Crow (Soulless Kings MC: Marble Falls, TX #1)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

ADDISON

I’m going to prove to him that a woman can do any fucking thing a man can do.

Nine years old…

“You’re going to school.”

I stomp my foot and ball my hands into fists at my side. It’s take your daughter to work day, and my dad is refusing to take me with him. I’m going to be the only little girl in my class if I can’t get him to change his mind.

“But Daddy, I have to go,” I plead. “Mona’s dad is taking her, and so is Carrie’s. All my friends will be gone today.”

“Mona’s father is a dentist, and Carrie’s is a mailman,” he says with exasperation. “There’s no chance that they could get hurt.”

“You’re not being fair!”

“I’ve made up my mind, Addison,” he snaps. “Now, go get your bookbag so you don’t miss the bus.”

Tears spring to my eyes, but I blink them away. Daddy doesn’t like it when I cry. Rather than risk him seeing my hurt, I whirl around and run upstairs to my room, slamming the door behind me.

I don’t waste too much time on my feelings because it won’t do me any good. When Daddy makes up his mind about something, there’s no changing it. Not even his little girl can do that.

When I open my door to head back downstairs, shouting reaches my ears. Mommy and Daddy are fighting again… about me. Once I reach the bottom of the steps, I stay close to the wall and eavesdrop.

“I’ve made up my mind, Sharon,” Daddy barks. “Addison is going to school, and that’s final.”

“This is a rite of passage for a daughter,” Mommy cries. “Please, Jack, don’t make her miss out on it.”

“The police station is no place for a little girl,” he snaps.

“So, if Addi were a boy, you’d take her?”

Please don’t say yes. Please don’t sa ? —

“Of course, I would,” Daddy replies, and my heart sinks. “What better way to turn a boy into a man?”

I wish I were a boy.

Thirteen years old…

“What’s taking you so long?”

I stare at my panties and blink back tears. Crying isn’t going to make the blood disappear. It isn’t going to fix this.

“Go ahead without me,” I tell Mona. “Tell Mrs. Cooper that I’m going to the nurse’s office.”

“Addi, what’s going on?” Mona asks. “Are you okay?”

No! I’m bleeding from my naughty parts.

“I’m fine,” I insist. “Seriously, go. I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

Mona sighs. “Call me later?”

“I will after I finish my homework.”

Because that’s the rule. No friends, no television, no anything until my homework is complete.

Sometimes it really sucks being the daughter of the Chief of Police.

“Okay. Talk to you later.”

Her sneakers slap against the ugly bathroom tile, and the moment I hear the door close behind her, I reach for my backpack and pull out my cell.

Mom will know what to do.

But Mom doesn’t answer. I leave her a panicked voicemail, begging her to come pull me out of school.

Breathe, Addison. It’s just your period, not the end of the world.

Unfortunately, I’m not prepared. Sure, Mom had that talk with me, and everything I need is at home, but I never actually put the pads in my bag.

Think, Addison, think.

I could go to the nurse’s office like I told Mona, but I’ve seen the phonebooks Ms. Hunt hands out to girls. No way will her supplies work.

There’s only one option left.

Dad.

After entering his cell number, I hit the green call button and press the phone to my ear.

“This better be an emergency,” he grumbles when he answers. “Blood or fire, Addison. Those are the only two things whi?—”

“I got my period,” I blurt, and heat blazes across my cheeks.

“ That is not an emergency,” he snaps.

“It’s blood, isn’t it?” I sass.

“Don’t get an attitude with me, Addison.”

“I’m sorry,” I mutter with a sigh. “I tried to call Mom, but she didn’t pick up. I need you to go home, get me some pads out of the bathroom, and bring them to me.”

“Can’t you ask one of your friends or the nurse for… something?”

Yeah, I could. But I don’t want to.

“Please, Dad,” I beg.

He clears his throat. “Where are you right now? Aren’t you supposed to be in Algebra?”

“I’m in the bathroom,” I shriek. “And I can’t come out of the stall.”

“Addison, get creative,” he orders, much like he does with the officers beneath him. “I can’t leave right now for something so ridiculous.”

With that, he disconnects the call. Angrily, I stuff my phone back into my bag and yank on the zipper to close that pocket. I return my focus to my panties and try to figure out how I’m going to deal with this.

Addison, get creative.

Dad’s words tumble around in my mind until creativity strikes. I glance from the problem to the toilet paper. Then I wrap toilet paper around my hand in an effort to make my own version of a sanitary napkin.

I really, really wish I were a boy.

Twenty-two years old…

“Next, we have Addison McGill.”

Applause from the small audience fills the air as I stride toward my father. Graduating from the police academy is a big deal, but the look on Dad’s face doesn’t convey the excitement buzzing through my system.

I did it. I not only survived the academy, but I excelled. My marksmanship scores are the highest in the class, as are every other score for skills we were tested on.

“Congratulations, Addison,” Dad says as he shakes my hand.

There’s zero emotion in his voice, zero pride. I’ve spent my life wanting to be just like this man, wanting to make him proud, and he stands here like a damn robot. At least with me. When he calls the names of the others, the names of all the male graduates, his face lights up.

Right here and now, I make myself a promise.

I’m going to prove to him that a woman can do any fucking thing a man can do.