Unruly Defender Read online

  “UNRULY DEFENDER”

  By Esther E. Schmidt

  Unruly Defender is a standalone story inspired by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard. It's published as part of the Cocky Hero Club world, a series of original works, written by various authors, and inspired by Keeland and Ward's New York Times bestselling series.

  Copyright © 2019 by Esther E. Schmidt All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, without permission in writing from the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Incidents, names, places, characters and other stuff mentioned in this book is the results of the author’s imagination. Unruly Defender is a work of fiction. If there is any resemblance, it is entirely coincidental.

  This content is for mature audiences only. Please do not read if sexual situations, violence and explicit language offends you.

  Cover design by:

  Esther E. Schmidt

  Editor #1:

  Christi Durbin

  Editor #2:

  Virginia Tesi Carey

  Cover Model:

  Daniel Korsten

  Photographer:

  Male Models Netherlands

  Dedication

  To MY Eddy

  BLURB

  A vow of justice.

  A breach of silence.

  A heart fueled by vengeance.

  It all consumes the life of one Unruly Defender.

  The first thing Eddie swore when he walked out of prison was that justice would prevail. He didn’t throw the first punch that landed him in prison, but he will make sure this time, he will be the last one to strike.

  The twists and turns of Gracelynn’s life ended when she found new friends along with the perfect job. That is until the owner shows up and tips the balance of her life in a frustrating, and eventually dangerous way.

  With every heartbeat Eddie gets closer to unraveling a secret that took lives, and in the end will risk the woman who touched his heart. Life is full of surprises and unknowingly crossed paths, but emotions and vengeance are bound to collide into a deadly explosion. Will Eddie be the one coming out on the losing side again or is he willing to give up the one thing he wants more than his next breath? Vengeance or love? Justice or death? In the end, the choice might not be his.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  EPILOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  — EDDIE —

  My first intake of breath as a free man, and I’m using it to chuckle. I need another gulp of air to release a curse or two before I can manage a proper greeting. “Chancey boy, you made it.”

  I shake my head and stalk over to my old cellmate, Chance Bateman, who is standing next to his girl, Aubrey. A shiny car sits behind them, but it’s the custom-made bike in front of the car that catches my full attention.

  “And I can’t believe you actually managed to do it,” I tell the man as I give him a casual hug.

  He smacks my back twice before stepping away so the both of us can admire the bike. It’s the shovelhead custom bobber my father owned before he died. Only a week before he left this Earth he wrecked the damn thing and put it in a shed to have it fixed at a later time. There was too much going on with the club and his company that needed his attention.

  I would have fixed it for him but as the new president my attention was pulled in every direction as it was. A few weeks before I ended up in jail my father stepped down and handed me the gavel to lead the MC. He didn’t give me an exact reason, only that it was time. Three days after I took the gavel, he died in what the authorities ruled an accident.

  But in my opinion the circumstances alone were an indication it was anything but an accident. Add the text I received a few hours before the accident, how he needed to talk to me about Rush, and the incidents after his death...everything to me seems like he was murdered and yet I have no evidence to prove my suspicions.

  At least I got to bury him before I went to jail. And that’s just it, my head was too clouded with the loss of my father and dealing with club business and my father’s company while taking care of my mother who was devastated by the loss of her husband.

  I should have seen the backstabbing betrayal coming, but I didn’t. It won’t happen again; I can tell you that. There will be no next time for those who killed my father and put me in jail, just so they could open roads for their own benefit and take what belonged to me and my family.

  “We rushed over here as soon as I received your message. You didn’t leave us a big timeframe to get here, but I’m glad you’re out early. Good behavior, ‘eh? I should have known. And the bike? You’re a good bloke, Eddie, I figured I owed you one. I’ve been in your shoes, remember? Standing outside these prison walls wearing the same clothes as the day you went in.” Our gazes connect and the both of us share a moment.

  Yeah, he knows what it was like inside the walls of the building behind us, and how it feels to walk back out. To be thrown back into the world where everything is fucked up and you have nothing but the same old clothes on your back and a mess you left behind to deal with.

  Chance smacks my back again. “It really wasn’t that hard to track down your father’s bike because you mentioned the address. The old man who bought it was happy I wanted to take the piece of junk off his hands. He bought it for his son who didn’t want to fix it in the first place. Look at it, not so much a piece of junk now, right, mate? I made sure it was up and running so I could surprise you with it. How else were you going to get home?”

  Before I was thrown in jail my mother told me someone sold my father’s bike. She didn’t know if it was done intentionally or by accident, but it was gone nonetheless. Right before I was locked up, I tracked down the address of the one who bought my father’s old bike. I had the address but no one I could trust to head out and buy it for me.

  I couldn’t ask my mother and risk her being pulled into club business. They already killed my father and set me up. I mentioned it to Chance once and he seemed to have remembered the address and bought the bike back for me and fixed the damn thing on top of it.

  “I can’t tell you how much this means to me. What do I owe you?” I croak, emotions getting the better of me.

  Must be due to my release after years of rotting in this place for something I didn’t do. I know, prisons are filled with innocent people. Those who claim to be, and those who really are. I’m not a saint, believe me, but I am one of those people who was set up and went into this shithole as an innocent man. Needless to say, I’m walking out with a mean streak of vengeance tainting my brain.

  “Don’t worry about it.” Chance bumps my shoulder. “Are you ready to get out of here? I remember you telling me how fucking ecstatic you’d be if you were able to walk out of this place.”

  The corner of my mouth twitches as I remember our final talk before he walked out as a free man. Half of our discussion was about the woman standing near the car, who is watching the two of us interact. How rude am I for ignoring her completely?

  I step closer and hold out my hand. “I’m honored to finally meet you, Aubrey. I’ve heard quite a lot about you. I’m Eddie, Eddie Barhamer.”

  “Hi. Nice to meet you too. You must be relieved to be out and able to jump on that bike and ride off. Not that I think you should leave ri
ght now, but Chance told me how you were a biker. And, you know, finally getting on a bike and all.” Her cheeks turn a nice shade of red.

  She’s cute and I understand her awkward ramblings with us standing here while she doesn’t know me at all. Well, other than some details Chance might have given her. Besides, I just walked out of prison.

  I throw a grin at Chance and tell him, “She’s cute, no wonder you chased her down and claimed her as yours. Doesn’t matter how much groveling you had to do, ’cause the way she looks at you? I’m pretty damn sure it was worth it.” I direct my attention back to his girl. “You’re right, I can’t wait to feel the wind on my face and the roaring of the bike vibrating underneath me while it eats up the road in front of me. And I’m actually itching to leave this place behind me.”

  Chance throws me the keys to the bike. I catch them with ease as he says, “Let’s get some coffee at the diner a few miles from here, or would you rather head home?”

  I stroll over to the bike and straddle it. “Coffee sure sounds fine to me. Besides, I have all the free time in the world. You’re the only one I contacted and who knows I’m out. I’ll call my mother when I’m closer to home and have bought a new burner.”

  I follow them to the diner and we spend over two hours talking, mainly about the two of them. When Chance walked out of prison, he didn’t think he could have a future with Aubrey because he fucked it up before he went in.

  Seeing them together now shows love is worth the risk. It’s openly stated in their eyes when those two look at each other. Besides, if you don’t know and don’t try, there won’t be any love to begin with. I’m happy for the both of them and the way it all worked out.

  But I’m also happy to be on the road and heading home to Newport Beach. Happy might not be the correct word. Chance mentioned I would be fucking ecstatic if I was out of prison. And I am, but it’s more like I’m fucking ecstatic to be able to set my plan in motion for some good old payback. I have to be careful, though. I definitely don’t want to land my ass back in jail. Especially with the possibility of not being so innocent next time.

  First, I’m heading over to see my mother. She runs an estate with a few bungalows; it’s in my name but that’s just a technicality. She loves running it along with a handful of personnel she’s hired over the years. The property is right on the beach which allows the perfect vacation setting.

  I mentioned it to Chance and Aubrey, and even gave them an open invitation to spend a week or weekend there. It’s the least I could do because he didn’t want to hear anything about me paying him back what I owed him for perfectly fixing my father’s bike.

  I hope they accept and swing by soon. Well, once I have everything handled that is. I’ve called my mother to tell her I’m on my way and that she needed to make a bed for me to crash in for the night. I don’t have to mention the fact my mother was indeed ecstatic about me crashing at the estate.

  Right now, it’s a safe place to allow me to gather some information I need before I put on my cut and walk into the clubhouse to claim back my rightful spot as the president of Unruly Defenders MC.

  Prison or not—framed by one of my own or not—I’m still the president. And it’s time for me to show everyone exactly where they stand. Even if it means some heads are going to roll and bounce onto the damn floor. By my fist with them still breathing, or their heads detached from their bodies...one thing’s for sure; justice will prevail.

  But again, I’m not the one landing behind steel bars this time. No amount of revenge is worth that much. So, I have to clear my head and dive into this with my eyes wide open. That’s the reason I’m going to take today to catch my breath, let my body soak in a tub, and sleep on clean sheets while eating some of my mother’s cooking. I missed her cooking.

  This should allow me time to gather information about what’s been going on while I was inside. I have the element of surprise and I want to keep going until I’ve gathered enough information.

  I was released early from prison so no one is expecting me back. I have to be on my toes, though. The way I was set up? I’m pretty sure the one responsible wanted me gone for good. Not to mention I have a pretty good idea who is responsible, except the motive and the evidence is lacking to tie it all together or if the asshole was acting on his own or had others to support him. This being said, it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried again.

  I decide to take the long road home and swing by a few stores to get some necessities. This includes a new squeaky toy for my dog, Finn. I have no clue how my little buddy is doing because I haven’t seen him in years.

  He’s a tri merle Dachshund. I know, not typically a dog for a biker, but I don’t care. I found him alongside the road, tied to a tree, a mere few months old. I couldn’t leave him behind and took him home after the vet thought he was able to leave. Though, that very day I became aware the little fucker had a dirty habit and it might have been the main reason they dumped him. Thing is...Finn likes to hump everything he can sink his teeth in.

  Yes, I’m aware I said teeth. The little fucker only has three legs and will wrap his one paw around something while he bites down to have a firm grip. He lost his front leg the day I saved him since the one who left him alongside the road tied his leash to a tree and Finn might have been struggling, jumping, running crazy and ended up with his paw wrapped tight in the leash. The vet couldn’t save it and it had to be amputated.

  My mother and I share Finn when I’m needed out of town or have to work all day, whatever. I’m just glad she was able to care for him when I was locked up. I guide my bike up to the gate of the estate and enter in the security code. I wait for the gate to open and guide my bike through as it closes behind me.

  I make sure to hide my bike in the garden shed on the right. Only personnel use it, so I know it’s safe from MC prying eyes if for some reason they would accidentally swing by the estate. Something they haven’t done in the past, but I’m not taking any chances.

  I grab the backpack I bought, filled with a few new changes of clothes and some other stuff. As I stalk into the tiny office, I expect to find my mother but instead I’m staring at a nicely shaped, curvy ass leaning over a desk. It’s wrapped in a tweed pencil skirt and I’m about to look away but my eye catches a lace strip. Holy shit, she’s wearing garters.

  I take a step back and clear my throat. I don’t even know how old this woman is or what the hell she’s doing here, and I’m ogling her as if I just came out of prison and need to get my dick wet this instant.

  Wait. That’s exactly what’s happening, though I’d also like to pin her between the desk and my body and slide that pencil skirt up. Mainly to check what kind of panties match those garters, or just to check if she is even wearing some.

  The woman’s body goes rigid—becoming aware someone is here by the clearing of my throat indicating that she’s not alone—before she slowly rises and turns. Her long black hair has a blue glow to it and it’s all pulled back in a long braid. One solitary lock of white hair stands out and it makes me wonder if it’s due to missing pigmentation or if she intentionally made it white.

  Her heart shaped face with almond shaped eyes is intriguing, but the color of her eyes is stunning. The word supernova comes to mind. They’re a bright blue with a ring of brown woven around it. I’m staring while my jaw hits the floor—with a major hard on—lacking any words to give her.

  “Can I help you?” her voice is a snap of words and lacking kindness.

  She might feel entitled to act this way because she caught me ogling her ass, but it’s not like I had a choice with her putting it on display.

  “Where’s the owner?” I bark in reply.

  I know I could have been nicer but she’s the one who had a snap in her voice. Her eyes narrow and I’m sure she’s going to say something, but Finn rushes out from behind the desk and starts to vigorously hump my leg by curling one paw around it and digging his teeth in my jeans. I can’t help but chuckle and scoop him up. I’m about to
cuddle the little fucker but he’s taken out of my hands by the woman standing before me.

  “Finn, what did I tell you about humping?” she scolds and stalks around the desk.

  She bends down and I step closer to see what she’s doing behind the desk as she rattles on, “This is your humping buddy,” she says and holds out a stuffed goat.

  A. Stuffed. Goat. There’s something really wrong with this picture and it increases when Finn snatches the goat away from the woman and cheerfully starts to hump his buddy.

  The woman bounces up and gives me a fake smile. “Sorry about that. Now, how can I help you?”

  “By giving me my dog back for one. And then telling me why the hell you would give him a goat to hump.”

  Her eyebrows scrunch up. “Your dog? He’s mine.”

  Right. As if. My anger starts to flare but the sound of my mother’s voice makes my attention slide to the left as she rushes toward me and hugs me tight. I close my eyes for a brief moment and squeeze my arms to relish in the fact I’m standing here holding my Ma.

  She’s been through a lot with losing Dad and then watching her son being thrown in jail, all while keeping this estate up and running. It shows how strong she is, but I can feel her shake against me and I know she’s trying to fight her tears.

  “It’s okay, Ma,” I tell her and place a kiss on the top of her head.

  My mother is a tiny woman but don’t mistake her shortness for lack of feistiness.

  She pats my chest as she pulls away. “Well, now it is. Are you hungry? Have you eaten?”

  “I can always eat if you’re making something,” I chuckle and rub my belly.

  My Ma’s face lights up with a smile. My gaze slides to the woman behind the desk who is observing us with curious eyes.

  “Oh, where are my manners? Gracy, meet Eddie, my son,” Ma says as she draws the woman behind the desk into our discussion.

  “Oh, he’s been released early?” Gracy says and instantly puts me on edge by the surprise in her voice and the knowledge she seems to have, knowing exactly who I am as she holds out her hand. “I’m Gracelynn Lightners, but everyone calls me Gracy. It’s nice to finally meet you since your mother is always raving about you.”