Crash (Rugged Skulls MC: Phoenix #2)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER ONE

CRASH

Laughter fills the yard at the back of the clubhouse as I sit with my brothers from the Phoenix chapter of the Rugged Skulls MC, but also the men from Fort Lauderdale, who arrived this afternoon.

It is Racer’s birthday, not that the grumpy fucker wants to celebrate, but he got out voted. The guys threw him this party, and Magnum, my old president from Fort Lauderdale, wanted to come here to make a big announcement and thought with everyone here, it would be the best time.

It has been a month since I became a full patched member of the club and fuck, life has been good. The club took me in when I needed to come back to Arizona to deal with some shit from my past; they have my back just as much as I have theirs.

We have looked into Valarie and her brother Vince, and found out that they are in deep. Vinnie is in prison, while Valarie is dealing with the aftermath of his arrest. She has been dragged into his debt, paying it with her freedom.

I always knew that Vinnie would fuck up so bad and drag Val down with him, which is why I couldn’t stay around to help him, or her, in a way. When she took his side when I wanted her to run with me, it crushed a part of me.

I am an only child, so I do not know the feeling of having the sibling trust and loyalty like they have, so I get why she stayed to help him.

I just couldn’t.

“Well fucker, this looks good on you.” I smile, standing and hugging Jack, before turning to Lilith.

“Logan, we have missed you.” She kisses my cheek, and hugs me back.

“I missed you guys, too.” I look at Dom. “Fuck, little man, you are not so little anymore. What the fuck happened?”

He shrugs with a wide grin on his face. “I grew up, old man,” he jokes.

“Old man. Cheeky shit. I am twenty-four.”

“Yeah, like I said, old.” He looks to Lilith. “Mom, can I go and play with Target’s dogs and the twins, please?”

She nods, her eyes filling with love for this boy who she sees as a son even though they do not share the same blood.

“Go on, and ask Target before giving them any treats.”

“Will do.” With that, he is off to the other side of the room where Target and Maddie’s dogs sit with the twins.

“You good?” Jack asks, taking the empty seat next to me.

I nod. “All good, brother.”

“Can I just say that I love your road name, Logan. I think it suits you,” Lilith comments, making me laugh along with the men around us.

“It is fucking poetic, if you ask me. He looks like that Formula One driver: his name is Logan, he loves cars, ad he crashed one into a house,” Calder calls out from the other side of the fire pit.

Everyone laughs, and I salute him with my beer bottle.

“He is a sexy fucker, though,” I reply.

“Just like you, baby cakes,” Savage calls and when I look at him, he blows me a kiss.

I catch it, tucking it in my pocket with a wink, which he returns.

“I see that you are handling Savage. Good to see; I thought he would eat you alive,” Slide calls out.

“I would, if he let me, brother.”

Looking to Slide, he is still a good-looking guy for his age; the silver mixed with his dirty blond hair adds to his appeal. From the stories I've heard, women would fawn over him. He was the biggest whore out of all the men in the club, until he found Farrah.

“Slide, you are forgetting that I lived at your clubhouse, was around you, Maverick, Calder, and Luna for nearly a year, so not much embarrasses me or takes me by surprise anymore.”

“We taught him well,” Mav calls out, Darcy on his lap. Cal is next to them, with an arm around Mav’s shoulders.

I dip my chin in thanks.

Watching everyone just being here, makes me see what I was missing from my life. When I was in Fort Lauderdale, I got a taste of what I could have, and now being back in Phoenix, with the club at my back settles something in me. I just wish Val was at my side.

Being a part of the club shows me that loyalty, brotherhood, and family are priority. They made me feel welcome and helped me when I needed them. It's more than just friendship—it's knowing you have people who will stand by you, no matter what comes your way.

They will be there when I make my move to help get Valarie from the drug gang, who are keeping her to pay back the debt that Vinnie left her with. I just hope that no one gets hurt when we take the bastards down.

A loud whistle penetrates the air, making me wince and the dogs bark.

Magnum stands, a beer in hand. My stomach tightens seeing a slightly sullen look on his face.

“Okay fuckers, and ladies, and kids. Today marks a big moment for the Rugged Skulls MC family, because that is what you really are. Blood or not. When my father and his friends started this club, it was about fitting back into society, without conforming to the reality of the real world. War is hard, but coming home can be harder for some. We joined the club for each other but also for ourselves. We all come from different walks of life, but being here in this club, you become one of us. Over time, we built a name for the club, and we are still going. The name carries a lot of weight with other clubs around the US and in the UK. I know that the future will carry on the strong name of the Rugged Skulls through the next generation and the next and the next. Not only blood can carry on, as once you are in, you are in.”

He nods to some of the men of the club who are not Rugged Skulls by blood, but by honor. He looks to me and I give him a tight-lipped smile.

Risky goes to his side, as do the men who gave me a chance. Their Ol’ Ladies reach their men, and the mood turns somber, as if we know what is coming. Hell, I think we all do.

“I am stepping down as President of the club.” He looks down at his woman, kissing her lips. “I am fucking old, still hot, but old.” People laugh.

“Hell, we are all getting old, brother,” Rookie calls out, with one of his grandkids sitting on his knee.

Magnum dips his beer in acknowledgment.

“Fuck yeah, brother. When we started the Lauderdale chapter, it was all about riding, making money, fucking, and becoming a brotherhood. Over the years it’s turned into one big ass family. Each of us having kids of our own, who we are all fucking proud of.”

Cheers go up, mixed with clapping and whistles.

“It was one of the best moments of my life when my woman told me she was pregnant, and then to top it off with twin boys, best day ever, but as usual my woman likes to makes things better but giving me a beautiful baby girl. Royal, Jack, Perri— you three completed us. You made me a better man. Perri, you are strong, beautiful and we know that you will do big, huge things that will have men on their knees for you, baby. Now it is your time to shine within the club. Come up here, boys.”

Both Royal and Jack kiss their women, before walking toward their parents. Lilith fidgets next to me, so I tap her knee, offering her a smile when she looks at me with tears in her eyes.

Opal and the rest of the men get to their feet, walking to their Pres, he may be handing the gavel over but Magnum will always be the Pres to us.

“The title of President comes with a lot of weight and responsibility, but you boys have been trained for this day since the day you were born. Royal, with your brother at your side, you will make a fine president to this club. Jack, you have always been the cool one between you, and I know that like Opal did with me, you will help guide Royal when it comes to big decisions of the club.”

“All of you boys are ready to take on what comes next. Like the daughters of the club, you will all stand strong and do right by the club,” Opal adds.

“You know we will do you all proud. Family and club first, we know that; it was ingrained in us from birth and the one thing we have all stuck by. Having Jack as my VP, I know we will carry on the legacy that you have all set for us.”

“Here, baby.” Risky hands Magnum two clean patches.

The love and adoration radiate off her as she cups each of her boys’ cheeks.

“We love you, and know that you will do right by the club and the family.” She sniffs.

Royal and Jack kiss her cheeks, then stand tall, looking proud as fuck. As they should, they have both brought a lot to the club as have the rest of the next generation of men.

Both men are hugged by each of the original brothers, and congratulated.

“Royal, you need to appoint the rest of the titles of the club.” Magnum slaps his hands on his son’s shoulders.

Royal looks to Jack, and I know that they already had this planned out. I mean, why shouldn’t they, they knew this was going to happen at some point.

“We did not have to think long and hard about this, as we know each and every one you of like we know each other. With my twin at my side as my VP, we want Finan to be our treasurer with that big, beautiful brain of his. Lennox with his big sparkling personality, will protect the club as our enforcer.” Royal laughs, and everyone joins in.

“As for Maverick, I think we already know what this fucker will do for the club; he has been doing it for years. Along with Astrid, he will be our tech guy, and along with his Ol’ Man, he will keep us safe in ways that none of us can comprehend,” Jack adds.

“Travis will be the SAA; we know that, like Lennox, you will protect everyone linked to the club and those we love.” Travis nods to Royal, with his daughter Mabel in his arms.

“Last, but not least,” Jack starts but Calder cuts him off.

“I knew you would leave the best until last, I am the best after all.”

“I believe that the president is the best,” Luna calls out.

Calder flips her off, with Kady at his side with their son in her arms. “Semantics.”

Everyone laughs.

“As much as it is hard to fucking admit we are getting old, it is time,” Sarge says, his voice thick with emotion.

The men nod in agreement.

“Right. Now that the heavy shit is done.” Magnum holds his beer bottle up in the air. “To the future of the Rugged Skulls. No one stands alone.”

“No one stands alone,” we all repeat, the sentiment sticking to my heart.

This fucking club is everything to me. It gave me a new purpose.

The women go to their men and lots of hugs and kisses are given. I sit back watching it all, Valarie coming to mind. I have no fucking clue what I am going to say to her when I see her next, knowing that she is fucking working for the MC, hooking up with their fucking SAA.

It pisses me off that she went down that route, when she wanted Vinnie away from all that shit. Their parents were criminals ad they both grew up in a shitty household and swore that they did not want any of it, and now look at them.

Vinnie is in jail and Val is some scumbag’s Ol’ Lady, when she should have been mine all along.

Fuck.

My mood plummets, and I need a ride. Need the wind to blow off this negativity, but I can’t leave, not yet. Today is a celebration of the club, a way forward.

“Brother, you good? You look like someone told you that the Easter bunny isn’t real.” Savage sits in Lilith’s empty seat.

“He’s not real.” I muster up a fake shock sound, then sigh. “Yeah, man, I am good.” I finish my beer.

“Yeah? You want to try that again.” Arching a brow at me, I shake my head.

“This thing with Val. It is because of me that she got mixed up with the MC, and now fucking claimed by some prick.” I grunt.

I am usually a happy go-lucky-kind of guy. Yeah, I take things seriously when I need to, but I usually let shit slide. Always happy to make people happy and help out when I can. I will do anything for the people of this club, but this thing with my ex has put a dark spot on my soul.

Savage scoffs, before taking in a mouthful of beer.

“Logan, you are not to blame for any shit that other people do. She had a choice and she chose wrong. Brother, I think she is in deeper than we think, being claimed by the SAA, but then making out with that Crypt fucker; they had their hooks in her. Now with the Death Dwellers gone, the crew she was with seem to have a new presence around here, and we need to end that, so you need to be prepared, Crash.”

Looking at him, I frown. “Prepared for what, Sav?”

He shrugs. “Sending her to prison, or to ground. From what I saw, she has no intention of leaving them, man. Looks to me she is liking the power she carries being linked to them.”

I nod but say nothing, letting his words sink in. When Madalyn was taken, and I used a car to crash through the house to save her, Crypt was shot and killed by the club along with most of his men, but some fled, and we have not seen them since.

The street crew that Valarie has now attached herself to are making a name for themselves. I understand what Savage is saying, and a part of me agrees that Valarie is okay with staying with them and pushing the drugs as being seen with the crew gives her money.

Something she has always wanted.

They hated being poor, fuck we all do, but there are better ways to bring money in.

Seeing Valarie that night, it was like looking at a stranger, her hair now a bright red, tattoos up both arms and her neck. She was not the person I left. I am not sure who she is anymore.

I hate that she still blames me for what happened to her and Vinnie, but there is nothing I can do to change her mind; she is stubborn and set in her ways. My reasons for leaving were valid and that is all that matters to me.

“I don’t want her dead, brother, but if it is me or her, or someone innocent, then I will do what needs to be done,” I promise.

The look that crosses Savage’s face tells me he is happy with my answer.

“I knew that you were more than a pretty face and a sexy ass. You have a touch of darkness in you, Crash, I cannot wait to see it.” He winks.

I thump the fucker on the shoulder, making him laugh.

“You need to get laid, brother, if you are thinking of my body knowing that you won’t get to touch it.” This time I wink, making him laugh harder.

“Never say never.” His grin is full of mischief. “Plus, I get laid plenty, ask the assistant coach over at the high school. That man may look like a fucking bear, but he loves having his ass pounded.”

Shaking my head at him I sit back, sinking into my seat more and enjoy the rest of the party. Later into the evening the kids are put to bed, and then the party really amps up.

The Rugged Skulls MC sure knows how to party.