Outlaw at Arms: Immortal Souls MC, #2

By APRIL LUST

This is book 2 of the Immortal Souls MC series! Book 3 is available everywhere now!

I'll kill them all if they touch what's mine.

I've spent my whole life leaving broken girls in my wake.

But Olivia makes me want something more.

She came here to help me find a new path.

I just never expected it would be one with her by my side.

XANDER

She was sent to get inside my mind.

But all I want is to get inside her body.

I'm an outlaw, not a fixer-upper.

And my uncle has lost his mind if he thinks this chick is capable of setting me back on the path he's always wanted me to pursue.

Besides, she's not right for the job.

She's a civilian, an innocent – too pure and pretty to survive in this lawless biker world.

I'm going to have my fun with her, then leave her in pieces and get back to my life.

At least, that was the plan.

But Olivia opened something in me that I never knew existed.

And when she's taken from me, I know my world will never be the same.

I'll do whatever it takes to get her back in my arms.

OLIVIA

I was supposed to be the one in charge.

But Xander owned me from the second he walked in.

How can I fix him when he's busy breaking me?

In his bed, on his bike, in the middle of the war that's devouring his world…

Everywhere we go, I belong to him.

I'm in way over my head.

But now that I've had a taste of the biker, I can't possibly go back to the way my life was before.

There's only one thing to do:

Fall to my knees for the outlaw in black.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sopris Page Press
• Release date: Sep 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393625674

Book preview

Outlaw at Arms: (Immortal Souls MC) (Book 2)

By April Lust

I’ll kill them all if they touch what’s mine.

I’VE SPENT MY WHOLE life leaving broken girls in my wake.

But Olivia makes me want something more.

She came here to help me find a new path.

I just never expected it would be one with her by my side.

XANDER

She was sent to get inside my mind.

But all I want is to get inside her body.

I’m an outlaw, not a f**king fixer-upper.

And my uncle has lost his mind if he thinks this chick is capable of setting me back on the path he’s always wanted me to pursue.

Besides, she’s not right for the job.

She’s a civilian, an innocent – too pure and pretty to survive in this lawless biker world.

I’m going to have my fun with her, then leave her in pieces and get back to my life.

At least, that was the plan.

But Olivia opened something in me that I never knew existed.

And when she’s taken from me, I know my world will never be the same.

I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back in my arms.

OLIVIA

I was supposed to be the one in charge.

But Xander owned me from the second he walked in.

How can I fix him when he’s busy breaking me?

In his bed, on his bike, in the middle of the war that’s devouring his world...

Everywhere we go, I belong to him.

I’m in way over my head.

But now that I’ve had a taste of the biker, I can’t possibly go back to the way my life was before.

There’s only one thing to do:

Fall to my knees for the outlaw in black.

Chapter 1

LUCKY GIRL, A VOICE behind Olivia said. She turned to see that girl, Hannah, standing behind her with her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts.

Oh, no, not really, we’re not— Olivia waved her hand around inarticulately, trying to get the point across. A thing.

Hannah pursed her lips a little in thought. Really? Looks like something to me.

Olivia felt tiny beads of sweat start to form on the back of her neck, hidden under her hair. No, really. His uncle hired me for a job, that’s all.

Hannah’s face changed, her mouth falling open. Oh. Oh. Gotcha. Huh, she said, biting down on her bottom lip. Well, that’s interesting. If Old Jerry thought Xander needed it, I’m surprised he didn’t come to see some of the girls here or over at Pat’s House.

Oh! Oh, no! Olivia rushed to say, feeling herself blush deeply. Not like that. A different kind of job.

Oh, Hannah said, gesturing for Olivia to follow her over to the front bench and take a seat next to her. So, what kinda job? Like accounting or—?

Olivia laughed. No, no, I’m hopeless at math. It’s— Olivia looked around to make sure nobody was listening in on their conversation. If I let you in on the details, can you keep it between us?

Hannah nodded. That’s basically half of my job, keeping my mouth shut.

Olivia leaned in, trying not to look obviously secretive in front of the rest of the girls. So, um, I’m a parole officer and a counselor. Uncle Jerry wants Xander to replace him at the head of the club, but Xander’s been fighting and causing shit, and I’m here to straighten him out.

Hannah cackled, clapping her hands together. Oh, that’s so fucking rich. That’s great. Old Jerry, man.

Yeah, Olivia said with a laugh. Um, between you and me, I’m just trying to get him to open up and tell me how he’s feeling. That’s basically what I do, even with convicts. Get people to talk about their feelings.

Not gonna lie to you, hun, still sounds a lot like my job, Hannah said with a laugh.

Olivia laughed and shrugged. Yeah, well, it feels like that somedays. She smiled at Hannah, feeling inappropriately close to this woman she’d just met. Maybe that was the magic of sex workers: they could build bridges faster than any architect. Hell, Olivia had spent months of her life convincing young female offenders not to slide into sex work, but she’d never really thought of the women who’d already made that leap. Looking across at Hannah, she felt warm, almost fuzzy, the way she always felt when she made new friends.

So, um, what can you tell me about Xander that other people might not know?

Hmm, Hannah murmured, chewing on her nails. I think the only person who doesn’t know everything about Xander is Xander.

Except for me, Olivia said.

Well, you’ll catch up, Hannah said. Give it a week.

Come on, just one hint? One thing about him that he wouldn’t tell me? Olivia begged.

Hannah smirked. Okay. One working girl to another. I’ll tell you an open secret.

Olivia looked at Hannah in silent question.

Something we all know but don’t talk about. It’s like...almost dirty. It’d be sinful to discuss it, you know.

Olivia nodded, even though she didn’t quite understand. What could be so bad?

Hannah leaned in even farther, until her lips were just about to touch Olivia’s ear. Xander’s dad? Jerry got rid of him.

Got rid of? Olivia repeated, not comprehending the meaning of it at first. Then, it hit her all at once, shocking her like she’d just been hit with like ice-water. Oh. Oh, fuck.

Yep, Hannah said as she stuck a cigarette in her mouth and lit up. That about sums it up.

What—Why?

Hannah shrugged. I mean, obviously I wasn’t around back then. But I get the sense he was handsy, you know? Got too handsy with the girls, with Xander’s mom, with little Xander. So Jerry dealt with it.

Jesus, Olivia sighed, leaning back against the brick wall of the club.

Hannah blew out a perfectly symmetrical cloud of smoke, aiming it away from Olivia’s face. Jerry’s a good guy. He shows up for his family.

Olivia tapped her fingers along her kneecap in thought. And...Xander doesn’t?

Hannah gave a sad smile. Not anymore. Not since...well, I guess I’ve spilled too much for one day, already, she said.

No, no, I think I get it, Olivia said. Thank you, Hannah.

She slipped the cigarette out of her mouth and offered the end of it to Olivia, who shook her head. Never smoked?

Well, here and there, she admitted.

Hannah grinned. You’re here, the cig’s there, she said, a sing-song cadence to her voice. Come on, pretty lady, take it. One puff won’t kill ya.

Olivia smiled weakly and took the cigarette, her hand shaking. She’d never smoked in the light of day before. Sealing her lips around the end of the cig, it felt like the first time she’d ever done it in her life, and she had to talk herself through inhaling steadily so she wouldn’t choke.

Atta girl, Hannah said as Olivia blew out a ring of smoke, the insides of her lungs burning gently. It felt good. It felt familiar, like in a past life she was a bad girl hanging out on the bleachers with her best friend.

All right, good talk, guys, came Xander’s voice from the other side of the club’s front door. Thanks for making time for us, man.

Olivia handed the cigarette back to Hannah and quickly stood up, somewhat fearful Xander was going to forget about her and leave her behind. Thank you, Hannah, she whispered. For everything.

Hannah smiled at her and waved goodbye before returning to the group of girls.

Productive meeting? Olivia asked as she approached Xander.

Yeah, well, good enough, Xander grunted. Get on.

She was a little miffed at the tone of voice he took with her, but she did as instructed, sliding onto the back of his bike again and holding on as he rocketed down the road.

About two minutes later, Olivia had an idea. It was probably too soon in the day to be trying this, especially when she hoped to glean so much more information out of the people in his life, but she almost couldn’t stop herself. It was like an involuntary impulse, a muscle reaction that had to be obeyed. She leaned forward to yell in Xander’s ear over the roar of the engine. I can see why Hannah was friends with her.

What? Xander said, probably unable to hear her over the sound of the wind rushing past both of their ears.

I said, Olivia replied, "I can understand why she was good friends with Hannah. You know. She was afraid to say Marta’s name, like it was somehow a sacrilegious act, speaking the name of the dead. But goddammit, she was a therapist, and a good one, to boot. She knew when to prod and when to hold back, and Xander needed to be prodded. Marta."

She felt Xander’s muscles tense up underneath her hands, and she almost spiraled into apologies, backtracking over everything related to Marta. But after a second he relaxed into her grip, though he said nothing. Olivia second-guessed herself still, wondering if she had stepped over some boundary.

They rolled to a stop again, over to another random, anonymous bar a few miles away from the first. Xander jumped off the bike without saying a word and Olivia followed, a spot of fear spreading rapidly across her chest.

This time, Xander didn’t bark at her to stay outside. There was no pack of working girls waiting to entertain her, so she just followed him in a few paces behind. She wasn’t sure if he noticed, but she decided to keep going until he told her to stop.

Olivia stepped inside after Xander, walking into the huge cloud of smoke that filled the bar. Even now, at a little after noon, the bar was packed, bodies crowded into the tiny stools that lined the walls.

Somebody whistled on the opposite side of the bar, causing Olivia to tear her gaze away from Xander to find the source. There was an older guy, pudgy and short, with a cigarette hanging from