Forsaken - Book 2 (Star Crossed MC Lovers) (4 page)

Chapter 2

Lucky

           I took an ass kicking for Lena and survived. When I was well enough, I found out she checked out of the hospital. But she’d left me a note on my bedside table. She said she was breaking up with me for my own good and to stay away. She said she came in when I was sleeping and kissed me goodbye. I actually remember hearing her sweet voice. When I went home, she refused to see me. She wouldn’t answer my calls, texts, or emails. I was cut off so completely, I might as well have died.

            A few months later, I ran into her at the grocery store. She said it hurt too much to talk about it. And that I should leave her alone. She barely made eye contact. I was sure her dad told her to stay away from me. I didn’t get why she was listening to him. Lena always had a mind of her own. She never listened to anyone. I wanted nothing more than to throw my arms around her, but she ran off as fast as her legs could carry her. I didn’t chase her. That was never my style.

           I caved in once and called her on her landline when I knew she was the only one in the house. Hearing her voice felt like bliss. She told me to never call her again. Her cold words were like a punch to the gut. So I left her alone. And I’d never felt lonelier in my life.

***

            I should have been more excited about the big day, but I couldn't stop thinking about Lena. Something must have happened to her. Why else would she be at the center of my thoughts? It had been more than a year since she turned her back on whatever was starting with us. It was more than obvious that I'd fallen in love, but she'd only wanted a playmate.

When things got rough-- she ran. Typical. Everyone woman in my life did. Hell, my own mother checked out at my birth, which was probably for the best, seeing that my father was a vicious bastard.

I tried to hold it in like it didn’t hurt. I kept my emotions to myself. But rage has a way of exploding. I went to the gym and pumped iron. I punched in a few walls. I threw myself into random tasks. I drank to numb myself. And yeah, I slept with other women.

Maybe I didn’t cry, but I sure as hell felt the pain.

***

It had been a tough year but in some ways, it was worth it. The morning I was finally going to be a full-fledged member of the Stone Wolves.

I took a deep breath and turned to look at my best friend, Dane. His foot crunched through the sea of beer cans on the floor.

“How much did you drink last night?” he asked.

“Lost count. Passed out.”

"You alright, brother?"

“Please don’t worry about my drinking habits,” I said.

“Drowning your sorrows isn’t going to solve anything, Lucky.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”

We both stepped outside.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

"Yeah, I'm good." I reached my arms to the sky and stretched as a loud yawn escaped me. The day was quickly moving by, and soon it would be time for me to ride out to Pike's Peak. The patch ceremony was held on a dusty patch of earth in the middle of nowhere. It was beautiful out there, and I'd spend a whole lot of time sitting under those old oak trees, trying to figure out what the fuck happened between me and my girl.

She would always be my girl, whether she wanted to or not.

"You thinking about Selene?" Dane's voice pulled me from my reverie, and I glanced over at him.

“Feelings are for pussies,” I said.

“Stop it. I’m your best friend. Not one of your biker buddies.”

“Why would you ask me that question anyway?”

“You left your laptop open.”

“Oh no!”

“Oh, yes. You composed a long winded e-mail, professing your undying love to her.”

“I didn’t.” Okay, I knew I did.

“You did.”

“Go check, please.”

“Sure.”

A couple minutes later, he looked at me.

“So what was the damage?” I asked.

“You wrote up some sugary prose, that’s for sure.”

“Great,” I said sarcastically.

“And when she didn’t answer you back, you said things no lady should ever have to hear. Then she responded. And you two started arguing.”

“Shit. I was drunk. I don’t remember.”

“You told her she destroyed your heart.”

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.  “Never ever write love letters at three a.m. when you’re drunk as a skunk. Did I sound drunk?”

“Yeah. Wasted.”

“Then she knows I was drunk.”

“She asked you to leave her alone and let her be happy. She just wants what’s best for you. She said you’re a good man, but that you and she are from two different worlds. But she will always love you and never forget you.”

“Well, isn’t she the sweetest?” I said.

“Why did you even write her?”

“I was drunk, sitting alone in the dark, wallowing in…”

“Self-pity?”

“I was wallowing in the pile of shit that is my existence.”

He crossed his arms. “You’re getting all broody on me. Boy, you’re lucky your biker friends aren’t here to see this.”

I playfully punched him. “Shut up. But yeah. Maybe I was getting all broody. I started thinking about all the good times Selene and I had. I remembered her pretty eyes and sweet smile and wonderful laugh. She was the person I confided in, the person I’d talk to about my day. We used to have these long talks and we’d discuss everything. She put a smile on my face and made me laugh. She was the first person I’d talk to in the morning, and the last person I said goodnight to. We’d text all day in between. And then there was the way we made love. I miss that more than anything.”

“So you’re thinking about her?”

I sighed. "Yeah. Absolutely. Not sure I’ll really ever stop." I dropped my hands back down to my handlebars and squeezed tightly. "I just don't get it. Why would she give up on us so easily?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm too damn focused on my career to talk about women." He kicked the bike again, just it pushing a little with his foot.

"Hey, get your dirty-ass boots off my baby." I growled and started the old Harley up. I loved it so much, and it had been a good friend to me over the last year when I needed one most. I'd put more miles on the old bike than I should have, but it was cheaper than therapy.

"Alright, well I'm off. I'll talk to you later. Good luck, buddy. I'm proud of you." He moved closer and extended his hand.

I shook it and gave him a tight smile. "Thanks, Dane. I appreciate the support."

"Always, Bro." Dane turned and walked back to his truck as I pulled my phone from my back pocket. It buzzed again and I prayed like hell that it was Lena, but there was no way. Not much had happened since that night, other than my growing a year older. Not having her in my life left it feeling numb and monotonous. I spent the first part of the breakup so damn angry that I could hardly see straight, but after calming a little and moving into the sadness of losing her, I made a decision that changed everything.

I started to visit her grandma a few times a week. I got to know so much more about my girl than I thought possible. She was so beautiful and kind, and her Grandma was quick to tell me the stories about Lena that reminded me of that.

Pressing the phone to my ear, I smiled. "Hi, Grandma."

"Lucky. Aren't you supposed to have left the lodge already, boy? You're going to be late!" Her voice was warm and welcoming, though it sounded like she was going for demanding and strict. She pulled it off horribly.

I chuckled. "I'm leaving now. I wanted to answer your call."

"Well, I was just going to leave you a voice mail and say I was proud of you. Go now and we can talk later."

I shouldn't have asked, but I had to know. Besides, I knew Selene's grandmother had no problem at all filling me in on how my baby was doing. Whether Lena called herself mine anymore was beside the point. She was. Plain and simple.

"How's my girl? Is she alright? I can't get her off my mind today, Grandma. I'm worried about her."

"I'll call her, sweet boy. Go do what you need to do, and call me later. I'll fill you in, but you know the deal." She let out a sweet giggle.

"I sure do. If anyone asks, we don't even know each other." I smiled. "So risqué."

She laughed again. "Alright, silly. Have fun and know that Lena would be there if she thought it was at all safe."

"She would be there either way if she loved me, Grandma." I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath. Lena was never one to shy away from the challenge of pulling off an appearance in front of the Stone Wolves and having them never once realize that she was actually there.

"That's not true, but believe what you will. Be safe."

I pulled the phone from my ear and tucked it back into the back pocket of my jeans before revving the engine. There wasn't much I wouldn't  give to have her there with me for the ceremony, but Grandma was right. Even if Lena and I were still together, which we weren't, she would be putting herself in danger hanging out at a sacred ceremony that belonged to only the Stone Wolves.

Letting my thoughts go, I pulled on my black helmet and took off toward the edge of town. The wind whipped around me, but it was pleasant. Nothing felt better than having the wind in my hair. It left me with a feeling of being carefree and able to do anything. It was a damn lie, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

The trip took less than twenty minutes, and even though I was excited, I almost was sorry to get off my bike. I parked it beside the long row of hogs just under the trees.

Blade got up and walked toward me, extending his hand and pulling me into a hug as he patted my back three times. He had to be getting close to sixty, though he was still in great shape. His salt and pepper hair gave him a distinguished look that didn't belong to his laid back, country-boy attitude.

"Hey, boy. We almost thought you weren't coming." He moved back as the others made a line behind him.

"And not take my rightful spot as the youngest and best-looking Stone Wolf in the history of the MC? Please." I chuckled and shook Rusty, Viper and Larry's hand next.

Larry 'the animal' Bambetti was supposed to be pledging alongside me, but he failed a few testing opportunities, so he was still working toward his patched status. They guys let him join us simply because leaving him out didn't seem right. He was almost there, just a few more items to check off the list.

I wouldn't have made it so damn fast if I hadn't lost Lena. Having extra time to myself left me with nothing to do but push forward on the only thing I had going for me. The MC.

Knife, the MC President, was the last in the line, and he smiled at me as I took the few steps that sat between us.

"Lucas Morrison. You've come before me and all of the Stone Wolves Motorcycle Club tonight, asking us for entrance into not only our club, but our brotherhood, our family."

The wave of grunts left me feeling weak in the knees. I'd waiting my whole life for this moment. Since I was a kid, I'd wanted to be a Stone Wolf. From watching Rusty Grier save a family from a burning building when I was six, to witnessing Knife and Viper at every function that the town held. They would stand along the edges of the parades and town meetings, their hands clasped in front of them, mean-ass looks on their faces and a no-nonsense appeal. They were the protectors of the town that I'd come to love.

I couldn't look to my left where Blade stood proudly. He was like a father to me. Like a real father, not at all like mine. He was my hero, and when I needed someone most; the one who showed up to rescue me. He and I both would cry like fucking sissy-babies if I gave my attention to him. I figured I'd spare us both the embarrassment.

Knife picked back up. "You've proven yourself over and over, in more situations than a familiar should have to deal with. You've passed every test with flying colors, but more than that... boy..."

The large man in front of me paused as his eyes filled with tears. "You've made me proud. All of us , Lucas. You're growing into a man we'd all be happy to call brother. Tonight, you join our ranks. You ready for that?"

I smiled and forced a hot ball of emotion back down my throat. "Yeah, you silly motherfucker."

He chuckled and wrapped me in a hug before moving back and turning me to face the group. He cleared his throat. "I present Lucas 'Lucky' Morrison before you, brothers. Tonight we vote him in as a patched member of our beloved club, or we send his sorry ass a'packin'. What do you say?" He squeezed my shoulders as everyone yelled their acceptance.

I'd been through the rules, the expectations and the list of pledges that I would have to make. I'd done all that before this moment, so all we had left to do was celebrate, and celebrate we did. The coolest part of getting to partake in the ceremony with my brothers was that it was the first time I'd done it. Animal was there for mine, and he would know what to expect, but I was a virgin in all things patched, so experiencing it firsthand meant something to me.

Hours of drinking beers and laughing so hard that I thought I might actually pee myself dulled the sadness inside of me  a bit, but it hovered around the edges. I thought of Lena only when I pulled back from the conversation and let myself take a mental break.