Zorro
Reapers MC Book Sixteen
Elizabeth Knox
Contents
Acknowledgments
Gone But Never Forgotten:
Billings, Montana Charter
Las Vegas, Nevada Charter
Chihuahua, Mexico Charter
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
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue
Zorro
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.
Zorro. Copyright © 2020 by Elizabeth Knox. 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 E. Knox.
Cover Design: Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations
Editing: Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing
Proofreading: Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing
Formatting: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing
Photographer: Wander Aguiar, Wander Aguiar Photography
Models: Chris Fleming & Joli
Created with Vellum
Available Now From
Elizabeth Knox
Series: Skulls Renegade
Reign
Redemption
Revenge
Relentless
Reckoning
Reclaimed
Reckless
Regret
Reclusive
Retribution
First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset
Series: Steele Bros.
Tough as Steele
Stripping a Steele
Protecting a Steele
Steele her Heart
Stolen Hearts: The Complete Steele Bros Boxset
Series: Reapers MC
Scarred
Blackjack
Here Kitty, Kitty
Booger
Widow
Kade
Hawk
Bull
Cobra
Mouser
Dixon
Zane
Amara
Grim
Chaz
Frost
Zorro
Series: Iron Vex MC
Enraged
Bossed Up
Series: Royal bastards Mc: Baltimore/Knights of retribution mc
Bet on Me
Rely on Me
Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater
Promised
The Trade
Cherished
Deceit
Love is War
Defiant
Shattered
Ruthless
Covert
Heretic
Venomous
Flawed
Demise
Series: The Mackenzie & Volkolv Duet
Deceptive Love
Series: The Mackenzies
Forbidden Love
Corrupted Love
Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine
Switched
Surrender
Full Throttle with Erin Trejo
Against All Odds
Coming in 2020 From
Elizabeth Knox
Consumed
(An F/F Driven Novel)
Hate on Me
(Knights of Retribution MC #1)
Vex’s Temptation
(Iron Vex MC #3)
Inc’s Regret
(Satan’s Raiders MC #1)
Coming in 2021 From
Elizabeth Knox
Filthy Valentine
(A Dungeon Demons MC Prequel)
Ransom
(Love Hack #1)
Twisted Steel: An MC Anthology
(Second Edition)
The Elites: A Dark Secret Society Collection
Do you like Paranormal Romance?
Check out Elizabeth’s Alternate Pen Name, Liz Knox.
Available Now From
Liz Knox
Series: Bloodlines Trilogy
Fated by Blood (Free Prequel)
Series: Nightshade
Blood Oath (A Prequel)
Series: Lone Wolf MC
Origins (Free Prequel)
Series: Hells Gateway MC
Caym’s Fated Mate
Series: Bloodborn Academy
Bitten Magic
Anthologies
Romanticizing the Gods
Coming in 2020 From
Liz Knox
The Elementals
Playlist
Til It Happens To You — Lady Gaga
Still Have Me — Demi Lovato
Teardrops — Bring Me The Horizon
Skeletons — New Years Day
i never wanna die — Bea Miller
Dangerous — Tayler Buono
Hush Hush — Avril Lavigne
Hate The Way — G-Eazy, ft. blackbear
Edge of Midnight — Miley Cyrus & Stevie Nicks
Love Of Your Life — RAYE
Vale Na — Kat Dahlia
Acknowledgments
My Alpha Team: Courtnay, Michele, Janet, Taneesha, Kim, Isabelle, Heidi, Cynthia, Jojo, and Vikki—As always, thank you for giving me feedback as soon as you possibly can, even if some of you are practically on your deathbed with sickness. I appreciate everything you always do for me!
My Beta Team: Heidi, Rebecca, Danaca, Christy, Heather, Kristine, Stephanie, and Emma—You ladies are the best. I appreciate some of you even taking the book before I was finished writing it to give me feedback on the first chunk I’d written. The feedback you provided me was invaluable and I thank you all so much for it.
My Editor, Kim and Proofreader, Jackie—You ladies continue to put up with my crazy schedule and not quit on me, so thank you for not leaving me yet, haha!
April Canavan—Thank you for letting me borrow Ian for the prologue of this book. I can’t wait to read his story in The Elites!
Patches, Sabbath, Wrangler, Popper, and Savage—Thanks for creating our sprinting chat where we log in and video chat every day. It’s like working in an office and it keeps me super accountable. Some of you I’ve known for years, while a couple of you I’ve just been introduced to and I love y’all. You’re good for my soul!
To the survivors:
Take it one day at a time, one breath at a time.
Don’t rush yourselves.
Trigger Warning
This book is intended for mature audiences only. If darker books are not for you, please do not move forward. After re-adjusting my trigger warning system, I will not be giving any spoilers. Please understand that this is not your run of the mill romance and tough subjects will be spoken about in this storyline. This story could include things like: rape, kidnapping, abuse, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol abuse, and many other potential triggers.
Gone But Never Forgotten:
Fist — Former Prez (Deceased)
Cracker – Former VP (Deceased)
Saffron – Fi
st’s woman, Sakura’s sister, Sydney’s mom. (Deceased)
Billings, Montana Charter
Zane – Prez – Ol’ Lady – Octavia
Children: Sydney (adopted), Neo
Blackjack – VP – Ol’ Lady – Ashley
Children: Dex (Blackjack’s previous relationship), Noelle & Fist
Bull – Enforcer – Ol’ Lady – Alexa
Grim – Sgt. at Arms – Ol’ Lady – Natalie
Children: Aggie, Davina, Sorcha (Nat’s Kids)
Tex – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Kat
Dracus – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Nova
Bolt – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Roxy
Children: Jordyn
Zorro – Full Patch
Axel – Full Patch
Hammer – Full Patch
Frost – Prospect — Ol’ Lady — Cheyenne
Turmoil – Prospect
Stiletto – Prospect
Siren – Prospect
Doom – Prospect
Las Vegas, Nevada Charter
Damon — Prez —Ol’ Lady — Kat
Children: Luna
Dixon – VP – Ol’ Lady – Indra
Children: Jalen (Indra’s previous relationship) & Khloe
Booger – Enforcer – Ol’ Lady – Camila
Children: Ransom
Widow – Sgt. at Arms – Ol’ Lady – Tania (A Jackal)
Children: Zoe (Widow’s previous relationship) & Talon
Chaz – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Crina
Cobra – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Izzy
Hawk – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Raven
Kade – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Ivy
Children: Orion & Fate
Mouser – Full Patch – Ol’ Lady – Sakura
Ripper – Prospect
Jolt – Prospect
Spark – Prospect
Poison – Prospect
Brick – Prospect
Doc – Prospect
Boulder – Prospect
Rooster – Prospect
Chihuahua, Mexico Charter
Amara – Prez – Ol’ Man – Dante
Prologue
Never be ashamed about being broken, because strength is nothing but pain that’s been repaired.
~ Trent Shelton
Ruby
Halloween Night
“Are you ready to get plastered tonight?” my best friend and roommate, asks from beside me. Her eyes glint with mischief as she stares up at the frat house before us. I’ve never gone to a party here before, but then again, I’m not one who really enjoys partying in the first place. I’d rather just focus on my classes and lay low. But, my friend here wouldn’t let me stay nestled up under my blanket watching old episodes of The Office. Instead, she had to drag my ass out here, after we dressed up as a nurse and devil of course.
“We have class tomorrow, Portia. I can’t get drunk off my ass like you can.”
Portia cocks a brow and chuckles lowly, “My classes don’t start until three, sugar. I’m gonna have a great time tonight and you should too. When’s the last time you missed a class since you’ve been here, hmm?”
I haven’t. I’d never miss class. Not when I got into school here for free. I was one of fifty students three years ago to get a hefty scholarship to Stonewall University and I won’t take it for granted. It wasn’t a full ride, but it was damn close. Thankfully, my brothers have been lending me a helping hand with covering the leftover tuition expenses. Portia wouldn’t understand. Her father is heavily into politics and I’m certain she got in here just because he bribed the right person. I mean, that’s the way the world works, right? Corruption everywhere you turn, even here.
Hell, when it comes down to it, I’m corrupt.
A year ago, I was initiated into a secret society here on campus. To be exact, the Scorpio Society. Their overall goal is corruption, taking the best of the best and ensuring they have someone in their pocket. They made it very clear to me the reason I got the scholarship was because of them, and if I didn’t comply with their demands, they’d revoke it and I would’ve wasted two years here for nothing.
I couldn’t allow that to happen. Not when no one in my family has accomplished anything. Not when my brothers were helping me make this dream of mine a reality. Without the two of them helping me pay for school, I wouldn’t have ever been able to step foot here. I’d be the first person in my family to graduate from college. I’ve had my eyes set on that since I was a little girl, and hell, I wasn’t going to let anything step in my way. Not even a threat by an organization I couldn’t possibly understand, so, naturally I agreed to their terms. They haven’t asked much of me yet, but I have a feeling they will soon. The only thing they have asked is for me to head back to Montana and start being one of those Instagram influencers, to take photos of myself, the area, myself with products they’ll send me, so on and so forth. Nothing too crazy. Is it wrong that I don’t care I’m part of a secret society, as long as it means I get my degree?
“Earth to Ruby.” Portia widens her eyes and waves her hand in front of my face back and forth.
“Sorry, I totally zoned,” I mutter, while a rush of warmth floods to my cheeks.
“Yeah, that’s for sure. What’s with you? Aren’t you happy to be getting out of there? I mean, you were dating that guy Zack for what, two weeks and he just dumped you out of the blue. I couldn’t let you sulk.”
I hold a hand up, “Whoa. I wasn’t sulking. I was relaxing, Portia. You should try it sometime.”
She rolls her eyes and grabs my arm, tugging me along with her to the frat house. “I know how to relax, which is exactly why we’re here. Now come on.”
Portia continues to pull me along with her as we go up a few short stairs and walk in through the foyer of the frat house. It’s prettier than I’ve ever seen before, with crown molding, wainscotting, and the most beautiful dark oak floors. Now this is old money.
“Ruby, Portia, what’re you two doing here?” a familiar voice calls from the next room over. I can barely make it out from the music pumping through the house. Considering Portia still has her hand on mine, I tug her along with me toward him.
“I didn’t know you were coming.” His eyes light up the same way Portia’s did a few minutes ago, but this is while he looks at me. It almost makes me think he has some sort of thing for me, but I’d know better. If he did, he would’ve surely made a move by now . . . but still, it doesn’t calm the worry soaring through my chest.
I . . . I have no business getting into anything with anyone here. Not when I’m fond of someone who’s living about two-thousand miles away. But that’s another story. He’s a load of trouble, and someone I haven’t been able to keep my eyes off of.
“Yeah, well, I had to pull her ass out of the dorm!” Portia chuckles, pushing her way in front of me a bit, making herself the center of attention as always. I don’t mind it. In the beginning I did, but now I’m used to her quirks.
“Did she now?” He cocks a brow, trying to hide a smug smirk.
“Ian, she’s being dramatic per usual.” I roll my eyes at Portia’s statement.
“Yeah and you weren’t back there sulking over Zack, huh?” Portia gets in my face, places a hand on a hip and stares me down. I swear, every time she does something like this, I imagine those little four-year-old girls who get totally glammed up and compete in pageants. There’s no way I can take her seriously.
Ian slings an arm over my shoulder and his fingers dangle against my skin innocently. “He didn’t deserve you and we both know it.” I look away and catch Portia smirking at what he’s said.
“Exactly, which is why I brought her out for a night of drinking. Fuck Zack! I’ll be back, but first I’ll grab us some refreshments.” Portia moseys her way out of sight in search of the nearest serving station.
Ian leans up against the wall an
d gives me a stern look. “You aren’t seriously upset about that dude, right?”
“Do you really have to ask? He isn’t my type. Plus, he was way too . . . sporty for me.”
Ian cackles, “Yeah, I seem to think you’re a woman into the dark and broody men.”
“I am,” I answer him while staring directly into his piercing eyes. Clearing my throat, I continue. “It’s a good thing the relationship ended before it really began. I wasn’t really into him and . . . I have my eyes set on someone else.”
“Oh, you do?” Ian asks curiously.
I nod and move so his arm naturally falls from around my shoulder. “I have feelings for this guy. He’s one of my brothers’ friends . . . and, no matter what I do I can’t seem to shake them.”
Ian smiles widely and then it slowly fades away. “Ruby, why in the fuck do you need to shake them? If the guy makes your face light up like a damn Christmas tree, I’m all for it. Don’t fight whatever makes you happy. The only thing you should be doing is fighting for it.”