Shadow Touched

By Beth D. Carter

Cursed with the ability to see the shadow of death, Leia hides from the world and stays far away from people. Until the night she comes face to face with Brimstone Jandreau.

Brim is the president of the Death Riders MC, but he went nomad in an effort to heal from grief. The moment he spots Leia, he is drawn to her. When she warns him of his impending death, he’s not sure if he believes her, but decides to take precautions.

He finds the would-be assassin. Then discovers it’s one of his own men.

Hit hard from the betrayal, he takes Leia with him back to his world. The more time they spend together, the deeper their bond grows. But death is waiting for Brim, and Leia will do anything to protect the man she’s fallen in love with.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Dec 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9780369507310

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© 2022 Beth D. Carter

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0731-0

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: CA Clauson

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

Thanks to Evernight. For Mike.

SHADOW TOUCHED

Death Riders MC, 1

Beth D. Carter

Copyright © 2022

Chapter One

Leia walked through the backdoor of the bar and into the kitchen, where she found the line cook serving up bowls of chili on the passthrough. The stench of burnt beans lingered through the air, and dirty dishes covered every conceivable counter space. This was the norm for the Thursday Night Chili Special. A bar full of drinking, farting old men whose glory days were now told between burps. Keeping her sigh bottled up, she hurried to grab an apron and gloves before tackling the mound of caked-on food and grime.

I’ve been counting down the minutes ‘til you got here.

Leia looked over at Reggie, the cook, and gave a one shoulder shrug. Sorry. Bus broke down and I had to hoof it here.

You ain’t the only one with transportation trouble today, Reggie said. Phyllis lost her car keys and Alice called in sick.

Leia raised an eyebrow. Lost her car keys? Yeah, sure.

Reggie flashed a smile through his bushy mustache. We all thought it.

And I just said it, Leia finished.

She scrubbed pots and pans, placed it all on a rack before sliding it into the industrial dishwasher. Scalding hot water would not only eat up the rest of the food left behind, but it would also sterilize the metal. It was almost closing so she began to gather all the items she would need to clean the bar after hours. After chili night, every table would need a good scrubbing.

Just then, the swinging door burst open and Nancy stomped in, looking more than a little ragged. Hair sticking up in all direction. Mascara and eyeliner bleeding under the eyes. She pointed at Leia, red nail polish chipped on the tip.

You, she barked. I need help out front.

Leia blinked, stunned. What?

Nancy jabbed a thumb over her shoulder. I got a bar full of men and I can’t fucking get their beer while I’m handing out dishes of this fuck awful bowl of beans.

Hey, Reggie protested.

Nancy only held up a hand to silence him. No comment from the peanut gallery. I have no idea why your chili is so popular. Have you ever tasted it?

Leia blinked and pointed at herself. You want me to serve?

Nancy was a spitfire when the bar had all the normal bartenders and servers, but two people short brought out her nasty side.

Of course, she snapped. Who else would I be talking to?

Reggie—

Fuck Reggie.

Standing right here, bitch, Reggie said, although there wasn’t any anger in his tone.

Get your ass out here and help me, Nancy said, ignoring him.

I don’t know how to pour beer, Leia said a bit desperately. "I was hired not to work with customers."

Nancy narrowed her eyes, placed one hand on her hip, and glared at Leia. Listen here, by the time I’ve been in here chatting with y’all, the bar has probably been torn up. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s burning down right about now. So, get your ass out there.

But … but…

Now! Nancy reinforced her order loudly. Go. Out. There.

Feeling trapped and a bit overwhelmed, Leia reached up to make sure her bangs covered her forehead and halfway down her eyes. The sense of protection came in all different ways, and hers happened to be hiding in the darkness as much as possible. When she stepped from the shelter of the kitchen into the bar section, the enormity of what she was asked to do hit her at once. People were everywhere. Laughing, yelling, dancing. The cacophony of it all made her jumpy, and the sickly-sweet stench of old fermentation only added to her discomfort.

Don’t just stand there! yelled Clint, the bartender and owner. Start serving them.

Men yelled out their requests and threw money on the counter. Leia rolled up her sleeves and hurried over to the beer fridge. It was all she could do to keep up, but minute after minute she began to get faster. She knew where everything was kept since she stocked the bar every night, but working fast to satisfy the impatient patrons added a whole different level of stress.

****

Brim watched the woman come from the back, looking like a scared rabbit tossed in the lion’s den. He pegged her to be young, perhaps just over the legal age to be in the bar, but way too young for his sorry ass. Still, there was something that glued his eyes on her. Maybe it was the way her long auburn hair swung as she moved, or the delicate line of her jaw. Or perhaps the vulnerability that screamed for him to rescue her. He had to remind himself that he didn’t need to interfere. He’d gone nomad to regroup and lay his grief to rest, not find a cause to champion. Even if the package drew him in like a siren song. It was hard to determine her features since she kept her face down with bangs covering her eyes. When the bartender yelled at her and she jumped, Brim got a glimpse of pretty features. She headed to the section of the bar where people waited for beer. Her lack of experience was obvious, and her awkwardness slightly amused him. The out-of-the-way bar had become a sort of sanctuary from life in his MC, and usually he simply sat in the shadows to drink and chill out. Tonight, however, offered him a different type of entertainment.

The woman floundered for a bit, until she found some sort of rhythm. The more she moved, the more he began to reassess her age. She didn’t flirt or try to talk up the customers for more tips. Instead, she kept her head down and filled the orders coming in.

He nursed his beer as he watched her, and over time the bar began to clear out, until only a few people remained. A man sat at the counter, half falling over. His jerky movements showing his inebriated state. The woman kept ignoring the man, skirting out of reach every time he tried to get her attention.

He tensed when the drunkard managed to grab her arm. The woman struggled to break free. Brim didn’t like that the asshole touched her, although he didn’t linger on the reason why. He rose from his table, grabbed his empty bottle, and made his way to the bar.

Don’t touch me, the woman muttered, yanking on her arm to get the drunk man to release her.

Ah, sweetheart, said the drunk man, his words slurring together. Come on. Be nice.

She said let go, Brim warned, coming up behind the man.

The woman looked up at him, their eyes met, and a ton of bricks immediately fell on Brim. He’d never, in all his forty-five years on Earth felt such a visceral reaction toward another human being. Dark eyes regarded him with a touch of panic and fear, causing all his protective instincts to rush to the surface.

I’m pretty damn sure those ain’t the words she said, the drunk said, laughing at what he thought was clever.

Brim wasn’t amused. Then listen to these. Get your fucking hand off her or I’ll break it. Do you comprehend those words, cocksucker?

The man stopped smiling, and when he surged to his feet to square off, Brim was ready. He flipped open his butterfly knife in a flash and then pressed the blade under the man’s chin.

What pisses you off more? Brim asked. The fact you like sucking cock or the fact I called you out on it?

The drunk let go of her. The woman stumbled back, eyes wide. Brim stared at the man a moment more, waiting to see if he’d do anything else. When he didn’t, Brim closed his knife and slipped it back into his pocket.

Get the fuck out of here, he muttered.

I ought to kill you, the drunk mumbled, weaving on his feet.

You can’t even piss straight, Brim said. Get out of here before I throw you out. He moved enough so his club patch was revealed, a devil wearing a crown. The man’s gaze fell and even drunk, he recognized the president of an MC wasn’t someone to mess with. Immediately, he backed away.

Brim watched him until he left the bar. Then he turned back toward the woman and sat down on a stool.

I’ll take another beer, he said, placing his empty bottle on the counter.

Her chest heaved as she caught her breath. Wariness widened her eyes, but she got him his beer. Popping the cap off as she sat the bottle in front of him.

My name is Brim, he said. It’s short for Brimstone. My mother said she named me that as a reminder of the hell her pregnancy put her through.

Her boss came out from the kitchen, carrying a large box. He sat it down on the counter with a heavy thump.

Last call! he yelled.

Brim ignored the warning. What’s your name?

Leia, she said quickly. Thanks for that guy.

I didn’t like him touching you.

Her hesitancy showed she didn’t know how to interpret his statement. Hell, neither did he, but there was something about her that he found fascinating. Suddenly, she looked over his shoulder and horror blossomed over her face, so intense he