Shattered Dreams (Shadow Souls MC Book 2)

This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons--living or dead--is entirely coincidental.

Shattered Dreams copyright @ 2014 by Tamara Knowles. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Chapter
One

An anxiety-filled week passed for Chad. Most of him was overjoyed about this strange, unexpected relationship that was developing with Sierra. She was light, grace, beauty, and strength. She was everything that he desired in a woman. She was amazing, simply amazing. There was no other word for it. He knew there was no way he could not fall in love with her—because that’s what was happening. He never expected anything like this to happen to him—ever. All the jitters, nervousness, and anxiety were so weird, so surreal and strange.

However, the other part of him was continually worried about what was going to happen next. He knew that Sierra had called Richard, and he knew that Richard undoubtedly did something to cause problems for the two of them. There was no way he was just going to let it slide. He wasn’t sure about the decision to tell that bastard anything, but what was done was done, and there was nothing else he could do. He was sure something would happen very soon, but he was trying his absolute hardest to ignore the sense of impending doom and focus on the beautiful and amazing woman who had dropped into his life.

But then, one day his phone did ring. When he answered it, it was the Shadow Souls. He couldn’t tell who was on the other end of the line, but he figured it probably wasn’t anyone he knew anyway. He had almost removed himself from the MC entirely. He couldn’t look any of the guys in the eyes, knowing what he knew about Scott’s death.

“Chad Pender?”

“Yes?”

“We know what you’ve done. We know who you are working for, and we will be coming for you. We aren’t going to let things like that slide.”

“Like what?”

“You know exactly what we are talking about.”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“The name Scott Hall mean anything to you, idiot?”

Chad hung up the phone, his sense of dread increasing with every second. Everything he feared and never wanted to happen was coming true. He didn’t even know he could feel this protective over one person. He didn’t know it was possible to be this afraid of hurting one person, either. He didn’t want everything dangerous and dark in his past to affect this precious and amazing woman who was turning his world around in a thousand ways.

However, he had to tell her. She had to know the danger they were in, and he decided to bring it up during dinner. “Sierra?” he asked.

“Yeah?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.

“I… I gotta tell you something.”

“Okay.” She gestured with her hand, trying to encourage him to actually get to the point.

“I got a call from the Shadow Souls today. They heard a bad rumor about me. And Scott.”

“What? Like you were gay for each other or something?” she teased, but he could tell she was worried.

“No. That I killed him and that I am working for James Northorp.”

She put down her fork and laced her fingers together. “What is the truth?”

“I’ve told you the truth,” he lied.

“You don’t work for James?”

“I’ve never met the guy.”

“And you had nothing to do with Scott’s death?”

“Nothing that I haven’t already told you.” It almost physically hurt to lie to her.

She leaned across the table and kissed him. “Is there anything else?”

“Um.  Well. They most definitely have threatened me.”

“What?” she asked in a flat, hallow voice.

“They are coming to seek revenge on me for what they think I did.”

She came over to his side of the table and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s okay. We will figure it out. I promise. We will.”

Chapter Two

A week passed in almost complete bliss. Chad surprised her in a thousand different ways almost every day. He would show up with flowers or chocolates or some cheesy 80s movie that he knew all the words to. He would tell her she was beautiful even when she was wearing sweats and an oversized t-shirt. He insisted on picking her up from work—even though she knew he strongly disapproved of how she earned a living—because he was worried that she would get hurt or find trouble.

He was kind, considerate, and caring. He listened to her when she told him things, even if they weren’t important things. It didn’t even matter. She would talk, and he would listen. She would tell him about what she did at work, about the bills she had to pay, about her past relationships, about her likes and dislikes, and about what she wanted to do with her life. Everything seemed to matter to him. There was nothing she was afraid to tell him. Somehow. After relying on her brother for many years, and then suddenly losing the only person who ever treated her like a human being, she had felt completely lost and unmoored.

Then, Chad walked in. Chad, with his gorgeous smile, charming eyes, and wisps of hair that never managed to stay where they were supposed to, had somehow weaseled his way into her good graces. She loved the way he just stepped in and decided to be her supporter and her champion, standing behind her and supporting all her decisions and goals.

However, he seemed to be bipolar. Sometimes he would seem to be really happy about everything, and he would do romantic or sweet things. Then, the next day, he would be distant and aloof—but not for very long. In just a few hours he would be back to what she considered his usual self.

She felt completely crazy. Every thought she had—waking, sleeping, eating, breathing—was about him. She thought about his timid smile, his deep laughter, the way his voice vibrated a little when he said something he was serious about.

He made her stomach twist in knots and fill with butterflies. He made her heart sing and colored all her thoughts with joy and happiness. She couldn’t remember being this excited and pleased about her life. Things like this just didn’t happen to someone like her.

When he told her about Shadow Souls and their desire to kill him for a crime he didn’t commit, everything about his strange behavior made more sense. He wasn’t just a nervous person, he was trying to look out for her. He cared about her and only wanted what was best for her. He was trying to keep her safe from all the chaos in his life. Sierra knew that he was a dear.

They were curled up on the couch late one night, watching a movie.

Sierra paused the movie and turned to him. “Hey.”

“What?” he asked, pushing his lips to her hair.

“Let’s just leave.”

“Leave?” he asked, confused.

“Yeah, let’s just take off, get out of here, and leave it all behind. Leave behind all the worries about everything and everyone. Let’s just get out of here.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah!” Sierra said, sitting up. “What is actually here for us?”

“I mean, I dunno. I guess nothing. Your job and condo and all that.”

She waved her hand in the air, dismissing him. “So what?”

“So, I wouldn’t want to uproot everything in your life.”

She laughed. “What life? I’m a stripper in Vegas with a two room condo. I have no friends. I only know you and only for two weeks. So. Yeah. Such a life.” She grinned and straddled him, her thighs pressing against his. She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it back. “We could go anywhere. Do anything.” She brought her face down to his, their lips almost touching. Then, she kissed him, pressing her body closer to his.

He ran his hands over her back, feeling her curves. “Mmm,” he said, “I guess we could.”

“You
guess
?” she asked in mock shock and hurt.

“Yeah, I guess.” He pulled her back to him and kissed her.

Chapter Three

Another week with Sierra brought all new changes for Chad. Suddenly
, they were in a car driving around the Southwest, loving each other in every way. They existed on this policy of loving each other and themselves and not giving a damn what anyone else had to say about them or their situation.

It was the most freeing thing Chad had ever experienced. He knew it couldn’t last forever, but while it lasted it was beautiful and amazing. If there was any way to freeze time and makes this whole experience, these feelings, this fantastic world go on forever, he would. He wanted to lose himself in the beautiful world of her laughter, smiles, touches, and kisses.

He woke up one morning in a cheap motel, tangled in her and the sheets. He pulled his arm out from under her, trying to rub some feeling back into his arm. He ran his fingers through the ends of her hair. It felt like silk and smelled like sunshine. Her skin was softer than a lamb’s ear. Just stroking her cheek and hair turned him on. He didn’t understand how any girl could be this attractive, this alluring, this magical, and this perfect.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she turned toward him. “Good morning, lover.”

“Good morning,” he responded, as they kissed softly and slowly, feeling each other, sensing each other.

“What are we doing today?” she asked.

“Well, I was thinking we could stay here for a couple days actually. Spend a lot of time naked, order pizza. Can you order beer? If we can do that, there would be no reason to leave.” Her fingers walked up and down his arm, and then she slid her hand over his chest. “What do you think?”

“I think that sounds absolutely perfect.”

They kissed again, deeper, pressing into each other, hands wandering across their bodies. He flipped her on to her back and ran kisses down her neck and across her shoulders. He tried to take in every inch of her and savor every single second that they were together. It was all he wanted, and all his body and soul desired. She was perfection. Before he met her, he didn’t even know she was what he wanted. Now, he couldn’t physically imagine a world without her.

Their bodies rocked together, moving as one. He could sense her every emotion and knew exactly what she wanted and when she wanted it. He knew he fell short, but he tried his damnedest to give her everything she wanted.

Chad rolled off her and pulled her close to him, spooning her. He never wanted to let Sierra out of his arms. Here, she was safe. As soon as she left, who knew what would happen to her. Here, he knew she would be protected—because he would never hurt her.

Except for that nagging knowledge that he told her a massive lie.

“Hey, babe? I’m starving. Can you get us some food?”

“Yeah, sure, what do you want?” he asked.

“Whatever this little town has,” she responded.

He chuckled. “Sure, I’ll be back in a few.”

“And when you get back, maybe I’ll have a surprise for you.” She grinned wickedly and kissed him, before kicking off the covers and disappearing into the bathroom.

He chuckled and got dressed, grabbing his keys and wallet, and heading out to investigate this no-name town’s eateries. There weren’t many options, but he found a pizza joint and picked up some beer. He decided that was sufficient for their purposes.

When he came back, he found Sierra sitting outside their motel room. The door was open, and a cop car was pulled up to the room.

“What is going on?”

“Someone threw a brick through the window. Threatening us, me.” She pressed her fingertips to her mouth, struggling to hide her emotions. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”