Prologue

Ryder

I don't think I've ever fit in.

Not at school.

Not with a specific group of friends.

And not with the Twisted Kingdom Motorcycle Club my family runs.

I've always wanted more for myself, but I could never really express that the way I wanted to.

No one would have understood.

Riding is life in my family.

For me, I wanted more.

"Hey, pretty boy. Where do you think you are going?" Drake, my oldest brother asks with a scowl on his face.

Ever since my parents died, Drake has felt the need to take on the role of the father figure.

Fuck that.

I didn't need another father. I wanted the one I did have back, but since that wasn't going to happen, I just wanted to be left alone.

"I'm going for a ride," I say, grabbing my red motorcycle helmet.

Drake slams two large bottles of beer on the bar top and lets out a heavy breath. Axel and Blaze walk into the bar and survey the scene.

"No, you need to finish the mountain of homework you have and then help me stock up the bar for the night," Drake says in a harsh tone.

Here we go again. All he does is bitch at me.

"I'll get it done when I get back," I start to argue.

"What's going on?" Blaze asks, always wanting to mediate when things get heated between me and Drake.

It's not that I don't love my brother or appreciate what he's doing for us.

I do.

But what I want out of life is different from what my brothers want and they just don't understand me.

"Are you going for a ride, or are you going to race?" Axel asks.

Fuck me.

"What's the difference?" I ask.

The tension in the room is so thick, it's almost suffocating.

"Fuck, Ryder. Why can't you just be honest? What are you going to do?" Drake asks again.

Everyone is staring at me and I can't take the heat any longer.

"Yeah, I'm going to race. Someone has to try and earn some real money around here. Besides, it doesn't matter if I get good grades or not. I'm a Raven and around here, that is basically a death sentence," I shout, glaring at all three of my brothers.

I hear them gasp from my outburst.

I know that I went too far this time, but I don't care.

Turning, I storm out of the bar and hop onto my bike waiting in the Twisted Kingdom Bar parking lot.

As I drive away from the bar, I feel my anger start to dissolve.

Whether they like it or not, one day I will leave Hollow Cove and make a name for myself racing. Being a Raven won't be the only thig that define me for the rest of my life.