Reckless Envy: (The Seven MC Book Two) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Prologue

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  RECKLESS ENVY

  A.R. Breck

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review. The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Copyright © 2021 by A.R. Breck. All rights reserved.

  Cover design by Hailey Rehmann

  Formatting by Cat at TRC Designs

  Editing by Black Lotus Editing

  Proofreading by Rumi Khan

  CONTENT WARNING

  Reckless Envy contains mature themes that might make some readers uncomfortable. Foul language, criminal activity, drug use, physical and sexual abuse are included in this book. People with triggers should read with caution.

  “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

  – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

  Playlist

  1. HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar

  2. Pour It Up by Rihanna

  3. Banz A Make Her Dance by Juice J, Lil Wayne

  4. The Motto by Drake, Lil Wayne

  5. SICKO MODE by Travis Scott

  6. Love Is a Bitch by Two Feet

  7. Eastside (with Halsey & Khalid) by Benny Blanco

  8. Earned It by The Weeknd

  9. Ohio Is For Lovers by Hawthorne Heights

  10. Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult

  11. All These Things I Hate by Bullet For My Valentine

  12. It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door by Underoath

  13. Reinventing Your Exit by Underoath

  14. Down with the Sickness by Disturbed

  15. I Don’t Wanna Live Forever by Zayn, Taylor Swift

  16. Deep End by Foushee

  17. Voices by Saosin

  18. Buried a Lie by Senses Fail

  19. Bite to Break Skin by Senses Fail

  20. Tears Don’t Fall by Bullet For My Valentine

  21. The Danger In Starting a Fire by A Day To Remember

  22. Volent by carolesdaughter

  23. U Should Have Killed Me When U Had The Chance by A Day To Remember

  24. Paparazzi by Kim Dracula

  25. At Last by Etta James

  Prologue

  Jex

  Heat.

  It surrounds me like a blanket, wrapping around my bones and skin until they burn.

  The glowing behind my eyelids grows brighter, enough so that I begin to rouse from sleep. My eyelids crack open, and that’s when I see it.

  Flames.

  Large, angry flames eat the walls around me. Traveling from the floor and up to the ceiling, they grow furiously around the room. Mocking me. Taunting me.

  Warning me.

  The bitter taste of smoke and soot land on my tongue, the chalky, charcoaled flavor turning my stomach.

  I’m frozen as I watch everything burn around me. My body, my mind, and everything else freezes. I can’t do a thing besides watch the orange fire grab everything in sight, swallowing them up. Scorching them. Ravaging them.

  The crackling of splintering wood pops in my ears, the strong wood of my home crumbling under the burning flames.

  I sit up, my tired body feeling sluggish. The smoke swirls into my lungs and weighs them down. My mind can’t seem to catch up with the rest of my body. I’m frozen in time as I watch it all burn around me. I can’t seem to gather my bearings enough to tell my muscles to move.

  Fucking move.

  Get out of here before you become a block of charred skin and bones.

  But I wonder if this is how it was always meant to be.

  If my life and my choices have brought me to this point.

  Maybe the sins of my life and all the wrongdoings I’ve created are the fibers and the sparks in these flames, coming to get revenge.

  I’m not a good person.

  I never have been, and I never will be.

  But there are some things I’ve done in life that haunt me, just as these flames will always haunt these walls. Haunt this house that will soon come to be…

  Nothing.

  Maybe that’s how I’m supposed to be.

  After all, if I wouldn’t have fucked up so catastrophically in the past, I wouldn’t have ruined the lives of others.

  Those ghosts wouldn’t be coming back to haunt me now.

  I see those ghosts in the flames. The turned down lips and angry eyes of all my victims that stare at me in disappointment because of the choices I’ve made.

  The lives I’ve ruined.

  It’s never been an if, but instead, a when.

  When will they come after me?

  Today may be that day.

  I stare at the flames as they fill the room. Feeling the fine hairs on my skin burn away from the heat. The overwhelming scent of burning wood invades my senses, stinging my eyes and nose.

  My eyes fall to the bed, at the piece of me that I’ve never known is missing. The person that chooses to look at me instead of cowering at the sight of me.

  The one who chooses to walk through the flames with me instead of pushing me into them.

  My little Doe.

  I blink.

  Will I let her burn like my mistakes, or will I protect her from them?

  One

  Katie

  A swift punch to my side makes me fall to the floor.

  “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” I gasp, putting my hands up.

  “What kind of idiot do you think I am? Change. Your. Fucking. Clothes.” My husband, Dane, reaches beneath my arm, grabbing the skin of my bicep between his thumb and forefinger, pinching it to the point of drawing blood.

  I cry out from the pain and rub my arm when he finally releases me. “I’m sorry. I’ll change,” I gasp.

  He stares at me another second, pointing his finger at my face. “I’m this close to cancelling this ticket, Kathryn.” He smooshes his thumb and forefinger together, showing me that he’s essentially going to cancel the trip.

  “No!” I sob, rolling over to my knees, I get into a prayer stance. On my knees, I crawl up to him and beg with everything I have in me. “I need to see her. Please.”

  He breathes, his suit-covered chest tense and agitated. “You go, Kathryn, and you get your ass back here tomorrow. You know the rules, and if I find out that you’ve broken one—just one—I will break your fucking neck.” He grabs the hair at the root of my skull, squeezing his hand into a fist until I can feel the hairs pull from my scalp. “Don’t even think of acting like the slut you used to be.” He jerks my head, slamming the side of my face against the wall. I wince, darkness fading into my vision for a
moment before clearing.

  A car honks outside.

  “Your fucking Uber is here. Change your clothes and get moving. I’m late for work.” Dane bends down to grab his briefcase. He stands up, straightens his suit, and walks out the door, slamming the door shut behind him.

  No kiss.

  No goodbye.

  I wipe my tears, running back into my bedroom to change my clothes. I’m in a basic t-shirt and shorts. It’s summer, though, and this is the most basic outfit I could find. But I’ll change, because he’ll somehow know if I didn’t. I grab a pair of jeans, neither flattering nor sexy, and a different shirt, plus a cardigan. I’ll sweat in these clothes, but that’s probably what Dane wants of me.

  To be the most unattractive, unhappy person I can be.

  He wants to ruin my trip, which he’s done before I’ve even stepped on the plane.

  Grabbing my bag and purse, I run out to the car, sliding my sunglasses on as I close the door.

  I can’t believe I’m doing this.

  When I received a phone call from an unknown California phone number one month ago, I didn’t answer it.

  When they called a second time, I still didn’t answer it.

  Once the third call came through, I picked up.

  I’m so glad I did.

  A grizzly sounding voice came over the phone, saying his name is Aziel. That he has Ivy.

  Ivy.

  My best friend. The best friend who went missing over five years ago. I thought she was dead. Everyone thought she was dead.

  But she’s not.

  She’s alive.

  I was barely able to speak to the guy over the phone because my sobbing turned so hysterical, I had to hang up the phone. When I was finally able to call him back, he didn’t tell me much of where Ivy’s been or what she’s been through. He just told me her birthday’s coming up.

  I know that.

  He wanted me to go there to surprise her.

  I didn’t think of my life or Dane. The only thing on my mind was seeing my best friend.

  Ivy.

  “Yes,” I sobbed.

  It was a battle with Dane. A battle to the death is what it felt like. He didn’t want me to go. My husband is the type of man who needs to be in charge of everything. Everything.

  Unfortunately for him, there was no way I was taking no for an answer.

  It ended with bruises and scrapes, and a sprained ankle that throbbed for two weeks, but he relented. With a list of rules the length of the Bible, he let me go.

  “Business or pleasure?” the Uber driver asks, pulling me from my thoughts. I glance up at him, seeing him staring at me through the rearview mirror with a smile on his face. I can barely form a single letter on my tongue as I smile at him.

  “Pleasure.” It feels like an out-of-body experience as we head toward the airport.

  I’ve been trapped for so long, locked inside with a monster. I feel the constant eyes of my husband over my shoulder every single day.

  The thought of being in a different state than him makes my entire body tremble in excitement. The other half of me feels sick with nerves. It would be so easy for Dane to hop on a plane and follow me there.

  Stalk me.

  He would do this, without a second thought. And with that thought, a wicked chill breaks out along my spine.

  He finds something wrong in everything I do.

  I wish I could go with Ivy. Stay with her. Escape the hell I live in.

  I know this isn’t possible, though.

  He would find me.

  He would always find me.

  After a plane ride and another Uber, I’m standing outside a tall gate.

  I’m in the middle of the mountains; tall, green trees as tall as the clouds jut from the ground around me. The air is thinner and crisp up here. Even with the California sun beating down on me, it’s cooler up here than it was down at the airport in San Diego.

  A brown-haired kid that looks to be about my age looks at me curiously as the Uber drives away. I made a quick detour earlier and stopped at the hotel to drop off my bag and freshen up, but now I’m here.

  At a biker club.

  I feel so out of place in my sandals, bootcut jeans, and cardigan-covered chest. I pulled my hair back into a loose ponytail. I don’t look ready to go to a biker party.

  I look ready to go babysit the neighborhood brat.

  It’s almost embarrassing. This has never been me. I’ve always dressed well, kept pride in my appearance and how I looked. Dane doesn’t want me to look good, not to anyone but him. To everyone else, I need to be invisible.

  “Are you lost?” the guy asks me.

  I pull my cardigan around me tighter as I look at the twelve-foot gate surrounding the place.

  What the hell is that for?

  “I’m here for Ivy’s party,” my voice comes out as a whisper and the guy frowns at me.

  “What?” he snaps.

  I back up a step, his sharp tone making my insides freeze. I don’t know him. I don’t know his intentions.

  I don’t trust him.

  Everyone is a monster now.

  A sharp pebble falls into my sandal and stabs the heel of my foot.

  Ouch.

  “I’m here for Ivy’s party,” I say a little louder. “M-my name is Katie.”

  He stares at me a moment before pulling his phone out of his pocket. He doesn’t say anything as his fingers fly across the keys. His dark hair falls in his eyes as he stares at his phone, waiting for a reply.

  Bing.

  He looks up at me, a little friendlier this time. “Go ahead.” He walks toward the gate and slaps a button.

  The gate buzzes and slowly opens.

  Now or never.

  I stand where I’ve been, my feet locked to the ground as I stare at the building in front of me. I can feel the eyes of the guy, staring at me. Watching me.

  Can I do this?

  I think of my friend, my sister who I haven’t seen in over five years.

  My feet release from the ground, and I move forward, walking through the gate and toward the huge building. People in leather and tattoos surround it. Walking in and out of the glass door. Smoke fills the sky, weighing down the light, crisp air.

  Cigarettes.

  I breathe deeply.

  Definitely weed, too.

  Suddenly, an older man with a blond ponytail and a dark-haired man that looks to be about the same age are standing in front of me. Their arms are folded across their chests as they stare at me with a hesitation and leeriness that I don’t know how to handle.

  Like I’m a threat.

  I swallow, shuffling my feet back. Unsure of what to say. Unsure of how to react.

  Maybe this was a bad idea, after all.

  “You Katie?” the dark-haired man asks, his voice a low rasp.

  I nod my head.

  The blond with the ponytail takes a step forward. “My son thought it was a good idea to bring you ’round for Ivy. I don’t know if I agree. That kid has been through enough, and the last thing I’m gonna allow is someone to stir shit up for her. You gonna cause problems, Katie?”

  What has she been through?

  I shake my head, tears filling my eyes as I take a step back.

  I shouldn’t have come here.

  I feel like every person around me is three seconds from pouncing. Ready to attack.

  Ready to kill.

  Suddenly, I hear her voice. The exact same as it was all those years ago. Like she hadn’t aged a day.

  The brown-haired man takes a step to the side, and there she is.

  My shaky palm goes to my slacked jaw. Her blue eyes spear into mine, so much different than they once were.

  Her voice is the same, but her eyes are so different.

  They’re dark, but not in a way that the bright blue has faded to a dark blue.

  No, this Ivy in front of me has haunted eyes, darkened by nightmares that have burdened her soul.

  I know, because
I see the same eyes every day when I look in the mirror.

  “Hi. I’m sorry, do I know you?” she asks, a curious look on her face.

  I pause, my hand dropping. The smile that cracked my lips falls, and tears turn her into an abstract painting.

  Does she not know who I am? Have I changed that much?

  Second-guessing rushes to the front of my mind, and I start sweating, hating the crowd watching me.

  Judging me.

  “It’s me, Ivy.” I press my fingers against my chest.

  Her eyes widen. “What’s your name?”

  My tears fall, rolling to the bottom of my chin. They only hang on a moment, my trembling jaw shaking them free. “It’s me, Katie. Do you remember me?”

  “Katie?” she gasps.

  I nod, a sob finally breaking free. “Yeah?”

  “Oh my God!” Ivy screams, running toward me and wrapping her arms around my neck. I freeze, my body locking up. First in pain, then in shock. I haven’t had anyone touch me besides Dane in years.

  This is foreign.

  “How did… how did you find me?” she gasps, looking over her shoulder at the man behind her. He stands close, a possessive nature that should freak me out. It should make me want to warn Ivy about him.

  But it’s not the same.

  The look in his eyes is possessive, yes. But there’s so much more in his eyes.

  Love.

  Adoration.

  Protectiveness.

  Jealousy.

  Awe.

  Need.

  This man… who I’m guessing is Aziel, is the furthest away from Dane as I’ve ever seen. And he loves Ivy.

  I wipe my face in an attempt to rid the tears. “Your scary biker boyfriend actually found me. How long have you… what happened to you?” One million and one questions run through my mind, and I want to ask her every single one of them.

  “It’s a long story.”

  “It’s your birthday…” I whisper. I haven’t forgotten. I’ve never, ever forgotten.

  Her eyes widen. “You remember?”

  I frown. How could I? “I never forgot. Your parents… they held a vigil on your birthday.”

  She frowns, a dark shadow casting her in shadow.

  My body deflates.