Life is different
Look beyond the exterior
Nothing is ever the same
Just find your wings
Forget the war within
Fly away and never look back
Don’t ever stop fighting
Your soul will survive
Long as you stand proud
Never close your eyes
Against the battle to come
Everyone has the flight or fight
It’s only a matter of whether you stand up or not
Find the peace within the war
By spreading your wings
The time has come and gone
A new day is on the horizon
~ E.C. Land
Prologue
Blaze
Age 19
“Rissa if you can’t knock the H, then I’m taking Laura and you won’t see her again,” I snarl, looking at the vindictive bitch I’d been stupid enough to marry two years ago when I’d gotten her pregnant. How I allowed myself to be blinded to the drugs she was on is beyond me.
“Don’t even try that shit with me Liam. You don’t even have a house for Laura,” she sneers, cocking her hip with her arms crossed under her breast. I can’t help but wonder what the fuck was wrong with me to want to sink my dick inside this bitch.
Oh, wait never mind, I know why I thought I was in love with her when I was seventeen. Ended up knocking her up and marrying her to keep the peace with our families. We’d both come from prestigious families. However, with my family it’s riddled with lies and deceit.
How I share their blood is unreal. At seventeen I did what I thought was right to not only keep the families happy and was blinded by love for a bitch who hid her true self at the time.
When everything came to light after Laura was born, I was pissed and immediately filed for divorce. I refused to be stuck to a woman who only wanted to live off her daddy’s money. That wasn’t the worst of it to send me straight to the lawyers. No, it was the day I came home to find her in bed with my own fuckin’ father. Plastic baggies scattered on the floor and a needle was laid on the dresser.
Laura thankfully had been asleep.
“Bullshit Rissa, you know I have my own place. Or did you forget? Seems every time it’s my turn to get my daughter you can’t remember this shit. Either get yourself clean or lose Laura. Either way I’m filing for primary custody. And this time I’ll fuckin’ win. Don’t think you can use your daddy’s money or suck my father's dick to win. My lawyer is ready for the fight if need be.” I want nothing more than to just have this woman out of my life.
“Liam don’t make me laugh.” If she rolled her eyes any further, they’d roll right out of her head.
“Rissa I’m not playing. Now give me Laura and you can get her back next week when it’s your week. I’m tired of playing this game,” I growl.
“Well she’s not here right now. Mom has her and I’m picking her up in an hour. It’s not my fault you're always early,” she says, venomously.
“Court papers say six p.m., no other times listed. I’m here at six Rissa. I’ll just go get her from your mom’s house myself,” I snap.
“No, you won’t. You do not have my permission to get her from my mother’s house. I said I’d get her now move out of my way and I’ll be on my way,” she demands putting her hands-on my chest to shove her way past me. “Give me fifteen minutes and I’ll be back with her.”
“Fine,” I grumble, even though in the pit of my stomach I know I should follow behind and grab my daughter from Rissa’s mom.
Heading back to my truck, I climb in to wait. I pull my phone out to send my best friend, Tracker, a text message letting him know what’s going on.
Tracker’s not only my best friend, he’s my club brother. I knew when we were kids, I wanted to join the Devil’s Riot MC. So, when I turned eighteen, I started prospecting. I’d already been hanging around the club long enough considering Tracker always brought me around and his father was like the dad I always wanted.
Tapping my fingers against the steering wheel column, I begin to grow more anxious as I wait for Rissa to get back with my daughter.
When fifteen minutes came and passed, I knew I should have followed. At least then I would have Laura with me now. Pissed I start the engine and turn the truck in the direction of Rissa’s parents’ house. Right before I get there, I’m stopped by police saying there’s been an accident. He told me to turn around and wait.
Glancing around, I can see in the distance a car smashed down into a guard rail on the other side of the bridge. If I’m not mistaken there’s a piece of metal going straight through the middle of the windshield. Squinting, I realize whose vehicle it is, and my heart stops beating.
“Sir, you need to get back in your vehicle,” the officer orders as I get out.
Ignoring his demand, I raced past officers and emergency personnel. I needed to get to my daughter. I know she’s in that vehicle.
“Sir you need to get back,” a firefighter says stepping in front of me.
“That’s my daughter in the car, I'm not going anywhere until I have her in my arms,” I snap, trying to get past him.
“I’m sorry to be the one to have to tell you this, but neither of the victims survived.” At the fireman’s words my world crashed around me. Glancing around him, what I see will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Collapsing to the ground, I scream in pain as my heart dies along with my little girl. My baby girl, the only one who has ever truly brought light into my life. And just like that a vindictive bitch stole her from me.
It’s right then and there that I swear to never let another woman in my heart. At least then I know my heart will be protected from further pain.
Chapter One
Raven
Present Day
No. No. No.
Please tell me I didn’t do what I think I did. Groaning in my sleep I go to roll out of the bed, but I couldn’t. All thanks to the arm holding me against a solid chest that belongs to the most insufferable man I know.
Blaze.
Memories from last night hit me with a force that makes me want to find a cave and crawl inside it. Please tell me we didn’t.
Squeezing my eyes shut the night plays on repeat.
“I can’t believe you did that to me. Who do you think you are, asshole?” I scream, pushing against Blaze’s chest. I’d already had several margaritas and maybe two or three shots of tequila. Okay so I’d had four shots of it. What can I say, I have a weakness for my 1800 Tequila.
I’m going to blame the tequila for my brazen attitude toward Blaze. Sure, I’m a smart ass, a bitch, and full of attitude. I know it and I’ll own it, but when it comes to Blaze something about him always gets to me and I end up usually clamming up because if I speak to him I normally am not this bold.
Unfortunately for him I’d had just enough to drink to stand up to him. I’m over him constantly running my dates off every time I have one. He’s done this ever since him and I slept together. Only whenever I’ve been at the clubhouse with Vi, he’s constantly got a clubwhore in his lap.
Damn asshole.