Prologue

Devil

17 years old

THE END OF summer is officially here and it's about time for me to head back to finish up my last year of school.

Plus, it's almost my birthday.

Tonight there's a party at a beach just outside of Benton Falls and I plan on going.

I've tried to get my twin, Carson, to go with me but he's not into partying today.

So, I'll go alone or with some of the other guys I grew up with.

My best friend, Wade, will be there.

He's two years older than I am but it doesn't matter.

He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember and we do absolutely everything together.

We've even talked about sharing girls once I'm ready to take that step in my life.

Yes, I'm a virgin and completely okay with that shit.

I'm not looking to have sex with every girl I come in contact with at school or when I'm out with the guys somewhere.

Growing up in the club, we've all seen and heard more about sex than anyone else I know.

Things happen despite how much our parents and other family members try to keep from us.

The club girls flaunt their bodies on a daily basis and make all the women so angry.

These girls are in the club for the single guys and they do everything in their power to gain the interest of one of the bikers.

That includes walking around in barely any clothing and showing as much skin as they possibly can.

The boys and myself would always hang out in the common room just to see them and I know at least one of my friends who has recently had sex with one of the girls just to lose his virginity with someone who knew what they were doing and wouldn't make him feel like an ass because he didn't know what to do.

He said it was the best experience of his life.

No, I'm not naming who it was because it's not my story to tell.

Wade has had sex.

He told me all about it the night it happened.

Yes, we're that close and share absolutely everything.

Well, almost everything.

There's one thing I haven't told him and I'm not sure how to go about having this particular conversation.

Usually, I'd ask my dad or grandpa how to say something.

If I'm really desperate and don't want to go to my family, I'd ask Killer.

I spend a lot of time with him because I want to be an Enforcer for the Phantom Bastards just like him.

He's been training me for the last year and I spend a ton of time with him.

He's gotten me to open up about several things I haven't wanted to talk about in the past.

After taking a shower and getting ready to head out, I make my way outside to find Kingston and Kaden on their bikes.

"You guys goin' to the party?"

I ask them, not sure if that's what they're doing or not.

"Yeah.

Wanted to get out one last time before school starts again.

Can't wait to be done with this fuckin' year,"

Kaden answers me with a smile on his face as I reach my bike.

"Couldn't get Carson to come out?"

I ask Kingston because they're best friends and are usually together.

"Nope.

He wants to hang out with your dad and Slim.

I guess Slim is takin' them out to some fishin' spot.

I thought you'd be goin' with them,"

Kingston answers me, an odd look on his face.

"Didn't even know that's what they were doin'.

Dad knows I don't always like fishin'.

Yeah, I'm patient and shit, but the idea of sittin' in a small as fuck boat and waitin' for a fish to go after a worm isn't my idea of fun,"

I answer him, knowing I love hanging out with my dad and grandpa no matter what we're doing but fishing is not my cup of tea.

"Makes sense.

We ready to go?"

Kaden asks, his voice almost as authoritative as his dad's can be when he's in club mode and not just hanging out.

"I'm ready,"

I tell them, taking off my beanie and putting on my helmet before pulling out my keys and starting my bike.

Kingston, Kaden, and I leave the compound behind and make our way to the beach where the party will be held.

It doesn't take long to ride through town and pull up to the beach parking lot.

It's easy to spot the other bikes our friends rode here and we make our way slowly through the parking lot to where they're parked.

They've chosen a spot out of the way so no one leaving early will hit them.

I park next to Wade's bike and shut it down before standing and removing my helmet to hang on the handlebars.

Standing there, I put my beanie back on and motion to the guys that I'm ready to go.

The three of us make our way to the rest of the people partying in the sand.

There's a large group dancing as the music blares through speakers a DJ has set up.

A few pits have been made for when the sun completely disappears.

Someone will light the bonfires so we have slightly more light than the moon shining down on us.

People are already drunk and still have drinks in their hands, sloshing over the sides of their cups and all over their bodies.

Guys are wearing nothing more than shorts and the girls are wearing bikinis that barely cover their chest, pussy, and ass as I look around.

The air reeks of desperation as those dancing grind on one another.

"I'm gettin' a drink,"

Kaden says, shaking his head in disgust as he walks away from Kingston and I.

"I think I'm gonna follow his lead,"

I state as Kingston nods his head in agreement and we make our way to the cooler filled with beer.

This won't be my first time having a beer.

I don't typically drink, but it's a party and I want to cut loose tonight.

Grabbing a beer for Kingston and myself, I open my bottle and slide the top in my pocket so it doesn't end up in the sand to cut someone at a later date.

I turn to face the party and search for Wade.

It doesn't take long to spot him dancing with Rissa.

She's a girl he graduated with and they're friends.

The three of us have hung out a time or two, but I don't really like her.

Rissa doesn't like the friendship Wade and I have but he's too blind to realize she's trying to come between us.

When it's possible, I stay as far away from the bitch as I can.

Rissa knows this as she spots me across the sand and glares in my direction before moving even closer to Wade and rubbing her nasty body all over him.

I've been at this party for a few hours now and I'm pissed.

Every single time Wade has tried to get away from Rissa and head in my direction, she's pulled him back in like the leech she is.

We were planning on hanging out here and she's preventing him from hanging out with anyone but her.

She's always been desperate but tonight she's so fucking over the top.

If Hope were here, she'd march right up to her and punch her in the face.

Hope doesn't like Rissa either.

They had a run in last year and Rissa was so cruel to our friend.

For the longest time after that, Wade refused to have anything to do with the skank.

Yeah, we all stand together and Rissa got in the way of that shit when she went after one of our own.

Our life was actually peaceful for a few months until Rissa managed to get Wade to hang out with her again.

As I remain on the edge of the party, not allowing anyone to get too close to me, my eyes once again stray to Wade.

Tonight he looks better than before.

He's wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and his standard boots.

He doesn't have a shirt on and his tattoos are on full display as the flames of the bonfires and the moonlight shine down on his body.

From this distance, I can see the fine layer of sweat covering his chest from the dancing he's been forced to do all night long by Rissa.

His dark hair is shaved close to his head and I can tell he's just gotten it cut again.

Wade hates long hair and once it hits a certain length, he's heading to the barber to get it cut.

I don't take my eyes off of Wade all night long as he dances, drinks, and lets Rissa hang all over him.

Kingston is at my side and has only left a few times to dance with some random girl who comes up and asks him to dance.

My twin's best friend loves to dance and won't ever pass up an opportunity to get on the floor.

It doesn't matter who he's dancing with.

Usually, I'd be right out there with him, but not tonight.

I can barely pull my eyes from Wade and Rissa as anger courses through me.

"Dylan, what's up?"

Kaden asks me, his voice almost startling me because I didn't hear him come up next to me.

That's one of the first lessons Killer taught me—always be aware of your surroundings.

Hell, all of our dads taught us that shit.

Here I am, surrounded by a bunch of drunk idiots and I'm not paying attention to shit around me.

I guess I've had more to drink than I thought at this point of the night.

"Nothin'.

Just hangin' out.

I'm probably gonna call my dad or a Prospect to come get me soon.

Not feelin' the party tonight,"

I answer him as he goes to hand over an unopened beer but pulls his hand back.

"I'm about there myself,"

Kaden says as he looks out over the beach with a look of longing in his eyes.

Kaden pretty much sticks to himself and doesn't share much of what's going on in his life with anyone.

I know he hangs out with a few people who aren't involved in the club and he also hangs out with Faith on a regular basis.

Those people might know his secrets, but none of us do.

I'm not gonna pressure him to let me in either.

Kaden knows he can come to any one of us and we'll be there no matter what's going on with him.

It's how we were raised and none of us are going to change now.

"None of the girls are here, right?"

I ask Kaden, still knowing we have to protect the girls of the club at all costs.

"No.

None of them wanted to show up to this party because they said it was gonna be lame.

I guess there's another party goin' on in town and that's where they all went.

Carson is with them.

Hope managed to talk him into goin' with them so her dad didn't lose his shit,"

Kaden informs me as a smile graces my lips.

Killer doesn't let his girls do much of anything.

Most of what Hope does, she has to sneak to do.

Faith follows her sister's lead and tries to keep Hope out of trouble as much as she can.

It's a big job and we all try to help Faith, but it's not always possible to keep Hope out of trouble when it comes to what she does against Killer's wishes.

"Got a Prospect on the way,"

Kaden states, sliding his phone back in his pocket as I finally rip my eyes from Wade and the bitch dancing the night away.

I'm sure Wade will end up back at Rissa's apartment for the night.

I shouldn't let it upset me or piss me off, but I can't seem to help myself tonight.

He's been with more than one girl over the last year or two and it's never bothered me at all.

However, Rissa is trying to sink her claws into my best friend and rip him away.

Not just from me but from the club entirely.

She either wants him to become an officer, specifically the President, or leave the club altogether to become some rich prick who doesn't have contact with his family any longer.

Turning my back to the party, I give Kaden my attention, knowing he'll have my back if anyone comes at me.

I love a good fight and everyone here knows I won't back down from one.

I've gotten in more than enough trouble over the years for fighting in school.

My parents don't say a word to me because most of the time I beat the fuck out of bullies who are picking on someone who can't protect themselves.

I'm never gonna stand back and watch that shit happen for any reason.

"Dylan, you're drunk as fuck,"

Wade says, appearing at my back as I whip around and almost faceplant in the sand at his feet.

"I'm takin' you home."

"Nope.

You're too far up Rissa's ass to even know I'm here.

You should get back before she sends out a search party for ya,"

I slur, not giving a fuck how I sound as I take in the dark brown of his eyes that almost appear black tonight.

"The bitch isn't gettin' anywhere near me again,"

Wade spits out, anger lacing his voice as I hear shrieking coming from behind him.

"'Let's fuckin' go."

Wade leads me from the party after telling Kaden to make sure the Prospect loads up the bikes that are left here to take back to the compound.

Kaden's not drunk and has only had a beer the entire time we've been here.

However, none of us will ride after even having a sip of alcohol.

Instead of heading for Wade's bike, he opens the back door of one of the club's SUVs that pulls up.

Wade climbs in after me and shuts the door behind us.

He's sitting so close to me in the back seat that his thigh is pressing against mine.

I want to reach out and rest my hand on his thigh, but I refrain as we remain silent in the back of the SUV with only the quiet music filling the vehicle.

Wade's body heat soaks into me and I let my eyes lower to the bare skin of his chest and stomach.

His muscles are on full display and I want to run my hands over the taut skin there to feel how rigid they are.

When we pull up to the clubhouse, Wade tells the Prospect to pull up by the front door.

No, I won't get in too much trouble if I walk in the house drunk, but my parents won't be happy at all.

Especially my mom.

My dad did the same shit as I did tonight so he tries not to get too angry at Carson or myself when we pull some bullshit move.

Anyway, Wade pulls me from the SUV and leads me through the front door of the clubhouse.

It's late enough that the common room is empty as we make our way to the hallway where the Prospect's rooms are located.

There's always an empty room or two in this hallway and we've been known to crash here when it's needed.

I stumble through the door once Wade gets it open.

He follows me in the room as I try to make my way over to the bed against the wall to my right.

"I got ya,"

Wade whispers as he grabs my arm when I almost hit the floor.

The beer is definitely catching up to me now.

He helps me to the bed and sits me down before reaching down and pulling my shirt over my head.

Wade knows I can't stand to sleep in a shirt because it tangles around my body and wakes me up in the middle of the night.

Before I can fall back or second guess myself, I reach up and place a hand on each side of Wade's face.

He goes completely still as I stand up and press my lips against his full, soft mouth.

I can't stop the groan that escapes me as I slide my tongue across the seam of his mouth and Wade opens up for me.

Sliding my tongue in his mouth, our tongues duel for control as I tilt my head and my heart beats out of my chest from the feelings racing through me.

I'm fucking kissing my best friend.

A man I've found attractive for the last year and a half and said nothing to him.

Or anyone else about my thoughts and feelings when it comes to Wade.

I won't say that I don't find other guys attractive.

There are plenty I can say are good looking.

I've never wanted to be with one of them though.

Wade is the only guy I've ever had a crush on and wanted to explore that side of my sexuality with.

It's easy to flirt, talk with, and hang out with women because I'm also attracted to them.

It's why Wade and I promised to share a girl between us.

His parents do that and they make the relationship look so much better than just a single man and woman.

I can't explain it, but I know that's what I want with Wade.

I just also want the man who knows every secret about me on a deeper level as well.

"Fuck!"

Wade growls out when he finally rips his mouth from mine.

"Dylan . . .,"

"No.

You don't have to say anythin', Wade.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have done that,"

I state, fear and panic filling me with the thought of losing my best friend over a kiss I've wanted more than anything else in the world.

"Shut up, Dylan.

Maybe not tonight, but I get why you did.

You're drunk and your inhibitions are lowered.

I'm not gonna say I hated it.

Just that I've never thought about you like that.

At least until this second.

I've got some things to think about.

Get some sleep, Dylan.

I'll be here in the mornin' so we can talk about this,"

Wade says before helping me into bed and covering me up with the sheet only.

I don't have time to worry more as sleep sucks me under the second my head hits the pillow.

Wade taking a seat in the only chair in the room doesn't register or anything as I let the alcohol aid sleep in making me pass the hell out.

I dream of Wade and I finding our girl and building a life together.

Something I used to believe was a dream only.

Now, I'm not so sure.

Time will tell.