not with everything I’ve done.

  I hurt far too many people and I’ll continue to be a black cloud on others’ lives for the rest of my life— no matter if I have three hours or three years.

  No matter what happens, I need to make peace with it.

  I’m Amara Raines, and I’m no angel.

  Chapter One

  Choke them on the ashes of the dreams they burned

  ~ Unknown

  Dante

  Present Day . . .

  “Hard to believe it’s Independence Day, no?” Gia slurrs, stalking towards me. She’s on her third or fourth drink. To be honest, I’ve lost count.

  “No, I simply pay attention to the calendar. Unlike you.” I retort.

  “Oh stop being a party pooper, hermano.” Gia whines, switching from our second language to our native tongue.

  “I’m not, simply being accurate.” I attempt to poke the bear, making my way toward the balcony of the new home I’ve purchased here in Chihuahua. Our father had acquired a home here a couple years ago, then underwent the legal ways to make it his and sold it for an incredible profit. Though, he resides in Mexico City and wants a liaison here. I offered to stay behind and so I’ve purchased this lovely abode.

  My younger sister Gia lives in Las Vegas most of the time because she’s the owner of a multi-million dollar company called Crave, LLC. She owns it with a few of her close friends. That being said, she isn’t one to discuss familia business.

  “Why do you always have to be a dick whenever I come to visit you, hmm?”

  I turn to face her head on and cock a brow. “You don�
�t come here to visit me. You only want the free drinks down in the city!” I hiss.

  My dear sister and I were so close growing up, but over the last ten years or so we’ve both lost touch. It was my fault. Ten years ago I decided to support my father in his cause to get Rafael Ramírez out of the Capo seat. He was the corrupt individual in charge of leading the entire industry. Thankfully, he’s been removed from his duties for a couple years now. We had some help with a few allies and were successful. Now my father has gone above and beyond to right the wrongs of his predecessor.

  Now don’t get me wrong. We’re not angels. We’re very much involved in drugs, murder, and much more . . . however, we don’t cross lines unless we have to. Rafael would slaughter children in front of their parents for fun. He didn’t give a flying fuck what he did, and faced no repercussions for it.