Chapter 1
Chapter One
MALICE
Growing up in a family like the one I had, I learned early on that I couldn’t trust anyone that was close to me.
I saw it happen time and again to the others around me.
My sisters would try to find happiness only to have their hearts shattered.
Same goes with my older brother. Because of this, all of them ended up either killing themselves, my sisters, or dying some other way, my brother.
Seeing how they ended up, I decided to play it smart, witnessing all of this at such a young age.
I’d actually been the one to find my sisters’ bodies as they swung from the third-floor landing next to each other.
In deciding my choice of what to do to protect myself, I hardened myself to not feel for anyone or anything.
I left home the day I turned eighteen without looking back.
Anytime my family attempted to contact me, I made it known I’m not a part of their family any longer and they needed to leave me the fuck alone.
My mother, she agreed only because I threatened to kill her lover boy the next time she sent him to me with her messages.
My father and uncle, they learned not to come at me when I did kill the men they sent to relay their messages.
I sent my own back to them with their bodies.
I won’t be a part of their world. I didn’t know the extent of it until recently when Amaya, Venom’s ol’ lady, sent Hammer the information.
I knew they were in deep with some shit, but fuck, this takes the cake.
I wonder if my brother and sisters knew, and this is the reason for them dying.
Because of this shit with them, I made a promise to myself not to let anyone get close to me or to have someone in my life that could mean weakness—this including a wife or child. I refuse to have someone that could be taken from me in order to cause me pain of any kind.
Shaking my head, I drink down more of the bourbon sitting in front of me. I need to stop my head from going to dark places when I’ve got other shit to handle. Such as finding the rest of Avery’s siblings. The ones who hurt Willow and burned up Rise-N-Shine Coffee.
Fuck me.
Thinking of Willow guts me. The first time I saw her, she did something to me I never expected to happen.
She’d walked into the clubhouse with Avery and Quinn, and it had been like my chest was lit on fire.
I wanted her from the moment I saw her, but not only did I think she was too young for me, she’d been too sweet.
Then all the shit happened with Avery’s brothers and sisters.
They’d touched her and, in doing so, brought something else inside me out.
I intend to let them find out exactly why they call me Malice when I get a hold of them.
That night though, I’d been no better than them.
I’d only meant to soothe her and hold her to me to reassure myself she’d been okay.
But the instant her mouth touched mine, I couldn’t hold back.
I’d taken her that night and, in doing so, I took something from her I didn’t expect to take.
Her virginity.
I’d fucked up. Even more so the next morning when I’d left her before she woke up and since then, I’ve not spoken to her. That doesn’t mean I haven’t kept an eye on her.
Well, I did until a few days ago when she went missing. I’ve had Cy looking for her so we could find her.
Not knowing where Willow is has been is driving me nuts. I wish I knew if someone took her or not. I swear to fuckin’ God if she’d been taken again, I’m going to lose my shit and demolish anything and everything in my path of getting her back.
“VP.” I lift my head at Hammer’s voice. Turning on the stool to face him, I immediately notice the expression on his face as well as the way he’s holding Avery against him.
A week ago, they’d found out she was pregnant and since then, Hammer barely lets her out of his sight.
If she is, Hammer has one of the prospects with her.
All of us knew when he got with her and claimed her, he’d become protective.
Which he did. However, this past week it’s been in overdrive.
“What’s going on?” I ask, coming to my feet.
“Hand him the letter, Sunshine,” Hammer says, nodding to Avery.
Furrowing my brows, I take the paper from Avery as she goes to speak. “This came in the mail today from Willow.”
What the fuck?
Glancing down at the letter, anger begins to build.
Avery,
Thank you for giving me the chance to work with you and becoming your friend.
It’s been an amazing experience. I’m sure you’re worried by now about not hearing from me, considering you always check in on me every day since what happened went down.
By now, you also know I’ve shut off my phone.
I didn’t disconnect it, just turned it off.
Anyways, I wanted to let you know, with everything, I decided I needed time away from school and everything else. I’ve withdrawn from school and decided to go home. If you’re worried about anything happening to me there, don’t. My grandpa will watch out for me, so will his friends.
Please understand my need for time away and don’t come looking for me. I’ll get in touch with you when I’m ready. When that will be, I’m not sure. I simply need to get my head wrapped around things and hope to get through the rest of it as I go.
Sincerely,
Willow
You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me.
“She left?” I snarl, clenching the paper in my hands.
“Yeah, Cy was already looking into finding her when Avery got the letter in the mail here,” Hammer mutters. “We know where she is now thanks to Cy having already looked up her family.”
“Where is she?” I demand.
“VP, it won’t be so easy getting to her.” Hammer’s voice holds a warning I don’t miss.
“You gonna tell me why that is?” I growl, doing my best not to lose my shit.
“Because, Malice, her grandfather is the head honcho of a militia compound of survivalists. They’re farmers to the outside world but live on a compound that has enough weapons on it that could rival our entire club together, not just our charter.” Oh fuck.
Of course, the woman I’d want as my own would be from a group of survivalists.
“So, what do you expect me to do?” I can’t just let her go without a fight.
“I suspect her grandpa knows what’s been happening, and from what Cy has found out he’s protective of his granddaughter. He’ll be expecting a phone call or one of us to head in his direction,” Hammer grumbles.
“I’m going after her,” I proclaim.
“Good, take Axe, Savage, and Ruger with you. I’ll give the old man a call and let him know to expect you all. I just hope he doesn’t attempt to kill you on the spot,” my Prez chuckles humorlessly.
“Hammer, that wasn’t funny,” Avery snaps.
“Didn’t intend for it to be, Sunshine. Now come on, let’s go make that phone call while Malice here gets his shit together to get ready to go meet the man who he needs the blessing of to be with his granddaughter.” I swear Hammer’s taunting me for no reason other than to piss me off.
I’m sure this is because he knows what I did with her as well as knows it kills me to have left her alone.
Turning to the bar, I swallow the last of the bourbon in the glass and head to my room to pack.
I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but either way, I’m bringing Willow back where she belongs.
I shouldn’t have fucked up the way I did.
But the woman sets my soul on fire and I can’t stop my reaction to her from happening.
And that right there is one of the main reasons I’ve pushed her away.
When we get back, I’ll have this room set up for not just me but for both of us. A few years ago, when we’d remodeled the clubhouse, several of us had our rooms enlarged. Hammer, Axe, and mine being the largest of them all. I didn’t have a house outside of here and didn’t want one.
Most would think I was crazy, but my view on it all is, why hold on to something if I’m not going to use it at any point? I’m perfectly happy with living in the clubhouse. I have everything I need here.
Well almost. But that will be rectified here soon when I go get my woman and bring her home.
Consequences of my family be damned. If they try to come at me this time, I’ll be sure they finally meet their fate at my hands.