Ember

Well, how are we on book 13 already?! It's gone so quick but here we are! This is Ember's story. Now, unlike most of the other stories in this series, this book is not centered around the MC. Some of your favorite characters will still feature in this book, but Ember is not a member of the club, and will be starting out on her own! Please do comment on the chapters so I can continue to keep the books free for you to read. Enjoy! :D Ember “You’re insane.” I laugh at Colin, a friend of mine from school. He seems to think I’d want to join his band. I’ve got to admit that Dun’s Dungeon is impressive. They’re about to hit the big time, and the band is about to go on tour with a major name in music. Colin wants me to join, if not that, then to go on tour with them and help write songs. I love to write songs. Having someone sing the songs I write and get them out there into the world would be everything. I’m just not sure that I could walk away from my life in Bardsville for a career in music. I won’t lie; singing my own songs is my dream, but I know that becoming famous could cause problems for my family. Snakes Henchmen MC does not need to be thrown into the limelight. It would be for all the wrong reasons, believe me. A famous daughter of an outlaw biker? Not the best impression to give the world. I am in no way ashamed of my biker family, not even close. I am so proud of them in every way a person can be, but people out there can be cruel. Only one needs to post something negative online, and the wolves will descend. Everyone knows what journalists are like. Lying assholes who will twist the truth to print a more exciting story. “What’s so crazy, Ember?” Colin leans his jean-clad ass back against his living room dresser. Colin is a good-looking guy. He has the meth look women seem to love; his hair is shaggy, his eyes are brown, and he has strange tattoos dotted all over his chest and arms. He’s also married to Hannah, a girl we went to school with, a girl I never got on with. Hannah is tall and slim, with long legs and a mega-bitc.h attitude to match. We’re civil, for Colin’s sake, but we’ll never be best friends. “You know why I could never join your band. If we become as famous as I know Dun’s Dungeon is heading, people will dig into my life and discover where I come from. I can’t have strangers poking their noses into Snake Henchmen’s business.” Colin sighs. “I understand why you wouldn’t want that to happen, Ember. I know you want to protect your family from what could happen if people found out about them. But don’t you think you deserve to have a life of your own?” Colin takes my shoulders in his hands and looks me in the eye. “I don’t mean any offense by what I’m about to say, so don’t take it that way. For someone born into a motorcycle club, and all the things you know happen there, you are the most grounded woman I’ve ever known. You’re smart and beautiful,” I roll my eyes with a smile, and Colin laughs. “And you have a talent most only dream of, Ember.” “I write songs, Colin. It’s not like I save lives every day.” “Music saves lives every day, Ember.” He has a point. I know music has been my savior more than once. “The lyrics you write will save lives. Don’t you want to be the one singing those lyrics, bringing your words to life? Hang on,” Colin grumbles while leaving the room to answer the front door. I take a deep breath and let the idea of singing my own songs flood my mind. I’ve dreamed of nothing more than my songs, making people happy since I was a little girl. Everything I write is from the heart; every lyric means something to me, and I’ve written hundreds in my lifetime. I could bring joy to others and help them with painful feelings because I wholeheartedly believe that words have the power to save. Songs, books, or someone offering kind words of comfort are powerful. “I’m a little busy, Marco.” I hear Colin say. “I just need... Wow,” I raise my eyebrow at the man now walking through the door. I recognize Marco Russo from the picture Colin showed me earlier. I’ll admit the man is handsome beyond words. Half Italian on his father’s side, tall, brown-eyed, and fit with a swimmer’s physique. His dark, wavy hair is choppy and falling around his neck. In truth, he’s hot, and even I can appreciate that. Marco is the lead singer of Dun’s Dungeon, and anyone with eyes can see that he’s every girl’s fantasy. The trouble is, he knows it, and it’s apparent that he believes himself to be God’s greatest gift to men and women alike. The arrogance is ridiculous, but I imagine every rockstar wants to be a showman. Half of it is just a show; the rest, they feel entitled to act like God’s. Whatever floats their boats. “Now, who is this gorgeous creature?” I refrain from laughing when Marco takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “This Ember, I told you about her.” “That you did. I must say you are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” “Christ,” Colin grumbles. “She’s not interested, Marco. Ember’s in a relationship, so don’t even think about...” “It’s fine,” I hold my hand up to Colin. He doesn’t need to give Marco a big speech about how I’m already with someone. I can speak for myself. I have no intention of ever cheating on Toby, my boyfriend, and I’m not about to jump into bed with Marco Russo – no matter how handsome he is. “Can’t a man give a woman a compliment without wanting to get her into bed?” Marco scoffs. “When it comes to you? No.” Colin rolls his eyes. I chuckle at the look of mock shock on Marco’s face. He looks at me and winks. “So, you’re the girl Colin wants in the band?” “Yes, but as I was just telling Colin, that can’t happen.” “Why not?” Colin gives Marco the rundown about why I don’t think joining their band is a good idea. Marco listens carefully while Colin bangs on about how good my songs are, and how they’re just what Dun’s Dungeon needs. I’d be a liar if I said I wasn’t tempted to throw caution to the wind and say yes, yes, I’ll join your band. But I can’t, I just can’t. No matter how much I may want this, I won’t risk the world finding out about Snakes Henchmen. I’m not stupid, and I know my family does terrible things, some horrific things. If that information got out there, there would be investigations, definitely arrests, and God only knows what else. I couldn’t have that on my conscience; I’d never be able to sleep at night. “So, you don’t wanna join because your dad’s a biker, and you think he’d be arrested for all the shady shi.t he’s done if the world finds out about where you came from?” “Pretty much,” I sigh because I don’t like how Marco said what he said. I also can’t deny that it was true. “I also don’t want your other bandmates to know about my family. I’m not asking you to lie; just keep what you know to yourself.” Both men agree not to say anything. I hate having to ask them to keep things from their bandmates, but those men don’t need to know about me and my life. I could never hide it from Colin because we’ve been friends most of our lives. That doesn’t mean I want others to find out. God, am I being paranoid? You’re not paranoid, Ember, and it doesn’t hurt to ride on the side of caution. “You know, you don’t have to join the band. You could write exclusively for us.” I stare at Marco. “That’s not a bad idea,” This time, I raise my eyebrows at Colin. “Think about it, Ember. You don’t want to join the band because you’re scared of what people will think; we get that. But you could still come on tour with us, just not as a member.” I bite the inside of my cheek. What Colin and Marco are offering is tempting. Traveling with them and seeing for myself what it’s like to be a rockstar while staying in the background sounds great. I might not be living the dream of being famous, but I’d be living it through my lyrics as Marco sings them. What would I tell Toby? I couldn’t expect him to be okay with me leaving for months. Our relationship is serious, and I have to consider what this would mean for us should I go. I couldn’t ask him to tag along; he has a life, work, and friends here. Besides, Toby has shot down the idea of me having a life outside of this town more than once. We haven’t been together long, six months, but we’re in love, and his opinion matters to me. The first time I told Toby how I wished I could get my songs out there and hear someone singing them, he told me, ‘You wish, Ember. Shi.t like that doesn’t happen to people like you.’ I didn’t want to mention how people write songs every day and get them heard on the radio all the time. Toby has an answer for everything, and he’s always right. There’s never any room for him to be wrong because, in his mind, that isn’t possible. Never in the past would I have simply smiled, nodded my head, and agreed with what Toby had said. But he got inside my head incredibly quickly. I love Toby, and he’s not physically abusive toward me, but sometimes his words are harsher than they should be. If I went over to Toby’s place right now and told him that I wanted to go on tour with Colin, I know what his answer would be. ‘Why don’t you just give him the damn songs? What the hell do they need you to go along with them for?’ The idea of bringing the subject up with Toby hurts my stomach. I know he wouldn’t mean to make me feel bad, but it’ll end that way. Then there’s my family. I’ve never been away from them for long periods of time before. Sure, I’ve been on vacation with my friends, but never any longer than a week. My mom, dad, and younger brother are my best friends, and I’d be lost without them. You really need to cut the apron strings, Ember. Nevertheless, “I don’t know, Colin.” “At least think about it, Ember,” I nod at Colin. “We leave in two weeks for three months. Let us know if you wanna tag along.” Marco winks at me. I’ll give it some thought. I’d really like to go with them, but somehow, I know it won’t happen.