Braxton Read online

  Braxton

  Rebel Guardians MC

  Contents

  Cover Page

  Acknowledgments

  Author’s Notes

  Book Character’s

  Synopsis

  Prologue

  1. Caraleigh

  2. Braxton

  3. Braxton

  4. Braxton

  5. Caraleigh

  6. Caraleigh

  7. Braxton

  8. Caraleigh

  9. Braxton

  10. Caraleigh

  11. Braxton

  12. Caraleigh

  13. Caraleigh

  Epilogue

  About Liberty

  Other Works by Liberty

  About Darlene

  Other Works by Darlene

  Sneak Peek

  Synopsis

  14. DJ

  Copyright

  Braxton

  Rebel Guardians MC Novel

  Copyright © Liberty Parker

  & Darlene Tallman 2018

  Published by Liberty Parker

  & Darlene Tallman

  Cover by: Dark Water Covers

  https://goo.gl/mhVY1Y

  Edited by: Joanne Dearman, Kat Beecham, Melanie Grey, Jenni Belanger, Darlene Tallman

  Formatting by: Liberty Parker

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  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person or use proper retail channels to lend a copy. If you’re 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. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text please contact

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  [email protected]

  [email protected]

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  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the authors’ imaginations. No part of this story is based on any true events or anyone’s life. If any MC names are used by any real or true person it is coincidental and in no way based on them or any real-life human being living or not.

  Created with Vellum

  Dedication

  So, you get to read TWO of these—one from each of us. Aren’t you the lucky ones? Anyhow, I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Liberty and her sister, Kayce, at Wanderlust in Dallas in May 2017 and had an absolute blast. I felt like I had known them “forever”, something that was obvious from the way we just clicked, you know? Plus, I’ve talked to Kayce multiple times this past year by phone, and Liberty by phone and messenger. Well, I drove from Georgia to Dallas and back home again and while driving home, it occurred to me that the three of us should collaborate on a series. Since they predominantly write MC (although I have three MC books right now), that’s where my mind drifted. And of course, a muse started talking. When I asked the two of them, they were all for it. Right now, Kayce has other projects, so this first book is mine and Liberty’s baby. We are beyond excited to bring the Rebel Guardians MC to life for you, our readers and fans. We’re going to write through a program that allows each of us to tinker with the story so that you get a seamless read (if that makes sense). So, this dedication is to two more ladies in #MyTribe—Kayce and Liberty—who have believed in me from the word go and whose encouragement has kept me going on those dark, ugly days!

  ~ Darlene

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  To most writers this is the hardest part of any book...I’m no different it seems. There are a lot of important people in my life that pave the way for me in this industry. For this book I’d like to dedicate it to a couple of people. I know it’s not the norm, but neither am I. First up is Tracie Douglas with Dark Water Covers, she takes our ideas and turns them into masterpieces. She’s patient, kind and loves all of her authors equally, and that’s really hard to find these days. Second up is my partner in crime Darlene Tallman, you have become my rock and one of my closest confidants. Thank you for the honor of requesting I co-author this book with you. It is one of the most fun experiences I’ve had, and it renewed my love of writing. So thank you my dearest friend.

  ~Liberty

  Acknowledgments

  We both would like to give a special recognition to Daverba Ortiz for all the promotional work you’ve done for Braxton...there are no words to show our appreciation.

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  The two of us have different beta readers (although some ARE the same). For me, I have to acknowledge them; they’ve been with me since “Bountiful Harvest” and their insight, suggestions, and edits keep my books flowing and making sense. Without them, there would be no “me” as an author. And, for one of the best cover designers out there who we all adore, Tracie Douglas, who takes what we are envisioning and makes it reality. You make us all look fabulous!

  For my PAs—Vicky and Jenni—y’all can be quite...bossy at times, but I love y’all anyway!

  For my dad, who slipped his earthly bonds at the end of 2017—Dad, your words that day saying you were proud of me? I will never forget them. Ever. I am and will always be proud to be your daughter. Now you and Mom can watch from above as I chase the stars. “You followed a dream and made it reality”—this could become a tattoo.

  I also want to thank all of the ladies in #MyTribe as well as the readers who share our stuff “everywhere”! It doesn’t go unnoticed, trust me, and the fact you want to read what I write is still extremely humbling. Thank you doesn’t feel like enough sometimes.

  ~ Darlene

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  I want to first of thank my wonderful bossy PA Vicky Deviney Chelsey who’s faith in me never waivers. She encourages me every day and is one of my biggest supports. Jenni Copeland Belanger who has recently joined the team I want to thank you for taking a chance on us and we’ve enjoyed you helping out wherever you’ve been able to. She’s been very ill...get better soon sweetie, we miss you.

  My Liberty’s Luscious Ladies, you take my quirks and run with them. Always available for opinions, encouraging me to take new adventures and loyal to a fault. Thank you for joining me and being an ear when I need one.

  To my husband Greg and my three boys Colton, John and Thomas. My life would be incomplete without you all at my back. My love for each of you is unwavering and unconditional. You each light my life in your own way, I love you <3

  To my sister Kayce, always my back bone and one of my best friends.

  To my mother Cheryl, there are no words in the written language to express my love for you. All I can say is, I love you Momma.

  To my readers, my dream wouldn’t exist without you. There is no greater joy in my life than reading the reviews you leave letting me know how much my stories mean to you. If I can touch even one person’s life I feel like I’ve fulfilled my purpose with each and every release.

  <3#MyTribe: you know who you are.

  ~Liberty

  Author’s Notes

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  Braxton is a labor of love for the two of us and we have spent hours on the phone talking while we plotted as we went. We may or may not share a brain...but we’ll never tell!

  You may have questions...just know that “all will be revealed to she who waits” ...there are more books coming!

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  ***This book is intended for mature audiences 18 and older due to adult content***

  Book Character’s

  Rebel Guardians MC

  Braxton *Axe* - President

  Twisted - VP

  Bandit - IT

  Law - Club Attorney

  Chief - SAA

  Hatchet - Enforcer

  Capone - Road Captain

  Smokey - Secretary
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  Duke - Patch

  Chef - Patch

  * * *

  Prospects

  Chet

  Boothe

  Jaxson

  Maxum

  * * *

  Women

  Caraleigh

  Nan

  Donna Jo *DJ*

  Paisley

  Starla

  * * *

  Kids

  Luca

  Lily

  Ralynn

  Tig

  * * *

  MC Businesses

  Rebel Guardians Transportation

  Rebel Townhomes

  Synopsis

  The challenges of setting up a new MC were huge, but Braxton Callahan knew the rewards would be worth the hard work that he and his brothers were putting in. Relocating to Corinth, Texas had been interesting to say the least, but they wanted to live in a town where the businesses they were starting would help revitalize the area. A single father to Lily, a precocious six-year old, he longed to find the woman who would complete his family.

  When Caraleigh Jensen moves in next door with her little boy Luca, who is the same age as Lily, he finds himself drawn to the widowed single mother.

  Change isn’t always bad and it isn’t always good. Follow along as Braxton and his brothers continue to rebuild the town while he works to woo the woman his heart says is his.

  Prologue

  Braxton

  I sigh as I pull my cab into the specially-built garage next to the townhouse. While we are working to get more brothers licensed with their CDLs, I am doing the bulk of the long-distance runs. I smile as I think about the first business we started as a club—Rebel Guardians Transportation. We do long, and short-haul runs, transporting everything from fruits and vegetables to medical equipment and motorcycle parts. I hate that I’m away from Lily so much. That’s probably the hardest part—she spends more time with her grandmother than me lately, something I hope will change sometime in the near future.

  Locking the cab up, I realize that someone will have to take me to the office tomorrow to get my bike. I could drive my truck, but it’s too nice outside. I usually bring my bike home, but the late hour had me rethinking that since I know how loud my pipes are. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

  Walking into the house, I notice a note from my mother—Brax, I know you’ll be getting in late. I’ll take Lily to school in the morning. You need your rest. Love, Mom. She has been my rock for more years than I can count. When Daria abandoned Lily as a newborn, I had just been freshly out of the Marines and clueless when it came to dealing with babies. My mom, a widow herself, had moved in and shown me the ropes, never taking over except when I was out on a run. Time to do something special for her.

  Once upstairs, I check on Lily, quietly covering her back up and tucking her doll in next to her. Kissing her forehead, I whisper, “I love you,” and creep back out, closing her door softly. I know that even if my mom is going to take her to school, she will still come bouncing in to see me once she realizes I am home. Going into the master bedroom, I head straight to the bathroom and take a long hot shower to wash the road grime away. Damn, I’m lonely. What I wouldn’t give to have someone to curl up with when I go to bed. Someday. Now that I’m clean, it’s time to make something to eat.

  One

  Caraleigh

  I look around at my new place and grin. I was worried this townhouse wouldn’t be big enough, but it’s almost as big as a house, with a fenced-in area out the sliding glass doors for a small backyard! It is the first time I will be on my own with Luca since Graham my husband died, and I am equal parts exhilarated and scared to death. “Hey sis, where do you want this?” I hear my brother, Chandler, call out and I turn, seeing him come in the living room with the bedframe to Luca’s bed.

  “Let me show you his room,” I reply to my brother as I go up the stairs. “I’m glad you and your friends were able to help me out today, and that Mom was okay with watching Luca. He would have been underfoot, and this way, I can get things mostly organized before he comes home later.”

  “Anything for you and you know that by now,” Chandler says to me. “I know that things weren’t great with you and Graham, and I’m proud of how you’ve managed to overcome all the shit that was slung your way when he died.”

  I shrug, there isn’t anything I can do about it now, why let it consume my thoughts? Graham’s parents hadn’t liked me at all, feeling like I trapped their precious son into marriage by getting pregnant. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I had loved my husband, but he had treated me like a possession, something to be seen and not heard. It wasn’t like that in the beginning, he truly loved me, but his parents’ treatment towards me had influenced him the longer we had been married. My love for him had died long before he drew his last breath and the only reason I had stayed as long as I had was for Luca. “They were assholes, Chan, and hated me anyhow. They’ve made their position clear and I know that if Graham’s will wasn’t so airtight, they would have challenged it in court. At least, with the money he left, I don’t have to work if I don’t want to, you know?”

  “Yeah, I hear you but knowing you, you’ll find something because that’s just how you are,” he states. “Let me get little man’s bed put together so we can set his room up and then we’ll get yours set up.”

  “Works for me. How much is left in the truck?”

  “Not much, we brought in all the boxes and put them where the labels said to put them, so other than setting up the beds and bringing in the dressers, you’re all set.”

  This move has been easier than I thought it would be, if it wasn’t for my brother and his friends this would’ve taken me days to complete on my own. This move was necessary, I needed to get myself and my son as far away from Graham's parents as possible, they are a force to be reckoned with and are determined to make my life a living hell.

  * * *

  Braxton

  * * *

  I step out into my backyard and fire up the grill. A soft voice from my left says, “Oh shit,” and I hear the clatter of something dropping, then I hear a male voice ask, “What are you trying to do, sis? I told you I would bring that out.”

  “I know but you have your hands full and I thought I could handle it myself. Luca should be home soon, do you want to go ahead and order pizza? I’m sure he’ll be hungry.”

  I feel bad eavesdropping on what appears to be my new neighbor, but then again, she is in her backyard so I figure it’s fair game. There is something soothing about her tone that draws me to her and I shake my head. You’ve obviously got a screw loose. She’s a neighbor, nothing more, nothing less. But hearing her voice does something to me, it is as if she is a siren calling out to me. You’re losing your damn mind Braxton, I chastise myself.

  Moving back into the house, I get the meat and then wrap the potatoes and set about putting them on the grill. I can hear her working and talking to herself as she puts together whatever it is that she’d initially dropped. I want to go and help her out, but feel she won’t appreciate the intrusion. Just as I am rethinking my decision, I hear a little voice say, “Momma! I’s home!”

  “Hey, punkin, did you have fun with grandma?”

  “Yeth! We played at the water slides and then? We went to her friend’s house and made cookies!”

  “Cookies, huh? How many did you eat?”

  “Only a few, Momma,” the little boy says, giggling. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m putting together our firepit so we can sit out here and make s’mores.”

  “Can I help?” I can hear the eagerness in the little boy’s voice.

  “Absolutely. Hand me that thing over there, please.”

  “Momma? Do you think we can see if Daddy is watching us tonight?”

  I gulp, sounds like the little guy is without a dad, just like my Lily has no mom. I hear the female voice say, “Come here, sweetie.”

  Several silent moments pass before I hear, “Look
way up there, Luca, can you see that one?”

  “Yeth! Is that Daddy?”

  “I think so, yes, it’s the brightest one in the sky. Bet he’s peeking down to see how you like your new room!” I can’t help it, I find myself looking up, wondering which star she is referring to, I look for the brightest one I can find.

  “I miss him, Momma.” The sadness in the little boy’s voice gets to me. Poor guy.

  “I know, sweetie, I know.”

  “Momma? Will I ever have a daddy again?”

  “I don’t know sweetheart. Momma isn’t dating anyone and in order for you to have that, I would have to date someone and then get married again.”

  “I hopes you finds someone Momma.”

  Definitely feeling as though I am intruding, I quickly finish grilling and take my meal inside. Good thing my daughter is fast asleep in her room, if she’d heard the little boy next door she’d want to go introduce herself and make a new friend. I’m too tired to venture over right now, later I think, I’ll introduce myself and Lily later.