Blaze (Book 1): Jagged Rebels MC, #1

By APRIL LUST

This is book 1 of the Jagged Rebels MC trilogy. Books 2 and 3 are available everywhere now!

His kiss starts a fire between my legs that only his c*ck can extinguish.

ROWAN

No one will stop me from making the Jagged Rebels the most powerful MC in existence.

But my most hated enemy wants me dead—and he almost succeeds.

Becca saves me, nurses me back to health.

She's a gorgeous single mother: all curves and red hair and big, gray eyes.

I should leave her alone. I'll only put her in danger.

But that doesn't stop me from putting my hands all over her.

I mark Becca. Stake my claim and make her mine.

But now, my woman is on the hit list of my enemies.

And I will do anything—fight, steal, kill—to keep Becca safe.

Even if it costs me my life.

BECCA

I'd sworn off bad boy bikers the moment I left my abusive ex in the dust.

All I want is to make a new life for myself and my young daughter.

Until I encounter a dying man on the side of the road, and I take him home with me.

I can't stop myself from wanting Rowan.

With his piercing gaze and rippling body, he seduces me.

I fell under his spell.

But now I'm in danger from the men who want Rowan dead.

I should let him go. I know he's no good for me or my daughter.

My mind tells me to break things off.

But my heart knows the truth: I am—and always will be—his.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sopris Page Press
• Release date: Jun 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393229308

Book preview

Blaze: A Motorcycle Club Romance (Jagged Rebels MC) (Book 1)

By April Lust

His kiss starts a fire between my legs that only his c*ck can extinguish.

ROWAN

No one will stop me from making the Jagged Rebels the most powerful MC in existence.

But my most hated enemy wants me dead—and he almost succeeds.

Becca saves me, nurses me back to health.

She’s a gorgeous single mother: all curves and red hair and big, gray eyes.

I should leave her alone. I’ll only put her in danger.

But that doesn’t stop me from putting my hands all over her.

I mark Becca. Stake my claim and make her mine.

But now, my woman is on the hit list of my enemies.

And I will do anything—fight, steal, kill—to keep Becca safe.

Even if it costs me my life.

BECCA

I’d sworn off bad boy bikers the moment I left my abusive ex in the dust.

All I want is to make a new life for myself and my young daughter.

Until I encounter a dying man on the side of the road, and I take him home with me.

I can’t stop myself from wanting Rowan.

With his piercing gaze and rippling body, he seduces me.

I fell under his spell.

But now I’m in danger from the men who want Rowan dead.

I should let him go. I know he’s no good for me or my daughter.

My mind tells me to break things off.

But my heart knows the truth: I am—and always will be—his.

Chapter 1

Becca Mullins moved across the gift shop, picking up items that were out of place and putting them back in their proper spots. She paused to straighten a stack of birthday cards that had gone askew. The overhead lights caught the crystal beads of a display of bracelets and glittered as she approached. She moved the bracelets, spreading them out evenly along the bar they hung from.

The clock clicked over to nine p.m. and it was officially closing time. She flipped over the sign on the door, locked it, then went behind the counter to take care of the cash register. After taking the drawer to the office, she counted and jotted numbers into the books, making sure everything came out perfectly. She took the time to sort the money just how she knew her manager, Penny, liked it, turning all the bills to face the same way, unfolding the dog-eared corners so the stacks sat as neat and flat as possible inside the safe.

Next, Becca made a note of several items she noticed were running low and should be ordered soon. This wasn’t part of her job exactly, but she found ways whenever she could to go above and beyond, hoping to earn the position of Assistant Manager, which had been vacant for some time now. She thought Penny really liked her from the way she always took time to explain things and teach her. She always complimented Becca’s displays and often noted how good her work was.

She locked the office door with a hopeful glow in her heart. She could really use the pay raise that came with the Assistant Manager position. It hadn’t been easy moving here. She knew no one and had her daughter to think of. Who would watch Emma while she worked all day? But Red Hills had been the picture of southern hospitality when she’d arrived, bruises still visible around her eye and on her cheek from her ex, Nick.

It had been Penny who first helped her. Becca had rushed into the gift shop to buy an umbrella in a sudden downpour. Emma had found her way to the toys and was begging for a new doll when Penny came to ask them if they needed help. Becca knew she couldn’t afford the doll and had to take it from her four-year-old with tears in her eyes. Penny had seen this and given her the doll. They’d chatted a bit and before she knew it, Becca’s life story was poured out on this poor woman.

Penny lived alone and insisted they stay with her until they found their own place. For three weeks, Penny and Becca got to know each other. Becca started working at the gift shop, and a neighbor watched Emma during the day. Life had finally started to come together. Now Becca and Emma had a tiny apartment. It wasn’t much, but it was theirs, and they had worked hard to make it home.

As she walked back through the store, Becca’s eyes fell on the display of dolls Emma had so loved, and she smiled, thinking of how Emma hadn’t let the pink-dressed, yellow-haired doll go for days. She was likely sleeping with it right now, clutched tight to her chest on Lucille’s couch, waiting for her mommy to come and take her home.

Becca flicked out the lights and set the alarm before locking the door behind her. In her car, she blasted music and sang along, enjoying the cool evening air tossing her hair around. She turned left and onto a stretch of highway that was heavily wooded. She was on guard for animals on this street, glancing often at the sides of the roads for glowing eyes that might run in front of her.

She glanced to the right and saw a mound on the ground. At first it looked like a dead animal. She couldn’t make out any part of it, but as she got closer and the object was washed for an instant in bright headlights, she saw a boot.

It had happened so fast that she had already passed the spot before she realized it was a person lying there. She pulled into the gravel, stomping hard on her brakes.

With her phone tight in her hand, she approached the person. It looked like a man from what she could see of his blond hair and jeans. But there was no movement, and she didn’t want to run up to a dead body in case it was a gruesome sight. Her stomach already felt queasy with the thought.

Hello? she called out tentatively when she was about twenty feet away.

No response. She tapped the flashlight feature on her phone and shined the light on him. It definitely was a him. Blood trickled from multiple places on his face. He’d been beaten badly. His eyes nearly swollen shut, his lip split and thick, purple splotches across his cheek bones. The sight gave her chills, thinking of how many times she’d had injuries like these after a night of Nick’s anger.

She inched closer, trying to see if his chest was moving.

He lay on his side, half curled into a ball. His black shirt was torn and shiny with blood. His jeans, also ripped in places, were dirty and bloody. A black leather jacket was hanging from him in shreds.

Can you hear me? she asked.

She knelt down beside him, afraid to touch him. His chest didn’t seem to be moving. With a shaking hand, she pressed her fingertips to his wrist. She found no heartbeat. But then a soft wheeze came from his mouth.

Oh my God, are you still alive?

He made a ragged coughing sound and moved his arm a few inches.

Just hang on, I’ll call 9-1-1.

He said something. She couldn’t make it out, but the sound was so insistent, that she paused.

What did you say? She leaned closer to his mouth.

Don’t.

Don’t? Don’t what, call 9-1-1?

Don’t call, he wheezed.

But you look like you’re about to die. You need to get to a hospital.

He took a shuttering breath and pushed himself up with effort to a seated position. Blood gushed from his nose and he spit out more blood.

Becca put her hand to her mouth and had to look away. She had napkins and tissues in her car and got up to dash over and bring them to him. She handed him the napkins, but they were soaked through within seconds.

Please, he said, half whispering. Get me out of here.

She looked back to her car, which was about thirty feet ahead. He didn’t look like he’d able to walk that distance, and she wasn’t strong enough to help him much.

Hang on. She returned to her car and