Devil May Care (The Grizzly MC Book 12) (2 page)

The happiness he saw in his fellow Patches, the fact they had old ladies, even seeing his mom and dad having that happiness, made Jakob feel like he was just living life to live. He didn’t feel like there was a purpose. So he found violence, sought out that thrill, that adrenaline rush. It was then that he felt that spark of life again.

He took another swig from the bottle.

“One fucked up life with no meaning.”

But the silence greeted him, surrounded him … like it always did.

He finished off the whiskey, tossed the bottle onto the passenger seat, and headed back onto the road. He drove back to the MC, knowing he would be pretty fucked up soon, and getting arrested for getting into an accident and hurting someone else wasn’t something that would make him feel alive.

Maybe you should have thought about that before cracking open that whiskey and getting behind the wheel.

“Shut the fuck up.” He reached over and cranked the stereo. “Live like there’s no tomorrow,” he said the words out loud that had been repeated many times in the MC. The Patches did live each day like it was their last, because the life they led, the world they lived in, was unpredictable, would chew them up and not give a shit if they survived it.

He turned the radio up even louder.

“Live each day like it’s your last, bitches.”

And Jakob would do exactly that, tenfold.

Chapter Two

Saya unpacked the last box and took a step back. Her hair was tied up haphazardly and dust covered her from the move and unpacking, but she was finally settling in. Being an hour away from home wasn’t that bad, and of course she could still visit her dad on her free time, but it wasn’t just school that would take up her time. She’d gotten a small part-time job at a local bookstore. She’d never been one for reading, but when she’d gotten the job and found out she got a discount on textbooks, it hadn’t seemed like such an out of sorts place for her to work.

It’ll help pay your bills.

Truth was her father and the MC always helped her when she needed it, even if she hated having to rely on them financially. But it wasn’t like working retail could support her, especially when she didn’t have a college degree. So, that’s why she had finally decided she couldn’t just sit and waste her life away, worrying about her dad when he didn’t need anyone to look after him.

The sound of motorcycles had her moving over to the window in the living room. She pulled aside the faded yellow twill curtains, a cloud of dust wafting round her and causing her to cough. The apartment was a flop, but that’s just because it was old, stuck in the fifties with the brownish colored carpet and gold speckled linoleum.

She saw the glint of chrome first, and then a row of five Harley with big ass bikers sitting atop them. She was on the ground floor of the apartment complex, and she could easily make out their rockers.

Grizzly MC.

She’d heard of them, of course. Living only an hour from Steel Corner, which was where the MC was located, and where the small college she was attending was, made the Grizzlies nearly a household name.

The bear shifters were big, tattooed, and looked ready to beat ass. Although she was partial to her father’s club, and knowing how large and in charge they were, how they’d go to any lengths to protect their own, she couldn’t deny that just looking at the Grizzlies had her appreciating them and the fact a few people actually stopped and looked at them.

And then one of the bikers turned and looked her way, and although it seemed he was looking right at her, Saya knew there wasn’t any way he could see her.
Right?
The bikers started riding again, but for just a second that one Grizzly stayed back, looking in her direction. Her heart starting pounding a little faster, and when he was pulling up with the other Harleys she breathed out.

“Well, shit,” she said softly, the words tumbling out of her mouth.

Looking down at her watch, she saw it was time for her to get ready for work She’d only been there for a few days, but she was getting used to it, and today was the first day she’d actually be on the floor. Up until now she’d had to do corporate training, which meant watching movies about the employee rules and regulations.

She headed into the bathroom to clean up. Once in the bathroom she turned on the light and stared at her reflection.

“No rest for the wicked, and all that shit.”

****

Jakob sat in his car, a bottle of beer in his hand, the radio on low, and a joint between his lips. The sun had set hours ago, and after the ride through town he’d hung low and just felt like getting that adrenaline fix.

Taking another hit from his joint, he stared out the windshield, a few cars passing by on this strip of deserted road. He pulled back onto the road, knowing where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do. Anymore he was looking for that rush of life, that adrenaline kick that made him feel alive, if only for a second.

He drove for only about five minutes and took a left. The back road would take him into the mountains and to a spot that overlooked the town. It was a place plenty of the Patches who had old ladies, even the Originals, had gone because it had a good view. But Jakob wasn’t going here because he wanted to check out Steel Corner and part of River Run.

Once in the spot he cut the engine and got out of the vehicle. The clearing wasn’t natural, and there were empty beer bottles scattered around. Not only was this a perfect spot to see the town, but a lot of people also came up here to party.

Even though the moon wasn’t full and it was dark, Jakob could see clearly. His bear was right there, pacing, wanting to feel that spike of endorphins as well.

He moved toward the edge that overlooked Steel Corner. He was only a few feet from the ledge, the wind picking up the closer he got. He came out here a lot anymore, and at first it was just to get away, to try to make out how to fix himself. But as time passed he came to the conclusion he may not need to fix himself, or if something was really broken inside of him he may never be able to repair it.

Moving even closer to the edge he stopped when the tips of his boots were over the ledge. The drop below was a big one, and if he fell not even being a shifter would save him. But right now he didn’t give a fuck. Another inch he stepped until he was barely balancing on the very edge of the cliff. The wind whipped around him, the trees parting and showing the town below him. He looked down, the drop steep, the rocks jagged, but that rush, the idea of nothing holding him back aside from his sheer balance, made him feel alive and free.

He closed his eyes and held his arms out, rocking back and forth, the wind making him feel like he could topple over the edge without little effort. He stayed like that for longer than he even realized, just feeling that rush move through him. He did this more often than not, the very real threat of not being secured, of not able to stop himself if he did go forward, making this the perfect jumpstart he needed. He also didn’t risk physically hurting anyone else.

Although he’d never jump, never take his own life, this was something that didn’t make him so dead inside. The rocks beneath his feet crumbled when he swayed, falling over the ledge and echoing off the mountain.

His heart started racing, his pulse jumping in his throat. Just as he swayed forward and back again his cell went off, bringing him out of the zone. Taking a step back he breathed in and out slowly.

After grabbing his cell, seeing it was Gabe, a Brothers of Menace MC Patch, and the son of Lucien, the club’s president, he answered.

“What’s up?” Jakob moved back toward his vehicle, got in, and started the engine.

“Dude, I need a rescue, and I can’t get a hold of anyone close by.”

Jakob found himself smiling after Gabe spoke.

“I’m in a coyote ugly situation.” Gabe had dropped his voice lower, and Jakob could only assume he didn’t want the chick he’d just fucked to hear.

“Had your beer goggles on?” Jakob asked.

“You have no clue.” Gabe’s words were slightly slurred, and after Jakob exhaled the smoke he cranked the engine.

“Tell me where you’re at.”

Looks like he had to pull Gabe from a situation he shouldn’t have gotten himself into in the first place. But that was the life of the Patches in the MC.

After a twenty-minute drive Jakob pulled up to an older apartment building just right outside the square of town. A few kids ran around outside, their screams and giggles loud despite the late hour. Grabbing his cell, he dialed Gabe’s number, not sure exactly what the Brother of Menace Patch had gotten himself into, but assuming he’d been a little too drunk today and had gone home with someone he normally wouldn’t have.

Contrary to what a lot of people thought, not all bikers were man-whores. It was true a lot of them fucked any willing woman, especially the club whores that hung around, but not all the bikers were that way, at least not in the Grizzlies or Brothers. Jakob was one of the guys that didn’t stick his dick in just any warm pussy.

He’d had his fair share of fucking, true, but over the last few months he hadn’t been able to find any kind of desire to get that empty pleasure, no matter how many sweet-butts offered themselves to him.

“Dude, you coming out or going round two?” Jakob asked, holding the cell to his ear and staring at the front of the apartment building.

“I’m coming out now,” Gabe said on a whisper.

Jakob disconnected the call and rested his head back on the seat. The front doors of the apartment building opened, but it wasn’t Gabe that came out, but a curvy as fuck dark haired female. She was digging around in her purse, her focus on whatever she was trying to get. The Grizzly in Jakob rose up instantly, and he couldn’t help but be a little shocked that his bear had taken such an interest in the female.

When she lifted her head, a cell phone in her hand now, his cock instantly jutted out, getting hard, insistent. Her dark hair was blowing around her face, and even though it was dark out, and there was only a soft yellow glow from the street lamp, he could see with his heightened senses her eyes were this crystalline blue color.

She started talking to someone on her cell, and Jakob followed her with his gaze all the way down the street, not able to talk his gaze off of her until she’d rounded a corner and he couldn’t see her any longer. Just then the passenger side door opened and Gabe got in, breathing heavily and lifting his lower body off the seat to zip and button up his pants.

“Dude, fucking go,” Gabe said with urgency, and just then the front doors of the apartment building opened and a half dressed female came running out, screaming and waving her hands in the air.

“What the fuck?” Jakob said, not able to stop from laughing. He pulled away from the curb just as the female threw the shoe she’d been carrying at his car. It made a clunking sound as it hit the back window, and Jakob cracked up louder.

“Gabe, what the fuck man?” Jakob asked between bouts of laughter.

“Not funny, Jakob. Not funny, man.” Gabe finished zipping and buttoning his pants, and rested his head back on the seat, breathing out. “I’m still drunk. Fuck.”

Jakob grinned and ran a hand over his face.

“Went out with some of the other Brothers, and ended up at a bar in Steel Corner,” Gabe said, his eyes now closed, this grimace on his face.

The stench of beer and liquor came from the other Patch, as well as strong perfume and sex. Despite Gabe not being a bear shifter or Grizzly member, the Brothers of Menace and Grizzly MC had been close for decades, ever since the Originals of both clubs had been in their prime.

Both males were in their mid-twenties now, thick in the club life, and patched in members. Gabe and the other next generation of Brothers were like family, family and brothers to Jakob and the rest of the Grizzlies.

“Needless to say I started mixing, man. I was throwing back the shots and then doing bourbon and tequila tours.”

Jakob chuckled.

“Not funny, Jakob.”

“It is because you sound like a novice in the drinking game. You don’t mix, Gabe.”

“Yeah,” was all Gabe said.

“So, what happened after that, aside from the obvious?”

Gabe groaned before speaking again. “She was all dancing by herself, her clothes tight, and she was eye fucking the hell out of me.” Gabe ran a hand over his mouth and groaned again, as if in pain. “All I saw was some pussy. I woke up hours later, saw her wrapped around me, and realized this was not good.”

“She that bad?”

“Not really bad looks wise, although her makeup was half-off and smeared, and it was clear she looked totally different au natural.”

Jakob grinned.

“She started murmuring shit about loving me, and I knew I had to get the fuck out of there. It was when she started waking up after I called you, and saw me getting dressed, that she freaked and demanded I stay. I was like fuck no.”

“And that’s when you got the fuck out of there.”

Gabe just nodded.

“You want me to take you home?”

“Yeah.” Gabe rubbed his hand over his jaw again. “I’ll crash at my folks’ place since they’re out of town and it’s closer.”

“Where’s your car?”

“I was riding with one of the Brothers and apparently left with her after the last bar.”

“And none of them would pick your ass up?” Jakob chuckled again. “Not that I care, but seems kind of fucked they left you.”

“Nah, they were either too drunk, balls deep in pussy, or too far away to come back over.”

“Well, no trouble, but I’d say you know if a female looks fine when you’re drunk there might be some issues.”

Gabe snorted. “You’re telling me. I’ll say the next set of females I go after will be natural as fuck, no makeup, plain Jane, and innocent looking. I don’t need any surprises.”

Jakob reached Lucien and Callie’s house, and pulled not the driveway. He parked next to Ava’s car, cut the engine, and debated whether or not to go back to the club or his place and get trashed, do a little back alley fighting for that adrenaline rush, or actually try to fuck and take the “safer” route to getting high.

“What the fuck is that?” Gabe asked and tipped his chin toward the crotch rocket parked off to the side by the curb.

Before Jakob could respond Gabe was cursing.

“Hell fucking no. If she has some motherfucker in there I’ll beat his ass, wasted or not.” Gabe was out of the car and stumbling toward the front door, and Jakob got out and followed. He knew Gabe could handle himself. The brother was well over six foot, and had enough muscle to rival a Grizzly, but he was also still drunk, and his coordination was shit.