Left in the Dust: A Standalone Bad Boy Romance (15 page)

I ended up sleeping at the MC clubhouse two nights in a row. Didn't seem right to be home alone. My brothers helped me forget about Taylor by keeping me plenty liquored up. I was finally done with that woman. I'd spent too many years of my life wasting energy thinking about her. There was plenty of pussy out there eager to get my dick wet.

I had joined the Dark Souls MC when I was only sixteen. It was the only thing I ever wanted in life other than Taylor. I dropped out of school and became a prospect, cleaning up shit and piss every day. But it was all worth it to get that patch on my cut that said: Member.

The Dark Souls were my family and I'd always be there for them.

I stumbled downstairs to the clubhouse weight room. The sun had barely risen but Juice was awake and on the bench press already. Juice was named for his over-sized muscles that were no doubt fueled by steroids.

“Little early to be working out?” I asked.

Juice set the bar of weights down and sat up, his shaved head shining from the light. “You shouldn't even be up, Carter. The amount of shots you took last night should've sent you into a coma.”

“Couldn't sleep.” I walked around the bench press and spotted Juice. He groaned with every rep, his veins popping out of his forehead. “One more, Juice!”

Juice cursed as he pumped the bar up, his arms shaking uncontrollably. I took over the weight of the bar and set it down. I grabbed a white towel from a pile and threw it at him.

“Thanks,” he said, wiping the buckets of sweat from his forehead. “You get laid last night? There was some hot tail here.”

“Of course,” I lied. “Had two of 'em. Never been sucked off so good in my entire life.” I couldn't let him know what really happened with the one chick last night. I brought her up to my room and she was all ready for me, naked and begging me to fuck her hard. But I couldn't go through with it. I thought I was ready to move on from Taylor but something stopped me.

“Good for you, Carter. I had myself a real hot redhead. The biggest tits you could imagine.” Juice spread his hands apart to visualize the size. “You can bet your ass I buried my cock in that cleavage until I came all over her.”

I didn't want to talk about other girls right now. “I'm going to go for a walk and clear my head. We have anything going on today?”

Juice shook his head, wrapping the white towel around his neck. “Prez told me we got the day off.”

“I'll have my cell on me. Call me if something comes up.”

As I walked out, Juice returned to the bench press. I could hear his groans as I left the clubhouse. The man was a workout fiend.

Pike stopped me at the exit, pressing his glasses to his nose. “How the fuck are you even alive after last night, Carter?”

“Next time you want to kill me, try a gun instead of alcohol.” I punched Pike in the arm and he got me in a headlock for a moment before letting me go.

I walked down main street of Saint Marks. The air was cold and it was too early for any shops to be open. Except for Julie's donuts. The line was out the door—the only place in town that served reasonable coffee.

If I was so over Taylor, then why couldn't I get her out of my head? I thought about all those times she sat on the back of my bike as we rode around town. Her hands always held onto me so tight. Why couldn't we go back to that? Taylor must know that I was innocent. I'd never kill a man unless there was good reason to.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even realize that I was outside Taylor's apartment building. The four-story complex was one of the most expensive places to live in Saint Marks. Without Mr. Kyle's money, Taylor would never be able to afford something like this on her artist income.

I thought about going to her front door and knocking. What would I even say to her this early in the morning? I imagined her dressed in a tiny white shirt and only a pair of panties. I could kiss her and do away with all the words. They only got in the way. But in the end, I'd wake her up and make things a whole lot worse.

A black stretch limo pulled up and parked behind me. I turned around and the passenger door opened. Two large men—almost as big as Juice—stepped out of the limo wearing black suits and Ray-bans. I reached in the back of my waistband for my Browning 9mm.

“Mayor Trump would like to speak with you,” one of the giants said.
What the fuck did the mayor want with me?
The bodyguard opened the door for me and motioned me inside.

I took my hand off the grip of my pistol and entered the limo. I didn't have much of a choice. The mayor sat at the far end on cushy leather seats. He was more bald than the last time I saw him on television, campaigning for the position, telling Saint Marks that he was the man for the job. His blue suit could barely contain all his fat.

“Take a seat, Mr. King,” the mayor pointed at the seat next to him. “Would you like a drink?”

The thought of alcohol made my stomach turn.
Why did Pike make me drink so much last night?
I politely declined and took my seat next to the mayor.

“I bet you're wondering why I'm here.”

“The thought had crossed my mind.”

The mayor leaned forward. The scent of his cologne smelled like wet dogs. “Well I want to cut through all the bullshit and get right to it. You weren't released from prison due to overcrowding. I was the one that got you out.”

My head flipped upside down. “Why would you do that?”

The mayor poured himself a glass of vodka and took some ice cubes out of a bucket and dropped them into the drink. “Sure you don't want one?” I shook my head.
How could he be drinking this early? “
I need someone of your talents,” he continued. “Someone that could do a job for me. And you're perfect for this, Carter King.”

The question of why me kept running through my mind. “What's the job?”

The mayor took a sip of vodka. “During my campaign for Mayor, Kyle Enterprises donated a large sum of money that helped me win. At that time it was agreed that once I was elected, I'd help them out with any little problems they had. But now things have gotten out of hand. Mr. Kyle is siphoning as much money as he can out of my pockets and the city. He's threatening to get me removed from office if I don't comply.

“And what does this have to with me?”

The cubes in his glass clinked. “I want you to take down Mr. Kyle and his company.”

I laughed. “What makes you think I can do that. And why would I?”

“For starters, you're close to his daughter. You can get access to documents that I can't.”

“I'm done with that family. Taylor doesn't want to speak to me anymore. I could care less what his father is doing to you.”

“How about for revenge?”

“Revenge? What the fuck are you talking about?”

The mayor grinned. “Weren't you a little suspicious of the circumstances surrounding your arrest for attempted murder?”

I nodded. “The sheriff wanted to put me away. Threatened to go after Taylor if I didn't confess.”

“But the sheriff was just a pawn. It was Mr. Kyle who wanted you gone. Out of his daughter's life for good. And I set it up for him as part of our deal.”

My hands burst out and wrapped around the mayor's neck, fingers squeezing harder and harder. I could kill him within seconds before his bodyguards could even react. But he wasn't the man behind it all. Taylor's father was the entire time. I loosened my grip on the mayor. He coughed, taking a drink from his glass, and straightening his solid blue tie.

Everything finally clicked and made sense. Mr. Kyle always hated me and wanted me gone. Putting me in prison was the easiest solution. All it would take was money and power—Mr. Kyle had both.

My hand clenched into fists. I could kill him right now.

Mayor Trump poured me a glass of whiskey and handed it to me. I took it and gulped it down without a second thought. My body was rigid and I needed the alcohol to relax me.

“And what if I don't do this job for you?” I asked.

“I can put you back in prison, just as fast as I got you out.”

I was cornered. A Dark Souls lashed out when he got cornered. But what could I do? I'd die before going back to prison. And Mr. Kyle deserved revenge for what he did to me. The years Taylor and I could've spent together were taken away.

“I'll do it, Mayor.”

“Wonderful!” He clinked his glass against mine. “I'm glad we could come to an agreement.”

I drank the last of the whiskey and left the limo. I thought the only thing I had to worry about was getting Taylor back. But now life had gotten more complicated.

That first night at Club Sound was exactly what I needed with Ivy. Dancing and drinking the night away until Carter was just a distant memory. It was so much fun that I didn't even remember walking back to my place and sleeping in the same bed.

I woke up to a hammering headache. I poked Ivy to get up but she just rolled over and groaned. It took some convincing and Ivy finally got out of bed and dragged herself home.

But one night wasn't enough. The distraction helped keep my mind off Carter and his rock-hard abs. I called Ivy and she answered in the shower. I barely got to ask about going back to the club when she enthusiastically answered yes.

My hangover be damned.

Ivy showed up at my door wearing the sluttiest thing ever. A tight black dress with a plunging neckline of straps that showed off all of her tits. “Trying to send out a message tonight, Ivy?”

“Yeah, my legs are open for business. I haven't been laid in a week and I desperately need a man.”

My mind flashed back to Carter taking me in my bedroom. I could still feel his sweaty skin sticking to mine as he pumped in and out. It gave me goosebumps all over my arms.

“Where did you find that sexy dress?” Ivy asked, twirling me around. I picked out a short red off-the-shoulder that didn't show as much skin as Ivy but still made me look really good. “You're going to be fighting off the men tonight.”

Not exactly what I had in mind.

We took a cab over to Club Sound which was the only place of its kind in Saint Marks. The building used to be an old meat-packing plant that they converted. Outside, a red carpet with a line of men were waiting to get in. Girls didn't have to wait in line so we strolled right by the bouncer.

“Hey Mama” by David Guetta was blasting through the speakers. The bass rumbled through my chest as Ivy led me through the crowd and to the bar. She ordered us two watermelon mojitos and I stood to the side and watched the crowd dance.

“Here you are,” Ivy yelled over the noise.

I tasted the watermelon through the straw and instantly felt good. Ivy tossed the straw and gulped the entire drink down. I copied her but couldn't handle all the liquid. Ivy laughed and almost blew snot through her nose. Tonight was going to get crazy.

The DJ mixed in Rihanna's “Cheers.” “This song is my jam!” Ivy screamed at me. She had to get out there and shake her ass.

The dance floor was a large wooden square set in the middle with the DJ raised up at a station in the front. Green lasers beamed through the club. The floor was packed like sardines and it took us awhile to cram our way to the middle. But once we got there, Ivy and I let loose. I acted like I was the only one out there dancing, swaying my hips side to side to the beats.

A hand rested on my waist, squeezing my hips from behind. I imagined that it was Carter grinding up against me, his hard manliness pressed between my cheeks. But Carter wasn't here. My eyes shot open and I spun around to find a stranger behind me. He had a dirty mustache that reminded me of the gross Sheriff Buckley.

“Don't touch me,” I yelled, tearing his hand off my side.

The man pulled me close to him. “Come on, baby, just one dance. An ass like yours can't be ignored.” I struggled in his grasp but couldn't escape. I glanced over at Ivy and she came to my aid.

“Get your fucking hands off her, you creep.” She tried to pry his hands off me but the guy was too strong.

He wrestled me away from Ivy and we were lost in a sea of people. I kept calling out her name but she was gone.

“We're going to have some fun tonight,” he breathed, his hand running up my bare thigh. I had to do something before he got any further. I raised my knee as hard as I could between his legs. The man just laughed and kicked my leg to the side. “I like 'em when they squirm.” I looked for a security guard but there were only people dancing around, too caught up in the music to notice what was happening.

Was this it? Was this when my life ended? At some stupid club?

“Let the girl go,” a deep voice growled behind me.

The stranger turned around with me still in his clutches. Carter was standing there looking better than ever. I stopped squirming in the man's arms. I knew everything was going to be all right.

Carter cocked his arm back and sent his fist flying into the man's mustache. I saw some teeth fly out as the stranger finally let go of me.

But it wasn't over yet.

The man rushed at Carter, knocking them both to the ground. The crowd of dancers moved out of the way like a school of fish but continued dancing. Ivy caught up with me and held me close as we watched the two men battle it out.

Carter kicked the man in the groin where I failed. As the stranger doubled over, Carter swung with all his might and uppercut him, knocking him onto the ground unconscious.

Security had finally been alerted and rushed over. Carter grabbed my arm. “Let's get the hell out of here.”

I followed him through the crowd and out the back door. “Wait, what about Ivy?”

“Ivy will be fine. She can take care of herself.”

The alley behind the club was dark and filled with dumpsters. The outside air chilled me to the bone and the short dress was looking like a bad decision. Carter took off his leather jacket and wrapped it around me. His chivalrous act didn't distract me from the craziness that just happened.

“What are you doing here, Carter? Were you following me?” The buzz from the mojitos was making it hard to concentrate.

“I was looking for you. Ivy's roommate told me she was going to this club. I knew you'd be tagging along. Good thing I showed up too.”

“I didn't need you, Carter. Security would have shown up and thrown the guy out.” I knew it was a lie the instant it passed my lips. If Carter wasn't there, that man could have done anything to me. My phone buzzed in my clutch.

I pulled it out to see a text message from Ivy.

Ivy: WHERE ARE YOU?!?!

Writing in all caps made her sound hysterical which she probably was. I wrote her a quick reply that I was safe with Carter and I'd call her later.

I started to walk out of the alley when Carter stopped me. “We need to talk, Taylor.”

I planted my feet on the ground and crossed my arms. I shouldn't be mad at him after he saved my life but I couldn't help it. “I don't want to have the same conversation over and over again, Carter.”

“This is about your father.”

My arms fell to my sides. “What about him?” The worst came to mind.

Carter put both hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.“He's the reason I went to jail, Taylor.”