Branded: A Bad Boys Anthology Read online

  Branded

  B.L. Wilde

  Jeanne McDonald

  Jo Matthews

  Mary Elizabeth

  Sarah Elizabeth

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and events are fictional, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © B.L. Wilde 2014, © Jeanne McDonald 2014, © Jo Matthews 2014,

  © Mary Elizabeth 2014, © Sarah Elizabeth 2014

  The right of these individuals to be identified as the authors of these works has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, nor stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the author.

  Cover Design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs

  Cover image © S-F shutterstock.com

  Interior Formatting by Jo Matthews, Written Elegance 2014

  Table of Contents

  Condemned by B.L. Wilde

  About B.L. Wilde

  Also Available by B.L. Wilde

  Acknowledgements

  Renegade by Jeanne McDonald

  About Jeanne McDonald

  Also Available by Jeanne McDonald

  Acknowledgements

  Desolation by Jo Matthews

  About Jo Matthews

  Also Available by Jo Matthews

  Acknowledgements

  Low by Mary Elizabeth

  About Mary Elizabeth

  Also Available by Mary Elizabeth

  Acknowledgements

  Don't Let Me Go by Sarah Elizabeth

  About Sarah Elizabeth

  Also Available from Sarah Elizabeth

  Acknowledgements

  Condemned

  By B.L.Wilde

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and events are fictional, and any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © B.L. Wilde 2014

  The right of this individual to be identified as the author of this works has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, nor stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the author.

  Cover Design © FS Meurinne

  Cover image © Excellence Photography

  Condemned

  Freedom. It had been so long, I’d forgotten what it tasted like. The smell of fresh clean air, the silence all around me, and the open road that stretched out for miles ahead. I was going to hit that motherfucking road and not look back.

  Ten years was a long time to spend behind bars, but the moment I was released, I knew where I was heading. Staying away from her wasn’t an option. I needed to give her answers, explain the reasons for my actions, even if she didn’t want to hear them.

  “You look like you could do with a coffee, Sugar,” the waitress smiled, leaning over, giving me an eye full of her tits. I had to fight the urge to grope them. It had been too long. My cock whimpered at the thought.

  “I need more than coffee,” I smirked, touching her arm. “What time do you get off, Sexy? I want to take you out.”

  “Wow. You sure don’t like to waste any time, do you?” she winked. “I finish in a few hours. Wait for me out back. I can take you to my place and show you a good time.” I’d always been lucky with the ladies. I wasn’t a bad looking guy. I was lean but muscular, with short black hair, dark come to bed eyes, and a few meaningful tattoos. Women had always fallen at my feet, but there had only been one that had ever touched my heart—Brooke Perlo.

  We’d met at High School, but it hadn’t been easy winning her love. Brooke had always been too good for me. She didn’t see me as anything other than a criminal until we’d graduated. A chance meeting in a bar changed all that, though, when I saved her from a drunken asshole.

  I stood in the darkness as the waitress stepped out the back door after her shift. I wasn’t going to hurt this chick, but I did need the keys to her car. There was no way I was hitchhiking all the way to Boulder, Colorado. Having just been released from Washington State Penitentiary, I had a long way to travel. It didn’t surprise me that Brooke had decided to move as far away from me as possible. I left her no option. I’d been happy about that, too. In Colorado she was safe. No one could get to her, although, I still had a few friends that checked in on her from time to time.

  “Are you okay with going back to my place? We could go to yours instead?” the waitress purred, running her nails down my chest.

  “I don’t have a place, Darling.”

  “You’re from out of town?” she mused, walking toward her car as she took her keys from her purse.

  “You could say that.” I watched her open the door, trying to decide when the best time to strike was. It would probably be once we got back to her place. I’d have to tie her up somehow, maybe call the diner once I’d gotten rid of her car. I didn’t want to worry about the cops chasing my ass before I got to my first stop in Salt Lake City.

  “Did you want a drink or anything?” the waitress purred as she showed me inside her small apartment fifteen minutes later.

  “I’d like to get down to business if I’m being honest,” I smirked, licking my lips. I’d already spotted the tie on the robe hanging from her bedroom door that I could use to keep her in place.

  “You’re a man after my own heart.”

  “I don’t want your heart, Darling,” I smoldered, backing her into the bedroom. She began to pull at my pants immediately. I had to tell my cock to calm the fuck down. He needed to wait. There was only one woman that could satisfy the longing deep in the pit of my stomach. The question was whether Brooke had moved on or not. I knew she’d had relationships while I been in prison, but nothing ever lasted. Was I the cause of that? After everything I had done, did she still have feelings for me?

  “I like it rough,” the waitress grinned as I turned her around and pinned her against the wall, grabbing the tie from her robe.

  “What about being tied up? Do you like that?”

  “Fuck, yes!” she groaned. This was easier than I thought it was going to be. I pulled her back harshly onto the bed, tying both her wrists to the bed post. “Fuck me! Fuck me hard!”

  “I don’t think so,” I chuckled, backing away.

  “Oh, you like lots of foreplay first? I’m good with that. Make me nice and wet for your cock.”

  “I’m taking you car, Darling.”

  “What?” she choked. I walked over to her purse, pulling her keys out. “You fucking asshole! You wait until I get free and call the cops. You won’t get away with this.”

  “I’ll leave it in one piece on the highway when I’m done. Don’t worry so much. And tomorrow, I’ll call the diner you work at just in case no one finds you before then.”

  “Oh, now you’re trying to be a gentleman? Well you’re not. You’re a fucking asshole!” she screeched. It was time to leave. I could still hear her screaming as I walked out of the apartment. With her being tied up, I knew had a good head start before she alerted the cops.

  It felt good to be back behind the wheel. I hit the gas and never looked back. There was somewhere I needed to be, after all.

  Brooke had b
ought a bar in Boulder six years ago, and I’d been told it was doing really well. It had always been a dream of ours to run a bar.

  I wasn’t an idiot, though. The chances of her taking me back were slim and I knew it. I’d ripped her heart out the day I was sentenced by telling her we were over. I’d also denied any contact between us while I was in prison. I didn’t want Brooke to see me behind bars, broken and worn down. Not to mention, I didn’t want any of those fuckers that set me up thinking they could get to me through her. A clean break was the only option. That was until I was free and could protect her myself.

  I stopped off in Boise for some gas and food. As I drove away from the station, I turned the radio on to keep me company, letting my mind wander to better times with Brooke.

  “You’re not as bad as I thought you were,” she giggled, her blue eyes gleaming with excitement as she ran her hands through her dark, chestnut hair.

  “You wouldn’t even give me the time of day in high school,” I accused.

  “That’s because you intimidated me. I mean…you were the first guy to get a tattoo. It was kind of hot, though. You were like the ultimate bad boy.”

  “Oh, really? And do you still like bad boys?” I smirked, sipping my beer.

  “Maybe,” she purred, fluttering her eyelashes at me. She was flirting with me!

  “So tell me, Brooke Perlo, do you usually get into trouble at bars?”

  “No, but I’m glad you were here to save me.” I couldn’t stop my gaze from traveling down to her cleavage. She had the most incredible figure. What I would give to have just a few rounds with that body. “Even if you are undressing me with your eyes right now.”

  “I think it’s obvious that I’m no gentleman,” I countered, licking my lips. “You can leave at any time. I may have saved your cute little ass, but you don’t have to stay on my account.”

  Brooke had a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “What makes you think I’m looking for a gentleman?”

  “What are you looking for?”

  “Someone who can show me a good time.”

  “Oh, Baby, I’m just the man for that.”

  “I had a feeling you might say that,” she giggled. “How about we head into town? I know a great nightclub. I feel like dancing.”

  “Dancing?” I questioned. I had something else in mind, but that could wait until later.

  “I love to dance.”

  “Well, you better drink up then.” I couldn’t think of anything better than Brooke’s body swaying against mine. A nightclub seemed like the perfect way to continue the evening.

  *****

  “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” I chuckled, watching her down another shot of vodka once we were at the club.

  “Don’t you like living dangerously?” she slurred, running her hands down my chest.

  “You think this is living dangerously?”

  “Are you a criminal?” She really liked to get to the point; that was for sure.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “You have that look about you.”

  “A look?” I frowned, trying to hide my smirk. “That’s a little stereotypical, don’t you think?”

  "I didn't mean for it to come across that way. It's just…that's how I imagined you at school."

  "You used to daydream about me at school?" I teased, taking a step toward her.

  "I…I…" Brooke couldn't speak as I backed her up against the wall.

  "What were these daydreams about?" I purred, watching her lips while she gasped, trying to control her breathing.

  "Um…I can't really remember."

  "I used to daydream about you, too," I whispered into her ear, running my hands down her arms before placing them on her hips.

  "You did?" Why did she look so surprised?

  "Oh, I did…many times. Those sexy little skirts you used to wear drove me crazy."

  "But you never spoke to me."

  "We ran in different circles. It didn't stop me from thinking about how beautiful you were, though."

  "You think I'm beautiful?" she giggled with a hiccup.

  "You're gorgeous, sexy, smart, and beautiful…all rolled into one." Her eyes became dark as she gazed at my lips. "And right now, if you'll let me, I want to kiss you breathless."

  "I'll let you," she smirked, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me down toward her lips.

  "Are you sure you want this? I have a feeling I won't be able to stop once I start."

  "I want it!" she groaned, standing on her tiptoes and crashing her lips against mine. Fuck, she tasted good. Of sweetness and vodka. I pinned her against the wall as my hands dug into her hips. Even though we were in a crowded nightclub, the world around us disappeared. Brooke was all I could feel. I'd fantasized about those lips for so long. How her body would feel under my fingertips. Never did I think a woman could hold this power over me.

  When she opened her mouth and my tongue darted in to meet hers, my cock stirred. I was so lost in her already. Her hands pulled at my hair while mine snaked around to grip her sexy, cute ass.

  "Wow!" she panted when we finally broke apart a few minutes later.

  “Told you I’d make you breathless,” I winked.

  “You’re a better kisser than I imagined.”

  “Just imagine what else I might be better at.” I pulled her in for another kiss, tugging on her bottom lip. She giggled against my mouth before backing away.

  “Dance with me?” That was an offer I couldn’t refuse even though I hated to dance. I let Brooke pull me into the crowd of people. Walking up behind her, I placed my hands on her hips as she began to grind to the beat of the music. I became mesmerized, watching her body and the way it swayed against mine. I knew, even back then, that I’d fall fast for her. I was already planning a future with Brooke by the time I dropped her back off at her parents’ that night.

  “I…I would invite you in but my parents…” She trailed off as we both watched the curtains sway.

  “It’s okay, I get it,” I snorted. “Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t be happy about their precious little girl dating a guy like me.”

  “I want to see you again, Clay,” she stressed, grabbing my hand.

  “Well, that’s good. I was planning on stalking you until you agreed to go on a date with me.”

  “When?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “I can do tomorrow,” she beamed. I leaned in, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “Until tomorrow then,” she whispered against my mouth before quickly pulling away and running toward her house.

  “What time?” I shouted just before she reached her door.

  “Eight, and Clay, you see that window right there?” I looked up at the window she was pointing to and nodded. “That’s my room.” I was sure my smile couldn’t get any bigger.

  “That might be handy to know in the future,” I chuckled. “Goodnight, Brooke.”

  “Goodnight, Clay,” she beamed before finally going inside.

  The darkness was drawing in as I cruised down the highway. That first evening with Brooke had been so eventful. I thought about it many times while I’d been in prison. Recalling the way she looked. How her hair weaved down her back in ringlets. The way her body had swayed to the beat of the music. She felt so good wrapped in my embrace, as if my arms had been made just for her. It was hard enough walking away from her that first night, even knowing I would see her in less than a day. One simple kiss was all it took for me to know Brooke was the one for me. After our second date, I snuck into her room countless times. We’d been inseparable. Of course, all that changed when I was sent away.

  A pair of headlights from an oncoming car pulled me from my memories. I needed to focus. Brooke always had a way of clouding my mind.

  It wasn't long before I was closing in on Salt Lake and my most trusted friend, Carlos. Back in the early days, I was a drug runner, which was how Carlos and I became friends. We looked out for each other. You couldn’t trust many people in my line of
work, but I trusted him. If the money was good, I did the occasional steal with a group of guys, but mostly I was a loner. I should have kept it that way, but I got too greedy.

  I was tricked into a job that was supposed to give a group of us two hundred thousand dollars each. Brooke had advised me against it. She’d screamed the house down begging me not to do it, but I was planning on using the money as a new start for us. I was so fucking wrong. I should have listened to her.

  A rival gang member was already lying there dead when I entered the warehouse we were supposedly stealing the money from. The last thing I remembered was being knocked out cold and waking up to the police storming the place. I tried to make an escape, but running from the scene made me look guilty. They caught me a few block down the street, and the evidence that was planted against me made sure I was convicted of the crime. To this day, I knew it was all about territory. If someone wanted your patch, they took you out any way they could. Being locked up was better than death, though. The streets could be deadly. That was the only thing I had been thankful for. Still, I was going to get answers and revenge.

  I reached Salt Lake in good time. Carlos owned a garage on the outskirts of town and it was easy to find. He’d been trying to earn an honest living for a few years now.

  “Mr. McGuire,” he greeted me as I got out the car. “It’s good to see you, Man.”

  “You, too,” I smirked, patting him on the back.

  “Where did you get the car?”

  “I borrowed it,” I winked, slamming the door. “You can use it for scrap if you want.” I knew I promised the chick her car back, but it was easier to scrap it.

  “Some things never change,” he laughed. “You’re looking buff.” He hit my chest hard but I didn’t even budge.

  “What else is there to do in prison?”

  “True. You must be starving. Come on, let’s get you a beer and something to eat.” Fuck, that sounded good to me.

  ~*~*~Condemned~*~*~

  “Do you keep in touch with many of the guys?” I mumbled through a mouthful of food. The steak was fucking delicious.