Chubs (The Devil’s Angels MC #7)
Prologue
I’m living a lie. A big fat, huge lie that’s going to be the end of me. I don’t know how to fix everything for everyone that matters most to me in this world, but I know I must do what I can. Some will not understand, some will be grateful. Some will hate me until the day I leave this earth, I’m afraid, but I see no other way to keep them safe.
Who am I risking it all for? Lucy, my woman, who deserves all good and no bad in her life. Instead, she got me. She gets the very best of me, but she’s going to hate the other parts of the person I really am. The man who has lied to her face while promising her a life I’m not going to be around to live with her. The person whose life spiraled out of control several years ago when I trusted the wrong people. The person who has several names and yet goes by my favorite one, Chubs. The simple, happy-go-lucky biker with a heart of gold and an unexplainable food addiction. The club brother that everyone loves and respects. My brothers and sisters, who accepted me without question. They’ve trusted me with their lives, secrets, and even their kids. They gave me loyalty, brotherhood, and a home when I probably didn’t deserve any of it.
Gunner, Axel, Petey, Trigger, and the rest of The Devil’s Angels MC own a huge part of my heart, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep them safe and clear of the mess of my life. Knowing that I’m keeping things from them just about kills me, but it’s for the best. If I survive what must be done, I have no illusions as to how my club will react to the way I’m planning on handling things. I’ve kept my secrets to myself, but in doing so, I’ve broken the brotherhood code. I didn’t take my issues to the table or include the club in my decisions. That will not be forgiven, and I’ll most likely be seen as a deserter and no longer worthy of the patch. I’ll be treated as such, and even if I survive what’s coming next, I may not survive the club punishments. Does this matter to me? Absolutely, and I’ll lose a part of myself if I’m stripped of my patch, but I’ve made my decision. I’d rather have them all alive, living a good life and hating me, than dead. I can’t be the cause of Pippa losing Pooh or Ava raising her family alone. Trudy deserves to live her happily ever after with Petey. Axel needs Bailey to tame his craziness, and Alexia needs her daddy. I’m replaceable, but those people are not. It guts me, but I know that eventually, Lucy will move on and find her happiness with someone whose past hasn’t come calling.
Many may never understand why I didn’t choose these people over my blood family, but I understand completely. The club will be angry and hurt, but they’ll survive my treason. My blood family is in peril, partially because of me, and I can’t turn my back on that. For years, my being gone was the best for them, but things have taken an ugly turn, and I’m going home to do what needs to be done.