DARK EDGE (A Devil Call MC Book) (Talon & Everly Book Seven) (Devil Call MC - Talon & Everly 7) Read online

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  The billionaire erotic romance serial - BY HIS COMMAND

  The paranormal romance series featuring bikers who are werewolves - FULL MOON MERCY

  The edgy and gritty erotic romance series - WITH THE ROCKSTAR

  The intense and wild MC romance - DEVIL CALL MC

  The seductive paranormal shifter series – RAW RIVER WILD

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  DARK EDGE (A Devil Call MC Book) (Talon & Everly Book Seven)

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  When someone close to an enemy goes missing, Talon and Devil Call MC find themselves being blamed... and randomly attacked. After attending more than one dark ride for their fallen men, Talon demands the club fights back. No matter what.

  Everly is desperate to ease Talon's troubled mind and heart. She fears that without the President's patch to give him direction, he'll wind up lost... or dead. And then with one phone call, Everly realizes just how dangerous their lives have become.

  In the set up for what will be the grand finale, Talon and Layne must find a way to work together in order to stay alive. Where there are secrets, there will be destruction... and hot romance.

  1.

  (Talon)

  Every vehicle that passed by was another threat to Devil Call MC. Whether we were under attack or just in the heat of a war didn’t matter anymore, it was about finding a way to make sure the MC didn’t fall once and for all. With Everly in the clubhouse, she hurt and confused.

  Hell, we were all scared to death. I hadn’t seen the clubhouse this broken since the day I got out of prison. When I came back everyone was drinking, drunk, even high. When I had tried to set the example, clean up the messes, and put the club back on track.

  Now that didn’t mean a damn thing. Layne had the President’s patch and I stood outside, hands balled into fists, staring at the gates. For the first time that I could remember, I get what Everly felt and said about the gates. They were supposed to be a symbol of our freedom, but what the fuck did the gates matter if we weren’t able to leave?

  There was something to be said about strategically holding back while planning, but that’s not what we were doing right now. We were fucking waiting. Waiting for the next attack to come. And I was the only one outside. I didn’t care if a bullet ripped through my chest or my head. I’d be the one who would go down proudly. Then again, if I died, I’d never have my life with Everly. The life we both dreamed of… that would never happen. Even if the club was at some kind of peace, the life dictated something else.

  “It’s a fucking mess, huh?”

  I turned my head and nodded as Buzzy stepped up beside me. He chugged from a bottle of whiskey and offered me some. I shook my head. I didn’t need booze right now. I needed to bury myself between Everly’s beautiful legs, savoring what was left of any remaining innocence.

  “What’s the plan?” Buzzy asked.

  “Ask your President,” I said.

  “I am,” Buzzy replied. “I voted for you, Talon. I wanted you at the head of that table. I wanted you to take charge on these things.”

  I nodded. “Doesn’t mean much now, Buzzy. We just have to survive it all. Fight until there’s no more fight left.”

  “That guy is unstable…”

  That guy being Vaughn. His stepsister, Jade, was missing. And apparently that fell right on the shoulders of Devil Call MC. But we didn't have Jade. I wanted nothing to do with that bitch other than to see her die. And right after that, Vaughn would be the next to go. As far as I was concerned, the other crews were at bay for now. I had some cuts and scars on my face thanks to Los Ahn… but I won that fight. They were weak and hidden. Rilen Lost was now in complete scramble mode because their President - Jony - was behind bars for the murder of Hollis.

  Something I personally set up. Something that was going to continue with the death of Jony and a hopeful implosion of Rilen Lost for a little while. But then came the raging fire of Vaughn. And Jade. And drugs. Fucking drugs. The one thing I hated, and the one thing that really had the MC backed into a corner.

  I heard a whistle and looked over my shoulder. Layne stood there, waving. I threw the middle finger. He could command all he wanted, but I would choose when to listen. Things were out of control and had been for a long time. Granted, some of this shit was directly my fault. So I’d handle it. My way.

  I looked back again and saw Layne approaching me and Buzzy. When he was close enough, he pointed to Buzzy.

  “Go inside and get everyone out here,” Layne bellowed. “We’ll stand our ground out here then. Wait for something. Plan.”

  Layne then approached and stopped with just a few inches between us.

  “President,” I said. “You hanging?”

  “I have no VP,” Layne said. “You’re basically rogue. And the clubhouse is torn up.”

  I nodded. “Sorry about all this shit, Layne. We need to get on top of it.”

  “He’ll kill Jagg,” Layne said.

  I nodded and looked down.

  When the first attack came, Vaughn had someone in the trunk of his car. I didn’t know who it was at first, but it was pretty obvious when Jagg didn’t show up to the table. Whether I liked the guy or not didn’t matter. He wore the Devil Call MC patch and was a loyal member.

  “He thinks we have her,” I said.

  “Talon, I’m going to ask you something… and it’s just us here. And you’re going to take offense to it…”

  “Just spit it out, man.”

  “Did you do anything to Jade?”

  I looked into Layne’s eyes. “No. I didn’t. I will swear to you, Layne. On everything I have.”

  “Then who the fuck…”

  Layne’s voice trailed off and together, we placed the final piece of the puzzle. We both stood frozen, stone like. From the outside it would appear we were in some kind of vicious stare down, a second away from throwing punches. But that was hardly the case right now. It was a matter of who fucked up worse… me or him.

  Behind Layne, the guys were all coming outside.

  Behind me, there was the sound of brakes squeaking.

  I turned and saw a car at the gates. A black car. Vaughn’s fucking car.

  “He’s back,” I whispered. “Just let me put a bullet between his eyes, Layne.”

  “Not until we get our brother back,” Layne said. “We rise and fall together, Talon.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  “Just stand with me,” Layne said. He looked at me for a second. “I need you, man. We need each other.”

  Maybe that was Layne’s attempt at an apology or trying to be romantic to the President’s patch that grazed his chest. Whatever it was, it actually meant something to me. I guess all the death, fighting, and wars had really turned me into a big pussy. It also didn’t help that Everly had dusted off my heart and kicked it back into beating, leaving me feeling the emotion of love.

  Giving me a purpose to live… a purpose greater than the MC.

  We stood shoulder to shoulder, Layne giving the command for one of the prospects to open the gates. Two of them did and the car slowly pulled into the lot. My hands were shaking with a fierce anger.

  The car stopped and the back door opened. Vaughn climbed out of the car. He took off hi
s sunglasses and put them on top of the car. From the distance we were at, he looked like death. His face was grown in with scruff. He had a suit on but it looked wrinkled and unkempt. His eyes were big and bloodshot, from definitely not sleeping and maybe dipping into his own drug supply to keep his mind at bay.

  That was a scary thought to process. Anyone who got too involved with their own shit was definitely not a stable and sane person. Let alone the fact that this was probably the first time in his pampered life that something bad happened to Jade. And just seeing Vaughn like this made it even more clear that Jade controlled everything. Her body, her mind, her thoughts, that was the power between them. Scary, creepy, but definitely powerful.

  Vaughn looked right at me and then reached for his gun. When he pulled it out it was shaky in his hand.

  “Christ,” I said. “He’s going to slip the trigger, man.”

  “Just be ready,” Layne said.

  Vaughn backed up and then snapped his fingers and pointed to the trunk of the car. The other side of the car door opened and out stepped a large man with muscles. Lots of muscles. He walked to the trunk and opened it. The next thing we saw was Jagg being held up by the muscle guy.

  “Jagg,” Layne said.

  He stepped forward and I put a hand out. “Layne, don’t. Don’t walk into anything. It’s what they want.”

  Jagg was able to walk which mean he was alive. His face was beaten up. His clothing torn to shreds. The son of a bitch was still wearing his leather cut though. Proud, yeah, that was Jagg. He and I didn’t get along, but he was patched in for a reason.

  The muscle man continued to help Jagg, until Jagg threw an elbow and pushed away. There was no way Jagg could run or move fast, but he certainly didn’t want the help. His legs were bloody, the obvious stab wounds open and bleeding. It made me shiver to wonder how many fingers and teeth he had left from his beating.

  “Where’s Jade?” Vaughn asked as he approached.

  “The answer is the same,” I said. “She’s not here.”

  “Check the clubhouse,” Layne said. “Door’s wide open, Vaughn.”

  “I know that trap,” Vaughn said. “I know it… you’ll… just give me her.”

  “We don’t have her,” Layne said.

  I looked at Jagg. His eyes were big but half dead.

  “I took care of your friend,” Vaughn said. “I did everything to him that I want to do to you, Talon. That I’m going to do. When I get Jade back, I’m going to burn this place down.”

  “That’s comforting,” I said. “You can leave now, Vaughn. Before things get messy.”

  “I want my fucking sister!” Vaughn screamed.

  The spoiled rich kid squealed like a little bitch because he couldn’t get something he wanted. And it wasn’t like we had what he wanted. I had an idea of who did though, and it was maybe scarier than Vaughn right now.

  “Give us a break,” Layne said. “We can help you, Vaughn. We can work together on this.”

  I gritted my teeth. Fuck, I hated showing any kind of weakness. But considering the circumstances of all this shit, I had to nod. I had to agree with Layne. We just needed Vaughn to disappear and leave us the hell alone for a little bit.

  “He’s right,” I said. “We didn’t take Jade. We didn’t hurt Jade. But whoever did is on our shit list right now. In fact, they take the number one spot over you, Vaughn. Because this heat on the MC is not our business. Yet you’re making it our business. So I guess we’re almost forced to work together.”

  “Work together?” Vaughn asked. He laughed, a sick cackling laugh. He shook his hands, a gun in his right hand. He pointed the barrel at his chin and rubbed, his fucking finger still on the trigger. “I don’t work with your kind, Talon. We used the fuck out of your friend Hollis. He was good business. He’s gone. You’ve taken a lot, Talon. But this is it. You can’t touch Jade anymore. Bad enough I had to watch you…”

  Tears filled Vaughn’s eyes. He slid the barrel of the gun along his lips. I braced myself, wondering if he was just going to kill himself right now. Talk about a sick turn of events.

  “Vaughn,” Layne said. “Just get the fuck out of here.”

  Jagg stumbled forward a couple steps. He slowly put his arms out. He opened his mouth and stretched his jaw. “I’m… alive… for the club…”

  “That’s good,” I said to Jagg. “Just hang tight, man. Give us a minute.”

  “I told them nothing,” Jagg said.

  “There’s nothing to tell,” Layne said.

  “He knows,” Vaughn said. “Oh, he knows, he knows, he knows…” Vaughn started to hyperventilate. “He loved the torture because he knows…”

  “There’s nothing to know,” I said. “We don’t have Jade.”

  “Just leave Jagg and go,” Layne said. “Come back later, Vaughn. Let us…”

  “Oh, I’ll come back. Yes. Of course I’ll come back.” Vaughn closed his eyes and shook his head. When his eyes opened again, it was like looking at a different man. He was intense now. Focused. Something in his brain kicked in high gear. “I’ll keep coming back until you’re all dead.”

  “Hey,” Layne said. “Nobody is dead…”

  I should have seen it coming. And maybe somewhere deep inside me I did. And maybe I held back for personal reasons.

  But Vaughn started laughing again. He nodded. He said, “Nobody is dead… not anyone…”

  With that, he lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.

  One time. One shot. Right through the side of Jagg’s head. The boom of the gun and the explosion of Jagg’s head left me reeling for a second. Not that it mattered. Vaughn kept his gun pointed at us and the muscle man took out his own gun.

  They slowly got to their car and got inside. The car backed away and Layne and I stood there. His VP on the ground, half his fucking face missing.

  To make everything worse, I looked back and saw Everly standing at the clubhouse door.

  She’d seen it all.

  Fuck… she’d seen it all…

  __

  2.

  (Everly)

  I had heard the term dark ride thrown around a few times. When I first heard it I was completely drunk, stumbling around the clubhouse waiting for someone to sink their teeth into me and take me to a bedroom for five minutes of attention. I never realized how important it was or what it meant until Talon sat with me on his bed.

  I was numb. It had nothing to do with powerful medicines because I had stopped taking them by then. My leg was healing just fine and I was able to get around without crutches. I should have been using the crutches, but I hated feeling weak and I hated to be a burden to anyone in the MC.

  Every time I closed my eyes I saw the bullet hitting Jagg in the side of the head. The spray of face, skull, brain, and blood. Then the silence. That was the worst of it all. The way everyone just froze and didn’t say a fucking word. They all just stood there as Vaughn was driven away.

  It was then Talon who moved first. He took off his leather cut and put it over Jagg’s face. He crouched down and put a hand to Jagg’s leg and just shook his head. Over and over. Over and over.

  “I need to talk about this,” Talon said.

  He put a hand to my leg. He was wearing the same leather cut that had covered up Jagg’s messed up face. And he stared at me with his beautiful, bad boy eyes. He looked weary but unbroken. His face healing, scabbing, scarring.

  “Why the fuck did you come outside?” he asked, cutting right through any chance of sympathetic romance in our moment alone.

  “I don’t know,” I said. “I heard something. I…”

  “What?”

  “I’m so afraid of you leaving and never coming back. Okay? I get it, Talon. I get how it all works. How the life works. I see it. I experience it. But I can’t help it when I need to see what’s going on. I hate being in the dark.”

  “So how does it feel to see what you saw?” he asked, so cold.

  “It hurts,” I whispered. “Vaughn just shot
him. Like…”

  Talon moved his hand from my leg and wrapped me up in his arms. I buried my face into his strong chest, smelling his shirt. Sweat and man. My man. My Talon.

  And I started to cry.

  I cried as though I cared about Jagg. As though Jagg and I had something together, when in reality, we had nothing. We didn’t talk. We didn’t touch. He never tried to fuck me. But it was the reality that Jagg was VP. And in my heart I thought Talon would have been Layne’s VP. So that bullet… that could have been Talon…

  “Fuck, beautiful,” Talon growled. “This is why I wanted you to go. Take the video and go. Be gone and be free. Nobody will ever touch you or hurt you. I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

  I looked up at Talon.

  You can only protect me if you live…

  But I couldn’t say that.

  So I said, “I won’t leave without you.”

  Talon kissed my forehead and stood up. He pulled at his leather cut. The black leather looked really sexy against the black t-shirt he wore. It wasn’t the time to think like this, but I couldn’t help how he set me on fire. For all the death that surrounded us, Talon was the one who made me feel alive.

  He offered his hand to me and I stood up. I was in a black dress. A requirement for a dark ride. Everything needed to be black. Needed to be respectful for the fallen member of the MC.

  The only reason I was going on the dark ride with the club was because Talon refused to leave me at the clubhouse. He said there weren’t enough prospects in the world to protect me. So he wanted me with him. On the back of his motorcycle. At the cemetery. To see it all.

  He held my hand tight and we walked to the main part of the clubhouse. There were shots of whiskey all around, a glass waiting for Talon. He grabbed it with his left hand and took the shot and put the shot glass upside down on the bar. Everyone was dressed in black and stood there, silent.