Second Chances (Steel Bandits MC Book 1) Read online

  Second Chances

  By: JC Belanger

  COPYRIGHT 2018© JC BELANGER

  All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the author except for brief quotations used in book reviews.

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

  Cover Design: SN Garza

  Editor: Erin Osborne and Kim Richards

  JC Belanger has full permission from the author to use Skylar’s Saviors in this work.

  Second Chances Blurb

  Anna

  I’ve made decisions about my life that I thought were the right thing to do. Not just for myself, but for everyone involved dreamed that helping a sexy biker broke down on the side of the road would change my life so much. One chance encounter was all it took. Now, when my past is coming back to haunt me, will secrets come out? Can I withstand the backlash that is coming my way?

  Taz

  I needed a change of scenery, so I transferred to a club in a new town where no one knew me. Who knew my rescuing angel would be everything I never knew I wanted. I wasn’t looking for anything other than what I had at home; my brothers, a job, and easy girls. When Anna’s past comes knocking, it will be my turn to rescue her.

  Will fate let us find happiness or will it take it away before we have a chance to find what we want? Are the Steel Bandits MC going to have our back or will the secret Anna carries destroy everyone?

  Dedication

  This book has been a lifetime in the making. I have NEVER thought of myself as a writer, I can edit, and I can read, but writers are smart and creative and that’s not me. So, I want to dedicate my first ever book to a few people who have had my back since day 1.

  Erin Osborne, you have held my hand through this and given me the courage to put myself out there. This book would never have been finished if you hadn’t stepped in to save me when I was lost. Your belief in me has left me in awe. Thank you for allowing me to use Skyler not only in my story, but also as a taste for readers. You are more than a friend you are family. I will never forget how much of yourself you put in to helping me get this out there. YOU ARE MY HERO!

  Kayce Kyle, I never expected this book to come out of a secret I told you on our road trip. Listening to you and your sister talk about the book y’all were writing gave me hope. I will never be able to thank you for believing in me and agreeing to put your awesome book as a taste for readers of this book. Thank you will never be enough.

  Character List

  Officers and Members:

  President: Axel aka Devon

  Vice President: Voodoo aka Scott

  Secretary: Turtle aka Ricky

  Treasurer: Gizmo aka Terry

  Sgt. At Arms: Racer aka Robert

  Road Captain: Toad aka Eric

  Enforcer: Fury aka Frank

  Taz aka Charlie

  God aka Shawn

  Doc aka Chris

  Prospects:

  Tigger

  Mikey

  Skid

  Old Ladies:

  Anna: Prop of Taz and sister of Voodoo

  Children of Club Members

  Cecelia Rea -daughter of Anna

  Club Girls:

  Stephanie

  Scarlett

  Lucy

  Club Businesses

  Steel Wrench Garage

  The Cookhouse -Silent Partners

  Friends of Club

  Cookie -cook and owner of The Cookhouse

  Note to the Readers

  Dear readers,

  Thank you for taking a chance on me and my debut novel. This is the first book in the Steel Bandits Club.

  I did have an editor, as well as beta readers, but do not hold my mistakes in grammar or usage against them. I take full responsibility for any and all mistakes within this book. If you find any mistakes, please send me a message so that I can get them corrected and update the book.

  I do not know anyone in a motorcycle club. All information was used from research and my interpretation. This is not real life and is no reflection of anyone or any club.

  There is reference to a rape in this book. So, if that is a trigger of anyone who has been a victim please be aware. If you have been a victim there are resources available. One of these is the National Sexual Assault Hotline. They can be reached at 1-800-656-4673 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

  Table of Contents

  Second Chances

  COPYRIGHT 2018© JC BELANGER

  Second Chances Blurb

  Dedication

  Character List

  Note to the Readers

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Epilogue

  Second Chances Playlist

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Erin Osborne

  Kayce Kyle

  Chapter One

  Anna

  Today has been a long and trying day. But then again, most days that I make this trip are hard on me. No one knows the secret that I carry with me on a daily basis. One that tears me up inside and makes it hard to breathe sometimes when I let myself think about it. So, I’ve got the radio turned up as I try to make my mind completely blank from the visit I’m driving home from.

  As I drive down the desolate highway, I see a man sitting on the side of the road beside his motorcycle. He looks stressed with a touch of irritation, and I am torn about what to do. Do I pull over, call for help, or just keep going? My friends, and family, have warned me many times about my habit of stopping to help others. They keep telling me that I could be killed or worse, I personally think they need to work on their priorities. I know that I would want someone to help me, just like I know there’s an element of danger to stopping and helping someone you don’t know. So here I go, I pull over in front of this gorgeous man and open my door. As I get out, he stares at me with a smirk on his face that makes me want to jump his sexy body.

  “Everything ok? Do you need me to call someone for you?” I ask, hesitantly, walking closer to the gorgeous stranger.

  “No, I am good, just taking a break and enjoying all the traffic flying by me,” he remarks sarcastically as he remains sitting on the ground.

  I notice that his front tire looks bent and flat, “I can call for a tow if you like. But out here it will probably take three to four hours for them to arrive. Or, I can see if my brother can come out. He shouldn’t be too busy today as it’s a party night for his club.”

  At this he stands up to his full height in an attempt to try to intimidate me, and asks what club he belongs to? I don’t know what to make of his expression. He is on a bike so that should mean he is not going to be judgy right? I take a second to study him before replying “The Steel Bandits.”

  “Peaches,” he says with a smirk “please call them. I would love to have them come get my ride.”

  “My name is not Peaches,” I huff as I pull out my phone. Calling my brother I wait for him to answer, but he doesn’t so I call Toad.

  “Hey Toad! I tried to call Scott, but he didn�
�t answer. I am out on Highway twenty and found a lost soul who needs his bike towed. Any chance y’all could come get it?” I ask as I continue to watch the stranger that stands before me. It’s like I’m drawn to him in a way that I’ve never experienced before.

  Toad sighs like I’m bothering him and says that someone can be there, but it will be and hour. I thank him and turn to the hottie before me. “Someone is coming and should be here in an hour or so.”

  I turn to head back to my car before I can say something stupid like asking him if I can drop him off somewhere. His laugh stops me in my tracks and I turn to face him. My hands immediately go to my hips as I try to figure out what he finds so funny. I’m at a loss as to what to think about this situation I find myself in.

  “Running away so fast peaches?” he asks with a taunting quality to his deep voice.

  “I told you my name is not peaches. Why do you call me that?” I question him, not caring that I’m probably giving him something to laugh about later on when I’ve left him.

  He laughs again and points to my t-shirt that I didn’t even realize is covered with peaches. I smirk back at him. “Ok fine! My name is Anna. What do they call you stud?”

  He lets out a bark of laughter, “Stud? Not been called that one before. They usually just call me Taz.”

  Crap, that sounds like a club name. He is not wearing any colors, but if he is passing through then he wouldn’t show his colors. He is so good looking with his long black hair pulled into a ponytail. He looks like a muscled surfer. I want to lick him and call him mine. Where did that come from? I ask myself. The last thing I need to even think about is a man. Even a tall drink of water like him.

  “What club are you with?” I ask, suddenly needing to know if he’s a friend of my brother’s club or someone that I should really be afraid of right now.

  “I’m transferring to a club near here,” he says with a sly look, not answering my question.

  Oh no, this is not even what I want to hear. I know the club party tonight is to welcome a transfer from a chapter in Cali. I laugh to myself, California surfer dude was right. “So, you are moving to our town? I guess I could give you a ride to the clubhouse if you don’t want to hang around here. Just let me call Toad back and let him know.”

  “Peaches, that would be awesome but let me clear it with Prez not Toad. I don’t want to get my ass kicked my first night here,” he laughs, continuing to let me know that he has a playful side as he takes a few steps toward me.

  He calls Prez and lets him know what is going on. I know I’m about to get yelled at for stopping to help a strange man, even if it turns out to be a brother because Prez and Scott hate this habit of mine. Looking up I see that Taz is walking my way with his phone in his hand.

  “Prez wants to speak with you for a minute,” he says, answering my question before I have a chance to even ask it.

  “Hey Prez. How are you this fine day, Axel?” I ask, trying to smooth things over.

  “Girly you are in big trouble when you get here! We have had this talk so many times. You are lucky he’s a brother and not a rival that would hurt you to get to us. Get Taz and get your ass here now! Your brother and I will be waiting,” he says, his gruff voice letting me know that he’s upset with me but I’m not going to necessarily get the ass chewing I have in the past.

  “Yes Prez,” I sigh. I am not in the club, an old lady, or even a club girl but they try to control my life every day. I understand that my brother being a part of the club can make me a target, but they take the protection thing to a whole new level. One that I’m getting tired of.

  “Let’s go,” I tell Taz heading to my car. He gets a few items from his saddle bags and struts toward where I parked my car on the side of the road.

  “Not a fan of cages, but this is a sweet lil’ ride,” he says, opening the door and opening the passenger side door.

  “My brother Scott got it for me as a graduation gift,” I tell him before opening the door to get in. “It’s a 2014 Dodge Charger. I wanted to paint it pink, but he said, ‘there was no way in hell I’m riding in a Pepto-mobile.’ So, we agreed on powder blue.”

  “I have to agree with him, Peaches. It would be hard to get into a car that only Barbie would drive,” he laughs as he folds his large body into the passenger side of my car.

  We make small talk as we drive the thirty minutes to the clubhouse. Pulling in, I see that we have a welcoming committee that does not look so welcoming to me. I am sure that they are happy to see Taz, but Scott and Prez look like they want to kill me. I should be used to this look on their faces, but it still makes me mad to see that they don’t think that I can’t take care of myself.

  Prez walks over to the car and opens my door before I even have a chance to shut the engine off. Reaching in he, grabs my hand to help me out while shaking his head. It’s like I’m a child that he has to admonish on a constant basis for not doing what I’m told. Maybe if they would lighten up a little, I wouldn’t find it so hard to follow their ‘rules’ for me. Right now, it seems that I don’t have any freedom at all. Everywhere I go, I see one of them following me.

  “Anna, what are we gonna do with you girl? This time you got lucky. Next time, we could be getting a call about you lying on the side of the road. What is it gonna take to get this through your head?” Prez grumbles as he wraps his large arm around my shoulders and holds me close like a father would.

  “What the hell were you even doing way out there?” Scott interrupts, finally putting his two-cents into the conversation. “You didn’t even let me know that you were leaving.”

  “I don’t have to tell you anything brother dearest. I am a big girl,” I answer, sliding out from under the heavy weight of Axel’s arm.

  “Hi, I am Taz, I appreciate you allowing Peaches to give me a ride here. My bike hit a piece of metal some truck lost. If it weren’t for Peaches I would be sitting there forever,” Taz says, finally speaking up for the first time since we got here. I cast him a thankful glance as he takes the heat off of me for a few minutes at least.

  “Her name is not fucking Peaches!” Scott growls at him coming to stand in front of me like he’s going to fight to the death for the honor of protecting me.

  I just roll my eyes and let these grown up children posture for position. I swear they think I’m a freaking chew toy sometimes. Wouldn’t it just be easier for one of them to piss on me to mark their territory. Or, in Scott’s case make sure that no one touches me or comes within a hundred feet of where I’m at. It drives me up a wall and one of these days I’m going to explode.

  Axel walks over to Taz and gives him the typical man hug before leading him inside the clubhouse. I attempt to get back into my car and head home, but a hand on my door stops me short. Looking up I see my big brother standing there and stopping my attempt of an escape. He’s looking at me with a hint of anger and uncertainty flashing in his eyes. I do feel a little guilty about the reason I can’t tell him

  “Where do you think you are sneaking off to sis?” he asks, leaning over the door frame so I can’t just slam it in his face like I’ve been known to do a time or two.

  “Scott, I don’t have time for this. I have things I need to do and places I need to be,” I tell him, not bothering to hide the exasperation that laces my voice.

  “Well maybe you should have done them instead of sneaking out of town. You have been hiding something from me for months. Hell, you even disappeared for almost year with only a note saying you were ok and would be back when you could. During that time, you only called me three times! Three fucking times Anna. This isn’t like you and I will find out what is going on,” he says, letting me know that my actions over the past year have truly hurt him. But, if he knew my secret, he’d be even more hurt and probably sitting in a damn jail cell right now.

  “I wish you wouldn’t Scott. If I wanted, you to know I would have told you. And besides, you don’t tell me everything either,” I huff at him like a toddler getting ready to thr
ow a tantrum in my desperation to keep him from finding out the one thing that could destroy our relationship.

  The door to the clubhouse swings open and Prez yells. “Voodoo get your ass in here brother.” Scott turns to me and sighs, “Anna, I will let it go today, but I don’t make any other promises. You have got to tell me what is going on with you. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on. One of these days you’re going to find yourself in trouble and I won’t be able to stop it. Please give it some thought,” he says, pleading with me before he turns away and walks into the clubhouse to be with his family.

  Chapter Two

  Anna

  As I drive away from the clubhouse my mind drifts back to ten months ago. I was so scared that someone would figure out what was going on with me. I knew that they would wonder why I was wearing clothes that were baggy on me and had been sick so much. I couldn’t believe that Scott had bought that I had the flu for six weeks, but he didn’t even blink an eye.

  Today I went to see the little girl that I had to place with a family the next town over. She was so beautiful. Blond little curls with big blue eyes and a smile that warmed everyone’s heart. Cecelia is her name and I love that baby smell everyone loves. I can’t get enough of it when I see her. I knew that the club would have helped me raise her, but how is that fair to any of them?

  It happened one night that I wish I could forget. One night that changed my life forever. It’s not her fault, and if Scott had found out then he would have possibly ended up in prison. I could not live with that on my shoulders, so I decided to let her be adopted. I ran away to a home for girls in my situation and stayed for the last three months of my pregnancy and the six weeks after while they completed the legal process. The family that she is with is great. They love her and let me see her every few weeks. I miss her so much, but I know that this is best for everyone involved. I’ve just had to put my feeling’s aside to make the best decision for my daughter.