Max

Prologue

The gratifying sound of the Charger’s roar echoed through the garage bay as I stood up triumphantly to wipe the grease from my fingers.

Holy shit, Wren, you actually got it runnin’? Tatum marveled in shock.

Course she did, my father’s deep voice rumbled with pride as he sidled up alongside me to check out my handiwork.

My pop had had me working alongside him, getting our hands dirty since I was young enough to hold a wrench. I’d always been more of a tomboy, more interested in motor oil than Barbie dolls. My parents never pressured me to be anything but.

Good job, baby, my pop praised, clapping me on the shoulder just as Cole and Axel joined us.

As vice president of the Knights Motorcycle Club, an institution that all but ran our small town of Hawthorne, Nevada, my father, Sal Armstrong, was well known and respected throughout the area. I’d been raised within the club, which had grown exponentially over the years with the second generation rising up through the ranks.

Many of us kids were close in age and had formed a tight crew. We watched each other’s backs, and though many of us weren’t related by blood, we were a closer family than I’d ever observed anywhere else. My family was the club—its members and their wives and children. I’d never known any different. I didn’t want to.

She got it running, Tate informed his father, Cole Jackson, one of my father’s closest friends and the club prez.

Cole shot me a knowing grin, his blue eyes shining. I’m sure she did.

I think I’ll take her for a spin. Tate, you in? I asked with a raised brow. At eighteen, Tate and I were the same age. Though he drove me batshit crazy most of the time, he was like a brother to me.

Hell yes, he replied emphatically, grabbing his cut and hopping into the passenger seat.

I’ll see you at home, Pop. I waved, sliding into the driver’s seat and revving the engine a bit. I couldn’t help myself.

He shot me a warning look, which I’d seen more times in my life than I could count. He wanted me to be careful, and I would be—relatively speaking at least. I had a bit of a lead foot, everyone knew it, but I could handle myself. They knew that too.

I was the picture of calm most of the time, with one very large exception. An exception that was pulling his Harley up to the club as we were driving away.

Max Jackson.

I’d been in love with Max for as long as I could remember. What had begun as a childhood crush had bloomed into something much more powerful over the years. At eight years my senior, Max had always treated me like one of the kids. With every passing year, his indifference, especially when I felt like my heart would explode at the mere sight of him, got harder and harder for me to bear.

I tried not to stare as he swung a muscled thigh over his bike before raking his hands through his head of thick dark hair. When his brown eyes landed on me, he watched impassively as we passed.

Tatum threw up a two-fingered salute in greeting as we made our way toward the access road that bordered the club headquarters.

You make up your mind about school? Tate asked as I hit the gas, trying to beat back the emotion seeing Max always incited. With us both being part of the club, that was nearly every day. It was seriously exhausting.

No, I admitted with a sigh. I’d been accepted to a few different colleges and was still making up my mind if I wanted to move away. Part of me wanted to stay close to home while the other part felt as though it might be time to branch out.

Not much time left, he pointed out unhelpfully.

I shot him an annoyed glance. Yeah, I know. I envied Tatum. For him, his future was clear. He’d wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps since he could walk. He’d recently patched in and felt as though his life was made.

He shrugged, undeterred by my ire. Just sayin’. Did you think about your pop’s offer? He was referring to the fact that my dad had given me the option of working as a mechanic for the club. While I loved the idea in theory, I wasn’t sure I could stomach continuing to see Max every day.

Max tended to keep to himself. He was reserved, the type that only spoke when he really had something to say. From what I could tell, he was selective when it came to women, or at least more so than many of the members. But whenever I did see him with another woman, I wanted to die and vomit at the same time.

Jesus, Tate, you’re as bad as my folks, I griped, clenching the wheel in aggravation. I’m thinking it all over. I just need more time.

All right, all right, don’t get your panties in a twist.

You’re lucky you’re pretty, I muttered, used to our standard banter.

He chuckled good-naturedly as the Charger growled, picking up speed.

****

The house party was in full swing that Friday night as Olivia and I walked into the chaos, arm in arm. As Axel Black’s daughter, Liv was also a daughter of the Knights MC and well acquainted with the life. We’d been best friends since birth.

Tonight’s party had nothing to do with the club and was instead your standard high school party, complete with the expected keg and perhaps unexpected… skinny dipping? I squinted to get a better look out back. Yep, those were definitely naked girls in the pool. A bit early for that, but whatever. I grabbed Liv and myself a beer as we stood talking with some of our classmates in the kitchen. We’d been vague with our parents on our plans for the evening, otherwise risking being forced to bring one of the guys with us. There wasn’t one member of the club, no matter how young, that wouldn’t intimidate the hell out of this crowd, and there were times when Olivia and I just wanted to feel like your average teenager.

Jared is totally staring at you, Olivia told me quietly, her gaze across the room. Maybe he’ll actually try to talk to you tonight since we’re without a bunch of scary-ass bikers. She grinned.

I rolled my eyes, not interested in the least in Jared or any other boy my age. No, only one person would do for me, and he was all man. All confident, lethal, masculine man. Wanting Max made conjuring interest in a high school boy completely impossible. I didn’t even try.

Here he comes. She grinned around the rim of her cup, clearly amused.

Great, I muttered dryly. Jared had been showing an interest in me for the past year but hadn’t outright asked me out, which was a relief since that meant I hadn’t needed to reject him.

Hey, Wren, he greeted with an easy grin. As far as high school boys went, Jared was a handsome one, and he was in high demand if the glares I was getting from the other girls in the room said anything about it.

Hi, I greeted, glaring at Liv as she very conveniently made herself scarce. She was the only person who knew about my feelings for Max, and tired of seeing me heartbroken over it, she was constantly pushing me toward other boys.

Crazy we’re almost done, huh? he asked. Have you decided where you’re going to school?

That was the question of the hour apparently.

Not yet, I shook my head. You? I didn’t really care, but it seemed impolite not to ask.

Not yet, he answered vaguely.

Ah. I nodded, trying to look interested.

Listen, he began as I braced for whatever he was about to say. If you’re around—

He paused as a commotion sounded by the front door. A moment later, I groaned as Tatum, along with Olivia’s oldest brother, Maddox, strode in, outfitted in their standard cuts, the Knights MC logo bright and bold on their backs as they searched the room.

When he saw me, Tatum’s face spread into a devilish grin. I glared at him as the other girls in the room began preening. Suddenly, there were far better options than Jared to be had. It didn’t escape my notice that at the appearance of Tate and Mad, Jared didn’t delay in making himself scarce.

You suck, I hissed when they drew closer. How did you even know we were here?

Max sent us. Maddox replied, his gaze sliding over the girls in the room, looking bored. I’ll go find Liv, he added, wandering off to find his sister.

Max? I demanded, incredulous. This wasn’t the first time he’d sent the guys after us. It made no sense to me. He barely talked to me. I wasn’t even sure he liked me, much less cared how I spent my time. Why the hell does he care?

Probably just tryin’ to stay in Sal’s good graces. Tate shrugged. Whoa, are those chicks naked? His brows rose as he caught sight of the pool. This party just got interesting.

Nuh-uh. I shook my head. If Liv and I don’t get to enjoy this party, then you don’t either. I grabbed his jacket, pulling him toward the door. I suddenly had a much more important place to be.

When we arrived at the club on the back of Tate and Mad’s bikes, I was steaming mad. I stomped into headquarters, scanning the crowded room until I found him. Standing by the pool table with a club cherry looking on, Max was focused on the game and, as always, infuriatingly handsome.

Feeling bold with frustration, I stole the pool cue right out of his hand. Why? I demanded by way of greeting.

Um, we’re in the middle of a game, the blonde whined.

I shot her a glare.

Get lost, Kelly, he told her dismissively before his dark eyes returned to me. Why what? he asked, undeterred by my temper.

Why did you send the goon squad to come get us? Did my dad make you do that?

No.

His response was a surprise. Then why? I sputtered.

For a moment, I swore I saw a flash of something in his expression, something other than the standard veil of aloofness he sported so well. Because you two shouldn’t be at a party like that without a man on you.

Says who?

Says me, he growled.

My heart pounded at the passion in his tone. Why do you care? I whispered, fervently hoping he’d say something—anything to provide me with a glimmer of hope that after all these years maybe, just maybe, he felt something for me too.

As though a door had slammed shut, his expression turned blank as his mask slid back into place. I don’t. He shook his head and gestured for Kelly to wobble back over in her four-inch heels.

My gut twisted at his cool words as he slid an arm around the bimbo at his side. You’re an ass, Max. You know that? I hissed, turning and stalking away.

The only silver lining, and it was really more a gray one than anything, was that he’d just made my decision easy.

I had to get the hell out of here.

Chapter 1

WREN

The persistent gray sky and canopy of lush trees accompanied me as I pointed my car for home on a typical overcast day in Portland, Oregon. When I’d moved here for school just over three years ago, the near constant rain and dark skies had felt downright oppressive. Now, they were merely a burden I accepted, a reward of sorts for when the sun finally shone for those scant summer months.

I pulled up to the one-story bungalow Olivia and I shared. For a while, it had been an ideal situation; after all, Liv and I were like sisters and lived well together. It wasn’t by accident we’d decided on the same school. Our house was walking distance to downtown and had plenty of space.

It would have been perfect with the exception of the weird packages and letters that had begun arriving for me around six months ago. At first, they had started off small, a simple poem or quote or a small bouquet of flowers. But recently the gifts had become a bit more extravagant, including jewelry and clothing. It was seriously creepy.

I shed my ever-present rain jacket and boots upon entering our living room before heading for the kitchen. After a day of back-to-back classes, I was ready to eat and sleep, in that order.

The house was quiet as I rummaged through our fridge in search of an easy dinner.

Hey, Livie’s soft voice greeted. Hungry? She laughed at my focused attempt to dig through the fridge.

Aren’t I always? I replied dryly.

True, she agreed, leaning against the doorway, watching my ministrations. Class okay?

I shrugged as I moved to the counter to prep a sandwich. I was too hungry to come up with anything more creative. You know me, school isn’t my favorite thing, but I’m making it through. We were in the midst of finals, and my stress level was at an all-time high.

She nodded knowingly.

How are you? How was your day? I wanted to know.

Fine, she replied. I think I did okay on that test.

No doubt she’d aced it. Unlike for me, school seemed to come naturally to Livie.

I’m sure you did, I assured her. The silence stretched between us as I debated asking her the question I dreaded the most.

There was no need, as was typical between us, she read my mind without my having to speak. Nothing today, she murmured quietly.

My breath of relief was short lived.

I, um, may have mentioned the deliveries to my dad, she shared with a grimace.

I just barely saved the glass I nearly knocked off the counter in my haste to whirl around toward her. For shit’s sake, Liv, do you want them coming down here? I demanded. We barely kept our fathers and the rest of the Knights at bay as it was. It had been hard on our overprotective families to have us so far away. The fact we were together appeased them some, that and the fact that my dad, a security specialist for the club, had rigged the security in our house to a ridiculous degree before we’d moved in. He’d said it was a requirement for me to go to school here.

I’m sorry, Wren, but that shit is seriously skeeving me out. I think they should know about it. It’s been going on a long time.

I rummaged in my bag for my phone, which I’d had on vibrate through class, and groaned at the amount of phone calls and texts I’d missed. Dammit, Liv! I chastised her as I saw that my dad had called three times and Tatum once. But it was the missed call and text from Max that had my heart lurching.

What the fuck is going on? Call me back.

Max checked in on me now and then, but for the most part, I kept him at arm’s length. After the way we’d left things, I didn’t understand why he checked in at all.

I curled up on the sofa with my plate of food as Liv plopped down beside me.

You’re not gonna answer him? she pressed.

Nope. I shook my head, taking a giant bite of my sandwich.

She sighed in aggravation but didn’t press.

We going out tomorrow? I asked.

She made a grumbling noise at the subject change but nodded nonetheless. Sure. Jilly’s? she suggested.

It was our favorite bar within walking distance from the house.

Sounds good, I agreed, flipping on the television and scrolling to our latest dramedy addiction.

****

The next night, plied with much needed caffeine after a full day, I stood next to Liv as we got ready for a night out. I’d chosen my standard black jeans, a loose-fitting green sweater, and boots. Portland was perpetual sweater weather, and I’d begrudgingly embraced the look, though I missed the strappy sandals and sundresses I’d worn at home. Despite being a tomboy at heart, I’d never dressed like one. I left my long black hair down and loose around my face. With