Death's Shadow MC Book 1

Aspen

I stare out the dusty bus window at the vast stretch of desert, barely catching the sign as we pass it. Warren 18 miles. After riding three different buses over the last three days, I’m ready for my journey to end.

I know how cliché it sounds when I say it, but the truth is, I’m running from my past. Sounds overplayed disappointing and boring, right? Well, let me explain some things really quick.

I’m not running from a violent, abusive, drug addict, or alcoholic family. The truth is, I don’t have a family. Both my parents died before my second birthday, so I didn’t even know them.

I bounced between foster homes until I turned eighteen, but it wasn’t really all that bad. The part of my life I’m running from actually came after I turned eighteen. I met a guy…and yes, I know that’s pretty damn cliché too…but this wasn’t just any guy, though it took me longer than it should’ve to figure that out.

Carlos was one of those guys who was attractive, smart, funny, caring and he made me feel like I was the most important thing in the world…in other words, he was dangerous. I found out too late, though, that things aren’t always as they seem.

It turns out that Carlos had a dark side, like really dark. I’m not talking about some hidden dark desires, some BDSM kinks or a few skeletons in his closet, no…I’m talking drug dealing, human trafficking, life ending, money laundering, gun running darkness.

I wish I could say that I found out because I overheard a conversation, or found hidden documents, but I wasn’t so lucky. I had met his dark side a few times, but it wasn’t until the end when I realized he could get so much worse.

Carlos and I were on a date when he got a call and I knew right away that whatever was being said to him was bad. We left the restaurant right away, drove for almost forty minutes before arriving at some rundown warehouse in the middle of freaking nowhere and then he dragged me inside.

I thought I was going to die that night, but it wasn’t my life ending on that dirty concrete floor. Carlos held me, pinned to his chest, and made me watch as he was handed a gun that he pointed at Tony, one of the guys he had introduced to me as a close friend when we first met.

They started talking in Italian and I could tell by their voices that the conversation was heated, but then it happened…he pulled the trigger. I was forced to watch as he put a bullet in a man who I had cooked dinner for, watched movies with and even danced with a few times when Carlos and I went to the club and he wasn’t in the mood to dance. In the blink of an eye, his life ended.

I spent a full day after the incident in shock then the following day was spent packing a bag with necessities and all the cash I had hidden away and was able to sneak out of Carlos’s safe, a total of seventeen thousand dollars. On the third day, Carlos left for a business meeting and that’s when I made my move.

My entire getaway was paid for in cash and when I reached Chicago, I found a guy who was able to help me secure a new identity for a hefty price. With my new name and only six thousand dollars left to my name, I hopped on another bus and was on my way to my next destination.

Anyone who found out that I actually chose Warren as my destination would likely think I had lost my damn mind, but there’s a method to my madness. You see, Carlos was a member of a criminal family...Italian mafia...something I learned when I was packing my bags two days after he murdered his supposed close friend right in front of me.

The idea of him hunting me down was terrifying, but far too possible with what I learned about him, so I did my research and found a solution. Warren is home to a well-known and highly feared MC, the Death’s Shadow.

I doubt Carlos would ever consider that I would hide from him by surrounding myself with criminals. Everything I’ve read about this town says the entire town is believed to be run by the MC and even the police are said to be on their payroll, yet…the crime rate in the town is extremely low, as in almost nonexistent. Strange for a town run by criminals, but it made the idea of coming here that much more appealing.

As I exit the bus at the gas station, because this town is too small to have a real bus station, I make my way across the street to the diner to get something to eat while I plan my next steps. I, obviously, need to secure a job and a place to stay. Yes, I know, that’s something I should’ve planned out before coming here, but I was more concerned with getting away at the time…sue me.

“Hey, hon, sit anywhere you’d like. Can I get you something to drink?” The older woman in the waitress uniform has grey hair pulled into a bun, dark brown eyes, a warm smile and her name tag reads ‘Darla’ in slightly faded white letters.

“Coffee, please and thank you.” I notice that most of the tables are occupied, many of them with men in leather vests that have the Death’s Shadow emblem and name on the back, so I decide to take a seat on one of the stools at the counter to maintain a little distance and place my duffel bag on the stool beside me.

Seconds after I sit down, a steaming cup of coffee is placed in front of me along with a menu, but the woman in front of me isn’t Darla and she damn well doesn’t look friendly. She’s beautiful with thick brown hair, light brown eyes and a body most women would kill to have, but her expression is cold and unwelcoming.

“Let me know when you’re ready to order.” She practically spits the words at me and I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes.

So, when I left, I did one thing that I hope like hell won’t come back to bite me in the ass, but I couldn’t help myself. During my time with Carlos, I became close friends with a guy at the club we frequented. His name is Jay. He’s the only one who knew about my plan to leave and he’s the one who directed me to the guy in Chicago to get my new identity.

Jay’s parting gift was a burner phone that only he had the number to. It offers me a small amount of comfort to have someone I can reach out to and he promised to keep me posted if he hears anything about Carlos or his men looking for me. I slide the phone out of my pocket and send him a text to let him know I made it to my destination, a destination he insisted I not reveal to him just to be safe.

Me: I’m here. Going to eat then find a place to crash for the night.

Jay: So glad you’re safe. Everything’s quiet here for now. Get rest then get to work, beautiful.

Me: Will do. Love ya.

Jay: Love you and miss you, boo.

Darla walks over to me after she sets some plates in front of a few of the men at the table to my right, another table with bikers sitting at it, and flashes me her warm smile. I tuck the phone back into my pocket and return her smile as I realize I haven’t even glanced at the menu.

“You ready to order, sweetheart?” My eyes land on the board behind her that lists the daily specials, saving me from having to look as unorganized as I clearly am.

“Can I get the chicken strip basket with extra ranch on the side?” She writes my order on her order pad with a smile on her face.

“I’ll have that right out for you, sweetheart.” I smile as she walks away and try to find something to occupy myself, you know, so I don’t wind up staring at any of the monstrously large bikers. Only fifteen minutes pass before Darla brings my food out and I decide she seems nice enough to ask a few questions.

“I was wondering, do you know of any places here that are hiring and is there a motel here?” She gives me a curious look, but doesn’t press me for why I’m here, something I more than appreciate. I honestly thought she would at least ask why I chose this place, or what brought me here, but she doesn’t.

“Well, there’s a motel about half a mile from here on the other side of town. Blaze! Come here!” I flinch when she raises her voice and I’m dreading seeing what a Blaze looks like. A few seconds later, I hear heavy footsteps approaching as a giant shadow falls over the counter beside me.

“What can I do for ya, Darla?” I keep my eyes lowered as the deep voice makes my body prickle with nervousness.

“Are there any vacancies at the motel?” My eyes widen, praying she’s only asking him because he drives by there frequently and not because he works there. Shit…the MC runs almost everything in this town, I know that, so why didn’t I think of this sooner? Of course, they probably run the motel!

“There’s a few.” I don’t know if it’s simply an act of kindness or if she can sense my nervousness, but Darla reaches over the counter and grabs my hand, squeezing it firmly.

“Are there any places here hiring right now?” The giant body beside mine turns to face me and I wish I could just disappear, but I’m no damn wizard.

“You got any job experience, doll?” I do have work experience in housekeeping, waitressing, bartending and I even worked in a kitchen for a while where I helped cook for a small bar and grill, but telling him this feels impossible with my body so tensed up in his presence.

“Some.” Ugh, I sound so pathetic! I seriously sound like a terrified child! Great, and now he’s laughing at me!

“You ever worked in a kitchen before?” I nod and finally, for the first time since he walked over, look up to see a Viking like giant standing next to me with his dark blonde hair that’s pulled into a braid with the sides shaved, a well-groomed beard and dark blue eyes.

“Yeah, I have. It was at a bar and grill.” God, I want to pat myself on the back for not stumbling over my words like an idiot! Yay me for speaking like a semi-intelligent human!

“Well, if you wanna see about getting a room at the motel, Darla can swing by after she gets off in a few hours and pick you up. You’ll have to interview for the position, but we’re looking for a new cook, preferably one who knows how to cook, unlike Ginger and Maze.” Darla chuckles, but the man’s expression is quite serious.

“I’d be more than happy to pick you up. You have a cell phone, sweetheart?” I nod and she quickly slides her order pad and pen over to me. I write down the number for my actual cell phone, the one I picked up in Chicago under my new identity, then slide it back to her.

“Can you point me in the direction of the motel?” I look at Darla when I ask, but it’s Blaze who answers.

“Eat your lunch and I’ll take you.” I assume my panic is written clearly on my face because he quickly adds… “I brought my truck, don’t look so worried.” I have no problems riding a bike, none at all…as long as I’m the one running the show. Trusting a biker to tow me around on the back of his bike isn’t something I’m comfortable with, especially when I don’t know if I’m able to trust these guys.

“Thank you.” I give him a sheepish smile before he turns around and heads back to his table.