Sliding into the car with nothing but a clear bag of my meager possessions, I look over at my dad and smile. I look like crap, and I know it. I’m not the same woman I was before I walked inside these prison cells.
“Thank you for picking me up,” I say as he reaches over and hugs me. My stiff shoulders relax in his embrace, and I release a deep breath of relief.
I’m out.
After six long months that seemed to go on forever, I’m free.
“I’m just glad that you’re out of there,” he says, looking over me with his kind green eyes, so much like my own. This man has always been there for me, and I will always adore him.
“You and me both. And I can tell you right now, I’m never going back,” I promise.
And I mean that.
Never again.
The second I got locked up, I knew what I needed to do, and that hasn’t changed now that I’m out. I’m not going to associate with my so-called friends anymore, and I’m sure as hell not going back to my ex-boyfriend. I didn’t deserve the way I was treated by him. No woman does.
I’m going to get a fresh start somewhere, and I’m going to turn my life around.
“Where’s Mom?” I dare to ask.
I haven’t missed the fact that she didn’t write or visit me in prison. Dad always made an excuse for her, and I know how hard this must be on her. She’s an art teacher and very well known in our community. She never told me outright, but I know how embarrassed she is of me.
But I’m her only child, and I need her right now.
Dad sighs and hesitates before he answers. “She’s at home. She didn’t want to come. I think she needs some time, Cam. She’s been very upset about the whole thing. Just give her some time.”
I nod, thinking that she’s had six months, which should have been enough time. She’s my mother, and I need her. I wish that she could see that and be here for me right now.
“She suggested that we get you a motel for a few weeks, until she’s had a little space,” he adds, hitting me with the final blow.
I’m not even welcome in the family home anymore. I know how badly I’ve fucked up, but that hurts more than I’d like to admit.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I whisper.
“I know you are, sweetheart,” he replies sadly, and then starts the engine.
I close my eyes and give myself a moment.
I vow in that moment that I’m going to figure out what I need to do to make my parents proud again. I’m never going to see that look of disappointment in his eyes ever again.
I’ve got a lot going against me.
A criminal history.
People who will want to bring me back down with them.
No support from the woman who gave birth to me.
But you know what?
Watch me win.
Chapter One
“Why haven’t you hooked up with anyone in the MC?” Dee asks, studying me over the seat of his motorcycle. I’m putting the finishing touches on his beautiful machine. When he came in telling me he had scratched some of the paint off, I was happy to restore it to its original glory. I love his bike. It’s an older-model Harley, but it’s a beauty. Newer doesn’t always mean better. “You’ve been around for years but have never been interested in any of us.”
I wrinkle my nose at his question. He asks some weird ones sometimes, but this takes the cake. He actually sounds surprised that I’m not attracted to even one of them. Years of women throwing themselves at him must have gotten to his head.
“I can admire that most of you are good-looking, but you’re all like family to me.” I tilt my face to the side. “And not really my type. Also, get over yourself. Some women won’t like any of you.”
The Knights of Fury MC own this garage, and there’s no way I’m going to get involved in all of that. I love the men, though, I really do. They gave me a chance, and a job, when no one else would, and I will always owe them for that. But I’m not looking to bring my personal life into work. It’s hard enough building a reputation as one of the best custom bike designers, despite being female, so having a reputation for sleeping with the MC would do nothing but take away from that.