Raven: Iron Angels, MC, Book Five

Raven

Iron Angels MC, Book Five

Raven

© 2019 by Samantha McCoy

First Electronic Publication: June 2019

United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, redistributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in any database, without prior written permission from the author, with the exception of brief quotations contained in critical reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this work may be scanned, uploaded, or otherwise distributed via the internet or any other means, including electronic or print, without the author’s written permission.

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons, living or deceased, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Cover Design: Dark Water Covers

Samantha McCoy

samanthamccoy0704@gmail.com

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to my Babes. Your faith, love, support, and guidance have meant the world to me. I love you more than words can say.

To my kids – I love each of you with all my heart. Thank you for my greatest fans.

And to my readers – without y’all, none of this would be possible. Thank you so much for the love and support. For the laughs and kind words. For traveling the country and visiting with me at book signings. I love each of you!

Epilogue

Two years before…

A single gunshot shot lit up the back yard. It echoed through the trees. Raven screamed for everyone to get inside, but chaos had already erupted.

Looking for movement near the woods, she found nothing. As the last Angel made her way inside, Raven followed, slamming the door shut behind her. She waited, but nothing came.

Turning, she ran down the hall, and through the house, gun drawn. She needed to find Pope. The Iron Angels were under attack.

She paid no attention to the other members; they knew what to do. It had been a long rule in the house that if something like this ever happened, the girls were to head to the safety of their rooms and protect themselves at all cost. Being in a smaller space left little room for surprises. It was a smaller area to defend.

Sprinting down the hall leading to Pope’s office, Raven’s stomach became unsettled. She should have seen her by now. Pope Kimber wasn’t a woman that hid from danger. She was actually the first person to run towards it and the fact that Raven hadn’t seen her yet – meant something bad had happened. She knew it in her gut.

As she neared the office door, Raven slowed. Seeing the door partly ajar, she placed her back to the wall and crept the remaining distance.

A creak had her spinning around, gun aimed. With a heavy sigh, she lowered her weapon and turned back to the door. She didn’t have time to ask the girls at her back why they broke protocol. That would have to wait until later. Right now, finding Pope was her main focus.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw one of the newer recruits slide along the wall on the opposite side of her and reach for the doorknob. With a silent nod, she waited for Raven to give the signal. Taking a deep breath, Raven returned the head gesture.

The door was yanked open and Raven moved in, two others at her back. Gun out, sweeping the room, she witnessed the disaster. Papers were scattered everywhere. Pope’s computer smashed on the floor. As Raven rounded the desk, her heart constricted.

There in a growing pool of blood laid Pope. Falling to her knees, she grabbed her best friend and pulled her close. Call 911, she screamed at the other girls. Pope? Raven called. Pope, open your eyes. Look at me.

Slowly, Pope’s eyes fluttered open. Rav… she whispered.

Shh, Raven soothed. Don’t talk. Just keep looking at me. Stay with me.

Ambulance is on its way, called one of the others.

Hear that? Raven said, looking at Pope. Help is coming. Stay with me, please.

Jack… Pope coughed.

No, Raven shook her head. Don’t talk.

Jack… Pope wheezed. This.

Damn it, Pope, Raven said frustrated, tears stinging her eyes. Stop talking. Save your energy.

Pope’s hand gripped onto Raven causing her to stare straight into her friends’ eyes. Raven was shocked by the strength.

Take care of my girls, Pope sputtered. Get… Jacks…

Raven watched as Pope’s hand fell limp.

No! she screamed. Pope? Pope!

Shaking her, Raven tried to get her to open her eyes again.

Where the fuck is the ambulance? Raven yelled. Pope! Please. No. No. No. You can’t do this. Please.

Raven felt like her heart was being ripped out.

Ambulance is here, someone said from far away.

But it didn’t matter. It was too late. Pope was gone… The woman who had been her best friend, and like a mother to her, who had taken her in when she had run away from an alcoholic, abusive mother – was dead.

Ma’am?

Raven felt a hand on her shoulder, but couldn’t snap herself out of whatever hell she was in. She just sat there on the floor with Pope locked in her arms. No matter how many times she told herself that she needed to let go, she couldn’t. Her body wouldn’t cooperate.

Kat?

Raven felt her arms being pulled away and Pope slipping away from her. Suddenly, her fight instinct kicked in and she sent a right hook flying.

Fuckin’ hell, Kat! a manly voiced penetrated the fog in her head.

She knew the voice, but couldn’t register it. Someone was taking her friend and Raven had to stop them. She had to protect Pope.

Strong arms wrapped around her middle and lifted her from the floor. Raven twisted and turned, fighting against the hold, but she couldn’t get loose.

Calm yourself, Lass.

Let me go! Raven screamed, still fighting.

No, me Beauty, he replied. Not until ya gather your wits.

At being called ‘Beauty’ something in the back of her mind finally clicked. Magnus. He was here. He was holding her. At that realization, all the fight immediately drained from her. She felt herself being turned in his arms as he held her a little tighter.

And, Raven broke. The tears poured out of her. Her body shook as the sobs took over. Pope was gone. She hadn’t been here to protect her. It was her fault.

Raven’s heart shattered.

She hadn’t realized she was talking out loud until Magnus brushed a hand over the side of her face and said, No, Lass. Tis not yer fault. Stop that nonsense.

Can anyone tell me what in the hell happened? another man said.

Raven tried to gather herself. Taking a deep breath, she pushed away from Magnus, but he didn’t let her go. Allowing her just enough space to turn towards the room, Raven surveyed the destruction. Doing her best to avoid looking at Pope’s lifeless body, she focused on the Police Chief.

There was a shot that came from the woods, Raven recalled. Some of the girls and I were out back by the firepit. The shot caused us all to run inside. I didn’t see Po… Her voice broke. Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I didn’t see Pope anywhere, Raven said again. So, I came back here and… I found her.

She tried to say something, one of the girls said. But I don’t know…

What did she say? The Chief asked Raven.

All she said was take care of her girls, Raven answered, choking back another sob.

And Jack, said the girl.

What? Raven asked. She thought for a moment and then nodded her head.

Yeah, she agreed. Yeah, Pope kept saying ‘Jack’ or ‘Jacks’. But I don’t know if that’s a person, place, or what. And if it is a person, Raven shrugged. I don’t know anyone by that name.

Is that all? Chief asked, perplexed.

Raven thought back for a moment and nodded her head. I can’t think of anything else.

Alright, he replied. That’s fine. If you do, if any of you think of anything else, call me.

Chief, Magnus inserted himself in the conversation. If it’s okay, I’m going’ to take Raven to ‘er room.

Sure, the Chief replied. If I need her, I’ll come find you.

Raven felt as Magnus lifted her in his arms. She should be angry that he would take control from her, but Raven just couldn’t muster the feeling. She was drained. So, she laid her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, as he carried her from the room, through the living area, and down the hallway to her bedroom. At this point, Raven no longer cared about how it would look. She didn’t care if members thought she was weak. She didn’t care if they later tried to take her spot. Right now, Raven simply didn’t care about anything. She would handle the repercussions, if any, later.

She sighed as Magnus entered her room. He was extremely gentle as he pulled back the blanket on the bed, laid her down, and then pull them back up to her chin.

Try to rest, Lass, Magnus soothed. I’ll be right ‘ere.

What happened to your accent? Raven asked. It’s like you turned it off.

She knew she was stalling. She really didn’t care about his accent. However, Raven was scared, not that she would admit that to anyone. She was terrified to close her eyes because she knew what she would see, and she wasn’t ready. So, to prolong that from happening, she would stall, babble, whatever it took.

I guess, Magnus answered. I’ve lived in the states off and on so long that the American accent has started to take over.

Raven didn’t buy it. Nice try. Would you like to give that another go?

My job requires me to blend in, Magnus chuckled. Irish accent is kind of hard to forget. Don’t you think?

And this job is?

Nothing’ that ya need to concern yer wee head about, Magnus replied, his accent all over the place.

Are you fucking with me? she asked.

Kat, Magnus sat on the edge of the bed. Go to sleep. Stop stalling. I will be right here. Just rest.

I… Raven couldn’t. She couldn’t sleep. I can’t.

Yes, he argued. Ya can. Nothing’ is going’ to happen to ya.

It’s not that, Raven sighed. It’s… If I go to sleep, I’ll see Pope. Just lying there. Gone.

Magnus climbed up onto the bed and pulled Raven close. Hugging her tight, Raven rested her head on his chest. Lying there, staring at the dark gray of her wall, she tried to come to terms with what had just happened.

Shit! she shot up into a sitting position. I have to call Sapphire.

I’ll take care of it, Magnus offered.

You can’t, Raven replied, shaking her head. As VP, it has to come from me.

Where is she right now? Magnus asked. Still with Sledge?

Yeah. Raven ran her fingers through her hair.

Call him, Magnus suggested. Something like this shouldn’t be said over the phone. Let Sledge explain.

She thought for a moment and realized he was right. Nobody should ever find out about the death of a parent over the phone. Grabbing her cell, she scrolled through her list of contacts, and when she found the one she was looking for, Raven dialed. Taking a deep breath, she waited for him to answer. But Raven knew, once he did and she explained the situation – everything in Sapphire’s world would come crashing down, just as it already had in her own.

Raven hated this. She hated the pain and hurt the girls would now have to face. She vowed to herself, in that moment, that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t rest until she found out who was responsible for this and killed them with her own bare hands – slowly.

Sledge.

This is Raven, she replied. We have a situation.

Chapter One

Raven

What’s that smile for? Magnus asked, wrapping his arms around her middle and pulling her closer.

She loved his arms. So much brute strength, yet so tender at the same time.

I’m not smiling, Raven commented.

Oh, but you are, Lass. He chuckled, kissing her neck. Others may not see it, but I know every expression that crosses that face and shines in your eyes.

Playfully, Raven elbowed him in the side. Hush it, Irishman.

Magnus laughed harder. Talk to me. What is it?

I was just thinking, Raven sighed, leaning her head back against his chest. Pope would be happy.

She would, Magnus agreed.

All she ever wanted was her girls to be happy, Raven continued. And look.