Aching to Exhale (27 page)

BOOK: Aching to Exhale

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"My legs are shaking. I hope I don't fall off the boots." Crystal lifted her foot behind her, showing him the four-inch heel.

"I'll catch you," he said.

She smiled. "I know you will."

This time tomorrow, he'd have her on her back, those spikes penetrating the mattress if everything went according to plan. He pulled her along, supporting her as he shoved out the backdoor.

Every Lagsturns member sat on a motorcycle, the women belonging to a member stood beside their man. Every bike lined up in order of hierarchy of the members. One by one, the engines started. Raul looked down the assembled formal line, making eye contact with everyone.

The three prospects stood at the beginning, bikeless for now. Scott would wear a new patch next week if he accepted. He continued walking. Halfway down the procession, Layrd and Butch stared at him without saying a word, mouths firm, bodies stiff. He held Crystal's hand and walked in front of them all. She gripped him tightly, and he kept on going. Each member looking forward, taking a stand, not willing to break their silence, and showing him he was no longer a Lagsturns.

At the end of the line, Duck wore the president patch over his heart on his vest. Raul stopped. There were no words he could share, no advice to give, and no longer any support to seek from his best friend. He hoped Duck understood which direction he'd tried to aim the club when he'd been in charge, but he knew Duck would make a good leader for these men.

Raul continued on to the lone bike without a rider sitting a few feet back, but not forgotten. A red rose sat on the seat, and he knew who was responsible for the flower. He gazed at Crystal, his throat tightening. She blinked away the tears that ran unchecked down her face, already smudging her makeup. Damn, he was proud of his girl.

"Thank you,"
he mouthed, knowing she was responsible for the rose on the seat.

Without a wife and kids, old man Nichols had only the MC for a family and requested no funeral or memorial service, only to have his ashes spread in the wind. He died the way every biker wanted to go out, with honor, doing what he believed was right, and serving justice.

Raul turned and gazed back down at his past with the Lagsturns Motorcycle Club. After he shared his story and admitted to taking responsibility for the killings in Nevada, they held court without him.

The verdict came back a unanimous vote. They'd keep his identity secret for payment on him shouldering the crimes, but he had to step down as president and go through banishment of the club. No words were to be spoken once the ceremony started. With the pledge and honoring their wishes, he cut all ties to his family.

As far as he knew, he was the first biker of an outlaw motorcycle club to walk away breathing.

He exhaled easily, pivoted, and faced away from them, gazing out into the street to his and Crystal's future. Rain Brookshire and twenty-four Bantorus members waited to take him to his new home, his new club, and provide safety for him in Pitnam territory.

He peered at Crystal, pulled her closer, and kissed her deeply. When he came up for air, he knew he was doing the right thing for both of them. He grinned. "Let's roll,
mi vida
."

She gave him a smile that rocked his world. Whatever happened, they'd be okay if they stayed together. The tag around her neck, hanging between her breasts was her promise to him. Maybe that line separating good and bad was becoming clearer. He sure hoped so, because he was getting a second chance of living the only way he knew how. Feet to the pegs, behind handlebars.

Author Bio

Top Selling Romance Author, Debra Kayn, lives with her family at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains in beautiful Idaho. She enjoys riding motorcycles, playing tennis, fishing, and driving the men crazy in the garage.

Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. Oh, let's cut to the chase. She loves to write about
REAL MEN
and the
WOMEN
who love them.

When Debra was nineteen years old, a man kissed her without introducing himself. When they finally came up for air, the first words out of his mouth were…will you have my babies? Considering Debra's weakness for a sexy, badass man, who is strong enough to survive her attitude, she said yes. A quick wedding at the House of Amour and four babies later, she's living her own romance book.

Debra Kayn's Backlist

Breathing His Air

Archer, A Hard Body Novel, book 1

Weston, A Hard Body Novel, book 2 (releases January 2014)

Biker Babe in Black, The Chromes and Wheels Gang, book 1

Ride Free, The Chromes and Wheels Gang, book 2

Healing Trace

Wildly, Playing For Hearts, book 1

Seductively, Playing For Hearts, book 2

Conveniently, Playing For Hearts, book 3

(look for the last 2 books, Secretly and Surprisingly, to release in 2014)

Chantilly's Cowboy, The Sisters of McDougal Ranch, book 1