Knights Lady
Knights Lady
BELLA JEWEL 2019
Also by Bella Jewel
Jokers' Wrath MC
Melancholy
Anguish
Desolation
Precarious
Jokers' Wrath Boxed Set
MC Sinners
Hell's Knights
MC Sinners Next Generation
Manacle
Drifter
Rumblin' Knights
Knights Lady (Coming Soon)
The MC Sinners Series
Knights' Sinner
Heaven's Sinners
Standalone
Number Thirteen
Wingman (Woman)
'Til Death
'Til Death Pt 2
'Til Death Boxed Set
Flawed Heart
Flawed Love
How To Fall In Love
Pandemonium
Fleeting Moments
Amore - Boxed Set
Table of Contents
Title Page
Also By Bella Jewel
DEDICATION
~*KNIGHTS LADY*~
KNIGHTS LADY | Copyright © 2019 Bella Jewel
~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~
PROLOGUE | LUCY
1 | LUCY – EARLIER
2 | EARLIER – LUCY
3 | EARLIER – LUCY
4 | EARLIER – LUCY
5 | NOW - LUCY
6 | NOW – LUCY
7 | NOW – LUCY
8 | NOW – LUCY
9 | NOW – LUCY
10 | NOW – LUCY
11 | NOW – LUCY
12 | NOW – LUCY
13 | NOW – LUCY
14 | NOW – LUCY
15 | NOW – LUCY
16 | NOW – LUCY
17 | NOW – NICOLAI
18 | NOW – LUCY | A few hours earlier
19 | NOW – LUCY
20 | NOW – LUCY
THE END
Also By Bella Jewel
DEDICATION
To Lance
For believing in me and kicking my ass to keep writing even when I didn’t want to.
For always making me laugh, even if I occasionally snort.
For loving me harder than I’ve ever been loved.
For being the best damn thing to ever happen to me.
This is for you.
It’s always for you.
~*KNIGHTS LADY*~
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any form without prior written permission of the publisher, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution, circulation or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.
KNIGHTS LADY
Copyright © 2019 Bella Jewel
KNIGHTS LADY IS A WORK of fiction. All names, characters, places and events portrayed in this book either are from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, establishments, events, or location is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
~*ACKNOWLEDGMENTS*~
AS ALWAYS, MY HEARTFELT thanks to every single blogger, reader and author that has supported my journey. From reading my books, to sharing them, to raving about them, to being there for me. Thank you. My career would be nothing without any of you.
A huge thanks to the ladies from Give Me Books for organizing my reveals and blitzes. You do such an amazing job. No matter how many times I use you, I am always blown away by how efficient you are. Nothing is ever a drama. Thank you for giving me so much support.
A massive thanks to Ben Ellis from BE Designs for this gorgeous cover. You’re so talented and do an absolutely incredible job. I honestly have no words to explain how grateful I am to you for all the help you put in. I’m forever in your debt.
A big, heartfelt thanks to Wendi from Ready, Set, Edit for all the work you do for me. You fit me in whenever I ask, you’re amazingly quick, and you’re so damned nice. I couldn’t do it without you, I honestly couldn’t.
And of course, to my admin, MJ, for ALWAYS keeping my page running beautifully. I couldn’t do it without you, girly. I love your teasers and your passion; thank you for taking the time out of your life to help this poor girl keep everything running.
And, last but certainly not least, to my loyal readers. To each and every one of you that picks up my books and give me a chance. To the reviews you write, good or bad. To the time you take to make me a better person. You make this real for me; never stop giving such love and passion. You make our journey so amazing.
PROLOGUE
LUCY
I’M A SHITTY SISTER.
There, I said it.
I don’t deny this fact—hell, I haven’t even tried to.
I know what I did wrong, what I’m continuing to do wrong.
The worst part? I’m hurting the only person in the world I have left. Shania. My sister. My best friend.
So why the hell do I struggle to stay away?
Even though I know she’s hurting.
Even though I know I have to stop.
I’m still staring down at my phone, at his messages, trying to come up with a way around it. To figure something out. Maybe we can all talk about it? Maybe we can just keep it secret and I can say it’s over? Maybe with time she’ll get over it? Maybe, maybe, maybe.
So many maybes, and yet I know the only real answer is to shut it down and move on.
Why is that proving to be so damned difficult?
There are plenty of fish in the sea, right?
I don’t have to keep talking to my sister’s ex-lover and the father of her child.
No, I certainly don’t.
Yet here I am, still fighting with myself to find a way around it.
Still desperately searching for an answer.
And at the same time, my heart is breaking.
Because I hurt her, and I never wanted to do that.
What I feared the whole time is coming true.
What I dreaded is now a reality.
And I’m stuck right in the middle of it.
How did I get here, you ask?
Well, let me tell you...
1
LUCY – EARLIER
“HE’S HAVING FRIENDS over,” Shania murmurs, her hands clutched in her lap, fidgeting every now and then.
I can’t say I blame her.
She must be nervous as all hell.
After all, this is her first night with her son since he got taken from her a few years back. She’s scared, she doesn’t know if she has it in her to do a good job, but I know she does. She’s been to hell and back again. After working as a stripper and falling for the club owner only to find he’s not into her and was just sleeping with her. To top it off, she got pregnant, the relationship between her and the father, Nicolai, went sour, and he took her son.
It took her years to find them.
Now she has, things are going okay. Not great, but okay.
The two of them, they have a rocky past. She despises him, deep down inside, but she’s respecting him for the sake of their son, Tommy. She knows she has to, she knows they need to make it work. To do that, she just has to go along with things. I feel for her; it can’t be easy. She wants to take her son and just disappear forever, but, to be fair, Nicolai has been a great father, and for that reason she knows Tommy doesn’t deserve to be torn from him.
So they have to make it work, this civil partnership.
“It’ll be fine,” I reassure her. “We’ll get Tommy and leave.”
“What if I know some of them? What if Yana is there?”
Ah, Yana. The woman who made Shania’s life hell. The woman who was seeing Nicolai back in their stripping days and made it her mission to get rid of Shania once and for all. She was horrible, to say the very least, and the poor girl went through a lot while she was there. Yana has been trying to weasel her way back into Nicolai’s life again, only this time Shania’s son is part of it.
She wants her nowhere near her son.
I can’t say I blame her.
“I doubt Nicolai would invite Yana knowing how things are between the two of you. Besides, he said there is nothing going on, and he’s made that clear. She’s probably long gone.”
I hope for Shania’s sake she is.
“You’re right, but what if some people from the club are there? I don’t really want to face them.”
I reach over while keeping my eyes on the road and say, “It’ll be fine, I know it will.”
She nods as we round the corner and turn into Nicolai’s driveway. There are many cars around, all parked on the grass and up the street. He’s having a big party it would seem. Makes sense that he’s giving Tommy to Shania for the night. At the very least, he has the sense to be a good father.
I never liked Nicolai, no doubt about it.
The moment I met him, I knew he was no good.
Okay, that’s probably a little dramatic. I knew he was a player. He was one of those men that made your panties wet and your heart beat fast until he fucked you and left. That was Nicolai. Gorgeous, powerful, and a player.
I knew it.
I made sure he knew I knew it.
And that was that.
I didn’t like him. I told Shania I didn’t like him. And I probably tried to interfere a little too much, but what can I say? I knew what path she was going down, I hated that she insisted on stripping to keep us afloat, let alone getting her heartbroken by a player, which is exactly what happened.
Anyway, that’s in the past and all that.
I stop the car and look to Shania; she’s slightly pale, but she’s strong. Stronger than most women I know. She looks to me, takes a deep breath, and says, “I’ve got this. Let’s go.”
I nod and we get out of the car, walking toward the house. There are people sort of lingering everywhere. It’s a nice place, without a doubt. Nicolai always did do well for himself. I mean, he owned a strip club, it’s hard not to be holding your own. We walk through the front door, and I get more than one dirty look from the people standing around.
I suppose since they’re all dressed up and I’m in my short shorts, tank top, and Reeboks. What can I say? I like casual wear.
“There he is,” Shania murmurs, and I follow her line of sight.
Nicolai is gorgeous, don’t get me wrong. He’s the kind of man that holds the power and strength to stop you in your tracks. It’s like when you stare at him, for a moment—just a moment—your world stops at his utter beauty. He’s perfection, every inch of him from head to toe.
Tall, well-muscled, always dressed impeccably. Olive skin, dark hair that curls just slightly at the base of his neck, and always has a messy, yet well-groomed look. How he does it, I don’t know. His emerald green eyes practically shine against his skin. He’s every woman’s wet dream times a hundred. He’s in every spank bank in the country. Nicolai is out of this world.
He turns, as if hearing my thoughts out loud, and his eyes scan over Shania, then over me. I don’t miss how they dip to my shorts, then to my shoes, and then he focuses on Shania again. I’ve never known whether Nicolai likes me, I’ve never really cared, if I’m being honest. Striding over, he stops in front of us.
“Shania, Lucy, good to see you both.”
I want to snort but that would be rude so, instead, I nod and look around. I see my little nephew, the perfect blend of Shania and Nicolai, playing with a tall, beautiful woman. I have no idea who she is, but the boy clearly knows her. When he sees Shania, he smiles and comes running over. He’s still confused about the whole thing, but over the last few weeks, Shania has been spending her days with Tommy. He knows she is his mother and is getting better and better with every passing day.
“Hi, buddy.” Shania smiles, squatting down and ruffling the adorable little boy’s hair. “Are you ready to come and have a sleepover?”
Tommy nods and holds up his red truck. “Bring this?”
He’s still young, so his words are muffled and freaking cute.
“Of course!”
He smiles.
Beautiful.
“I’ve packed all his things, but he’ll be fine, you know what he needs,” Nicolai says.
Shania stands, holding Tommy’s hand, and smiles at Nicolai. “Thank you, for doing this. It means a lot.”
Nicolai studies her for a brief second, and then nods. “You’re his mom. Of course.”
“Lucy?”
I turn at the sound of my name and see two girls rushing toward me. A huge grin breaks out over my face. I haven’t seen these two ladies for around about two years; life got busy, and we all kind of drifted apart. But back in my party days these two girls were it. Sasha and Mya. My two former best friends.
Sasha reaches me first and throws her arms around me, the vibrant blond sure knows how to hug. I squeeze her back and then move onto Mya, the dark haired beauty of the group. I pull back and look at them both. They’re gorgeous, as always, and still partying, as always.
“What the hell are you two doing here?” I smile happily, truly thrilled to see them.
“Our partners are friends of Nicolai’s,” Sasha tells me, “so we came for the party! What are you doing here?”
“We were just getting Tommy.”
Both girls look to Shania and then squeal and give her a hug, too. She remembers them.
“I was hoping you’d show up; I haven’t seen you for so long,” Mya says, grinning happily and clapping her hands together. “Come out with us.”
“Oh, no, I’m okay,” I tell them.
“No.” Sasha shakes her head. “You should come. We’re all going out drinking and dancing after dinner here. You could meet us there? Come on, it’ll be like old times.”
“I really can’t,” I say, but I really, really want to.
“Go.” Shania laughs, nudging me. “You haven’t been out in ages.”
“But we were going to watch movies, eat chocolate, and snuggle that cute boy.” I frown, and she laughs.
“There are a million times to do that. You should go. You haven’t seen Mya and Sasha for so long.”
She’s right, I haven’t.
“Are you sure?” I double check.
“Absolutely!”
I grin and turn back to the girls. “Text me where and when, I’ll go and get ready!”
“Epic!” Sasha whoops happily.
“We’re going to get going,” Shania says, waving to the girls and then saying something to Nicolai.
“See you soon,” I call to them, as we leave the house.
When we get in the car, I turn to Shania. “Are you sure you don’t mind me going out?”
“Lucy, you’re a big girl, it isn’t up to me, but no, I honestly don’t mind. Go, have fun. Tommy and I will.”
I turn back and smile at the little boy.
He smiles back.
I’m excited!
“HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?” Mya calls over the music as we slurp down our martinis.
The club we’ve come to is nice, really nice. I’ve never been here, it’s only new, but it’s super awesome. Two stories of goodness, a club at the bottom, a strip club at the top—it’s like the best of both worlds for men and women. It’s modern, it’s sleek, and it’s amazing.
“Good,” I tell her. “How about you?”
Mya tells me about her new partner, Rhett, and how they’ve been
together eight months now and things are going really well. She asks me if I’m seeing anyone, to which I tell her no. Hell to the no, as a matter of fact. I don’t have time for men right now. I’m enjoying my life just as it is.
I tell them I’m going to get us the next round of drinks, mostly just to cut her off because she’s chewing my ear off, bless her, and I stand and weave through the crowd until I reach the bar. I order another round and then wait.
“How’s things, Lucy?”
The familiar voice has me turning, and I see Nicolai sitting beside me, wearing a suit, looking sharp. I really want to tell him to go stuff himself, you know, sister code and all that, but he is being nice to Shania, and they’re getting along, so I’m not going to ruin that by being an asshole. Not right now, anyway.
“Good,” I tell him. “How about you, Nicolai?”
“Good,” he murmurs, and damn that voice. I can see why Shania became so obsessed with him all those years ago. It’s like his voice drips sex. Just oozes it. And he’s not even trying. “What do you think of my club?”
My eyes widen and I turn to him. “This is yours?”
He nods. “Yeah. Only this time I try not to spend all my time in it.”
Holy shit.
This is epic for a man his age. I mean, what is he? Mid-thirties? I knew he was doing well for himself—he has a nice place, a nice car and he’s always dressed impeccably—but I didn’t realize he was doing this well for himself.
“It’s really nice,” I tell him, because that’s the truth, it really is. “Smart thinking, putting a strip club upstairs.”
He grins. Damn, he’s fine.
I’m probably half drunk.
Otherwise I wouldn’t be thinking that.
Pfft. Bullshit. Nicolai is candy. Hard. Sweet. Candy.
“Strip clubs are money makers. But, honestly, I was tired of them being my life. So, I changed it up.”
“You came up with all this on your own? With a child? Well done.”