Sydney's Battle (Reapers Rejects MC: Second Generation Book 1) Read online

  “Mhm. Zeus, this is my daughter, Sydney,” Dad tells him, standing up.

  “I need to talk to you,” I tell my father and Zeus looks between the two of us.

  “Great timing. I need to grab some grub. I’ll be back in a couple hours,” Zeus tells my dad and walks out past me. Meanwhile, I walk into his office and shut the door behind me, so our conversation is private. Only, I quickly realize we’re not alone. My bonus dad, Inc, is in the room too.

  “How the fuck did you get in here? Is Bull out there?” Dad questions me as he shakes his head.

  “Yeah, but I needed to talk to you, so here I am.”

  Inc cackles in his chair, “Fuck, she’s just like O.” There they go, comparing me to my mom again. They always tell me I have her spirit and they’re not wrong. She’s the one who taught me to be so strong-willed and make sure everyone listens to whatever I have to say.

  “I was in a meeting, Sydney. You can’t just walk in here whenever you damn well feel like it.”

  Ignoring what he’s saying completely, I start on why I’m here. “Tara thinks her dad is dead when we damn well know he isn’t. She needs to know her dad’s alive and he’s well. It’s not fair to either of them to be living a life of loss when they could be seeing each other.” I cut straight to the point.

  My dad clenches his jaw and stares daggers through me. “What did you just say?”

  “Shit,” Inc mutters under his breath.

  “I don’t understand you, like at all. I’ve told you the man was almost shot by his Prez and you’re acting like he’s still the enemy. If you think Gears has any loyalty to his Prez, you’re fucking crazy,” I babble out, not even paying attention to what’s flying out of my mouth.

  Dad raises his fist and slams it down onto his desk, glaring at me with all his might. “Sydney Monroe, you don’t have any clue what you’re fuckin’ doin’ right now, little girl.”

  “I’m not a little girl anymore, and the only thing I’m trying to do is make things right. I’ve lost so much. I know what it’s like to have parents ripped away from you, to feel that loss deep in my soul, and you want to make Tara feel like that? It isn’t fair. It is—”

  “Stop!” Dad roars, causing me to stop in my tracks. “You’re not the Prez of this club. I am. Now get the fuck out of here before I lose my shit, ‘cause you won’t like it.”

  I could leave silently and I know it, but I don’t want to leave, not when he’s being a sassy bitch right now. “I think I already know what happens when you lose your temper or did you forget?” I question him, shake my head, and start to leave.

  The moment I have my hand on the doorknob, a hand wraps around my forearm. Dad’s looking sternly into my eyes. “Baby girl, I know you gotta good heart, but he’s playin’ you and you can’t even see it. You’re bein’ naïve and—”

  “Is that really what you think of me? I’m naïve?”

  He blankly stares at me and his silence speaks volumes. Tears well behind my eyes and I shake my head in defeat, throw open the door and rush through the clubhouse. It’s only a couple of moments before the bottom of my shoes are hitting the gravel of the lot.

  “Kiddo,” Inc’s voice rings out behind me.

  I whip around and look right at him. “What? What can you possibly say right now?”

  “Gee, I dunno. Maybe your dad shouldn’t have been such a royal dick. He was an ass, but he loves you, baby girl. So do I and—” I know better than to interrupt Inc when he’s trying to help, but he’s missing the point right now.

  I go right up to him and give him a hug, then release him. “I love you, but we can’t talk about this right now. I’m sorry.”

  “Sydney, wait,” he pauses and for some reason I listen to him. Inc hasn’t been my father for very long, only a couple years if that. He didn’t know me as a little girl, so we have a completely different relationship. While I do love him, my relationship with my dad is very different. “I know Zane’s bein’ a dick to you. Trust me baby girl, I get it. He’s only worried about Gears. He’s thinkin’ Gears is tryin’ to pull a fast one on the club, and on you.”

  “He isn’t.” I speak with complete confidence in Gears.

  Inc nods, “I know you have faith in him, and I respect it. From the conversations we’ve had over the last few days I’ve noticed a shift in you, as has your mother. Your dad is just worried about you sweetheart. He has a shitty way of showin’ it, but he always has.” Inc rolls his eyes and a smile tugs at the corner of my lips.

  I take a step toward Inc and debate telling him what’s going on. If anyone’s going to understand me, it’ll be him or my mom. They’re the more emotional ones. “I’m . . . I think I’m starting to fall for him. I don’t know much about what I’m feeling, but I do know he’s telling the truth, and I’m trying to make Dad see it too.”

  “That’s your problem. You can’t make your dad see shit. He has to see it for himself.”

  “Who told you that, Aunt Ashley?” I cackle, and he lets out a laugh.

  “Yeah, she did. She’s put up with his stubborn ass for her entire life.”

  “I don’t want him punishing a man who doesn’t deserve it. He never deserved the way he looked when I saw him that day. He should at least be treated like a human.”

  “I see where you’re comin’ from, but I see your dad’s stance on it too. Men like Gears, most of ‘em say whatever the fuck they want. They just wanna throw their captors off, and I’m gonna bet your dad thinks that’s what he’s doin’. And men like Gears, VPs for other clubs with tats on their entire back like him . . . it’s a symbol to their commitment for the club. Your dad’s only bein’ cautious. He thinks he’s got somethin’ up his sleeve.”

  “But he doesn’t.” I will jump to Gears’ defense whenever I need to.

  Inc pulls me into his arms and holds me close. This time he doesn’t let go. “Fuck, baby girl. I hope you always love this hard, ‘cause you’re a rarity.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gears

  The door opens to Sydney’s apartment and she comes in with tear-filled eyes. I want nothin’ more than to stand up and asked her what happened, but I can’t be the type of man who’s constantly questionin’ her about everythin’ in her damn life. I don’t wanna suffocate the poor woman. Coddle her, sure. Cherish her, hell yeah. I won’t do anythin’ to push her away, so sometimes I need to give her space.

  She looks right at me from where I’m sittin’ in her emerald-green velvet armchair. “My dad isn’t ever going to understand us.”

  I never figured he would, but I hope he will for her. I hope one day he’ll swallow this pill and accept she’s choosin’ me. She has been since the day she had to watch me when I was downstairs. Hell, maybe we’ve chosen each other. Even though I know we’re wrong for each other on paper, I don’t give a flyin’ fuck about it. I only care about the way she smiles when I say somethin’ funny or the way I feel bein’ around her. Fuck, I thought I was gonna die down there, and this woman gave me hope.

  “You never know. He might come around,” I tell her, completely avoidin’ the fact she alluded to havin’ somethin’ between the two of us.

  Sydney shakes her head as she walks over and almost naturally sits on the arm of the chair. She glances down at me and a tear falls from her eyes. It slowly slides down her cheek, so I reach up and wipe it away. “No, he won’t. I know him. He’s too stubborn, stubborn as an old mule. I lost my shit on him and Inc ended up coming out after me. He told me a whole bunch of stuff, but you wanna know the thing that stuck out to me the most?”

  “Sure,” I comment.

  “He said the tattoo on your back shows your commitment to the Corrupt Kings MC. He said it’s why my dad is so paranoid that you’re the enemy, not your Prez or the rest of the people in his club.” Fuck. I shut my eyes at her words, knowin’ it’s true. Sure, Zane didn’t have to go so hard, but if the roles were reversed, I’d be doin’ the same damn thing. The only thing Zane sees is the significance.
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  The only thing he’ll ever see is action, not words or vows.

  He’s a man of action, as are most of us.

  I know what I need to do.

  The only choice I have is to get rid of the tattoo. I could cover it up, but it would take a talented artist, lots of sessions, and money I don’t have at the moment. The options for doing so are small, but I’ll find a way. I’m not an enemy to the Reapers Rejects MC, and I want them to see this.

  My former Prez opened fire in Zane’s club, so I understand why he wants to think I’m the enemy, but I’m not. The moment Boomer pointed his gun at me, I was no longer part of the Corrupt Kings MC. I was simply a man who gave his life to a man who never respected the commitment nor the crimes he made.

  Boomer promised me brotherhood. He vowed to always have my back, but given the opportunity, he’d be the first one to stab me in it.

  I need to get rid of this fuckin’ tat.

  I look right into Sydney’s almond-shaped eyes, ready to ask her somethin’ I don’t think I’m even prepared to. “I’m gonna prove myself to your dad and everyone in your club, Lemon. I want to do it for us. I don’t want any of ‘em lookin’ at me and thinkin’ I’m a threat. I’m far from it, but unless I do somethin’ drastic, they won’t believe it. None of ‘em will.”

  She draws her brows together and her facial expression shifts to one filled with concern. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

  “I’ll get to that in a sec, but I need to ask you somethin’ first.”

  “Okay.”

  I swallow hard and know while the chance isn’t massive, there still is one. She could deny me, and fuck, it would suck. “I know things have moved fast these last few days, but if I’ve learned anythin’ about life, it’s how shit can turn around. I want you to be mine, Sydney. I got one taste of you, and I don’t want any other man to ever have the opportunity.”

  “Are you asking me to be your ol’ lady right now?”

  I laugh, unable to keep from snortin’. “I mean, it’s damn obvious, sweetheart. I do need you to know somethin’ else, though.”

  “Alright, what is it?” She has no idea how serious my next words are gonna be.

  “The commitment I’m givin’ to you, it’s not just to you, baby. It’s to your club too. My Prez turned his back on me. He made it damn clear in about three seconds how I wasn’t one of them anymore, all ‘cause I was hurt and would slow ‘em down. Real brotherhood doesn’t do that type of shit to you. If you say yes, I’ll be a Reapers Reject. This is your family. I’m not blind to it, and I’ll do whatever I damn well need to prove myself.”

  “O-okay . . .” Sydney gulps and her voice drops a tone. Sensing her nervousness is an easy thing to do, and as much as I want to console her, there’s work we have to do.

  For the next few minutes, I go over what I need to do to prove myself to the club. She begs me to not ask her to do this, but I know there will come a point where I can’t reach. I’ll need her to help me out and I have to prove myself to her club. Hell, not even to just her club. I need her father to see I’m serious, how I’m not gonna fuckin’ stand by and back Boomer up. He abandoned me. The man may have been my brother, but I don’t know the man I last saw. The betrayal runs deep, and I never thought we’d be where we are right now.

  Fuck, thinkin’ about it burns a hole in my heart. My heart isn’t gonna be the only thing burnin’ tonight. Sydney will be helpin’ me burn the tat off my back with a blowtorch. I saw Zane with it that one day, but since then I haven’t. She said they have one in the garage next to the club, so she’s on her way to grab it now.

  I’m in the barn, holding onto two chains hangin’ from a rafter, waitin’ for her to get back. She gets back here relatively quickly, beggin’ me to not do this. We don’t have a choice and I’m patient with her. I sit her down and tell her every reason I need to do this, and as much as she doesn’t want to agree with me, she does. The most important thing is me provin’ myself to the club.

  Before she lights the torch, I tell Sydney to go slow and steady and to not give me a break. To just keep goin’ even if my screams became too much. I thought after a certain point she’d give up, but she doesn’t. She keeps taking the flames to my skin until I fall to my knees. I make her promise to not stop until every inch of the tattoo is charred, burned to a crisp, just like my flesh.

  The stench of burned flesh makes her vomit in a stall. I feel bad she got sick, but this needs to be done. She opened the barn door not too long ago and now heavy footsteps are coming toward me. I decide to stay where I’m kneelin’ on the ground, holdin’ onto the chains in my hands. They’re the only thing keepin’ me up right. I’m too weak, too exhausted, too drained.

  “Fuckin’ hell. Who did this?” Zane growls out, likely talkin’ to his daughter.

  “I asked her to,” I speak up, glancing to the side. I don’t dare move my neck, for I know it’ll only bring me more pain.

  “I need Cheyenne to come and look at him to make sure it doesn’t get infected,” Sydney desperately asks. I know she isn’t lookin’ to get permission from her father, but the man surprisingly comes into my view.

  “Why the fuck did you let her do this?” Zane asks, even though the answer is right in front of his face.

  Grimacing, I look up at the man. “To prove a point. I’m not loyal to him. I’m loyal to the woman who put her head on the line for me and those she loves.”

  Zane doesn’t say a word. He stares at me in silence and then looks back where Sydney must be standin’. He knows what this means. He’s not stupid. He sees what’s happenin’ right in front of him. He clears his throat and looks right at Sydney. “Call Cheyenne. Make sure he doesn’t die.” It’s the only thing he says before he leaves, and I know I won’t ever get a blessing from him, but that’s the closest I’ll ever get.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sydney

  It’s been four days since I burned Gears’ back to a crisp. I’ve done everything Cheyenne has advised and she comes daily to check on him. I can see the conflicted look on her face every time she looks between us. She hates the way we’re struggling, the path we’re on. Cheyenne is one of the most genuine people here, and she’s the reason Boomer opened fire on the club. Boomer wanted his sister in exchange for Blossom, an old clubwhore, who must’ve been running around selling our secrets. My dad, God love him, wouldn’t agree. Cheyenne was always part of the club, but she really became a Reapers Reject the moment Frost cozied up to her. Now the two women are together and living their best life with their kid. The baby daddy is Chaz, but I won’t even go into all that. It’s complicated as hell. Long story short, Cheyenne slept with him when he was up here for a visit. Their little girl is a one-night stand baby, but I know so many.

  I’m in downtown Billings right now, sitting on the couch of my aunt’s hotel room. My birth mom had a younger sister, my aunt Sakura. We’ve gotten very close since my mother’s passing, and every few months she and my uncle Mouser come up here for a visit. I’m grateful to them for checking up on me.

  I run my nail along the fabric of the couch and look over at my aunt, who’s sitting at the vanity, putting on her makeup. If you ask me, she doesn’t need it. Her skin has never looked better. She’s putting droplets of foundation on her face and grabs her makeup brush, slowly beginning to dab it onto her skin. She’s in her late thirties, but you’d never know it. She could pass for mid-twenties most days. “I don’t think you need any of it. But do me a solid and tell me how you keep your skin so young and youthful?”

  She stops what she’s doing after her foundation is blended perfectly and turns to look at me. “There’s actually something I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Okay.” A smile tugs at my lips and it must be infectious, ‘cause she’s smiling too.

  “You know how Mouser and I have been struggling to get pregnant for years now, right?”

  They’ve had the worst time, and I mean the worst. I remember last year she broke down durin
g a visit and told me she had her ninth miscarriage and wasn’t sure what they were going to do next. That’s if they were going to do anything at all. Since then, she’s been looking into surrogacy options, so I’m hoping there’s some good news coming their way.

  “Yeah,” I reply, waiting for her to say whatever’s on her mind. I have to know. I pray some good news is coming from her mouth right now.

  She smiles brightly, “Well, we found a surrogate and underwent the process, and she’s five months pregnant. I didn’t want to tell you until we were in the clear, but everything is going so great.”

  “Holy shit!” I jump up from the couch, excited beyond words. I rush up to her and wrap my arms around her. “I’m so excited for the two of you. God, if anyone deserves to be parents, it’s you guys.”

  “That’s not all,” my aunt tells me and she starts to stand. I release my grip on her and she lifts up her shirt, showing me a smaller bump. “I don’t know how it happened. I mean, I know how. I just never thought this would be possible. We crossed over the twelve-week mark and that’s never happened before. I’ve always miscarried before week twelve.”

  Tears fill my eyes and threaten to fall as I stand in complete awe.

  “Don’t you dare do that shit. ‘Cause I’ll cry and I won’t be able to stop,” she tells me.

  I bring my hands in front of my eyes and wave, pushing air against my face. I’ll do what I can to push my happy tears back down.

  “Fine. I’m so happy for you both, so incredibly happy. You’re going to be the best parents.”

  She scoffs, “I hope you remember that whenever we piss these kids off and they call you to vent. You better defend us with your life.”

  “Damn straight I will.”

  “Perfect. Now, what’s been going on with you? I haven’t heard from you lately.” I normally text her throughout the week and usually call her once. Over the last couple of weeks I haven’t been overly communicative. Things with Gears have kind of taken over my life.