Unbroken

By Beth D. Carter

When she was eighteen, Piper’s obsessed boyfriend murdered her family right in front of her. She went into police protection, but his family’s wealth made it easy for him to track her down. Desperate and alone, she turned to her step-brother for help. He just happened to be president of a motorcycle club.

Eight years later, the club is patched into a larger club, the White Death MC, and when Piper meets its president, Kix Rockwood, she knows he’s a force to be reckoned with. Kix wants her, but he has no idea about the danger that lurks for her if she leaves the club. Because no matter how long it’s been, someone blames Piper for what happened and wants revenge for the past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Nov 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781772335644

Beth D. Carter

I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extrordinary circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors or corporate highrollers. I try to write characters who aren't cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box. I love to hear from readers so I’ve made it really easy to find me on Facebook or Twitter. To subscribe to my newsletter, please visit my website: www.writtenbutterfly.com

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Published by Evernight Publishing ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2015 Beth D. Carter

ISBN: 978-1-77233-564-4

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: JC Chute

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

Special thanks to Stacey, my editor Jane Chute, and to the readers.

As always, CR Moss, for reading through this and giving me pointers.

And lots of love thrown to M.W. for helping me out.

UNBROKEN

Forgotten Rebels MC, 1

Beth D. Carter

Copyright © 2015

Chapter One

Piper stood in the corner of the living room, staring at the drunken people laughing and gyrating to the music. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to join in the party, but she’d been drunk once before in her life, and had hated the feeling of being out of control. Ever since then, she’d made sure to drink only enough to get a nice buzz, without losing her common sense.

The party had progressed, and the teenagers around her clearly showed their typical relinquishment of self-restraint. Piper really didn’t want anything to do with the drugs and drinks being passed around.

Piper.

The voice sent a cold shiver down her back: A voice she didn’t think she’d ever hear again, or shouldn’t. Not with the restraining order.

She spun around and saw Tyler Stafford smirking at her. His blond hair was slicked back, and the ice in his pale blue eyes froze her instantly. She didn’t know what to do. She had changed schools because of this person. Her mother and stepfather had even tried to file charges against him, only to have the allegations buried under the influence and wealth of his family. Piper had left friends behind in order to escape his obsessive desires, and yet, he had found her again. Followed her here.

What are you doing here, Tyler?

He waved, gesturing around behind him. Not my usual scene, I know. High school parties are so immature, don’t you think?

No, I don’t, considering I’m still in high school.

She took a step back, intending to turn and run as fast as possible, but he moved like lightning and grabbed her arm. He yanked her in close to his body, and though she tried to push away from him, his football player physique overpowered her smaller frame.

Did you think you could hide from me? he asked.

Let me go, Tyler.

Never, he vowed. Don’t you see? You and I were made for each other.

He tried to kiss her but she turned her head away and his lips landed on her cheek. How did she ever think herself in love with him? He wasn’t a boy, and yet she hesitated in using the word man. Tyler was a bully, and a delusional one at that. He had proven himself a sociopath when he wouldn’t take no for an answer, refusing to consider her feelings on sex. She had managed to get away from him in time, but ever since that night he’d almost raped her, he had been hounding her.

You are in violation of your restraining order, Tyler.

He shook her. We both know it was your fucking stepdad who put that in place.

Let me go and I won’t call the cops, she said. Even your family’s name can’t get you out of that violation.

You bitch! Why do you insist on pushing my buttons? He sighed and shook his head. You know I’ll have to punish you.

Even though he gripped her arm uncomfortably tight, Piper ignored the pain and twisted until she broke his hold. She backed away.

Leave me alone, Tyler. We’re over! Do you hear me? I don’t want to date you. I don’t want to see you. If you contact me again, I’ll call the cops.

With that she turned and fled, getting as many people between them as possible. She thought a party would be relatively safe. After all, it wasn’t every day that she graduated high school. It was only two weeks away, and she figured being a teenager for one night would be okay, if surrounded by a house full of people.

Obviously, she’d been wrong.

Piper ran to her car, jumped in and started the engine. In a panic, she floored it all the way home.

** * *

Piper lay in bed that night, tossing and turning, unable to shut her brain off. All she kept picturing was Tyler, the night he tried to rape her. She had thought he was a nice guy: Rich and cool––a college man, willing to buy her gifts. Granted, she’d been a typical teenager, and had liked him spoiling her. He had nice parents, and a fun little sister getting ready to start fifth grade.

Life had been great, until he’d shown his true colors. During her first frat party he’d wanted sex. She’d said no, but he had held her down, managing to get his hand up her skirt. She’d fought like a wildcat, kneeing him in the groin. When he let go of her, she ran fast as she could. At the door were his buddies, listening in. Laughing at her. It had been the most humiliating night of her life. The next morning, her mother and stepdad had filed a complaint with the police, but when the name Stafford had come up, so had a brick wall. In the end, all their lawyer had been able to do was file a temporary restraining order.

Piper had felt bad for bringing the trouble to her parents’ doorstep, especially to her stepdad, Michael. His first marriage had ended badly, which had caused his oldest son to run away. She had met Chadwick once, at the marriage of Michael to her mother. She’d been shocked to discover her stepbrother was in a biker gang. After the ceremony, she had heard the two fighting, and Chadwick had roared away on his motorcycle. They hadn’t spoken of him since. A year later, her brother Casey had been born, and Chadwick had faded to a distant memory.

As she lay there, half in dreamland and ready to succumb to sleep, a hand slapped against her mouth. Terror poured through her as she opened her eyes and saw Tyler looming over her. Acting on pure instinct, she fought, but he was too strong. He lay half on her, pinning her to the bed, and she couldn’t get her knee up to hit him where it counted.

No, no, no, he cautioned. I know that move now. You’re coming with me, Piper, and we’re going to live happily ever after.

She shook her head. Behind her hand she opened her mouth and his finger slipped a little. Piper took advantage, and bit down hard on the digit. He cursed and pulled his hand away, and she screamed for all she was worth.

God damn it! he yelled. Bitch!

He reared back and punched in her the face. Stars danced through her head, and she had the urge to cave to the darkness that lingered around the edges of her vision. But Tyler yanked her up by her arm, and she stumbled after him.

As soon as they entered the hallway the light flipped on and her stepdad, Michael stood there with a baseball bat. Behind him was her mother, clutching her ten-year-old brother, Casey. Piper wanted to run to them, wanted to feel safe in her mother’s arms, but Tyler’s grip was too tight.

You son-of-a-bitch! Michael shouted. Let my daughter go!

He raised the baseball bat he clutched, and took a step toward them.

She’s not your fucking daughter, Tyler snapped. I bet you’re some pervy old man sneaking peeks of her through the bathroom door.

You’re nothing but a foul-mouthed hooligan, Michael said. She’s my daughter because I’ve raised her, and what she ever saw in you I have no idea. Evil to the core.

Tyler raised his hand, and that’s when Piper realized he held a gun. It went off, its roar deafening, and Michael fell face down. The baseball bat rolled from