Colt (Desert Sinners MC Book 2) Read online

  Copyright © 2020 by Rachel Lyn Adams

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Colt is intended for readers 18 and older.

  Acknowledgements

  Cover Design: T.E. Black Designs

  Photography: Wander Aguiar

  Cover Models: Victorio–Model & Evan

  Content Editing: Underline This Editing

  Copyediting: Ellie McLove at My Brother’s Editor

  Proofreading: Paige Sayer Proofreading

  Synopsis

  Sometimes all it takes is a spark to ignite an inferno…

  When Ember arrives from the Reno chapter of the Desert Sinners MC, she rekindles a fire deep inside of me.

  My attraction to her hasn’t dissipated after all these years, but despite our history, what she’s currently doing brings out a rage that trumps anything else.

  I have enough trouble with women without her coming back into my life with secrets and hidden agendas.

  But an attack on one of my brothers brings the truth to the surface.

  She isn’t the enemy, but we have plenty of those breathing down our necks from all directions.

  No one can be trusted.

  And losing myself in Ember again means risking not only my heart but the safety of the entire club.

  When threats converge and everything is on the line, will love be enough to keep the flame alive?

  Contents

  1. Ember

  2. Colt

  3. Ember

  4. Colt

  5. Ember

  6. Colt

  7. Ember

  8. Colt

  9. Ember

  10. Colt

  11. Ember

  12. Colt

  13. Ember

  14. Colt

  15. Ember

  16. Colt

  17. Ember

  18. Colt

  19. Ember

  20. Colt

  21. Ember

  22. Colt

  23. Ember

  24. Colt

  25. Ember

  26. Ember

  27. Colt

  28. Ember

  29. Colt

  30. Ember

  Epilogue

  Also by Rachel Lyn Adams

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  1

  Ember

  The sun was beginning to set when we finally rolled into Las Vegas, and only a few more miles separated us from the Desert Sinners’ clubhouse. The long drive from Reno was causing my legs and back to start cramping up, and I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and pass out. Unfortunately, I knew sleep wasn’t in the cards for me tonight. The Las Vegas chapter was like our club back home, so there was sure to be a party raging when we arrived. But this weekend, I knew wasn’t just about fun and games. There was something brewing that was serious enough to require my brother and other officers from his club to make the four-hundred-mile trek.

  We traveled down the two-lane highway before turning onto a familiar dirt road. I’d driven down this road several times as a young girl, traveling with my parents to the family-friendly events held on the weekends. Looking around, I noticed the small changes from when I lived here fourteen years ago. The most obvious was the large fence surrounding the entire property and the men standing at the entrance. Each of them was carrying at least one sidearm in plain view with higher caliber weapons on display inside the small guard shack.

  My brother, James, didn’t share a lot of details with me when it came to club-related business, but I knew the Sinners were having some problems with another club. The scene in front of me reinforced that whatever was going on posed a credible threat.

  James, who was riding on the motorcycle next to the one I was on, stopped to talk to one of the men standing at the gate. I didn’t recognize either of them, but that wasn’t surprising. It had been a long time since I called Las Vegas home or even visited the city or this clubhouse. And due to a small and completely blown-out-of-proportion incident when I was eighteen, my father had deemed it necessary to keep me locked away in a tower like a fairytale princess anytime someone from another club visited us at home. Okay, that may have been a little dramatic. He didn’t lock me away, and I was allowed to attend family events and hang out with the guys at the clubhouse, but anything beyond that, I received instructions to make myself scarce.

  The difference between the handshakes and greetings my brother received and the side-eyed glances aimed in my direction showcased how far removed I now was from the world I grew up in. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but soon, the gate opened, squealing and shuddering as the wheels rolled over the gravel. I held on to Torch as he pulled his bike through and found a spot to park in the dirt lot.

  I climbed off the back of Torch’s bike, grateful for the opportunity to stretch my limbs. I adjusted my black jeans and white V-neck tee under my gray leather jacket. I removed my helmet and tried to fluff up my hair and check my makeup the best I could in the bike’s tiny side mirror, but the darkening sky and hot September weather made it difficult.

  When James moved toward the entrance of the large building in front of us, I started to follow, but a rough hand on my bicep halted my progress.

  “Watch yourself in there,” Torch whispered in my ear as he grabbed my hand, lacing our fingers together, and began to walk with me.

  If anyone else heard him, he would have sounded like a concerned and protective boyfriend, but nothing could be further from the truth. His words were intended to be a warning. One to remind me not to step out of line tonight. Knowing it was in my best interest to do as he said, I nodded my head in agreement and continued my walk to the front door.

  If I could have shaken him off, I would have. The only reason I was here was because Torch felt the need to remind me, yet again, that he held all the power in our relationship. And playing the role of dutiful girlfriend was one of the many things Torch required of me.

  I glanced over at my brother, who must have witnessed our interaction because he just shook his head and laughed. In moments like these, he saw his friend putting on his best alpha male impersonation. James didn’t have a clue how fearful I was of the man next to me. The man James trusted as his vice president. He was so busy with running the club and trying to live up to our father’s reputation that he was absolutely blind to it. Of course, that was my fault. I refused to bring my brother into the mess I created for myself. He had enough to deal with while taking on the role of president.

  As we approached the building, we stopped to greet a few more guys standing around smoking. I could feel both James and Torch tense up when a few lingering, curious stares were aimed in my direction once more.

  They probably didn’t realize I was James’ sister. I didn’t look much like my brother, with his chocolate-colored hair and brown eyes. My hair was a deep, natural red, something I shared with my mom and baby sister, along with our green eyes. James, however, looked like the spitting image of our dad, including his height and lean build.

  These men may have worn the same patch on their backs, but that didn’t keep my brother from carrying on my father’s protective legacy. I didn’t mind; I knew it came from a good place. Torch’s response
, however, reeked of ownership. I hated the fact he felt he had a right to lay claim to me, but that was my current reality. It was better me than the girl I knew he had his eye on.

  I kept my expression neutral and my mouth shut as we reached the door of the clubhouse where loud music and voices could be heard.

  Stepping inside brought another rush of childhood memories. I’d spent countless afternoons running around this clubhouse and the large yard out back. So many happy moments were tied to this place, and it would always hold a special place in my heart.

  But what was happening right now in this space was far different than what I remembered from my youth. This was more like the wild parties I’d become familiar with back home, especially these past several months. Unlike Dad, James expected me to be at the parties to ensure the events went off without a hitch since he didn’t have an old lady yet, and our mom took a step back from club life after our dad’s death. It became my responsibility to ensure everyone had a good meal and a great time.

  I looked around, getting the lay of the land. Alcohol was flowing, the earthy scent of marijuana was wafting through the air, and plenty of scantily clad women were on the prowl, looking for their next fuck buddy.

  The guys I arrived with were pulled into conversation the minute we walked in, and I was able to break away from Torch with the excuse that I wanted to find something to drink. I walked over to the bar on the far side of the main room and found an empty stool to sit on. I didn’t want to bring attention to myself, so I was happy to find a spot at the very end. Back home, all of the guys save for one, left me alone out of loyalty and respect for my father and brother. But I’d forgotten just how big the mother club was and why Viking had asked my dad to head the Reno chapter fourteen years ago when he decided to expand the club northward. I recognized most of the officers of the Vegas chapter, but the rest were a blur of faces I’d seen here and there but never learned names or roles in the club. Who knew how I would be treated here? I didn’t have a property patch announcing I was off-limits. Torch’s wife wore his patch, and unless they saw me walk in with him, no one would know I was with Torch.

  Taking in the scene around me, I watched as James and Torch spoke with Viking and Fitz, the sergeant-at-arms here that I knew very well. They appeared in their element. My brother stood with an air of confidence that he adopted when he took over the club six months ago, and I knew he was using this trip as a way to prove he was the right choice to lead the club now.

  Viking was like a second father to us growing up. Even though I hadn’t visited this clubhouse in years, on the occasions Viking came to Reno on club business, it was like no time had passed. When my father passed away, he was one of the biggest advocates of James taking over as president. My brother had big shoes to fill and wanted nothing more than to make Viking proud.

  “What can I get ya?” a voice asked, capturing my attention and forcing me to turn away from the crowd and acknowledge the man speaking to me.

  “Jameson and Coke,” I answered with a small smile.

  The bartender nodded at me and proceeded to pour my drink. He was young but handsome with his blond hair that was just long enough to comb back out of his face. His bright green eyes looked almost too kind for a member of an outlaw club. When he turned around, I noticed the ‘Prospect’ patch on the back of his cut. That explained the absence of the hard edge in his gaze. It would come after time if he had what it took to become a fully patched member.

  “Zeke, I’ll have the same,” a gruff voice called out from behind me.

  I knew that voice. It was the one that sent thrills down my spine once upon a time. I cursed myself for being too distracted to notice Colt approaching the bar.

  Coming here, I knew it was very likely I would run into him. I managed, both at the insistence of my father and my own determination, to keep my distance from Colt over the last seven years. Not ever visiting this clubhouse had been a great solution and avoiding certain Vegas members when they visited Reno hadn’t hurt either. I’d caught a brief glimpse of him at my father’s funeral six months ago but managed to avoid any conversation with him. It didn’t look like I would be so lucky this time.

  “Hello, Ember.”

  The deep timbre of his voice still managed to make my knees weak, much to my dismay. I spun around on my seat, ready to respond with a snarky greeting, but the words got trapped in my throat the moment I laid eyes on him. My god, the asshole still had the power to take my breath away. His chestnut-colored hair was messy in a stylish way; his beard was long but well maintained. More tattoos than I remembered ran up and down both of his arms, and I found myself mesmerized by them.

  Of course I’d seen Colt here and there when he’d first joined the club, but he’d never noticed me until I was eighteen and he was in Reno on club business. He was the typical biker type—just like the other guys I’d been around all of my life, but I’d developed the biggest crush on him. At twenty-four, Colt had a lot of confidence and charm that I hadn’t been able to resist back then. His hair hadn’t been as long, no beard yet, and just a few tattoos, but by far the best looking guy I’d ever seen. However, whatever he’d seen in me had been fleeting, and remembering his rejection of me made being in his presence more than uncomfortable.

  I realized I was staring when I heard him let out a low chuckle. Irritated by my internal musings of his attractiveness, I grumbled out a curt hello.

  “Enjoying the party?” he asked as though the two of us engaging in conversation was a regular occurrence.

  Well, two could play that game. I sipped from the tumbler Zeke placed in front of me, allowing the smooth taste of the Irish whiskey to linger a moment before swallowing.

  “Same shit, different location.” I smiled back at him in an effort to mask how his proximity to me was affecting my ability to think clearly.

  “That bad, huh?” He shook his head and laughed.

  I shrugged my shoulders like I didn’t have a care in the world, but my eyes darted around the room, making sure Torch wasn’t watching me. I didn’t see him anywhere, but that didn’t ease any of my worries. If he saw another man speaking to me, I would pay for it later.

  Before I could decide whether or not to continue the conversation, Colt’s phone started buzzing on the bar. He looked down to check the message. “Looks like church is about to start. I’ll catch up with you later.” I watched as he downed his drink and started to walk away. He took a few steps before turning back around. “You look good, Ember.”

  I didn’t know how to respond to that, but the warm feeling in my chest was unexpected. Before I could say anything, Colt was already talking to a few of the other guys sitting nearby, motioning for them to head into the meeting. I looked for my brother but didn’t see him or Torch where I’d left them. I assumed they’d already made their way to the back room with Viking.

  I caught sight of Fitz, who was following Hawk and Wolf, and he gave me a brief but friendly smile before also heading back. I hadn’t seen him in ages and would have loved to catch up with him, but with Torch around, that’d be next to impossible.

  As all of the patched members left the room, I went back to sipping my drink, ignoring the occasional glares I was receiving from some of the girls that I could tell were not old ladies but possessive of the guys here, nonetheless. Unless they saw me walk in with James and Torch earlier, they probably assumed I was a local girl looking to party. I’d learned a long time ago not to let girls like that get to me and ignored them.

  A few minutes later, a soft, female voice caught my attention. “Hey, there.”

  I needed to get my shit together and stop letting people sneak up on me tonight.

  “Hey.” My response was less than enthusiastic, but I didn’t know this girl and wasn’t sure why she was approaching me. My experience with other females usually came in the form of old ladies who I didn’t have anything in common with or club girls who pretended to be friendly with me in an attempt to get closer to my brother.
/>   “You came in with the guys from Reno, right?” the beautiful blonde asked as she sat down next to me.

  That was a question with two very different answers. I was here with Torch and expected to play the role of the happy girlfriend. But anyone familiar with our club would also know that he had a wife. It was something guys dismissed easier than the women associated with the club. Since I didn’t feel like being judged, I went with the safe choice.

  “I’m here with my brother, Ice.” Whenever I talked to other people, I used my brother’s road name, even though I hated how it made him sound. As president, it was required for him to have a hard and stoic exterior, but I knew him to be someone who was warm and caring toward those he was closest to.

  “He’s the president of the chapter up there, right?” my new companion asked. “So you must be one of his sisters I’ve heard Dad talk about. Ember, I’m guessing?”

  “He is, and yes, I’m Ember.” I was still unsure of her intentions, so I kept my answers brief.

  “I’m Kate,” she introduced herself, not at all deterred by my less than friendly demeanor.

  “Viking’s daughter?” I’d heard all about the daughter Viking found out he had not too long ago. If I weren’t wrapped up in my own shit and distracted by my interaction with Colt, I would have noticed the similarities between her and Viking the minute she sat down next to me. She shared his ocean blue eyes and had been blessed with the same Scandinavian features.