The Pope

By Jade Marshall

Do second chances exist?

Storm has been in love with Colin “Pope” O’Brien since she was thirteen but it wasn’t meant to be. Years later, the opportunity to be together presents itself—but it's stolen away in the blink of an eye.

After a near-death experience, Pope decides to bear his heart to Storm and finally claim the woman he loves. But it just doesn’t seem in to be in the cards for them. Patience isn’t his strong suit, but forcing his way in will only push Storm further away.
Secrets, lies, and an outside threat could keep them apart. Is the timing any better this time around? Is love enough or will there always be something keeping them apart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight Publishing
• Release date: Oct 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9780369502391

Book preview

Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2020 Jade Marshall

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0239-1

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: Audrey Bobak

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

To the boy who made my first kiss memorable

To the young man who made my first love something that I will never regret

To the man who won my heart and completes me every day

143TDDUP

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I have so many people that I want to thank. First off Stacey, Audrey, and all the other Evernight Publishing staff members. Without you all, none of this would have been possible. My husband for having a ton of patience and supporting my dream. My daughter, for encouraging me when I feel like quitting.

My lovely beta readers Surita van der Merwe, Jessica Kuhn, and Celia Moolman. I love your feedback and enthusiasm. You make even my darkest days brighter. To Mr and Mrs van Zyl, for enjoying my work so thoroughly and pimping me out to all of your friends. Even if you did call me graphic…

To Angie C Cody, Madhuri Palaji, and all the other lovely reviewers for taking a chance on a new author. Thank you to each person that purchased a copy of my first novel, and a special thank you to anyone who left a review. Each person brightened my day and gave me insight into what they would like to see going forward.

Lastly, to each and every friend, new and old, for your tremendous support. I love giving my stories to you.

Enjoy.

LHR

Jade

THE POPE

Gypsy Bastards MC, 2

Jade Marshall

Copyright © 2020

Prologue

Storm

Growing up in foster care, I have very few memories I can look back at and remember fondly. Except for Colin and Faye. The one constant through my youth was them. Living in the house beside theirs, my older sister, Winter, and I would often end up at their house. Faye, Colin’s mom, took us under her wing and treated us like the daughters she never had. Everything I know about being a woman, from boiling an egg to how babies are made, and even how my menstrual cycle works, I was taught by Faye.

Winter and Colin, being five years older than me, quickly fell into a fledgling relationship and were inseparable. I spent a lot of time playing the third wheel or reading. But things change as you grow and by my thirteenth birthday, I realized I was in love with Colin. The problem with being in love with your sister’s boyfriend is the accompanying guilt. I started avoiding both of them, hiding in my room when it was possible and trying to make friends of my own. Being on my own for the first time was exhilarating, and I made many, many mistakes along the way. Let it be known far and wide that I can own up to my mistakes.

Mistake one: Falling for my sister’s guy.

Mistake two: Making friends of my own.

Even at the tender age of thirteen, I got into more trouble than most people do in a lifetime. From things like petty theft and smoking weed to getting arrested for breaking and entering and getting blackout drunk. My youth was spent in a drug and alcohol-induced stupor, running from my own emotions. The consequences reverberate through me to this day.

At sixteen, I left the only home and family I’d ever known after finally declaring my love for Colin and being gently rejected. In the last ten years, I have not seen nor spoken to my sister. I spent months living on the street and struggling to survive, and even after all this time, I still love Colin.

The only difference is now we call him Pope.

Chapter One

Storm

Who do you think of when you masturbate?

I turn my head so quickly in my friend Hadley’s direction I can feel my vertebrae crack. We are sitting outside the Gypsy Bastards clubhouse in the early-morning sunshine, at one of the picnic tables beneath an oak tree, enjoying the last remnants of summer. On my rare days off, I try to spend as much time with my best friend as possible, but at this moment, I seriously have to question my judgment.

She truly is a beautiful woman and has only become more so during the progression of her pregnancy. It’s like her blonde hair shines and her blue eyes sparkle more the further she gets along. Although she looks super-cute in the baby-pink maternity dress she’s wearing today, her stomach is huge. Across from me, she rests her left hand on her swollen stomach while the other holds a bar of chocolate.

Jesus, Hadley. What kind of question is that? I ask.

She furrows her brow at me before taking a bite of her chocolate. After swallowing, she sighs before returning her attention to me.

When I was single, I used to think about me when I flicked the bean. What the hands touching me made me feel, or the mouth on my body would feel like for me. Me and a nameless, faceless person. But now that I have Wolf in my life, I think about him, words he would say, his voice in my ear, stuff like that. I was just wondering if it was the same for other women. I’m not friends with anyone besides you, Kaiya, and Luna, so I picked you to ask. So, who do you think about?

My mouth hangs open at her explanation. Since Hadley and Wolf have fallen sickeningly in love and she became pregnant, every thought in her mind seems to pop out of her mouth.

But to be honest, the moment she asked the question, I knew the answer. Red hair, green eyes, and an Irish lilt run through my mind on a constant loop. Colin. Pope.

Fucking president to the Gypsy Bastards MC and the only man to ever hold my heart. He is also the only man to ever break my heart. Fucking Pope.

Looking back at Hadley, I find she’s still waiting patiently for my answer.

Okay. Because you’re pregnant, I’m going to humor you, but don’t make a habit of asking me sexual shit. I don’t need to know the details of your sex life with Wolf. Waiting, I stare directly at her until she nods her head in acceptance.

Mostly, hot famous guys. Maybe a musician or even just some hot guy I see when getting coffee or something. It differs from time to time, depending on my mood.

So none of the guys around here? She arches her eyebrow at me.

What do you want from me, Hadley? You know the guys are all gorgeous, but there is nothing that could persuade me to get together with any of them.

The lie flows from my lips without much effort. What I feel for Pope is in the past and he already broke my heart once. I won’t create an opportunity for it to happen again.

Fine, I’ll leave it alone. But let me tell you, anyone with eyes can see that the two of you want each other.

My forehead creases as I glare at her. Hadley lifts her hands in a gesture of surrender before she bursts out laughing.

Okay, let’s talk about something else. Have you picked a name for the baby yet?

Well, since we found it it’s a girl, it made it somewhat easier to decide on a name. She smiles as she rubs her hand over her swollen stomach.

So? The suspense is killing me here.

Ainsley. Our daughter’s name will be Ainsley. Hadley’s eyes sparkle with unshed tears which in turn causes me to tear up with her.

It’s beautiful, Hadley.

Thanks. Abruptly, she rises from her spot before moving toward the clubhouse. After a few steps, she looks back over her shoulder. Are you coming? I’m craving some pancakes.

Nodding, I rise and follow her inside.

Chapter Two

Pope

Having coffee at the kitchen table in the clubhouse, I watch as Storm and Hadley start whipping up a batch of pancakes. Delicious aromas waft around the kitchen and infuse the clubhouse with a feeling of home. It might not be that for many people, but to me, the Gypsy Bastard clubhouse is home. A long time ago, just after we bought the property and the building, I had a contractor come and renovate the upper floor, creating rooms and a communal bathroom for the guys. But I had the loft renovated into more of an apartment space for myself. The

Reviews for The Pope

[Meagan Bidding · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this ‼️ need more mc books from you x from an old lady like no other

[Crush · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pope and Storm finally get the happy ending they both deserve. But life is dangerous in the club. But they both are ready for it.