Deranged, p.1
Deranged, page 1
By
Bella J
Contents
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note:
1. Onyx
2. Onyx
3. Onyx
4. Wraith
5. Onyx
6. Onyx
7. Wraith
8. Onyx
9. Onyx
10. Wraith
11. Wraith
12. Onyx
13. Wraith
14. Onyx
15. Wraith
16. Wraith
17. Wraith
18. Onyx
19. Onyx
20. Wraith
21. Onyx
22. Onyx
Epilogue
OTHER NOVELS by BELLA J
About the Author
Copyright ©2019 by Bella J
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual living or dead person, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
Editor: Lori Whitwam
Cover Design by Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations
Author’s Note:
Deranged is the 3rd book in the American Street Kings series. To fully enjoy the ride you need to read the novels in order:
DEPRAVED (Book 1) ~ Grab it here.
DEFIANT (Book 2) ~ Grab it here.
Deranged is a dark MC novel slapped with trigger warnings and contains scenes that will (not might) offend sensitive readers.
For all the dark romance readers…
ENJOY THE RIDE!
xoxo
1
Onyx
This was one of those moments when you saw everyone’s lips moving, but you couldn’t hear a sound. You didn’t hear a single word that came out of their mouths. I sat there watching them, everyone speaking at once while trying to get their opinion heard. Dutch was practically standing on the fucking table, attempting to talk some sense into Granite.
I rubbed my palm against my beard, pursing my lips before smiling half-heartedly. “Listen, all of you can shut up now.” I leaned forward, placing my elbows on the hardwood table. “I’m not taking Granite’s place. I don’t give a fuck who says what.”
Granite shifted in his seat, turning to face me. “It’s the only way.”
“No, it’s not.”
“If we want to take down Slither and make him pay for what he’s done, we need to do this.”
“You are the president of the Kings, Granite. And we’re not about to let you step down simply because you gave some psychopath your word.”
“I agree with Onyx,” Dutch chimed in. “I get why you’re so hellbent on keeping to your word, but the fact that they nearly killed Neon, kidnapped Alyx, and used Tanit to do it, I say fuck ’em. It gives you more than enough right to break the deal.”
Sitting next to Granite, I could hear the scratchy sound of his hand slowly rubbing down his beard. The man’s brain was working overtime as he listened to the guys bicker back and forth. But it was all a waste of time. There was no way I would do this.
I glanced at Manic to my left as he watched the show with a frown on his scarred face. He looked at me and shrugged like he found the entire conversation boring as hell.
“Onyx,” Granite leaned forward, “why don’t you want to do this? Why don’t you want to be president?”
“Because that seat right there is yours. Not mine. And I don’t get why we need to fuck with how things stand around here just because of that stupid deal. Like Dutch said, they used Tanit to kidnap Alyx. If they didn’t kidnap Alyx, you never would have made that deal. It’s fucking entrapment, if you ask me.”
Manic smirked and reached for his beer. The man never had much to say when we had our meetings. He was game for anything and didn’t really care about formalities. Manic was the strong, silent type. But I knew all too well what kind of demons roamed under that marred skin.
“It’s the only way.” Granite lit a cigarette and blew out a cloud of smoke. “Even if my deal with Slither wasn’t an issue, this is a move they won’t expect. It will throw them off, momentarily letting their guard down.”
“And what then? What’s the plan? I become president, and we do what? Just ride over and kill ’em all?”
Ink snorted. “That sounds like the perfect plan.”
“Be serious, Ink.”
“I am. I’m dead fucking serious.” He put out his cigarette, looking at me then at Granite. “This club is my life. You guys know that. But understand this. I don’t give a fuck which one of you sits in that motherfucking chair. I am killing Slither. I am going to slice that piece of shit from nose to navel and watch him choke on his own fucking balls. That’s a fact.” He got up, the chair screeching across the floor. “So, it doesn’t matter to me what you decide, as long as I get to watch that motherfucker suffer while I slowly pull his spine from his goddamn body. But what I will say is you better make a decision fast because I ain’t waiting much longer.”
Ink stormed out, the slam of the door echoing through the silence. Everyone knew he wasn’t kidding. Most of the time, Ink was the jokester, the one who didn’t take life too seriously. But this was different. Ever since we found Neon’s mutilated body on the pavement, choking on what we thought would be her last breath, he’d changed. He was no longer the man who took each day as it came. He was a man driven by revenge, a beast hungry for blood. God knew I didn’t blame him.
Manic emptied his beer, slamming the can on the table. “That went well.” The rest of us scowled at him, and he shot us a cocky grin. “Someone needs to keep a sense of humor around here.”
“Do you not take this seriously?” Dutch glared his way.
Manic shrugged. “Of course I do. I just don’t get what the fucking problem is. Granite doesn’t want to break his word to a fucking psychopath piece of shit, and Onyx doesn’t want to take big brother’s place. So, basically, there’s two options here.” He shrugged. “Either Granite shoves a huge fuck-you up Slither’s ass by not giving a shit about their deal, or Onyx becomes president. It’s as simple as that.”
I scoffed. “Unbelievable. It’s not fucking simple.”
“Oh, yes, it is. You’re just overcomplicating it by being a dick.”
“What did you call me?”
He leaned back, all cool and collected. “Come on, Onyx. Say it. You don’t want to be president because you’re afraid you’ll fuck up and never be as good as Granite.”
Manic turned his attention to Granite. “And you don’t want to break the deal because you have too much to lose now that you have Alyx. If it wasn’t for the ballerina, we would already be slitting Python throats by now.”
He got up, grabbed his pack of cigarettes, and walked out.
Granite cursed, Dutch groaned, and I pulled my palm down my face. But what I really wanted to do was slam my fist into something.
“Onyx—”
“Stop.” I glared at Granite. “I’m not taking your place. It’s a stupid fucking idea, and I’m not doing it.”
Since it seemed like everyone was storming out, I did the same, whether Granite dismissed the meeting or not. Everything was fucked up now, anyway. Emotions were high, and everyone had an opinion of their own. Clearly, we wouldn’t be coming to a decision today, so no use in wasting time by sitting around a goddamn table going back and forth on the same fucking subject.
“Yo, Onyx.”
I let out a breath and leaned my head back. “Not now, Granite. I’m way too fucking sober for this right now.”
“Is Manic right?”
I spun around, my glare meeting his gaze. “I dunno, brother. You tell me. Is the reason you’re so hellbent on keeping the deal because you’re trying to keep Alyx safe? You’re afraid Slither will come after her?”
“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate for a second. “After what I’ve seen them do to Neon, I can’t fucking sleep at night. I almost lost her once, and there are no fucking words to describe the fear I felt while Tanit had her. I’m not taking that chance, Onyx. Not with her.”
“So, that’s it, then? This is all just to protect her, and fuck what the rest of us think?”
Granite took a step forward, squaring his shoulders like he always did when he tried to intimidate someone. But not me. I was long past the point where his size and that icy glare made me want to cower away to a fucking corner.
“Alyx is my life now, Onyx. And so is this club. But don’t make me choose, because I swear to God, I’ll choose her. I will choose Alyx if I think for one second that I can no longer protect her here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you saying if I don’t go ahead with this, you’ll leave the Kings?”
“What I’m saying is I’ll do everything I can to make that son of a bitch pay for what he’s done. But if the time comes when I have to make a choice, I’ll choose her. It will always be her.”
I shook my head. “It’s not my place. That is not my motherfucking seat. It’s yours, and I don’t understand why we have to fuck with how things work around here.”
Granite crossed his arms. “Why don’t you want this?”
“Because it’s not right.”
“Is it because of Kate?”
“What?”
Granite relaxed his shoulders, rubbing the back of his neck. “Listen, I know you and I haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye ever since—”
“Do n’t, okay? That horse has been ridden to death. Stop using Kate as an excuse for everything.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
I leaned against the wall. “This has nothing to do with Kate. Yeah, we had our differences, and I was pissed because she chose you over me. But that’s way in the past, brother. I’m over it.”
“And Alyx?”
I scowled at him. “What about Alyx?”
“You care for her.”
“Stop. Stop right there.”
“It’s the truth. You had a connection with her.”
“Listen,” I pushed myself off the wall, “I am not one of those pathetic little fucks who wants everything his big brother has. I don’t envy you. I don’t want your fucking life. And I sure as hell don’t want your woman.”
Granite pulled his pack of cigarettes from his jeans pocket. “You were there for Alyx when I couldn’t be. You took care of her when I couldn’t.”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“And since when do you give a fuck about doing the right thing?”
I stepped up to him, looking him straight in the eye. “Ever since you no longer do.”
Seconds ticked by, and I refused to back off. Granite stared at me like he was searching for answers, but he wouldn’t find any. I didn’t have anything to hide. Whatever was between Alyx and me was nothing but a man caring for a woman who needed it. I backed off the second Granite had the balls to do right by her, and I hadn’t given it a second’s thought after that.
Granite lit a cigarette, puffing out some smoke. “Think about it. We’ll discuss it some more in the morning.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.”
Granite stomped past me, and I turned, watching him walk away. Love sure had changed him. Ever since Alyx came into his life, he was no longer the man who had nothing but hate and vengeance in his heart. But I still did. I still wanted revenge for our father’s murder, not to mention what they’d done to Neon. And nothing would change that. Sure as fuck not love—or any woman.
I hated what it was doing to Ink, this infatuation he had with Neon. The bloodlust was starting to control him, and it would end up clouding his judgement, letting him make stupid mistakes.
The same went for Granite. This newfound love he claimed to have with Alyx was fucking with his mind, hence the reason he came up with the stupidest fucking idea ever.
I was vice president, and my role was to take his place when we either buried him or he was no longer able to perform the president’s duties. None of that was applicable to this situation, so I refused to let things change around here simply because he gave his word to an immoral motherfucker.
2
Onyx
There was nothing like the smell of onion rings, burned steak, and spilled alcohol to make some tension roll off your shoulders. The last few days had been insane, and while emotions were running high back at the club, I needed to get the fuck out of there.
I glanced around, all the unfamiliar faces going about their own business. This wasn’t exactly a top-notch bar and grill, but it was the next best thing whenever I needed to get away from everything and everyone back at our place. Some days, I would rather sit here and pay for my beer than drink it alongside a few of those assholes. Especially with Ink acting like a fucking vampire lately, only wanting blood.
“Can I get you anything else?”
I looked up at the pretty waitress smiling down at me with her please-fuck-me eyes. If it was any other day, I probably would. But my thoughts were crowding my dick, hence the reason I’d be keeping it in my pants tonight. “Just a refill.”
“You got it.” She took my empty beer bottle, winked at me, and turned on her heel. Her short skirt bobbed up, flashing the bottom of her ass cheeks, and her long legs accentuated by the black heels she wore looked really enticing. Maybe tomorrow night.
I popped a fry into my mouth, more than happy to keep to myself here in the corner booth. People were buzzing, glasses were clinking, and the bell above the door kept chiming as people walked in and out. It was almost ten p.m., and the music started to become louder.
One more beer, and I would leave this joint before the party really started. Intoxicated women seduced by tequila, and drunk men strengthened with copious amounts of beer was not the kind of crowd I was looking to hang with tonight.
The pretty waitress placed a new ice-cold beer in front of me then continued to hover.
I glanced up at her just as I was about to take a bite from my burger. “What?”
She smiled, blowing a bubble with her gum before rolling it back into her mouth with her tongue. “You gonna ask me out?”
I stuffed my mouth with a big chunk of cheeseburger, thinking that would momentarily leave me occupied and unable to answer her very direct and very presumptuous question.
“So?” She batted her eyelashes, conveying her inner thoughts of sex and sin. See, I liked my women confident and in touch with their sexuality, but I didn’t like tramps thinking they owned the unicorn of all pussies.
Taking a gulp of beer to wash down the burger, I wiped my mouth. “I, uh—”
“Move along, sweetheart.”
I looked to the side at curvy hips filling out a pair of leather pants perfectly. I dragged my attention up her body, a poison ivy tattoo stretching along her side and disappearing under the cropped white shirt.
“This one is already taken.” She looked down at me with big blue eyes before turning back to the waitress. “So, take your little skirt and go find another guy’s cock to ride. ’Kay?”
I snorted, unable to suppress an entertained smile. The waitress scowled at both of us before she turned on her heel and stomped off.
I leaned back in my seat, peering up at my heroine in leather pants. “Thanks for the help, but I actually had it handled.”
“Yeah, and that’s why you merely sat there with a mouth full of cheeseburger.” She slid into the seat across from me, and I narrowed my eyes while taking in the fine, delicate features of her face. High cheekbones, dainty nose, and enticing as fuck, thick, tempting lips.
She held out her hand over the table. “Wraith.”
“What?”
“My name. It’s Wraith.”
I cocked a brow, hesitant but intrigued, and shook her hand lightly. “Onyx.”
“Is that your real name, Onyx?”
“Is Wraith your real name?”
Her lips curved at the edges. “I don’t usually disclose such personal information on a first date.”
I let out a mild laugh, amused as fuck. “I don’t remember asking you out on a date.”
“You don’t?” She feigned a look of hurt, placing her palm on her chest. “It’s bad manners to hurt a girl’s feelings on the first date.”
My gaze dropped to her hand, her pinky and thumb touching the swell of her perfectly palm-sized tits. Her arm was covered in ink, a sleeve tattoo of different shapes and images stretching all the way from her wrist to her shoulder.
“So, why, exactly, are you sitting here with me?”
“I just told the trampy waitress you’re already taken.” She shrugged. “It would look odd if I didn’t sit with you.” She flipped a few strands of ink-black hair out of her face, the rest tied in a high ponytail, with a white bandana wrapped around her head.
“Ah. Right.” I nodded, my mouth still pulled up in an amused grin, her eyes fixed on mine. “I guess I need to buy you a drink as well, you know…to make it seem legit and all.”
“Hold on, cowboy. All I did was save you from that walking STD over there. This ain’t a date.”
“But you just said—”
“Look at that,” she glanced at her wrist with no watch, “three minutes have gone by. I bet that’s enough to make our trampy friend believe my little lie.”
