Amy (Aces MC Series Book 3.5) (23 page)

Amy

"I do apologise it is a bit of a squeeze," I
stated looking around the table set up in my living room. I had agreed to cook
Christmas dinner this year, and had turned down the offer of entertaining at James'
house. Although grateful for his offer, I wanted this Christmas to be about
family and where better to have the festive celebrations than at my flat where
so many things had happened in all of our lives.

"Amy it's fine, stop fussing." Harlow said as she
shuffled her chair closer to the table mindful of her ever growing baby bump.
Ethan placed his arm across the back of her chair and I noticed him squeeze her
shoulder lightly. Harlow turned to give him a huge smile and placed her hand on
top of his in a loving gesture. It was great to see the two of them so happy
after all that they'd been through this year.
I turned my attention to Mitchell to see a similar encounter between himself
and Taylor. He snuggled up to her and couldn't keep his hands to himself.
Taylor's ever changing body was playing havoc with Mitch's hormones and it was
the talk of the club that they couldn't keep their hands off each other and had
been found in many compromising positions over recent weeks.

"Can I pull my cracker now Amy, I've been
pashant?" Devon asked waving her cracker around.
"Patient Devon, not pashant." Connor stated correcting her. I
sniggered at Devon's demeanour at being corrected as she placed her cracker
onto the table and folded her arms across her chest. "Oh, are you sulking
now?" Connor asked nudging her in the side. Devon lifted her head into the
air and turned away ignoring him. "Right that's your lot poppet, tickle
monster is gonna get you."
I could see Devon trying not to laugh as she knew her little outburst would get
her the desired attention from Connor. He stuck out his two index fingers and
made a sound of a drill as he wiggled his fingers in her direction. She tried
to move but Devon wasn't fast enough and Connor grabbed her to dig his fingers
into her sides.
Devon screamed as Connor tickled her, "Stop it...dad stop it now...mum
tell dad to stop."
"Right you two that's enough we're about to eat our food." Louise was
the voice of reason and Connor did as he was told and let go of Devon so that
she could return to her seat.
"Ha-ha! You got told off," Tommy whispered to Connor. The table
erupted into laughter at his comment as he wasn't particularly quiet and Louise
simply shook her head at the three of them.
It was fantastic to see Louise and the children happy. It had taken a while and
they'd had a setback last month when Liam was found dead after committing
suicide but they were most certainly on the right tracks. I had never seen
Connor so happy and he had taken to family life very well.

"Of course you can Devon but I would just like to make
a toast first." I stood from my chair and saw Devon's confused expression.
"Why are we having toast if you've cooked all this food?" she asked
to another round of laughter.
"No Amy is going to make a toast, which is like a quick speech."
Connor explained.
"Adult talk is so silly," Devon stated rolling her eyes.

I picked up my glass and looked around at my dinner guests, "We
are nearing the end of the year which always gives people time to reflect on what
you may be missing but also what you have. This year has been crazy, for the
club but also for every single one of us sitting around this table." I
took a small pause and James took my hand and held it, giving it a light
squeeze for encouragement. "I want you all to raise a glass and toast
absent friends," I closed my eyes briefly thinking about the club members
we'd lost this year before continuing. "But also to toast family," I
glanced around the table taking in the eleven people that I'd invited to spend
this special day with me. "And remember, that family doesn't always have
to be blood." I looked in the direction of Callum and Hazel to see their
smiles of gratitude.
I raised my glass higher, "To absent friends and family."
Everyone around the table joined in the toast, "To absent friends and
family."

Please enjoy a preview of Book 4 from the Aces MC Series,
which is available now on Amazon.

Locke

Twenty years earlier

"Have you got everything you need for school
Jake?" Mum asked as she placed the breakfast dishes into the sink full of soapy
water.
"Yeah I think so." I replied zipping up my coat and putting my
rucksack on my back.
My mum twirled round quickly and raised her eyebrows. I knew that look, she
obviously wanted me to check. I huffed as I quickly took off my rucksack and
unzipped it to see that I had my pencil case and the books I would need for
today's lessons.
"Debbie get me a cup of tea, I'm parched!" My dad shouted from the
bedroom.
That was my cue to leave for school. She should've left that piece of shit
years ago, he was a womanising drunk and a total waste of space. He'd come in
late again last night stumbling around the flat drunk with no regards to the
fact that I had school in the morning. They had a row that went on to the early
hours and from what I heard, mum's suspicions were confirmed last night as dad
admitted that he was having an affair.

Mum was your typical housewife, she cooked, cleaned and
looked after me and my baby brother Zach. Dads work was hit and miss so
sometimes we lived like kings and other days like paupers and over the years
mum had to put up with more shit than most but she stayed because of us
although I had told her to leave on numerous occasions. She deserved better
than this, better than him.

I quickly fastened my rucksack again, "I'll see you tonight
Mum." I ruffled Zach's hair as I passed him eating his breakfast in his
high chair.
"Jake, remember that the back door is broken so you'll have to walk around
the front." I nodded as I walked out of the flat, she was always worrying.
The door wasn't broken, the lock just needed looking at but I knew how to jimmy
it to get it open. I was good with my hands and knew that I wanted to be an
engineer, that's why I was knuckling down at school because I needed good
grades to be able to get an apprenticeship when I left school.

I exited the building through the back door and into the
alley that ran adjacent to the reservoir. I heard an engine running in a
stationary vehicle and turned to see a black ford transit that caught my
attention because it was brand new. This was a shit part of the neighbourhood
and it wasn't known for being affluent, I couldn't see if anyone was in the
vehicle but if they weren't it wouldn't be there for long. I sniggered to
myself as I walked down the alley and thought about the day I had ahead. I'd be
home late tonight because I had extra tuition for my Maths and was grateful
because I knew the atmosphere at home would be horrible.

"Shit!" I realised that I had P.E today and knew
that I'd forgotten my kit. I groaned at the thought of getting another
detention from Mr Bates and quickly turned heading back home. He was an
arsehole and took great pleasure in lending P.E kits out to the kids that had
forgotten them and they were always tight and hugged the body well. I hadn't
decided if he was a paedophile or just got kicks out of upsetting children.
I was already late for school so I didn't rush. I dragged my feet along the
uneven ground and managed to dislodge a large stone so that I could have a kick
around pretending to be Ian Wright, my favourite Arsenal player.
"He shoots, he scores!" I kicked the stone at the communal bins and
noticed immediately that they had been moved against the wall blocking the rear
fire exit. As I observed from afar something caught my eye and I saw a flash of
amber light illuminating our flat on the second floor.
"Mum!" I screamed not even recognising my own voice as it was high
pitched and laced with fear. I needed to find her and Zack and get them out.
I turned to the sound of coughing, "Jake!" I looked around
frantically trying to find who the voice belonged to and that's when I saw her.
Mum was banging on the window of the back door, screaming for help and coughing
as she inhaled the smoke from the fire. I saw the handle moving frantically but
she couldn't get it to open, even if she could the bins were obstructing her
exit. I ran over to the huge bins and tried to move them but they were far too
heavy for me to move on my own. I could still hear her banging against the door
but they were getting less frequent as I pushed on the bins, willing them to
move. I was distracted by a noise behind me and was hopeful that it was someone
who could help.

"Well, look what we have here!" Before I realised
what was happening one of the guys had grabbed me from behind and held my arms
to restrain me although I struggled with all I had.
The men laughed, "It's a shame your father didn't have this fighting
spirit. He made all of this way too fucking easy!" The man with the
moustache said waving his hand in the direction of the flat's that were now
fully ablaze.
I stopped struggling and looked at them confused, "I had to do it son,
you'll understand one day!" He said calmly.
I stared at the two men standing before me especially the man who had just
spoken. The greasy looking motherfucker with his slick backed hair was
obviously the one responsible for the death of my family.
I could hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance and knew that help would
soon be here, which encouraged me to be brave. The third man in the group was
still holding me although he had loosened his grip slightly, I quickly stomped
on his boot freeing myself from his hold and made a run for it. My freedom was
short lived as the greasy motherfucker grabbed my arm and swung me around until
I was directly in front of him. Removing his blade from its holster, he quickly
slashed me across the face and let go of my arm so that I fell to the ground. I
put out my hands to try and lessen the impact but I wasn't quick enough and
skidded across the gravel.
He crouched beside me staring deeply into my eyes, "Let that be a lesson
to you!" The sirens were now closer that I think may have just saved my
life, he stood and nodded at the two men indicating that it was time for them
to go. As they walked away, I noticed identical logo's on the back of their
leather jackets stating 'Satan's Wrath'.
I fought back the tears trying to be brave until they got into their Transit
and drove in the opposite direction to the sirens.
Who the hell were these men and why did they want my family dead?
I
didn't have the answers now but I planned on finding out, even if it was the
last thing I ever did.

End of sneak peek.

To continue reading, be sure to read Book 4 from the Aces MC
Series – Locke, available now from Amazon.

You can also follow me on my website, facebook and twitter,
for all the latest updates:

http://alfoster.uk

https://www.facebook.com/aimeelouise.foster

@Aimee_L_Foster

Please enjoy a preview of Book 4.5 from the Aces MC
Series, which is available now for pre-order from Amazon.

Jayden

"I'm fucking sweating pints." I removed the
embroidered hanky that my mum had given to me, from my pocket and wiped my brow
before working my way down my cheek towards my neck. Unlike the UK, Afghanistan
had clearly defined seasons. I'd experienced the bitterly cold winters and the
blistering hot summers but even after twenty-one months out here, I still wasn't
used to it.
Our commanding officer had told us last week that we were still needed out here
for another three months, as our team were responsible for striping down the
operation centres that we weren't handing over to the Afghan army.

"Here take one of these." Winks passed me a
chilled bottle of water from the cooler and I gratefully took it placing the
bottle onto my forehead to try to cool myself down.
I let out a heavy sigh, That's just what I needed." I turned the lid
cracking the seal and lifted the bottle to my lips to swallow the cool liquid,
feeling the refreshing sensation as it hit the back of my throat and trickled
inside hydrating my body. I lowered the half empty bottle and glanced behind me
at a noise coming from the scaffolding.

"Get your arse down from there Cook." Boyd shouted,
surging forward to address him.
Cook gave Boyd the bird to a bout of giggles from the rest of the detachment
sitting around.
"Watson, give me a hand with this mate." Cook pointed to a huge bolt
at the top of the scaffolding that he was trying to loosen.
"What are you doing?" I asked getting up from the ground and casually
made my way towards him.
He shrugged, "What do you mean?"
I rolled my eyes, "We've just had a break, give us five minutes to prep
and we'll be with you."
Cook sighed, "Some of us would like to get home eventually to our loved
ones, we're not all fortunate enough to have our girlfriends out in the
field." He stated sarcastically in reference to my long term girlfriend
Tia who was also out here in Afghanistan.
"Give me a minute I just need to get my safety equipment on." I
strolled over to the table where our equipment was stored. "And I'll bring
yours up also, you're gonna end up hurting yourself."
I heard some of the guys laugh and knew that Cook was taking the piss behind me.
I shook my head sniggering to myself as he always had the ability to make
people laugh, that's one of the reasons we got on so well. Army life wasn't for
everyone and there had been some real shitty days over the past four years but
it was that camaraderie that kept us strong and the endless banter from Cook.

My dad had tried to install the importance of family over
the years to the point where he tried to force it. I'm one of four children and
it was inevitable that we weren't going to get on all of the time but dad
pushed and pushed, and I think he was part of the problem regarding the
breakdown in communication between us. I was closest to Paige growing up, still
am although I'm thousands of miles away. She's like marmite, you either love
her or hate her and that's my draw towards her as she keeps me on my toes and
you never know what's going to come out of that mouth of hers.

"Watch out!" I heard the shrieks behind me but
didn't have time to turn around before I was hit by something with considerable
force. Everything after that happened in slow motion as I watched my detachment
run towards me panic stricken, and the throbbing in my ears made everything
sound like it was underwater.
I tried to push up from the ground only to be held firmly by Boyd leaning his
body weight on mine, "Lay back down Watson and don't worry, we're gonna
get you out."
Get me out?
I didn't understand what they were saying and why would I
worry, it's not like my life was in any danger!

End of sneak peek.

To continue reading, be sure to read Book 4.5 from the Aces
MC Series – Jayden, available on May 28th, 2016 but available now for pre-order
from Amazon.

You can also follow me on my website, facebook and twitter,
for all the latest updates:

http://alfoster.uk

https://www.facebook.com/aimeelouise.foster

@Aimee_L_Foster