Wicked Man

By Beth D. Carter

They say you can never go home, but Abbott has traveled a long way to find the love of her life again. She and Chadwick “Wick” Edwards had been high school sweethearts, but when he got the opportunity to become a member of The Forgotten Rebels Motorcycle Club, he left without saying good-bye.

Wick knows he screwed up by leaving Abbott behind, but he honestly thought she’d be better off without him. Little did he know that out of heartbreak she turned to the first man to show her kindness...only to become a survivor of mental and physical abuse.

Wherever she goes, her tormentor finds her. After ten years she’s tired of running and so goes back to Wick. Their passion sparks and love rekindles, but when Abbott is targeted, Wick must do very wicked things to make sure she stays alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: May 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781772338355

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© 2016 Beth D. Carter

ISBN: 978-1-77233-835-5

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Katelyn Uplinger

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

A big thanks to CR Moss for being such an awesome human being and an even more awesome friend.

This story is for JEM. You know why.

WICKED MAN

Forgotten Rebels MC, 2

Beth D. Carter

Copyright © 2016

Prologue

Abbott looked down at the brightly wrapped present and hoped Chadwick liked her gift. She hadn’t seen him in a week and all her calls were sent right to voicemail. She nibbled on her bottom lip, working the tender skin with her teeth as she thought back to the previous Saturday night. They’d cruised through their small town, like usual, meeting up with friends and drinking beer others had managed to steal from the various gas stations around town. Eventually everyone had decided to party at the abandoned farmhouse out on Route M, and in one of the back rooms, his kisses eventually led to heavy petting. Before she realized what was really happening, her clothes from the waist down had disappeared and so had Chadwick’s.

Only they hadn’t finished the deed, and she didn’t know why. The beer managed to obscure most of her memories but she vaguely remembered feeling his penis between her thighs, and even in her drunken state she knew what was about to transpire. Then all of a sudden he’d stopped, told her to get dressed, and he’d taken her home.

Now it was a few days before Christmas and she hadn’t seen or heard from him all week. She’d used every penny in her savings to buy him the present in the small box and hoped he understood what she was trying to convey.

The motorcycle club he lived with owned the only mechanic shop in town, and cars littered the small parking lot, all needing chains on their wheels for the upcoming winter storm the weatherman had predicted. Already the stores were bare of milk and toilet paper. Typical for people losing their minds at the word snow.

Abbott didn’t pretend to know what the club was about, except for the fact the men wore leather jackets and rode Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Chadwick had already been part of the group when they’d started dating. Her parents might not like it but he’d always been polite with them and never broke her curfew, so they rarely had anything negative to say. Still, she wasn’t allowed on his bike, which she was kinda sad about because it looked like a lot of fun.

Her nose wrinkled at the smell of stale grease and oil as she entered the garage. She immediately recognized one of the men working as Eric, Chadwick’s best friend, although most people called him Heart. He sprawled over the engine of a car, tinkering with whatever needed to be fixed, with his back to her. Like a chain of dominoes, she saw the mechanics nudge each other as she approached Eric, until someone whispered in his ear and he turned his head to glance at her over his shoulder. When she was only a few feet away, he straightened.

Hi, Eric, she said. I’m looking for Chadwick. Is he working today?

Abbott, he said in greeting. Unease filtered across his face as he pulled the rag from a back pocket to wipe his oil-stained hands in a moot effort to clean them. Wick’s not here.

His nervousness scared her.

Where is he? I haven’t seen him all week. I thought we’d get together after my exams, but he’s not answering his phone.

Abbott, he ah … well shit. There’s no easy way to say this except Wick’s gone.

She blinked. Gone? Where? Christmas shopping?

Eric sighed. I meant he left, Abbott. Left town.

Something tight squeezed around her heart, causing pain to erupt in her chest. She shook her head, denying his words. No. You’re lying.

Listen, I’m sorry. He was promoted from being a prospect. And you know what that means.

No, she said softly. I don’t. He never discussed club business with me.

Well, that’s good to hear, I suppose. He left yesterday morning for basic.

Absently, she realized that’s when she’d gone shopping for his present. While she was planning their future, he’d been leaving her behind. It took a moment for the meaning to sink in.

Basic as in training? she asked.

Yeah, he replied. One of the requirements to be part of the MC is you have to serve in the military. So he joined the army.

But … but…

All the breath left her in a swoosh. She didn’t know what to say, what to think. Her mind was blank except for Eric’s words knocking about in her head. Gone. Chadwick was gone.

But … but… she couldn’t seem to get past saying that. Shock had stolen her vocabulary so she shook her head to clear it. But he never told me he was leaving.

I’m sorry, Abbott. He wants to live this life, so he had to join.

In a daze she looked down at the brightly wrapped gift she still clutched. I have a gift for him. How am I supposed to give it to him when I don’t know where he’s at?

He’ll be back one day, Eric said with a shrug. Basic training only lasts for six weeks or so. I think. Hopefully I’ll find out soon enough.

Tears welled up in her eyes. How could he leave without saying good-bye to me?

Eric licked his lips and looked around, as if searching for a lifeline to help him out of the awkward situation. Abbott looked around too and saw the other men looking at her with pity in their eyes. She thrust the present into her coat pocket and turned away, running out of there as quickly as possible. Tears poured from her eyes, running down her cheeks and leaving cold tracks upon her skin.

How could he just … leave?

Why had he never told her of the requirements for being part of the club?

Did he not trust her?

Had she done something wrong?

He’d once told her he loved her, but had that been true?

Had anything he said been true?

Lost in her thoughts, she smacked into a hard object and bounced back, slipping on a patch of ice and falling on her butt. A hand reached down to her.

Sorry about that, Abbott, a deep voice said.

She looked up and saw the concerned face of Billy Walker. Billy was a few years older than her, with blond hair and striking blue eyes. Once upon a time she’d had a crush on him, but then Chadwick had asked her out and she’d forgotten all about Billy.

Hey, did I hurt you? Why are you crying?

She shook her head and placed her hand in his, letting him help her up. When she went to pull away, he gripped her hand tighter for a moment. She stared at the way he held her, at the whiteness around his knuckles as the skin stretched tautly. He had always been thin, but now he seemed almost gaunt. Red tinged the corner of his eyes, giving him a bloodshot look, although she didn’t smell any alcohol. He looked in desperate need of a good meal.

No, I’m okay, she said, and finally pulled her hand away. She wiped her face and took a deep breath in effort to rein in her emotions. Thanks.

A pretty girl like you shouldn’t ever cry, especially this close to Christmas, he said.

His words were like a balm on her bruised soul. She saw his interest and he perused her from head to toe. Male appreciation etched in every line on his face.

You want to get some hot chocolate? he asked.

She resisted the urge to look behind her because she knew Chadwick no longer cared. If he didn’t want her then she would find someone who did.

Chapter One

I sneak up behind you, wrap my arms around you, and