Avenging Angel by Naomi Porter

1

Madeline

I sang the last notes of my song and curtsied before the crowd of bikers, old ladies, and kittens feeling on top of the world. Storm’s brothers cheered and clapped. Probably because they were drunk off their asses—not because I was that good, but I appreciated their enthusiasm. Hell, I ate up the attention. Adrenaline pumped in my veins. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Fanning my face, the air appeared thicker—a sure sign of rain. The twilight sky was full of dark clouds rolling in from the west. It wouldn’t be long, maybe an hour, before it drenched everyone. Not the best conditions for an outdoor orgy tonight. My mind went to a funny picture of those rough and tumble bikers going at it in a thunderstorm.

The humidity would make my hair frizzy and my skin sticky. But it didn’t matter. I felt marvelous after singing for my new family and my man.

The she-devil caught my eye. I imagined she hated me even more after seeing me sing—no sweat off my brow. Carla could kiss my ivory ass for all I cared. There was a new queen in town.

After tonight, Carla was G-O-N-E, gone.

I looked over at my guy, expecting him to be grinning after getting his way. Or striding straight up to the stage to carry me off to bed where he’d lavish me with kisses and praise. Blow my mind with his talented tongue and fuck me into tomorrow. I expected to be spoiled.

But he wasn’t even looking at me. It hurt my ego a little. Though I wouldn’t let it show or act like a spoiled diva. That wasn’t me. But not having Storm’s eyes on me at this moment cut me more than it should. Why wasn’t he looking at me?

I followed his line of vision across the lawn. What is he looking at? It wasn’t a what, but a who. I gasped, placing my hand on my chest. Were my eyes deceiving me? I blinked several times. This must’ve been a dream or the effects of the whiskey screwing with my vision.

It was neither.

Toby, my brother, was on the Knight’s Legion compound.

How did he find me? I hadn’t mentioned Storm to my family.

My brother stared back with a stunned expression. Neither of us moved.

I turned toward Storm. He appeared shell-shocked. Like the Reaper he offhandedly mentioned from time to time was coming for him… or me. I saw his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. His eyes were wide, mouth  agape. Sugar shook his arm, but he didn’t acknowledge her.

What was going on?

Was he upset that Toby somehow breached compound security? Storm was very careful to approve the party guest list.

My eyes flitted toward my brother, then back to Storm. Back and forth, my gaze ping-ponged like I was watching a tennis match. It wasn’t the look I expected playing on their face. No, it was more familiar. Like they knew each other. But how could they?

Everyone faded around me as a sense of doom settled in my veins. All I heard was the violent thumping of my pulse in my ears. What was I missing? What was between my brother and the man I loved?

Toby. Storm. Toby. Storm.

I locked eyes with my man. Tell me what’s wrong, baby… how do you know my brother?

We stared at each other as if waiting for the other to make a move. My feet couldn’t budge, like this moment took all my power from me. I wanted Storm to take me into his arms. To hold me protectively. Whatever was happening made me cold and clammy. So cold.

I needed warmth. I needed his warmth. I needed him to save me.

Come to me, Kaleb.

Storm’s cousins, Maddox and Markey’s, laughter registered in my ears. All at once, it hit me. The familiarity I’d felt with Storm became clear. The fog lifted. My eyes were open. The feeling of knowing him in another life wasn’t some weird déjà vu.

I had known him...

My childhood flew through my mind at supersonic speed, transporting me to Lake Waleska. I had spent the best week of my life with my family and KC, my brother’s best friend.

KC’s dad was the president of the motorcycle club in Garrison. I was so young. I never knew much about the bikers. My parents had sheltered me as much as they could. Toby and KC always redirected my questions. Eventually, I forgot about KC’s dad being a biker. Then KC left town after Tommy died and never came back home.

Only KC was his nickname….

Blood drained from my limbs, pooling in my gut like a bad pot of chili.

Knight’s Legion.

Knight.

Kaleb.

Kaleb Knight.

My heart felt like it jumped into my throat, choking me. All this time, Storm was Kaleb, the teenage boy I’d loved since I was a little girl.

Tremors rolled through my body. My head spun, hands slick with sweat. The mic slipped from my hand onto the wooden floor, clanging in the speakers. I wobbled down the stairs.

With my stomach doing somersaults, I managed to run to Toby. He lifted me into his arms.

“What are you doing here?” I cried, needing to hear my brother confirm my suspicions.

“I’m… I’m here to see…” He set me on my feet and gripped my shoulders. “What are you doing here, Maddy?”

“I’m here… I… I’m with…” I stuttered, the words lodged in my throat.

“Spit it out, Maddy!” His wild blue eyes searched mine.

“I’m with… Storm.” His road name came out instead of his birth name as a panicked shudder ripped through me. I knew in my heart it was him. My love from the past.

Toby’s eyes bugged out. “You’re with Storm? How did you and Kaleb get together? When? Why didn’t you tell me? Jesus Christ, Maddy, this is insane.” He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, avoiding my gaze. I recognized this look. He wore the same ill expression for years after Tommy’s death. I never questioned why, assuming he had taken his time with our brother for granted as I did.

I shook my head. My mind whirled out of control. Loud music played. People were lost in their own little world, not paying attention to my inner destruction.

I glanced at Storm’s table. He was gone.

“Where’s Storm?” I pulled away from Toby and turned in a circle. He wasn’t in sight. Neither was Sugar. I scanned the yard, my heart hammering in my chest as I searched for my man.

Toby grabbed my shoulders, laboring to breathe. “Talk to me, Maddy.” He appeared as confused and shocked as I was.

“I can’t right now. I need to find Storm.” I ran to the table. Toby called after me, but I ignored him. Justin stood nearby, but that was it. Where was everyone?

“Justin! Where did Storm go?”

The grim expression on his face nearly made my heart stop. He pursed his lips. “Storm took off on his bike. I don’t know what happened. He just… left.”

I whirled around and caught sight of Track talking to his dad, Raul.

“Track! Track!” I yelled, running toward him. I must’ve looked like a crazy woman because he was on his feet by the time I reached him.

He bent at the knees, getting eye-level—like I did with my students. “Are you okay? What happened?”

I realized I was crying. Tears rained down my face that I hadn’t even noticed. “Storm’s gone. Justin said he took off on his bike. You have to find him. He’s not okay!”

Track capped my shoulder. “Calm down, babe. Why are you crying? You two have a fight or something?”

“Track!” Sugar ran up, gasping for air.

“Maddy, I need to talk to you. Right now.” Toby grabbed my arm like he was freaking the crap out. Sweat dripped down the sides of his face. His blue depths were wild so unlike him. He was usually calm and collected, Mr. Professional. This unhinged side of him amped up my panicked state.

“Hey, man. Take your hand off her.” Track pushed me behind him and got in Toby’s face. Ready to protect me. No, ready to defend Storm’s old lady. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Hold on.” I put my hand on Track’s arm to defuse the situation as other bikers started to take notice. “This is my brother, Toby. Toby Hamilton.”

Track cut his gaze to mine, staring for a long second. I could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he pieced it together. “Your brother? Hamilton is your last name?”

“Oh, Jesus.” Sugar put her arm around my shoulders. “Now, I understand why Storm took off.”

Thunder rumbled off in the distance as I bobbed my head. “Yes. You have to find him.”

“Well, fuck.” Track ran his hand through his hair. “Fuck!” He roared louder than the next wave of thunder. “Why didn’t you tell him who you were? He has to be flipping the fuck out. How could you deceive him like that?”

“Jesus Christ,” Raul muttered.

“Track, stop,” Sugar snapped. “She did nothing of the sort.”

More tears streamed down my face. “I didn’t deceive him. He never told me his last name, either.” I was shaking so much, my legs may give out. “I just pieced it together when I saw my brother.”

“You need to go after him,” Sugar told Track, tucking me into her side as I broke into a sob.

Storm wasn’t okay. It was as if I felt his pain. He needed me to keep him from breaking. I had to save him from falling off the edge.

“Goddammit,” Track shouted. “Lynx! AJ!”

“What’s going on?” Tara grabbed my hand, but I ignored her. A crowd formed around us. The hum of whispers competed with the sounds of the building storm. I felt utterly exposed and vulnerable without my man beside me, assuring me everything would be okay. I knew it wasn’t okay, couldn’t be further from it. I’d already lost Kaleb once. The thought of losing him again made me weak at the knees. My head buried deeper into Sugar’s shoulder.

“We’ll find him.” Track lifted my chin, getting my attention. “We’ll find him, but I warn you, he may not want to talk to you.”

“Don’t tell her that,” Sugar hissed.

“Hey babe, what happened?” Lynx appeared in front of me. “Why’re you crying?”

“I’ll fill you in. Let’s go!” Track stalked off with AJ hot on his heels.

“Yeah, okay.” Lynx followed but kept looking back with concern in his eyes.

“You conniving bitch!” Carla seethed. “He’ll never forgive you for this.”

“Back the fuck up, slut.” Tara stepped between Carla and me. They started arguing, but I tuned them out.

I didn’t know what to do. My life was spinning out of control. KC was Storm? The shock lingered in my mind, thoughts spinning on repeat. How could Kaleb leave me? What was I supposed to do now?

Toby jerked me out of Sugar’s arms and tugged me away by the hand. My world was falling apart in front of dozens of people. Only a few seemed to notice. The rest were either too drunk to care or were screwing. I prayed the club wouldn’t hear what happened by morning. Hell, I hardly knew what happened.

But it wasn’t about me. Storm was the club’s president. If he didn’t come back, they would all be devastated, and it would all be because of me.

Toby took me inside the clubhouse and put me in a chair. I completely broke down as he held me.

“Just let it all out.” Sugar had followed us and was sitting beside me.

I felt numb, like I was going into shock. Kaleb Knight was Storm, the president of Knight’s Legion. It was right there the whole time. How did I not figure it out sooner? Guilt swirled in my body like the energy couldn’t find anywhere to go. Of course I didn’t recognize him. He looked nothing like the teenager I’d loved.

I didn’t look the same either. KC had left right after Tommy’s funeral. That was the last I’d seen or heard from him. I was only eleven. A twig with braces, and totally forgettable.

A painful breath emerged from my lips as I reached for a napkin to wipe my tears. I shook my head in total disbelief. Every moment with KC filled my head like my brain couldn’t decide which one to focus on. I remembered KC as a tall, pretty boy with a trim, athletic build. A smooth baby face. KC was the sweetest guy in the world with the most unusual gray eyes. They changed colors with his mood. When he was angry, they darkened like a thunderstorm rolled in. When he was happy, they shimmered like platinum. I hadn’t seen eyes like his until Storm’s.

Shit, shit, shit!

I should’ve seen the similarities. But KC had dramatically changed. His overall appearance was nothing like the teenager who stole my heart. Storm had corded muscles, tattoos, a black beard, and rings on his massive hands. He was dark and dangerous.

My man was sexy and sinful. Short-fused. Controlling. He made me feel adored and loved when we were together.

In the last twelve years, we’d both changed. KC had become Storm, and I was no longer a twig with braces.

How did I not see the resemblance? Why didn’t I question him after sensing I’d known him in another life? Stupid. I had known him in another life! He was my childhood crush, the boy I’d loved. Even after all these years, Kaleb Knight still owned my heart. I’d fallen in love with him all over again, only the adult version this time.

Oh, my God. I had sex with Kaleb Knight. Lots of dirty, sinfully delicious sex.

My face heated, probably turning red. It was stupid, but I felt so embarrassed. The things Kaleb did to me and I did to him; mercy...

“You need to tell me how this all happened, Maddy. I’m pretty damn confused right now.” Toby rubbed my back.

“Well shit, Toby. Can’t you see she’s shell-shocked? Give her a minute to process,” Tara told him in a scolding tone. She must have followed us into the clubhouse, too. I was so out of it I hadn’t noticed.

Toby let out a frustrated huff. “I don’t understand how this happened.”

“What’s there to understand? They met. They hooked up. They’re together,” Sugar said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Toby reared back, looking me sternly in the eyes. “Talk to me, Maddy. You sure as hell didn’t hook up with Kaleb, did you?”

I was taken aback by his accusing tone. I sniffled, wiping tears off my face unsure of how to respond. Tara pushed a cup of water toward me. I took it, drinking half. I set the glass on the table and inhaled a shuddering breath.

“I didn’t know he was your best friend, Kaleb Knight.” I dropped my head, shaking it. “I only knew him as Storm. I mean, I knew his name was Kaleb but didn’t think he was the same person. They look nothing alike.”

Toby squeezed his eyes shut. He always did this when stressed or thinking. “But how? Where? When?”

“I met Storm two months ago at The Bullet. Neither of us knew each other’s full names. He knew me as Madeline. I met him as Storm. A month ago, I discovered his first name was Kaleb. I was already in love with him. It all makes sense, now. My heart knew him before my mind did.”

“You can’t be with him, Maddy. He’s the president of an outlaw MC. He’s the reason, Tommy…” Toby snapped his mouth shut.

My gutted twisted, hearing Tommy’s name. “What? What were you going to say?” Something felt off with Toby’s reaction to everything.

He shook his head. “You can’t be with him.”

“Bullshit. I am with Storm—his mark is on me.” I grabbed the back of my neck.

“What do you mean his mark is on you?” Toby stood from his chair as if ready to kick Storm’s ass.

Sugar shot Toby a dirty look. “A tattoo, hothead.”

“I’m his old lady. Him being Kaleb Knight changes nothing!” Excruciating pain stabbed my heart. I’m his unless Kaleb decides to end it.

I doubled over in my chair, holding my stomach. What if he doesn’t want me anymore?

My heart couldn’t take it. I couldn’t bear losing Kaleb a second time. Not after giving him my body. Not after we loved each other so completely.

I would do whatever it took to make sure I kept him.