The truth will set you free (Bitter Roots MC Book 1) Read online

  The Truth Will Set You Free

  Penny Anglene

  Contents

  Production Acknowledgments

  Character List

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Also by Penny Anglene

  Contact or follow me:

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2020 by Penny Anglene

  This book is a work of fiction. The names characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used factiously and are not construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations are entirely coincidental.

  Except for short quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced, in any form, or used in whole or part by any means existing or produced in the future without written permission from the author.

  All rights reserved.

  Production Acknowledgments

  Cover design by Tracie Douglas @ Dark Water

  Covers: www.facebook.com/darkwatercovers

  Editing and Formatting by Maggie Kern @ www.facebook.com/Ms.Kedits

  Dedication

  To my wonderful editor who puts up with my delays and sassiness.

  Character List

  Bitter Roots MC

  Bossman – National chapter President

  Capone – Rogue President. Deceased

  Dog – VP

  Spider – Sergeant-at-arms

  Hawk – Secretary/Treasurer

  Rock – Road Captain

  Llaw – Attorney

  Ghost – IT tech

  DOC – Member

  Crane – Nomad becomes member

  Sledge – National Enforcer

  Flipper – Old-timer

  Prospects

  Fig/Leon

  Nick

  Jetter Boy

  Supporting Characters

  Jenny- Capone’s Ol’ lady

  Ms. Franks- takes care of the brothers

  Prologue

  Samantha…

  It’s been a long fucking day and I miss Brett. He called a week ago and told me that Capone was dead. Capone was the previous president who went off the rails, disobeyed the mother chapter, and lost his life for it. I’ve only spoken to Brett that one time, but he has kept in touch with the rest of the men. I want my man home. Enough of this shit, I’m fucking horny and my B.O.B. is broken. I just know I need to get a new one, because I’m tired of using my hand all the time, it hurts. I think I may have sprained it from overuse. I’m thinking that maybe he’ll take me to buy one when he gets home. Just thinking of him has me all hot and bothered, wet and so damned hyped up, my body is humming with electricity. I hear my cell ringing in the background and I stop stroking my body to answer it.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, Sam, how you doing? You okay? Spider said you were getting agitated,” Dog says.

  “Fucking fine. I’m horny honey, my B.O.B. is broken and my hand can only do so much. It’s time for my man to come home and take care of his pussy.” I’m not stopping the attitude as I tell him this, but I am trying not to laugh while saying this to him. I’m trying to lighten the mood for him. I know he has a lot on his plate and although I do miss him, I know he has shit to do.

  “Well, your man will be home within forty-eight hours, so get ready because my dick is as hard as a fucking rock. My hand hasn’t taken care of it. It’s waiting for his pussy,” he states, expressing his intent.

  “Are you all right? I know you’ve been busy and have a lot on your mind, but I haven’t learned much of anything from the guys. They’re being tight-lipped and told me it was club business. I thought I was part of the club. I’m the Queen of Ol Ladies,” I say, smothering a laugh.

  “You’re gonna get your ass spanked when I get home. You sure are full of it. What’ve you been smoking, darling?” he asks.

  “Not a thing sweetheart. Not a thing. I just miss you like crazy. Why are you always threatening to spank my ass?”

  “I’m going to be home soon and I love your ass.”

  “I love you, Brett. I’ll talk with you soon. Bye.”

  “I love you, too, Samantha,” he responds and hangs up the phone.

  The next couple of days I’ve kept busy at the shop as well as cleaning the house before he comes home. The men are slobs and unless I want to wait for them to clean it up, I need to just do it myself. Right now, I’m cleaning up the rest of my home because I want my space back to myself. They have been camped here at the house since Capone went rogue. Although I’ve gotten closer to some of the men in the club, I still like my own space. I’ve always had to give up my shit for others. I also know that right now, I need to share. I hear the door open in the kitchen and holler out they better not have on dirty shoes.

  I am finishing up the dusting in the living room when I look up and see who’s standing there and fall to the floor. I just keep staring. My mouth and thoughts are frozen. What the hell? I have several questions and they come tumbling out all at the same time. “Why? Why would you let all of us think you were dead? Do you know what we’ve been through?” I cry out.

  Chapter One

  Samantha…

  The smile that was on my face falls. Then I hear, “I didn’t. They knew. They promised me that they would tell you. That they wouldn’t let you think I was dead,” Jenny whispers with tears in her eyes as she slides to the floor next to me.

  “Who?”

  “Bossman, Dog, Hawk and Llaw. They were there when it was decided. They came in that night we had gotten shitfaced. They came up with the plan. I went along with it because they promised to tell you the truth. I left the note like they told me in case Capone got wind of it.”

  “Dog knew?”

  She nods her head. I’m so damn mad at all of them, I’m shaking. Jenny was one of the first women in the club who helped to acclimate me to it. She was Capone’s ol’ lady and considered what they call the first lady of the clubhouse. The women follow her example. She became one of my best friends in such a short period of time. After my car blew up, I thought she was dead. To let me believe that is unacceptable. It guts me to the marrow of my bones.

  “Did Spider know?”

  “He wasn’t there then. He had left to go to the clubhouse for something.”

  Sitting there, trying to digest what I’ve just found out, I hear the door open again. I look up and there’s Spiderman. He looks from me to Jenny and back again, his eyes wide and jaw open.

  “Did they tell you?” I ask. “Don’t lie to me, Spidey. I can’t take anymore lies. None. I’m done with them.”

  “I just found out about an hour ago. Dog just told me, said he had to get home before Jenny did, so that he could fix his fuck-up.”

  “Nothing to fix. I’m done, Spider. Just stick a fork in me.” I pause for a moment, then whisper, “I’m so fucking done.” Saying this is like cutting an arm off, but it’s what needs to be done. Dog doesn’t care enough about anything other than the club and himself. I never mattered and would always come last. He’s made that abundantly clear. “Get all of your all’s shit and get the hell out of my house. I mean it, Spider. Don’t any of you
come back. I’d rather lead a life of loneliness than be lied to. I deserve so much more than that.” I look at Jenny. “I can’t right now. I would appreciate it if you’d leave too,” I whisper.

  “You got thirty-minutes Spider. Get it all, everyone’s shit. I will call the police if I see any of you around here again. You tell Dog to stay away. I don’t want to see him anymore.” As I stand up, I look at the both of them and walk away. I lock myself in my bathroom, turn the water on to warm up before stripping and getting in the hot shower. I find myself on the bottom of the shower, crying for everything I’ve never had; thought I got and then realize I never had it to begin with. I will probably never have it. Being abandoned at such an early age, I’ve never really known what it’s felt like to have a family or to be loved for me, to come first before anything. I do know that you don’t lie as much as I’ve been lied to if you love someone. I need to be treasured and loved for me—above anything or anyone. I may not be perfect, but I am worth something. I guess that’s just the way it’s meant to be.

  Chapter Two

  Dog…

  I get a call from Spider telling me I need to come straight to the clubhouse. He sounded fucking pissed off too.

  I don’t want to. I want to go see my woman. I’ve fucking missed her, and I need to explain a few things before she finds out from someone else. It should have come from me about Jenny way before now. She’ll leave me if she finds out before I talk to her. She’s tired of half-truths, I know she is. I need to make a lot of changes in the way I do things. If she is in my life, she needs some say in how our life goes too.

  While we were gone, I’ve come to realize exactly what she means to me. She has become my world. I can’t do anymore of this half-ass shit, holding my real emotions and feelings from her. She deserves all of me and she’s going to get all of me whether she likes it or not. I tried to call her earlier, but it went straight to voicemail. That has me a little worried. It shouldn’t, but I’m getting a bad vibe. We’re about an hour out and with it still being a little early, I’ll stop by and see what Spider wants. I hit the accelerator on my handlebar a little to pick up some speed. The faster I go, the more I worry that my time isn’t going to be fast enough.

  Pulling into the compound, I see several of the guys walking around. Samantha should be here, I think with a smile on my face. I see Spider walking toward me as I lift my ass off my seat. I step off and am met with a fist to the face. The smile slides off.

  “What the fuck was that for asshole?” I roar.

  I see another fist come up, and it clocks me on the side of my head as I duck, trying to avoid another hit. He continues to come after me so the fight is on. Beating the hell out of each other, my frustration builds. I want to see Samantha, but instead I’m here fighting with this moron and have no idea why at this point. We both end up on the ground, out of breath, looking at each other. I look down and see blood all over my hands and shirt. I glance up and see Jenny standing there. She walks up, bends down then smacks me on the side of my face too. This all happens so fast that I didn’t see it coming. Man, she sure has one hell of an arm. I would hate to have her punch me with a fist.

  “You promised me. You lied to me, to my face, and let her suffer for no reason. I’m ashamed that I thought you actually cared for her. Bossman, you’re just as bad. I really thought you were better than my old man. You all are no different than the bastard he was,” she states as she walks at a faster pace than I’ve ever seen her go and heads to a vehicle idling by the gate. She stops and picks up a suitcase on her way out.

  “Fuck me. Women are a pain in the ass,” Bossman states.

  Bossman goes after her. She says something to the driver, and he spins the tires and gravel flies everywhere as he pulls away. There is so much dust, you can’t even see the rear of the vehicle.

  Spider…

  “You promised Jenny that Samantha and the patched members would be told. You lied not only to Jenny but your woman too. What the fuck were you thinking, man? You know what she’s been through. You’ve pointed that out to all of us on many occasions and you did it, anyway. I just don’t understand your way of thinking.” I pause to let him think on my words.

  “She’s right, though. You made Samantha suffer not only once, but again and again. I really thought you were in love with her. Man, if I would’ve known, I would’ve made a play for her. She’s worth so much more than you’re offering her. She told me to tell you if any of us show up by her home, she’s calling the police. She meant it, Dog. She said she was fucking done,” I spit out. I’m so mad, I have a bad taste in my mouth. Dog continues to sit on the ground where the fight ended, looking like he’s lost his best friend. He has, the stupid ass. I look at him one more time before shaking my head and spinning on my heel, going inside to my room. Fuck this shit. I slam my door.

  He has no idea what he’s lost. He just fucked it all up and… My thoughts trail off about Dog and Samantha and I start remembering what I lost. I did it myself, a long time ago… the only problem, I can never fix my mistake. She’s dead. I shake my head, grab my cut and out the door I go. I need to take a ride and try to shake off the memories from so long ago. I can feel them at the back of my mind, trying to wiggle their way back to the forefront of my head. I don’t need to do this again, not right now at least. As I walk through the clubhouse, I pray that he gets another chance—one that I never got. This life of loneliness with only the brothers as family can get a little more than lonely.

  Chapter Three

  Dog…

  I make it to the bar and yell at the prospect to bring me a beer. I’m getting madder by the second as I pound my fist on top of the bar top. I’ve fucked up one of the best things to ever happen to me, but I refuse to give up. I snatch the beer I’m given and drink it all in one tilt of the can. I look at the prospect and he literally runs to get me more. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I keep repeating out loud. One of the sweet butts comes up beside me, placing her hand on top of my shoulder where she begins to run her hand up and down my arm. I can’t stand her touch and I cringe with disgust. I want Samantha’s touch and only hers. This bitch wants more than any of the brothers would ever give her.

  “Hey, Dog, looks like you need to relax a little. Need some help with that?” She looks at me with that come-hither look that does nothing for me. Funny, but that look just makes her look like she’s sucked some sort of bad lemon.

  “Get the fuck out of my face and stay away. You understand me? Just stay the fuck away from me.” When she doesn’t move, I grab her hand—not gently either—and toss it off of me. “I said get the fuck away from me before you find your ass out in the streets,” I snarl.

  I know I’m being a dick, but she needs to get it in her head that shit isn’t going to fly—not with me or any of the other brothers.

  I see her angrily walk away with a little hurt in her eyes. The other sweet butts watch with gleeful expressions. I just shake my fucking head. They’re nothing but a hole to stick a dick in. I am so pissed off at myself, I chug the beer in my hand. The longer I sit here, the more pissed I get—not at Samantha, but at myself. I get up and march toward the door. It’s time to go hash it out because she isn’t pushing me out of her life. She is my life. Fuck me, it’s gonna take a miracle to get her to listen to me. Doesn’t mean she will forget or forgive, but I need to put this right.

  I get to Samantha’s house and who do I see but good ole Pete himself. I stop in the driveway to the side of his squad car. I jump off thinking after a second that something may be wrong. I walk up and he turns to look at me. Of course, Samantha won’t even look at me.

  “Something you need, Dog?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask. “Why are you here?”

  “I was asked to come by. You need to leave before I arrest you for trespassing. I’ve been advised that you are not to be on the property,” Pete states.

  “Samantha, we need to talk about this. Please listen to me,” I tell her,
ignoring Pete.

  “I’ll be down tomorrow to make a statement, Pete. I need to get inside. I’ve got things to do.” She turns and goes back in the house without even sparing me a glance. It’s as if I wasn’t even there. I look in the door to see which way she has gone, but I don’t see her at all.

  “What the fuck happened, Dog? She loves you. What did you do to her?” he asks me, puzzled.

  “I didn’t tell her the entire truth about something. I didn’t lie, I just didn’t say anything to correct an assumption. I never should have done it,” I tell Pete. “I can’t lose her. I will be coming back around. She’s my life—the reason I get up every day, the reason I fucking breathe. Do you understand what I’m saying, Pete. She is it for me. Without her, I’m nothing,” I whisper, choking on a half sob. I turn to leave. I can’t show any weaknesses right now, there are too many eyes watching.

  “Fuck Dog, I don’t know what to say. Give it some time, but you’ve been asked to leave. I don’t want to have to arrest you. Make sure to keep clear of here. Don’t make me pick between friendship or my job. My job will always have to come first,” he tells me.

  I understand what he says. I don’t like it, but I won’t put him in that position. I’ll wait for him to leave. I turn and head toward my motorcycle.