Page 30 of Girth (Marked Skulls MC 1)
But the cops were already running after us, and we knew we had to hide if we had any chance of getting away from them.
We all ducked down into holes and hid ourselves behind trees. We lined our steps up with the cops we could see as their flashlights whipped around the forest. I slowed my breathing down and crept silently like a snake, inching closer to our bikes as the gas station finally came into view.
Then, when we thought the coast was clear, we made a mad dash for the parking lot.
Everyone cleared out and I took one last look behind us. The last thing we needed was some fuckin’ priggish cops following us all the way back to our place. But before I could crank up my bike, I heard a voice behind me.
And I knew I’d been caught.
“Well if it isn’t Knox.”
I gritted my teeth and turned my head as I kicked the stand up on my bike.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the cop said.
“Officer Layton.”
“What brings you out here this time of night?” he asked.
“Just… hangin’ out,” I said.
I knew I couldn’t outrun him. The cop cars were blaring their lights in the gas station parking lot, and they would chase me down until I ran out of gas. Running from them now made it risky to go anywhere. To my mom’s to check on Canyon. To the lodge to meet up with the guys. To my apartment that was supposed to be sacred. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and as the cop gazed down at my boot I saw him reach for his cuffs.
“You’re under arrest,” the officer said.
“What the hell for?” I asked.
He grabbed my wrist and whipped it behind my body as I kicked the stand back down on my bike.
He slapped the bracelets on me and yanked me off my bike. I watched someone come and wipe the blood off my boots before putting that shit in some fuckin’ evidence bag. I looked over towards the woods and saw some men emerging from them, carrying a massive black bag as they headed towards the ambulance.
I felt the blood drain from my face as I watched them load the dead body into the back.
“For the murder of Andrew Shepard,” the cop said.
“Don’t know anyone by that name,” I said.
“Figured you wouldn’t. But you might recognize his nickname.”
“Oh really? And what’s his fun little nickname?” I asked.
“Blaze,” the cop said. “The man’s name is Blaze.”
Want more of Knox and The Rebel Skulls? The Rebel Skulls will be released as a box set on August 8th! But you can get Knox early by signing up for The Rebel Skulls Mailing List. Each week leading up to the release you will receive chapters of the book.
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Second Chance
by Ivy Blake
Chapter 1
Emma
I danced across my parent’s kitchen to the sounds of Bon Jovi that were coming from the stereo in the living room. I was preparing some snacks while waiting for my boyfriend, Noah, to come over, exulted that we finally had the whole house for ourselves. My parents were out of town for the weekend, so we would be able to get some much-needed alone time.
Noah and I had been together for more than two years. We were high school sweethearts, the golden couple, as they called us. However, I couldn’t help but feel that the reality was much, much bleaker than that.
Sure, the first two years had been amazing, during which I felt like we were inseparable. I’d felt like I found the love of my life. But the last several months weren’t so hunky-dory because there had been tension between us about college and where we were going.
I was all set to go to Indiana University like we had planned. Noah, however, was still wavering on what he was going to do. He’d gotten into Indiana University as well, but he kept bringing up that he wanted to go to the army.
My insides churned when I thought about the moment from seven months ago when he told me that this was something he’d been planning since he was younger.
“And you’re telling me this just now, Noah?” I asked him then, fear gripping me hard. I’d never considered the possibility that Noah might not always be by my side. Hearing that I might not be enough for him was a serious blow to my heart.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I haven’t told you anything until now because I knew you would react like this. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“And you never thought about, maybe, choosing another path?”
“What can I do, Emma? I feel that is my only path. Do you want me to go against myself?”
“So, you’re going to go against us.”
“Don’t be like this, baby. You know how much I love you.”
Obviously not enough since you want to leave me to go to the army, I thought, but I didn’t voice it out loud.
“But why, Noah? Why can’t you reconsider your life choices?”
He frowned, getting annoyed with me. “You know that my father was in the military.” I nodded. “Well, I always wanted to follow in his footsteps. For me, there is no other thing I would want to do.”
“But your father died in combat. You can’t be actually serious about this,” I said before I could think better of it. He winced, hurt by my insensitive words. “I’m sorry. I was completely out of line now.”
“Don’t be so negative, Emma. Not everyone dies in combat.”
My phone beeped, bringing me back to the present moment. I took my phone and found Noah’s message.
“I’ll be there in five,” it said.
I sighed, wondering if I should ask him about the army when he arrived. I thought that we had moved past his want to join the military once he got into Indiana University, but now he seemed to be going back to thinking that he had to go. Just a few days ago, he admitted to me that he never stopped thinking about it, which brought back old fears.
I gripped the kitchen counter, my previous good mood already gone. I’d been excited about this weekend, but now I felt like discussing this with him until I knew exactly where we stood. We couldn’t keep going like this—hot and cold over and over again—and I needed to know for sure if he was going to leave me or not.
Noah was always punctual, so five minutes later, the door bell rang, and I darted to open the door.
