Hinder (Midnight Saints MC Book 3) Read online

  Hinder

  Midnight Saint MC Book 3

  Iris Sweetwater

  Contents

  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

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Hinder

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Hinder. Copyright © 2020 by Iris Sweetwater. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information contact I. Sweetwater.

  Contact Iris

  Cover Design: Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design

  Editing: Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing

  Proofreading: Rebecca Vazquez, Knox Publishing

  Formatting: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing

  Created with Vellum

  AVAILABLE NOW

  BY: IRIS SWEETWATER

  SERIES: BROTHERS OF FANG

  The New Alpha

  Blood Betrayal

  The Heart of the Pack

  The Power of the Hybrid

  SERIES: MIDNIGHT SAINTS MC

  Abandon

  Discord

  Hinder

  SERIES: THE CLANS WITH ELIZABETH KNOX

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Defiant

  Shattered

  Ruthless

  Covert

  Heretic

  Venomous

  Demise

  SERIES: QUARTER KINGS MC WITH KASANDRA SHECKLES

  Chains

  Doc

  SERIES: RED CROWS MC

  One Way Out

  SERIES: THE OASIS PLAGUE

  Thirst

  TEXAS ROZE

  NICODEMUS’ MASTER

  COMING SOON

  BY: IRIS SWEETWATER

  The Elites

  Yetti with Kasandra Sheckles

  The Daddy Series

  PARANORMAL ROMANCE BOOKS

  Rebel Reaper

  Embracing Salvation

  Lilly of the Woods (Princess Harems #1)

  SCI-FI ROMANCE BOOKS

  Sci-Fi Fairytales

  DARK FANTASY

  Sin

  Check out the Midnight Saints MC Playlist here.

  Chapter 1

  Sophie

  I walked away from the colonial building that held my classes and crossed the grass in a shortcut across campus. Near the front of campus is a cafe, one that I have frequented ever since coming to school here, but today is different.

  Today, I’m meeting my sister there, whom I haven’t seen or heard from in years. She disappeared after a fight with our father, Maxum, years ago, running off with some tattooed man. In doing so, she proved every bad thing my father had ever said about her.

  I had been at odds with her since we were young. The only reason I’m meeting with her now is because I’m scared for the one thing we share; our father.

  Though, I know she disagrees with the sentiment. She doesn’t believe him to be my anything, even though my relationship with him is much closer than theirs ever was.

  Under God, blood means little. As a preacher, he has taught me that all my life.

  I actually step through the door and get myself a cup of coffee before joining her where she is already sitting.

  In every way possible, Kara and I are entirely different, and not just because our biological parents are different.

  She is skinny where I’m curvy, blonde where my hair is almost as dark as my coffee, and she’s covered in tattoos which makes a lot of the other students in here stare at her. There aren’t a lot of girls like her around here, it being a more conservative school and town for that matter.

  “Kara,” I say cautiously as I sip my coffee. I know that this is going to be tough, and I don’t need to make it worse by pissing her off. From what I remember she has a bad temper, and I don’t know her level of sobriety either. In fact, my stomach is twisting up as I regret even calling her here. But who else could help me?

  “Sophie, to what pleasure do I owe this meeting?” she asks, an amused grin on her face.

  I have to admit to being a confrontational person myself, and it takes all my willpower not to fall into the trap for a fight. “Our father.”

  She shakes her head. “You mean my father. He never even legally adopted you.”

  “Maxum called me, Kara, and hearing him like that . . . it scared me. I won’t pretend to see eye to eye with you or even like you, but Maxum needs the both of us.”

  She makes a big deal of spitting out her coffee and cackling, interrupting any quiet work the students are trying to get done in here. “You’re fucking kidding me right?” Here we go. “Maxum doesn’t need anything other than a swift kick in the ass. I tried to tell you he was dangerous. That he was crazy. That he robbed me, tried to have me killed, had one of his own MC members killed . . . he needs to pay, Sophie. A servant of the law must know that.”

  “Along with law comes justice.” I slam my fist down on the table in frustration. “He’s not himself. Even if he did do those things, which I don’t believe he would, it had to be the drugs talking. I can tell he’s on them. I know when someone is being eaten alive by addiction.” I whisper the last part, looking anywhere but at her face. My mother’s behavior after my father’s death is one of my most painful memories and greatest shames. It’s the whole reason why Maxum took me in.

  My father had been a pious man who raised me in the church. My mother a recovering addict who fell right back into it once he was gone.

  “The only addiction he has is being an ass. But I didn’t come here to argue. I came because I thought you wanted my help. And that, I can give, if you’re willing to cooperate.”

  I narrow my eyes at her. “He needs rehab. I want him to get clean. I want him to have a chance to make amends for anything he actually did do. I want my father back.”

  She glares at me, and I know I’ve said the wrong thing, but that’s okay. She lets it slide and leans back in her seat, two legs of the chair off the ground like a teenager. “No way in hell is Maxum going to rehab. Neither you nor I could convince him, even with a gun to his head.”

  “Please, Kara, we have to try. Maybe . . . maybe if he gets clean you can have something better with him after all these years.”

  She lets her chair slam back down on the floor, causing more stares. I’m worried we might get kicked out of here if this doesn’t de-escalate quickly.

  Kara leans in close. “There is nothing to have with a man like that. I get things are different with you, and I only pretend that it isn’t half the reason I don’t like you. He’d rath
er have a replacement daughter he didn’t create than the accidental daughter of a whore. But what I also don’t like is how everything with you is smoke screens and rainbows. Being a preacher was a front all these years. He is a bad fucking man, and he will pay for what he did; whether in the courts of law you love so much or by the law of the MC.”

  “Then, at least let him sober up so he has a chance to defend himself.”

  She looks me up and down. “Fine. But he can dry out at the MC. He can come stay as a guest, go through withdrawal, and then we can question him so we can find out why he did what he did and who our enemies are.”

  I don’t like the sound of it. I never did like his involvement in the MC life, never understood it, but he would always tell me how it allowed him to reach and help the most depraved of people. The lowest of the low, like Jesus did.

  He would explain how he used his power to help charities and those left on the streets with no parents and no religion. He was doing God’s work in his own way.

  And as much as I hate to admit it, it was how he liked it. The club was his home. And it wasn’t like I could take time off law school in order to care for him and be there. It’s why I called Kara, isn’t it? I had to let her help.

  “What do I need to do?”

  “Call him back. Find a way to get him in your car. And get him to us. When you’re ready, text me, we’ll be waiting.”

  She downs the rest of her cup of coffee and stands, waving to the whole cafe like she’s just given them a show.

  Chapter 2

  Sophie

  “Sophie, I can’t believe it’s you. You look so grown up.”

  Maxum reaches for my hand and covers it with his. Though I can’t help but notice the slight tremble in it, the bloodshot eyes, and the way he’s lost so much weight since I last saw him.

  I’m not as stupid as Kara thinks I’m. I know he’s manipulating me a little, even as nice as it is to see him again.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve been so wrapped up in school that I haven’t given you enough quality time. I feel like I miss so much of the outside world.”

  He shakes his head, not even touching the hot dog and soda in front of him which I bought.

  I met him at a park about a half an hour from the club, hoping he wouldn’t be suspicious by any of this.

  “As you should be. You’ve always been destined for great things. It’s why I was so determined to keep your circumstances from ruining you. I don’t take offense to any of it. You’re doing exactly what you’re meant to.” He struggles with his words in a way he never has before. He’s a preacher for goodness’ sakes! He has always been so eloquent.

  I know now, more than ever, what is below the surface, and it makes me sad that even the man who saved me from my mother’s addiction could fall victim to the evil of temptation.

  “That means a lot to me, Dad,” I say, trying not to cry. “How have you been?” I ask, taking a bite from my hot dog and hoping that it spurs him to eat. How long has he gone without food? What is he even taking right now?

  For all I know he could drop right here, and all of this would be useless.

  He sighs and shakes his head, pushing his food entirely away from him which makes my heart sink.

  “Well, you know, it hasn’t been easy. I know you never understood the MC life, but it always gave money for the church and a little bit for me to live off of. I should’ve listened to you, though. Always so smart.” He smiles at me and reaches out to stroke my cheek, but something is off about it.

  It’s something he’s done many times, but it’s never felt so forced. Rehearsed, even.

  “They kicked me out. Stole my money. It’s been rough. I have nothing now. And I’ve been . . . sick. Too sick to run the church. I had to hand it over to someone else for now. I really need help, Sophie.”

  He looks at me, his eyes pleading, and all I can see is my glassy eyed mother wondering, even in the middle of a high, where her next one was coming from. It wounds me in a way I didn’t think possible.

  I wish drugs never existed; that man had never twisted nature in such a way.

  “I agree that you need help,” I tell him, reaching to take his hand again. “I want to help you, if you trust me.”

  Negotiations are part of my classes—and talking with criminals. And while my father is no criminal, he has the behavior of one, so I have to use my training right now to keep things calm and convince him of what he needs to do.

  “I’m so glad to hear that, Sophie. I was hoping you could help me.” He tears up, and I wonder if it’s real or not. “I need a little money, just to get me through this next phase to starting over. Then, I’ll pay you back. Maybe even come live toward Athens with you. No point in staying here when I’m not in the MC anymore.” He lets out a chuckle, and my heartbeat picks up.

  Now, he’s asking for money?

  Not that it matters. I guess, if anything is going to get him in the car, it’s this.

  “Let’s finish our lunch, and then I have a couple errands to run anyway. We can swing by an ATM when we’re finished. I don’t mind loaning you a little.”

  He purses his lips, and I can almost feel what’s coming like a premonition. “I wish I had time to come running around with you, but I have a job interview coming up in an hour. Can we just grab the money and you can drop me off for the interview? Maybe I can come up to see you a couple weekends from now. We can celebrate me getting a job.”

  I know it’s a lie. Anything he can say to get his next fix. I’ve been there before.

  “How about a compromise. Let’s wrap these dogs and sodas up to go and then we will run the errands now. It really won’t take long. We’ll get you there on time.” I wink and start standing up, not giving him a chance to say no. I see his frustration building, a bead of sweat coming down his brow. Could he already be in withdrawal?

  That could be dangerous, and I have half a mind to just take him to the hospital instead. Where they can make sure he lives through this.

  But I also want his name cleared, and giving him to Kara and allowing the questioning to take place could do that for him. Eliminating the guilt on mine and his conscience and getting Kara off our backs once and for all.

  “I’ll just use the bathroom really quick and meet you outside.”

  “Why don’t you give me your keys so I can get the car cooling off. It’s pretty hot.”

  I try not to show my anxiety at his games. “I’ll be right back.”

  I go into the bathroom, leaving the food in Maxum’s hands, as I pull out my phone and text Kara.

  He’s getting in the car now.

  We’re ready. Just be careful.

  I roll my eyes at her fake concern. She just wants Maxum intact for her own purposes. But at least Tony, from what I know of him, seems to be a reasonable man. He’ll control her crazy.

  I come back out with a smile and lead him to the car, wasting no time now. I hop on the road that will take us to the clubhouse, hoping he doesn’t pick up on anything and do something crazy. The motivation to feel good again as he comes down from this can be intense. Once my mother had attempted family therapy while she was trying to get sober, and the therapist had explained to me in detail what’s going through an addict’s head in moments like this.

  Love and reason often go out the window.

  The mountains get closer, and I breathe an internal sigh of relief that we are ten minutes or less out, and he’s said nothing. Though the sweat is really pouring from his brow now.

  “What the hell is going on, Sophia? I’m going to be late.”

  “Just a couple things to do. Almost there. Don’t worry,” I said cheerfully, but as I take the right exit, a knife is at my throat.

  “Take me to get my money, bitch, or I’ll cut you and steer this thing myself. I’m sure I can figure out your pin number.”

  I let out a whimper and step on it, racing into the rural area that holds the MC. I swerve the vehicle, hoping his shaky hand will drop the knife a
s the back entrance to the clubhouse comes in sight.

  I hit the brakes hard, and he finally drops the knife. I recover quickly and jump out of the car as a group of men in leather jackets, followed by Kara, come running for the car.

  Chapter 3

  Sophie

  Kara, Tony, Seth, and a few other guys came over, yanked open the door, grabbed him and hauled him out of the car forcefully. The food fell to the ground and got trampled as they dragged him out.

  “Where to, Prez?”

  “The dungeon,” Kara answers, and my blood boils.

  “Kara, this wasn’t the agreement!” I screamed at her as I ran after them, but I was stopped by a few of the men. “Get out of my way!” I yelled at them.

  “We have strict orders not to let you pass. You can go wait at the bar. Kara will meet you there when she’s done with him.”

  “This was not what was supposed to happen. This is why I wanted her to help me get him to rehab.” This won’t help him I run my hands through my hair in frustration . . . more like I ripped at my hair.

  “Rehab? Honey, you’re a fucking moron if you think rehab is going to help that asshole.” Did Kara have that much influence over the MC now? “What he needs is a good ass whooping. He had one of our guys killed. He was gunning for Tony. If I was in charge, every fucking tooth in his mouth would be knocked out, and that’s just where I’d start.”