AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Getting on my bike and heading home, I smile, looking forward to having Jenny in my arms.
This life is tough, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I have a beautiful, strong wife, two amazing kids, and am the president of the Wicked Rogues MC.
What could be better than that?
About the Author
E.F. Rose and family have found their corner of the world in the Central Valley of California. She has always enjoyed writing and considers herself to be a multi-genre author, with urban fantasy and dark romance being her main focus. If she isn't writing up a storm, she can be found chatting with friends, reading a good book, or spending time with her husband and son.
If you would like to know more about E.F. Rose and her work, you can find all her social media and book links athttps://linktr.ee/E_F_Rose,or you can reach out to her at [email protected].
Rebels
Sutton Bishop
ChapterOne
Heart drumming in her chest, Julia Hayes opened the passenger door of the Town Car and sat for a moment, taking in the Wake and its surroundings. The fact that she and her friends were here was due to her relentless pushing and desire to escape the Cliffs—the wealthy section of the city on the east side of the river—and everything it stood for. Where they all lived, worked, and played.
The Wake’s reputation preceded itself.
The two-story structure, towering and proud, stood in a large, cleared forested area. Mismatched lights decorated its exterior, hanging from the eaves and secured around the window frames, giving the caked-with-grime panes an odd color wash. The building was in need of paint and repairs.
Rows of gleaming and magnificent motorcycles—mostly Harleys—were parked in the weedy grass in front of the generous porch, parting at the wide stepped entry.
Commercial LED lighting illuminated the gravel and dirt parking lot and its assortment of newer and well-used trucks, and more Harleys.
Porter, her father’s driver, spoke from his seat. “Miss Julia, I am not comfortable leaving you and your friends here. It is worse than I imagined,” he said adamantly. “You and your friends shouldn’t be here. I should not have driven you here. Your father—”
Julia waved a hand in the air and laughed. “Father’s out of town. And Mother …” She closed her eyes tightly and grimaced before opening them again. Only a few weeks home and she wanted to leave. “Don’t you worry, Porter. If you hadn't driven us, we would have gotten someone else to, or appointed one of us a designated driver.”
Porter turned and faced her. The skin around his sullen eyes had sunken, and the lines finer and more frequent. Julia had known him all her life. He'd been a loyal and lively employee of Wilson Hayes since before she was born, and seldom had she seen him so stern.
His voice was threaded with worry. “This isn’t the sort of establishment a Hayes frequents. Your parents—”
“That’s exactly the problem. My parents …”
“Miss Julia—”
“The only thing Susan and Wilson Hayes would be worried about is if I were to embarrass them. Not going to happen. At least, not tonight. I survived Europe without my parents, without any major hiccups. I can easily survive the Wake. Besides, there are five of us. We’re staying here. Dancing and drinking. Not a word, Porter. You promised. Midnight. I’ll call if it’s earlier. Thanks.”
Her eyes passed over the riveted expressions of her friends seated behind her and grinned. She scooted out and stood, waiting as her friends followed.
Ported leaned toward her opened door and pointed at the building. “There are more of them. Far more. Your parents—”
Julia slammed the door before he could finish, then turned and bathed her friends in a beaming smile. “Shall we?”
Gravel crunched behind her as the Town Car crept away. Her friends Haven, Edie, Tilly, and Poppy trailed behind, having accepted Julia’s dare. Dressed in thrifted clothes, like her, each was fortified with a shot of tequila enjoyed at Poppy’s, and confident of easing into one of the most notorious establishments in Torch River unnoticed.
Until now. Julia and her friends hadn’t done anything this wild since high school. Sure, they had driven through the Narrows periodically, itching to leave the confines of the Cliffs and curious about the residents on the other side of the river, but it had been ages. Nervous, they chattered quietly.
Live music came from somewhere behind the old building. The robust guitar riffs and bass lines and the driving rhythm of drums pulsed through her body.
The shiver running through her had everything to do with an edgy excitement as she sauntered toward the Wake. She was completely out of her element here in the Narrows—the “wrong side” of Torch River, situated along the west side of the river, the city’s namesake, and it was thrilling. She halted, wanting to absorb all of it.
Haven teased loudly. “Are we going in, Julia, or are you just going to keep staring?”
