GhostThe music pours out through the speakers as I lift the glass up to my mouth downing half the bourbon immediately enjoying the burn that follows up from my stomach to my throat. I signal the bartender for another as he zooms past me to help another patron. Seconds later, I down the second half and give the man a chin lift when he pours my second glass instantly.I've been here no longer than ten minutes, but I knew right away I would be drinking tonight.Christmas.Fuckin' Christmas.And here I was trying to escape it all.Candice and the other old ladies wanted to do something nice for the brothers, something nice for Bone. It's something I respected, but knew it wasn't something I could stand being around for too long. Christmas was about family. And I didn't have one outside the Nightmare Warriors."You look like you could use some alcohol." I look up and find a different bartender starring down a me from her spot behind the bar. Looking down I see my glass is once again
VOLUME ONE: MAXPrologueMax"How long you going to keep starring at that damn picture Stone?" I look up at Matthews' ugly mug with a smirk on my face."As long as it will take for me to memorize her face.""Ahhh, your making me want to puke." He smiles but I know for a fact he is still living on cloud nine. His daughter was born a few weeks ago and although born premature, yesterday he got a letter and a picture of her officially home.In one week, our unit will be flying home and we are all eager. Even Jones' cranky ass is happy to be going home. Shawna's letters helped get me through these last six months and I couldn't be happier. The picture she sent me yesterday however, is too naughty not to be looked at every few moments, although I don't plan on letting these assholes see it, I'll stab their eyes out with a dull knife before I let them have what's mine."When you going to put a ring on that finger by the way?" Wells calls out from the back of the Humvee. His thick Misso
ShawnaI move around as the sounds of X Ambassadors Unsteady booms around the room.I place my hands in the air as I enter into my last step and freeze the pose. My body is sore, ankle especially, but I welcome the large smile that accompanies my face.I did it. I finally finished my routine and I couldn't be happier.I blow out a few deep breaths and do a little shimmy of celebration. I walk over to my small metal chair and sit on top of it. Drinking my water, I begin rubbing my ankle a few times. It's been a few days since I have been here in the studio to practice and my ankle is letting me know how unwelcome the feeling is.I lean my neck back, to help get some blood rushing back to my head from the constant bowing I had just done. I jump out of the chair and place my hand on my heart when I hear someone clapping as they walk up the stairs and enter into the studio."Well now, I thought I heard someone up here." Miss O'Neal says walking in the room, the echo of her cane bounc
MaxI sit in my seat at church, located to the left of Austin. The long oval red oak table proudly presents the emblem of our club. The death symbol holding his usual scythe along with a shield. Under the emblem are the words Nightmare Warriors MC in black bold letters. We have only been in church a few moments and are still waiting on a few brothers to join us, but judging my Austin's nervous behavior, I can tell something is defiantly wrong. The thought worries me. This club doesn't need any more bullshit."That everyone?" Austin calls out and all the brothers looks around to make sure no one is missing. On average there are at least twenty members in this chapter, but we recently lost two members that decided to go nomad. Burner and Loyal are now somewhere in the Nevada area."Alright let's get started." He begins once everyone confirms they are here. "Got a call from Timmons a few hours ago. Dipp was arrested yesterday." The whole club begins to immediately look around for o
Shawna"Order up."I run over to the kitchen bar that separates the back end of the kitchen and the serving station, and grab my order for the party I took the order for. With all four plates along both arms, I slowly walk out of the kitchen and head straight to my section.I have been working here at Burgen's going on eight months. It wasn't an ideal job, but the only one that allowed for my schedule of only mornings before twelve and not every weekend. Because of my other job over at May's bar, which pays much more than this one, I had to be careful not to step on managements feet."Alright guys. Got the double bacon burger, hold the cheese. The country friend steak and potatoes. The prime rib with green beans, and for you sir, the cobb salad, extra egg." I say as I drop each plate off on the four construction men that have come in this morning.It's Early Sunday morning and we are surprisingly busy. Burgen's is not a large diner by any means. In fact there are only two waitress
Max"Should we check it out?" Tolino asks."Let's do it, don't necessarily like being a sitting duck." Wells calls out.We exit the Humvee and begin walking towards the building.A chill surrounds me as we make our way in the direction that Jones's indicates with his fingers. It's quiet and I slowly move to the right while Wells and Tolino move to the left. I can hear a faint whispering and I stop mid step and slowly round the thin wall I am in front of.A small doll lies on a vacant stone makeshift chair. My hands are shaking as I observe the tiny piece of felt and indicate to Matthews, who is now behind me, at what I am seeing."That a doll?" He whispers. I don't answer him; the question was obviously rhetorical."Heads up guys. Looks like we got some women here." I hear Jones say in my earpiece. I lower my gun and look over at Matthews who still has his trained."Women?" He asks then eventually lowers his as well. He walks over to the small doll and picks it up off the stone chair.
ShawnaA loud rocking sound vibrates my door as I slowly open my eyes.It sounds again, and I realize it's my bedroom door and someone is knocking."Come in." Already knowing it is most likely Inette since Ivan is still in Maine until tomorrow evening.Inette comes strolling in, wearing a small white tank with no bra and white panties with long gym socks on. I check the clock on my nightstand and see it's only seven in the morning."How can you look like a cover model at seven am?" I ask rolling over to my side to try and get some more rest.I worked at May's last night and we had a huge bar fight between two men who both had way too much to drink. Because the cops were called, the staff had to stay an extra two hours to give our statements. I only just got in around four."Yoga. Now, how did it go yesterday, you never called?""Sorry, I had to head to work right after and we were swamped form the moment I clocked in." I'm not being completely truthful. I did have to work after
MaxThe little minx.I don't normally get played. I like to consider myself the unplayable. But this woman will end up being the death of me.And I'm not even the one sleeping with her.I check the time on my bike and cringe when I realize I'm going to be late. Knowing Candice will have my ass if I am, I speed up a little more.Candice had been inviting me to dinner each night this week, and each night I gave her an excuse for why I couldn't. I had been neglecting the repair shop lately, so I decided it was as great a time as any to get caught up with orders and help out the guys.As much as I adored my brother's girl. I didn't want the attention to be on me and whether or not I am alright. I should have known better though. Last night as I pulled into my driveway at home, I spotted my mother's car and I knew, I just knew, Candice had called her."We were just worried about you?" Mom said to me as she straightened around in my house. I'm not a messy guy, something she instilled in both