Lincoln's Choice (A Ravens MC Novel Book 2) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Lincoln’s Choice

  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

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  THE END

  Look for more to come from the Ravens soon!!!

  Copyright 2017. J.L. Leslie. All rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes, promotions, authorized giveaways or teasers only.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  To My Mom

  Special Thanks

  To my readers and fans who have supported me and enjoyed my work.

  To my fan group and street team group who have participated in my games and promoted for me.

  To my beta readers who always give me the best and honest feedback.

  To my PA, Amber Feist, who puts up with me and still loves me!

  Lincoln’s Choice

  Chapter One

  ~Lincoln~

  One Year Ago…

  I smile at the brunette slowly approaching the table I’m seated at. Diesel’s is packed, but that’s normal for a Friday night, especially when there’s a fight scheduled. My brother, Luka, just finished up in the cage and I’m proud to say he pulled off a win. I know he was worried about going up against a new opponent tonight. I personally don’t have any doubts when it comes to my brother’s fighting skills. I do train with him after all.

  “Hey, Linc.” The brunette greets me as she slides down next to me. “Good fight.”

  I try to remember her name as she presses her breasts against my shoulder, but come up short. “Yes, it was. Did you enjoy it?”

  She glances at me, her eyes dancing as she answers, “Of course, I did. Now tell me, where is that brother of yours?”

  And there it is. What I’ve gotten used to hearing after nearly every fight lately. Now that Haley is gone, it’s like I’m a fucking matchmaker for my brother and his hookups. They swarm to me, but only so I can play messenger. They all want Luka. I’m just a tag-a-long.

  “Maybe you should have gone looking for him yourself.” I scowl, not doing the best job of hiding my annoyance.

  “Oh baby, don’t be angry. You can play with us.” she pouts and sucks my earlobe into her mouth.

  I clench my jaw, but my cock twitches in my jeans. I truly don’t want some pity fuck, but she does smell nice and it’s not like either of us are looking for anything long term. Besides, playing is fun.

  “Let’s go.” I tell her.

  Her eagerness is kind of sad really. Luka will fuck her and leave her just like I will. I haven’t seen him give another woman the time of day since Haley died and it won’t surprise me if he ever does. Hell, after I saw what happened to her, it made me realize that happy endings don’t fucking happen. My brother and I weren’t meant for a happily ever after. I wasn’t even born into one. I think you learn when you kill your own mother during childbirth, you’re kind of fucked.

  “Luka, someone is asking for you.” I find him coming out of the bathroom, right where I knew he would be. He always cleans up after a fight.

  “Really? And who might this be?”

  Ha! He doesn’t remember her either. She looks a little pissed about this, but I’m sure she’s also determined to make him remember her too. She leans in and whispers in his ear and he grins. I follow them out the door and don’t look back at the crowded bar.

  Two hours later, Teri is lying on Luka’s couch, fucked and satisfied by both Varelli brothers. I should be elated, but I’m annoyed. I look down at the naked brunette on the couch and it pisses me off to think it’s possible I wouldn’t have fucked her had it not been for Luka. She wanted him. Not me.

  “I’m going out for a smoke.” I let Luka know and close the door to his apartment.

  I sit on one of the empty benches outside, barefoot and bare-chested. I inhale the nicotine I’ve come to depend on and slowly exhale, letting the smoke cloud up the clear night’s sky.

  “Varelli, right?”

  I cut my eyes to the blonde-headed guy who takes a seat beside me on the bench. I didn’t even hear him approaching.

  “I’m sure you can suck a mean dick, but I’m not interested.”

  He lets out a laugh. “Do you know who the fuck you’re talking to?”

  “Don’t give a shit.” I comment and take another drag. My mood is too sour to really care.

  “I’m Cal Harrison.” He doesn’t extend his hand or even look at me. He just announces his name in this matter-of-fact way, like I’m supposed to know who he is and like it’s supposed to matter.

  “Okay, Cal Harrison.” I reply.

  The name does ring a bell, but it’s nearly two a.m. and it’s not registering to me who he is, if it’s supposed to.

  “And you’re…”

  “I’m pretty sure you’re looking for my brother.” I cut him off.

  “Lincoln Varelli.” he finishes.

  I focus on Cal then. The fact that he’s wearing a leather jacket, jeans, and motorcycle boots. In fact, his boots are the same brand I wear. I notice a tattoo on his hand, some kind of lettering with flames around it. Cal Harrison.

  “And you’re the president of that motorcycle gang.” I state, realization of who is finally hitting me. Yep, I just said he could suck a mean dick too. His reputation precedes him and if he were in the mood, he could blow my damn brains out right here on this bench.

  “I am the president of the Rykers and you, Lincoln Varelli, are exactly who I’m looking for.”

  Present Day…

  I smoke my cigarette and watch my brother as he waits for Dax Daughtry outside of Verdana County Jail. Dax’s daughter, Raiden Daughtry, is by his side along with several other Ravens members. They don’t even see me. They’re too caught up in welcoming their president back. He should have rotted in jail the way I did. I can tell you from experience, it changes a person.

  Once Dax Daughtry exits the jail, there’s an exchange between him and his daughter and then she climbs on the bike behind Luka. I definitely called that right while I was in the hospital. I knew the two of them were fucking. Any idiot could see that shit. I suppose any idiot except the ADA, Griffin Knowles, and it was right under his fucking nose. Pansy ass.

  I put my cigarette out on my boot and watch them drive away. I pull away too, anger coursing through my blood at the knowledge that the Ravens are now stronger than us. They’re stronger than the Rykers now that our president, Cal Harrison, is dead. I have my own brother to thank for that.

  He betrayed me. He betrayed the Ryker
s. Right when I thought I could trust him again, it blew up in my fucking face. I honestly don’t know where or how we lost one another. I only know that we did.

  He never wanted me to join the Rykers. I always thought it had something to do with Haley, his fiancé, and the fact that she was killed because of a club issue with the Drycos, another motorcycle club in Verdana.

  We had promised each other we would stay away from the three motorcycle clubs that rule the beach town we live in. We both knew we had no business joining any of them. Luka would fight and I would train and manage him. We both worked days at Johnson’s Mill, helped our dad at his garage and I lived with Luka at his apartment. This had worked for a long time and honestly, we were inseparable.

  But that arrangement got old for me. I outgrew it and became a different person. I got tired of living in Luka’s shadow. He couldn’t see that. He couldn’t see how I was losing my identity and was becoming Luka’s brother, not Lincoln Varelli. I needed to be my own person. The Rykers helped me do that.

  The moment I got my own apartment, I felt Luka’s hold on me loosening. It was my first step towards independence. Towards freedom. Then I quit my job at Johnson’s Mill and started working with the Rykers. They paid just as much and I would say the job was equally as dangerous. I’ve lost count of how many times I’d nearly cut my damn hand off at the mill. I still managed Luka though. I couldn’t seem to let that aspect of my life go. He hated that I was Ryker and he never missed an opportunity to let me know that.

  Only, I didn’t know Luka wanted to be a Raven. I didn’t see that until I was in jail and Cal told me he’d joined our rival club. I had no idea he would choose them over me and so I had to choose the Rykers.

  Then everything changed when I was attacked. Luka left the Ravens and we had a second chance. At least, that’s what I thought. Now, I have to bury three brothers today. Yes, my brothers. That’s how I see them. First, I need answers.

  “Is he expecting you?” The snotty lady behind the desk asks after I’ve been waiting at least three minutes.

  “He should be.” I answer.

  I know she doesn’t believe me. I’m a biker with my helmet propped on her counter standing in the DA’s office. My tattooed arms rest on her dust free desk. My dirty, blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail, a few stray strands falling into my eyes. There’s no way in hell she believes I have an appointment.

  “You may go in.” she says, quietly.

  Griffin Knowles’ office is exactly what I expected. Large mahogany desk, fancy painted pictures, book shelves.

  “Mr. Varelli…”

  “Let’s cut the shit. You know why I’m here.” I interrupt whatever niceties he’s about to make. I have never liked him and he knows precisely why.

  “I do and there’s no investigation to be made. I’ve reviewed the statements from the witnesses, including my own statement, and the victims died in the warehouse fire set by Michael Fisk. Your own brother, Luka Varelli, aided in my escape from the warehouse.”

  “What about Raiden Daughtry and Hayes Winchester?” I ask him.

  “We both know if either one of us knows where Hayes Winchester is, it’s you. I would love to question him again. As for Ms. Daughtry, she was not in the warehouse to my knowledge and is doing well.”

  “You just let him have her, didn’t you? Didn’t even put up a fight for the woman you’d been fucking for…how long…a couple years, right?” I taunt him. “You practically lived together.”

  “I don’t see how that’s relevant to this conversation.” he snips, his jaw tightening.

  I can see under that all-American exterior, that Griffin Knowles is about to explode. His blue eyes narrow and the nostrils on his perfect nose flare.

  “Damn, my brother was fucking that hot pussy of hers right under your damned nose and you had no idea. I mean, he was probably slipping out the back door while you were coming in the front!” I laugh.

  Griffin slams his fists on his desk and snarls, “If I let her go, it was because I was finished fucking her, you piece of shit!”

  “Ah, there it is! She wasn’t giving you any info on dear old dad, was she?”

  “I got what I needed out of her.” he sneers.

  “Oh yeah, what did she tell you while Luka was balls deep?” I hiss.

  “She told me while I was balls deep that your president was fucking the DA’s daughter!”

  I cross my arms, trying my best to hide the stunned look on my face. Sully? Steve Willis was Sully’s dad? I don’t think so.

  “Oh, I see,” Griffin sneers, “guess your president wasn’t very forthcoming about his old lady.”

  “It’s bullshit.”

  “Caroline Willis- well she took her mother’s maiden name Sullivan- goes by Sully, I believe. Well, I did a little digging. She was reported missing after she ran away from home at fifteen. She was found, brought back, ran away again…yada, yada, yada. Apparently, she truly went missing at the age of twenty-one, which was about three years ago. Last seen somewhere around San Diego.”

  I give him a cold stare, waiting on him to go on.

  “Turns out, she’s been spending some time with your little motorcycle gang the past few years. Got my friend, Steve, into some trouble. I guess there’s nothing you won’t do to protect your kid, even if that means selling out.”

  In some ways that makes sense and others it doesn’t. If we had that damn District Attorney on our payroll, why did I sit in jail for eight months? Hell, why is he fish food at the bottom of the fucking ocean right now?

  “I see the wheels turning in your head, Lincoln, so let them spin on this. If I do an investigation about the warehouse fire, you can bet your sweet ass I’ll be looking into you and your whereabouts the night the District Attorney, Steve Willis, went missing. Do we understand each other?”

  I give him a smirk as I turn towards his door. “I’ll say hey to Raiden for you.”

  ~Sully~

  Cal’s Harley Street 500 rumbles between my legs as I ease it to a stop at the cemetery. Dozens of Rykers are in attendance to lay three brothers to rest, their president included. I can feel their eyes on me as I climb off his bike and remove my helmet. I was always a passenger before, always riding behind him, now they see me driving his bike. He’s gone.

  I honestly can’t express what I’m feeling today. When I came to the Rykers almost two years ago, I knew they would take me in. I didn’t have doubts about that. I was a pretty blonde with a nice ass and they had a reputation. As for becoming Cal’s old lady, that took a little time. Still, eventually he became mine. Well, mine and whoever else he allowed to share our bed.

  I should be sad that he’s gone. I should be crying and devastated, but I can’t bring myself to shed a tear. Not a single fucking solitary tear. Maybe that’s because I’ve grown accustomed to hearing Cal tell me I have to be tough. I can’t be a fucking weak bitch and be his old lady. He wouldn’t tolerate that.

  “How you holding up, girl?” Sabrina asks, sliding her arm around my shoulders.

  I stiffen, although I’m not sure why. She’s licked my damn clit before and I’ve tasted hers too. All in the name of love, right? Well, something like that.

  “I’m good.” I reply. “Has anyone contacted Cal’s dad or his mom?”

  “Lincoln sent word to his dad, but he hasn’t heard back. The San Diego VP said he was away on business. As for his mom, she cut ties with the club last year. I assumed you knew.” Sabrina answers.

  I hadn’t and I’m not sure why Cal didn’t let me know that. They weren’t close, but I still would have thought he’d let me know she cut ties from his life. I also don’t know too much about Cal’s dad, never having met him before, but I know if he’s away on business, there’s a possibility it could be weeks before we hear back from him. Cal told me before he’s been trying to expand the Rykers outside of California. Maybe even join up with some fellow clubs.

  “We’ll get ‘em, Sully, we’ll get those bastards. Don’t worry abou
t that.” she says, firmly, hugging me to her.

  I know she’s referring to the Ravens, a rival motorcycle club, and whatever fucked up business occurred at our warehouse. I’m still not certain. I only know that Cal was supposed to have been taking several members out on patrol that night to lead an attack on the Ravens. He and Luka Varelli had planned it and then suddenly, plans changed. He took a few members with him to our warehouse on Palafox and the next thing I know, I’m being woken up by Lincoln, Luka’s brother, and being told three of our members are dead. They burned to death in the warehouse.

  Lincoln didn’t know a whole lot of details either, just that his brother had turned on us. He had delivered the news and stormed out of the room I shared with Cal.

  The only survivor, Hayes Winchester, had given everyone the details of what happened. Cal had kidnapped Griffin Knowles, the ADA. Things went wrong and Luka, Lincoln’s brother, betrayed us. Somehow the warehouse had caught fire and the only survivors were Hayes, Griffin, Raiden, and Luka. Everyone else had burned to death in the warehouse.

  Now I’m here. My long, wavy blonde hair is pulled into a tight bun at the nape of my neck. I’m wearing the same simple black dress I recently wore to Bart, our tech guy’s, funeral. His head was basically shot off right in the middle of a rooftop party. I remember Cal complaining that his favorite t-shirt was ruined.

  Nothing was supposed to turn out like this. I never expected any of this when I came to the Rykers. Now what?

  I’m asking myself this when my eyes lock on his. Their deep blue is transfixed on me, staring hard and I feel myself swallow. He looks angry, but then again, Lincoln Varelli always looks angry. His dirty, blonde hair has a messy look to it as though he’s run his fingers through it too many times. His arms are crossed over his chest, but he slips one around Sabrina’s waist as she approaches him. Still, his eyes don’t waiver from mine.