Published by Changeling Press
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller
Whisper — Abducted at a young age, I’d learned to live with the brutal man who’d kidnapped me. Quick with his fists, he made sure I knew to keep quiet and do as I was told. Until nearly a decade later. When Forge came to confront the man I’m forced to call “Dad,” I knew it was my one chance. Saying my true name for the first time was both thrilling and scary. Going to live with a bunch of bikers was even more so. But I found out soon enough there wasn’t anything Forge wouldn’t do for me. I might have had a crush on him. Just a bit. Then my world imploded once more, and I ran. Now he’s back, and I’m terrified and excited all at once.
Forge — One of the boys who attacked Whisper is out on parole, and I know she’s clueless. I only intended to make sure she was all right. How the hell I ended up claiming her son as my own, then marrying her, is beyond me. Can’t say I’m too broken up about it. Whisper is all grown up, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want her.
With her attacker’s whereabouts unknown, and my club pissed at me, there’s a lot on my plate. But I have to say… bringing Whisper and little Jacob home with me had to be the best idea I ever had. Now that they’re mine, I’ll do anything to hold onto them.
WARNING: Forge is part of the Reckless Kings MC series. While it can be read as a stand-alone, you may enjoy the series more when read in order. The story contains violence, bad language, and adult situations, as well as darker content some may find difficult to read.
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EXCERPT
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2021 Harley Wylde
“Dad! I’m going to be late. Would you hurry the hell up?” I yelled across the house.
“Where’s the fucking fire?” he demanded, stomping into the room in jeans with a blue button-down. He’d put his cut on over it. It was the closest he’d ever get to dressing up and I smiled, thinking he looked nice.
“The fire is called graduation. I need to be there in fifteen minutes or I can’t walk. You’re the one who made a big deal about me attending the local high school and having a normal life. Guess what? Normal kids walk across the stage and get a diploma, or so I’ve been told.”
“You driving there?” he asked.
“No.” I rubbed the toe of my boot on the floor. “I’m getting a ride from a friend.”
He froze, his jaw tensing and his eyes narrowing. “Friend? Whisper Evans, I know damn well your friends don’t come here to pick you up. Who the hell do you think you’re riding with?”
“Tommy Aikens asked to drive me to graduation and to the field party after. He’s meeting me at the gate in five minutes. I thought you could give me a ride up there.”
He folded his arms and glowered. Brick, otherwise known as Hank Evans, and my adopted father, got that stubborn look in his eyes I knew didn’t bode well for me. The day he’d brought me home with him, I’d not known what to expect. I’d once asked what happened to John Gillis, and he’d told me the man had been taken care of. I’d not asked again. Something told me they hadn’t handed him over to the police.
After I’d come to live with Brick, it had taken us a week to settle into a routine and get to know one another. Now it felt like I’d been his daughter all my life. I couldn’t imagine anyone I’d rather have for a dad. He’d been amazing, and he didn’t even give me shit about my crush on Forge.
I fingered the necklace I never took off. It had started as a piece of his artwork but had broken off. I’d commented on how pretty it was, so he’d smoothed out the edges, drilled a hole through it, and put it on a chain for me. Sadly, the big guy had only ever seen me as a child, and probably always would.
“Come on, Dad! I’m leaving for college in three days. Let me have a little fun tonight.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Fine. But don’t come home pregnant or I’ll have to kill a motherfucker.”
I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. “Thanks, Dad. I promise I won’t stay out too late.”
“Come on. I’ll drop you at the gate and then ride out with the others. You wait inside the fence. You hear me? Lyle is on duty, and he’ll let you out when your friend gets here.”
I rolled my eyes. “We really are just friends, Dad. You know I don’t date. Never have, don’t plan to start now.”
Well, not entirely true. If a certain foxy older man ever looked at me as more than a kid, then I’d jump at the chance to date. Forge had saved me the day he’d come to meet with John Gillis, and I’d had a bit of hero worship going on. Then I’d started spending time with him and fell head over heels. No boy could ever measure up.