She is the everyday girl next-door.
He is shadowed by regret laced in broken memories.
Dark sins of the past have a way of taking hold of your heart and never letting go.
Paisley Asher is the average woman trying to get by in life. Happy and safe in her bubble of ease, she is not prepared to take on the black pit that is one man’s heart.
Trevor ‘Coal’ Blake has a past covered in black. Tainted. He is a dark soul.
In the moment, it is easy to lose sight of what is going on. Looking back, however, little cues were misread … or were they? He lives with more questions than answers.
Chance encounters bring these two together. Is she the angel to pull him from the depths of his personal hell, or is he destined to remain alone and as black as coal?
Coal
Regulators MC Series #3
By Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane
Copyright © 2017 by Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane
Published by Whiskey Girls Publishing
All rights reserved.
Edited by C&D Editing
Cover Design by Mina Carter
Cover Images by: © Furious Fotog | Golden Czermak
Cover Model: Jacob Wilson
Copyright © 2017 by Chelsea Camaron & Jessie Lane
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Chelsea Camaron and Jessie Lane, except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976.
The purchase of this e-book allows you one legal copy for your own personal reading enjoyment on your personal computer or device. You do not have the rights to resell, distribute, print, or transfer this book, in whole or in part, to anyone, in any format, via methods either currently known or yet to be invented, or upload to a file sharing peer to peer program. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. If you no longer want this book, you may not give your copy to someone else. Delete it from your computer. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents portrayed in this book are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, actual events or locations is purely coincidental and not intended by the authors. Please do not take offense to the content as it is fiction.
Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The authors acknowledge the trademarked status in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This book contains mature content not suitable for readers under the age of 18. This book contains content with strong language, violence, and sexual situations. All parties portrayed in sexual situations are over the age of 18.
This is not meant to be a true or exact depiction of a motorcycle club. Rather, it is a work of fiction meant to entertain.
Other Titles From Chelsea Camaron
Regulators MC Series
Ice
Hammer
Coal
Hellions Ride MC Series
One Ride
Forever Ride
Merciless Ride
Eternal Ride
Innocent Ride
Simple Ride
Heated Ride
Ride with Me (Hellions MC and Ravage MC Duel) co-written with Ryan Michele
Originals Ride
Final Ride
Devil’s Due MC Series
Crossover (Devil’s Due MC and Vipers Creed MC Prequels)
In the Red
Below the Line
Close the Tab
Caldwell Brothers Series
(written with co-author MJ Fields)
Hendrix
Morrison
Jagger
Visibly Broken
Fire Inside Series
(written with co-author Theresa Marguerite Hewitt)
Kale
Roughnecks Series
Maverick
Heath
Lance
Ruthless Rebels MC Series
(written with co-author Ryan Michele)
Shamed
Scorned
Love and Repair Series
Crash and Burn
Restore My Heart
Salvaged
Full Throttle
Beyond Repair
Stalled
Standalones
Stay
Original Sin
Mother Trucker
Serving My Soldier
For more information on Chelsea and her books check out her website:
http://www.authorchelseacamaron.com
Or you can send Chelsea Camaron an email at:
chelseacamaron@gmail.com
Other Titles From Jessie Lane
Regulators MC Series
Ice
Hammer
Coal
Ex Ops Series
Secret Maneuvers
Stripping Her Defenses
Mission Delivery
Sweet Agony
Sweet Recovery
Sweet Eternity
Bullets and Bluebonnets
Big Bad Bite Series
Big Bad Bite
Walk On The Striped Side
Standalone Stories
The Alpha’s Secret Family
Kindle World Stories
Lone Wolf Wanted
Sassy and a little Bad-Assy
Bears Do It Better
The Star Series
The Burning Star
The Frozen Star
For more information on Jessie and her books check out her website: http://jessielanebooks.com/
Or you can send Jessie Lane an email at:
jessie_lane@jessielanebooks1.com
Coal
Book 3, Regulators MC Series
Chelsea Camaron
& Jessie Lane
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About the Authors
Connected Books
You Might Also Like
Paisley’s Corner (favorite recipes from our heroine)
Prologue
~Coal~
The pounding in my head continues to assault my ears. Chad’s party last night was epic, and my head is making sure to remind me of the good time I had.
Bang.
Bang.
Thump.
Thump. Bang. Thump. Bang.
The rhythm is now unsteady.
“Trevor, wake your ass up right the fuck now!” my dad yells in his Army Ranger voice that has me immediately up and at attention by my bed.
Shit, why is
my dad yelling? This tone is reserved for the major fuck-ups.
Making my way toward the door, I don’t even bother to put on clothes. I exit in my boxers and am immediately met with the brick wall that is my dad.
We are about the same height and of similar build. Only, my dad has seen war, has the scars, and quite honestly, he scares the shit out of me.
“Turn around and put some clothes on. Then you get downstairs and face the shitstorm you’ve caused. Two minutes, or I’ll drag you down and let them see you in your naked glory. I don’t give a damn.”
He gives me a slight shove back into my room while my vision blurs and the chalky taste in my mouth makes me wish I had time to grab a glass of water. His instructions were clear and precise. I won’t press my luck with the Ranger.
Quickly tossing on my sweats and a T-shirt, I then rush downstairs. There is no way I’m going to be any longer than necessary, not with the mood he is in this morning. No, sir.
Halfway down the stairs, I stop in my tracks. The sight in front of me is like a punch to my hangover. I already want to puke my guts out.
My girlfriend Amber stands at the bottom of the staircase with tears in her eyes and her parents flanking her. The girl I have spent every spare moment with for the last few months doesn’t look like the lively, beautiful young woman I’m used to seeing. No, she looks a mess, hurt, broken, and … Could it possibly be she’s ashamed?
Her mother’s eyes are swollen from crying, and her father … his face is murderous.
What the hell is going on?
I shake my head, trying to sort out why they are here. Why my girlfriend looks like the world has crumbled at her feet. More so, why she’s brought this to my doorstep.
“Trevor,” my father barks harshly, making me jump while I complete my descent and hit the bottom step. “Ass. Couch. Now,” he commands before looking at Amber’s family. “Mr. and Mrs. Bridges, Amber, please head into the living room so we can address this matter.”
Matter? What could be wrong? I haven’t seen Amber in three days. She said she had the flu.
I sit while my mind races. We have been dating for six months. Three weeks ago, she finally gave it up at a party at her best friend, Kiki’s, house. Nothing has seemed out of the ordinary. We haven’t had much time together. I know I was drunk, she was drunk, so it wasn’t some romantic thing. In fact, once I got inside her tight pussy, I had to fight not to blow my load with the first thrust. I didn’t last long, but I told her next time would be better. I tried to make it good. I even held her afterward, knowing it was her first time.
“Trevor,” my mom says gently, and I look up into her dark eyes and see pain. “Amber’s family tells us that something occurred a couple of weeks ago,” she starts, only to be interrupted.
“You fucking piece of shit got my daughter drunk and raped her!” Mr. Bridges roars, lunging at me, but my dad, who easily towers a good six inches over the man, holds him back.
My mother rushes to my side, her long, black hair hitting me in the arm. She’s Native American, and I get my dark hair, dark eyes, and tanned skin from her. My height of six-feet-seven comes from my beast of a father.
“We need to discuss this,” my mother says to the Bridges.
“Nothing to discuss,” Mrs. Bridges replies. “Graduation is in two weeks; we want to see Trevor gone. Amber will have enough of a reminder for the next nine months of what’s happened to her. After the kids graduate, Trevor gets out of town for school or the military, or we go to the police and press charges.”
“Press charges?” I scream, running my hands through my hair as sharp pain assaults my head. “For what?”
“Rape!” Mr. Bridges yells back.
Tears hit me. I’m seventeen years old. One night at a party where I swear she said yes leaves me in this kind of mess.
“I didn’t,” I gasp, trying to get out the words. Then I make the mistake of looking into Amber’s eyes. The fear, the pain, the sadness, and the desolation are all written on her features as she shakes her head at me. “I didn’t do that.” I can’t even say the word.
My mother grips my arm in support. “Let’s sit down and talk this through.”
We back up and sit on the couch where my father releases Mr. Bridges then paces behind us. The Bridges take their seats on the loveseat and chair. Amber refuses to make eye contact any further with me.
“Were you at a party three weekends ago with Amber?” Mr. Bridges starts his interrogation.
I nod.
“Were you drinking?”
I nod.
“Do you understand that the legal drinking age in the United States is twenty-one?” he continues firing questions at me. “Do you understand that an intoxicated, underage girl is not of the right mind to give consent to sexual activities? Do you understand the pain you’ve caused our daughter? Do you understand the ramifications of your actions?”
“Sir—” I have to swallow the lump in my throat as I fight back emotions. “I understand the legal drinking age. I understand that, while yes, I was intoxicated, your daughter was an equal participant. So, no, sir, I do not understand the ramifications of my actions.” I fight back the urge to puke.
The man continues to fire question after question; some of them repeatedly, all of the accusatory. My mind races. Nine months …? Is she pregnant? We had sex one time.
It’s all a blur. I barely remember that night. How can this be happening? I need to pace. I need to puke. I need to get the hell out of here.
My father’s hand comes to the back of my head. “Since your mother and I failed to make a man out of you, the Army will,” he clips out. “Trevor will be signing enlistment papers today and will be gone within thirty days’ time.”
Mr. Bridges rises to extend his hand to my father to shake. “We appreciate your attention to the matter and easing the burden for Amber. We’ll be in touch about the future.”
Amber stands with her mother, never once looking at me as she exits.
Betrayal burns through me. How could she do this to me? To us? Did she care so little that she could honestly sit there and not fight for us at all? Meanwhile, I can’t help fearing what my future holds, my mind trying to grasp what they are saying.
I didn’t do it. I didn’t take advantage of her.
~~~
Two years later, I finish selection to become a Green Beret. The badass of the badasses. One of the elite. I remember, in the selection process, while trying to mentally survive from one obstacle to the next, someone said, “Hell is a fictional place. When you’re done here, it’ll seem like a fucking sanctuary.”
He was both right and wrong. Finishing selection was the most grueling thing I had ever done, but I had already seen hell.
Hell was your girlfriend saying you raped her when she turned up pregnant. Hell was getting a letter she lost the baby before summer was over. Hell was knowing her life went on while I couldn’t figure out if my memories of that night were teenage fantasies or reality.
Hell was living day in and day out, haunted by an event you aren’t sure really happened.
Chapter One
~Coal~
“Ropa vieja,” I order my shredded beef while Ice looks over his menu from beside me. Without having to watch him, I know what Ice is doing. He is scanning the restaurant, taking in the colorfully painted booths and the wood-stained tables while checking to make sure there is no threat. To men like us, it’s second nature to make sure your area is free of danger.
“Arroz con pollo,” he gives the waitress his chicken order.
With a nod, she takes off toward the back, weaving in and out of the tables, leaving me with one of the few people who I consider family sitting in front of me.
“It’s been three years, brother.” Ice meets my stare, not backing down. “Madyson is good. She’s working through it.”
I pause, then give it to him honestly, “You really think someone works through something like that?”
“Watching her, I kn
ow they do.”
His statement does nothing to ease my fears.
“You got a thing for my wife’s sister, Coal?” He asks the question everyone seems to wonder. “Look me in the eye and tell me. If you do, I’m not gonna judge. Not sayin’ I’ll be happy, either, but you need to buck up, Coal.”
“Fuck no. I’m old enough to be her damn dad.” I’m angry he even thinks this. “You know me better than that.”
“Then why, since the day we got her back, you’ve made it your mission to make sure she moves beyond this. Hell, Coal, you’ve paid for her college like she’s your own fucking kid.”
I glare at him. “No one is supposed to know that. As far as she goes, Morgan goes, or the damn Pope goes, you pay her way through school. Drop the subject.”
“Easier said than done, brother.” He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Got ghosts,” I reply as the waitress drops our plates off in front of us.
It’s all I’m going to give him. My personal life, my hell, is not his business. I have the means now to find Amber, though I don’t. I made a vow to my father the day I signed my enlistment papers to let the Army make a man out of me. I promised I would let Amber go and live her life free of me. Since the moment I took my oath, I haven’t looked into her, and I won’t. The baby is gone. There is nothing for me to talk to her about without bringing up what is one bad fucking memory.
When Madyson was found, I promised her I would be by her side to make sure she could move on in life. I made a vow to leave Amber alone, good or bad. I had to keep my word. I wouldn’t leave Madyson alone, though. No, I gave her my word to be her support.
And I have.
Ice raises his hands in surrender, knowing I’m done talking about Madyson. “For now, I don’t have to kick your ass.”
“Forever,” I clip back, meaning it. I do care about Madyson’s well-being, but not in the way he thinks.
Three years ago, Madyson was kidnapped, drugged, and raped by men who were operating a sex slave ring out of the Miami area. The Regulators had already taken notice of the number of women who had gone missing, but it became personal when Ice’s daughter, Brooke’s best friend, Madyson, became one of those missing women.