Page 1 of Striker

Chapter 1

Lilah

Istood on the bigfarmers porch watching the storm roll in over the Bitterroot Mountains. I could tell from the dark, billowing clouds, it was going to be a big one. I pulled my light sweater tight around me as I let my mind play back old memories. I hadn’t seen a storm like this since I left this small Montana town four years ago. That day was a dark spot in my past and I hated to even think about it.

Four years ago, I was leaving home for the first time. Instead of it being a beautiful memory, it was disrupted by heartbreak, deceit and disappointment. The day I left home the sky opened up and let hell rain down on this small town. Despite all of that, Mama told me “You’ll make it out there and bring pride to this family. God has big plans for you, Lilah Rose. Don’t let this small town and bad memories bring you down.” I was off to chase my dreams and try and forget the dark cloud that hung over me in this one red light town. In reality, I was just another small-town girl running to the big city. But just like the storm overhead that day, there was a storm just as big in my heart and that storm’s name was Levi Walker.

The Walker family had a ranch right next to us for as long as I could remember. The Walkers and The Crawfords were part of the first settlers in this small Montana town which meant our families went back for generations. Being such a small town and all our family history, Levi and my older twin brothers were best friends growing up.

Sawyer and Silas were two years older than me and I followed them everywhere. My brothers were my best friends, protectors, and idols. I did everything those boys did without a second thought. From riding horses, to building tree houses and forts in the woods, to swimming in the creek. Whatever those boys did, I wasn’t far behind them.

Growing up, I always had a little crush on their best friend, Levi. He was always sweet to me and had the prettiest shade of blue eyes I had ever seen. They shined like the stars at night and were bluer than Lake Suequehanna here in town. Levi would always stop by before grabbing my brothers to chat with me. He would make sure to find me wherever I was on the ranch and talk to me about my day. Before he would leave to find Silas and Sawyer, Levi would always tell me “Little Lark, you’re gonna fly high. Don’t ever stop chasing your dreams.” Little Lark was his nickname for me and only me. He told me he called me Little Lark because I reminded him of the birds; carefree and unaware of the grim reality of the world. If only life didn’t come crashing down, I could have stayed as happy as those little larks.

On my sixteenth birthday, my Daddy gave me a rose gold necklace in the shape of a compass. He told me it was to help guide me on my journey and never forget my way home. He knew I had big dreams, but always reminded me to remember my roots. That night, Levi had come over for my birthday dinner. This wasn’t out of the ordinary as he was practically family, he was at nearly every dinner and celebration. After we had finished with the chocolate cake my Mama baked, Levi asked me to take a walk with him to the old barn.

Walking out beneath the stars, he took my hand and led me up to the hayloft where we played as kids. I remember feeling so nervous that I was going to embarrass myself in front of him. To my surprise, he asked me to be his girlfriend that night. I always thought he looked at me as a little sister and nothing else. Levi had already asked my parent’s and brother’s permission and they, of course, said yes. He had waited until my sixteenth birthday to ask me out just as my Daddy asked him to. He told me that I always had a special place in his heart and since he first laid eyes on me, he knew I was going to be his wife.

Levi and I dated for two years and spent every moment we could together. Everybody thought we would get married and live on our own little ranch together, just like Levi promised me every day. Little did I know, my knight in shining armour had other dark plans.

A week before graduation, I was accepted into a nursing program at the university in the city. It was my dream come true and I couldn’t wait to tell Levi. I remember running next door to his ranch and finding him tending to some horses. When he turned and walked toward me with that perfect smile on his face, I jumped in his arms overwhelmed by excitement. I blurted everything out, expecting him to be excited for me to follow my dreams. Instead, he turned cold and emotionless. He explained that he had just been voted President of the motorcycle club; The Devil’s Highwaymen MC, in our town. I was crushed and broke down. Levi tried to console me, but all I could think about was how all my life plans were falling apart. I remember running back home and locking myself in my room. Nobody was able to get me out that night. I remember Levi standing outside my window, begging for me to come outside and talk. My brothers even tried to talk me into coming outside, but I refused and cried myself to sleep that night.

Levi and I fought the entire summer. I begged him to leave and come with me, to forget this town and just leave. He never asked me to stay, but made it clear he wasn’t leaving this town. I cried, I pleaded, I screamed, but Levi continually picked the club over me. He told me it was in his blood and he couldn’t walk away. This was what he needed to do according to him and he couldn’t understand why I was so against the motorcycle club.

I knew his Daddy and GrandDaddy were past Presidents and that his family were founders of the club, but I thought I could change his mind. His Daddy had just stepped down as President and it was a natural decision for the club to vote him in. I knew Levi had done scary things, but never thought he would actually stay in the club. My childish daydreams were crashing down around me and I was getting an ugly glimpse at the real world. My heart was breaking more and more everyday and the one person who was always there for me was slowly slipping away.

The day I was supposed to leave for the university, I expected Levi to at least come over and say goodbye, but he was nowhere to be seen. I searched his ranch and couldn’t find him. He wasn’t in any of our secret spots or downtown at the diner. I knew he was hiding at the motorcycle club’s clubhouse and I couldn’t bring myself to chase him down there. I remember driving by and wishing he would come running out, telling me he changed his mind and would follow me wherever I went. But I knew that was selfish and absolutely unlikely. Levi had chosen who he truly loved, and the ugly truth was; it wasn’t me. The Devil’s Highwaymen would always come first for him and it was something I just needed to accept. I drove home to say my goodbyes and leave this town for good.

That afternoon, I didn’t think my heart could break anymore, but to my surprise it did. All because of Levi Walker. I promised myself I would never forgive him for the hurt he made me endure. He was supposed to be the one; the man I married. I gave him everything and he turned around and tossed me out like last week's leftovers. He pulled my brothers into the club, he won my Mama’s heart, and he made sure he would be in my life one way or another. I could never come back home without seeing him or having little reminders all over this one-horse town.

I loved my family, but knew I needed to leave in order to be able to move on and start to heal. I would never forget my roots, but I didn’t think I could ever bring myself to come back home and live with the constant reminder of not being enough for the one man I loved. My old beat up car was packed and I said my goodbyes to my family. I could barely look my brothers in the eyes; they were constant reminders of the heartbreak with their leather club vest. I made promises to call and visit as often as I could, but deep down inside, I knew I would never step foot in this town again. I couldn’t face him again. Levi Walker was no good for me and I was never going to let him into my heart ever again.

I walked down the stairs of the porch and headed over to the barn. Grabbing the four-wheeler, I drove around the ranch making sure all the animals put in before the big storm. I switched from the four-wheeler to one of the horses as I gathered the cattle and got them into their big metal barn. They slowly walked in and I closed the big doors behind them. While all the animals normally stayed out in the rain, storms like this made animals go a little crazy. It could also damage our fences, giving the animals an escape.

I quickly made my way back to the four-wheeler and had the horse follow behind me. Getting him into his stall, I made my way back up to the house. I was looking forward to an ice-cold beer and having a chat with my Mama. My brothers hadn’t been home since I got in last night and it was about time I found out where they were.

Chapter 2

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