Switchin' Lanes (Savage Menaces MC Book 6) Read online

  Switchin’ Lanes

  Savage Menances MC Book 6

  Kay Marie

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  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

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Switchin’ Lanes

  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.

  Switchin’ Lanes. Copyright © 2020 by Kay Marie. 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 Kay Marie.

  https://www.facebook.com/KayMarieAuthor/

  Cover designer: Charli, Childs Cosmic Letterz Design

  Editor: Courtney Lynn Rose, Knox Publishing

  Formatter: E.C. Land, Knox Publishing

  Copyeditor/Proofreader: Rebecca Vazquez/Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing

  Publisher: Knox Publishing

  www.knoxpub.com

  Created with Vellum

  Trigger Warning

  This material contains content that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, and extreme violence.

  Acknowledgments

  My husband – Thank you for continuing to be so supportive and encouraging when it comes to my writing. xoxo

  My betas – Heidi, Jess, Olivia and Becca– Y’all are absolutely the best! There aren’t enough words to thank y’all for the help and feedback you’ve given me on this book. Y’all rock!

  My editor, Courtney – Thank you for helping me make my books the best they can be.

  My KP family – Thank you for everything. From being there to talk to, for bouncing ideas off of each other. Y’all mean the world to me.

  My readers – Your support means everything! Thank you! <3

  Playlist

  Love Wins — Carrie Underwood

  I Like Trouble — Jailbreakers Ltd

  Open Your Eyes — UNSECRET and Alaina Cross

  Scars — Boy Epic

  I Want It — Two Feet

  Let You Love Me — Rita Ora

  You Make It Easy — Jason Aldean

  Stay — Florida Georgia Line

  What Ifs — Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina

  Ride — Chase Rice and Macy Maloy

  Prologue

  Tink

  Thanksgiving 2020

  Diesel and the others came back from New Mexico yesterday. I was at the clubhouse when Kicks brought him in in a wheelchair. My jaw hit the floor when I saw him. He was shot and didn’t bother calling or have Hollywood call to let me know.

  To say I was pissed is an understatement. As soon as I knew he was okay and settled in his room, I left. With the lockdown lifted, I went home. I haven’t talked to either of them since. Diesel has called and texted a few times, but I’ve ignored him.

  Hollywood on the other hand, hasn’t called or texted once. Something is going on with him, but I haven’t been able to figure out what. He’s been distancing himself from me more and more. Maybe I’ll be able to get him alone sometime today so we can talk this shit out. We’ve been friends for too long for him to ghost me.

  When I walk into the clubhouse, a bunch of the guys are sitting around, watching football. Hollywood included. He doesn’t so much as glance my way.

  “How’s Diesel doing? Has anyone checked on him recently?” I say to the room.

  “Tink, go fuckin’ talk to him yourself,” Hollywood snaps at me. The words hit me like a slap to the face. Hollywood has never lashed out at me. He looks at me for the first time since I walked in. His eyes soften as he stands and moves toward me. “Go take care of him. He needs you.”

  “What about you?” It comes out as a whisper. There was a point in time when Hollywood needed me, too.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m over this shit,” he states, gesturing between the two of us. Then he walks right out of the clubhouse.

  I’m frozen in place. Multiple emotions course through my body, completely overwhelming me.

  “Hey, what’s going on?” Marley says softly. I was so far in my head, I didn’t even notice her walk up to me.

  I shake my head, attempting to clear my mind. “Nothing. I need to go talk to Diesel.”

  “Okay, I’m here if you need anything.” She wraps me in a quick hug before I head down the hallway to Diesel’s room.

  “Knock, knock,” I say as I walk into his room.

  “Hey there, Pixie. I thought you were mad at me.” The corner of his mouth tips up in a half-smile.

  “I still am, but I wanted to make sure you were doing okay.” I give him a small smile.

  “Well, I’m better now.” His eyes lock on mine. “Is everything okay?”

  “No.” I could lie and say yes, but he would know I’m lying.

  “Do you wanna talk about it?”

  “No, but I know you’ll drag it out of me anyway,” I say.

  “Don’t roll your eyes at me. You’re damn right I’ll drag it out of you. If something’s bothering you, I wanna know what it is.”

  “I had a run-in with Hollywood,” I tell him.

  “And?”

  “He told me he was done with me. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but he won’t talk to me.”

  “Oh, Pixie. Come here.” He pats the bed.

  I climb on the bed, careful not to move wrong and hurt Diesel.

  “I know it’s not helpful, but he hasn’t been talkin’ to me either,” Diesel says. “And it might not mean much now, but I’m sorry for not lettin’ you know I was shot. I didn’t want you worryin’ about me.”

  “I . . . “

  “Don’t even try to tell me you wouldn’t worry. I know you. You would have.” He smirks.

  “Whatever,” I mutter. “So what are we going to do about Hollywood?”

  “Maybe we give him some space for a while,” he suggests.

  “Yeah, maybe.” I sigh.

  “Hey.” Diesel lifts my hand to his mouth, kissing it. “Everything will work out. I’m still here and I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

  “You’re going to owe me big time.” I grin.

  “Oh yeah? For what?”

  “For taking care of you for however long it’ll take,” I tell him.

  “Is that so?”

  “You don’t think any of the guys are going to do it, do you?”

  “No, but if you don’t want to, I’m sure one of the cut bunnies would be happy to help.” He shrugs
his shoulder.

  “The fuck they will. I don’t trust them with your health.”

  “You don’t trust them or you’d be jealous?”

  Heat rises in my cheeks and he laughs.

  “Shut up.” It’s all I can manage to say at the moment. It’s no secret I have feelings for him and Hollywood. They both know it. Just like they know I won’t date either one of them. I won’t choose. So we’re all stuck being friends. Though, with the way Hollywood has been acting, it’s as if he’s pushing me to Diesel on purpose. I’ll give him time and space if that’s what he needs, but at some point, Hollywood will have to talk to me.

  “Thank you for being here, Pixie,” Diesel whispers.

  I snuggle up to him doing what I can to not put any unnecessary pressure on him. “Always, D.”

  1

  Tink

  Four months later

  Today is one of my days off from working at Big Shots and the clubhouse. Sundays and Mondays are my weekends. Normally, I’d be hanging out with Diesel or Lolita and Marley, but right now, I’m getting my hair done. Aria, Clutch’s Ol’ Lady, works at a salon. She’s dying my ashy blonde hair a pale pink.

  “Girl, this is going to look hot!” Aria tells me.

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “I bet Diesel will love it.” She smirks at me in the mirror. “Are you two an item yet?”

  “No, we’re just friends.” The words come from my mouth, but even I don’t believe them. I’ve had feelings for Diesel for a while. Though, I also have feelings for Hollywood, even though things are strained between us. It’s why I’ve never acted on my feelings. I haven’t been able to choose between them. They both mean too much to me for me to lose one.

  Though, after mine and Hollywood’s conversation a few months ago, I’m pretty sure I’ve already lost him.

  The new year is only a few short days away and I have yet to talk to Hollywood. I’ve given him space like Diesel suggested we do, but I can’t sit by any longer. I need answers. Before I left my house, I called Minx to make sure Hollywood was at the clubhouse. She let me know he’s been in his room, so this is the perfect time to go talk to him.

  It’s Monday so most everyone is working. I walk straight to his room and knock on the door. His face falls when he opens the door.

  “What are you doin’ here, Tink?”

  “Is that a serious question?”

  He turns around, moving back into his room and I follow, closing the door behind me.

  “What’s going on, Hollywood? Why are you acting like this?”

  “I told you on Thanksgiving. I’m over it, I’m done.”

  “Quit bullshitting me. We’ve been friends since freshman year of high school. Why are you pushing Diesel and me away?”

  “I care about y’all too much. It’s better this way.” He doesn’t make eye contact with me, looking anywhere but at me. “Look at it this way, now you don’t have to choose. You can be with D.”

  I’m dumbfounded by his words, as my heart sinks.

  “I don’t expect y’all to understand but if y’all care like you say you do, you’ll respect my choice.”

  Tears well in my eyes. I turn and walk out of the room without another word.

  “You know, by the way Diesel watches you, I’d say he definitely wants to be more than friends.” Aria’s words bring me back to the present. I choose to smile and not respond.

  I’m well aware of how Diesel feels. I’ve only spent the past four months nursing him back to health when I wasn’t working. We’ve grown a lot closer in that time. At the same time, I’ve known Hollywood as long as I’ve known Minx and Rivet. I’ve had years of getting to know him. He only recently started flirting with me. I’ve always had some kind of feelings for him, but never acted on it because he wasn’t available when we were younger. That’s not my story to tell, though.

  Hollywood is either choosing to ignore his feelings or he really doesn’t care anymore. Either way, his behavior toward me and Diesel lately has hurt. I’ve been holding out hope that something will change, but I’m beginning to think it won’t. And that breaks my heart.

  “Alright, ready to see your new hair?” Aria grins at me.

  “Hell yeah!”

  She spins my chair around so I’m facing the mirror.

  “Oh. My. God! Aria, I love it!” Running my fingers through my hair, I don’t even try to fight back the full tooth smile that crosses my face.

  “Good,” she says. “You rock the pink.”

  I pay her and go on my way. I decide to head home before going to the clubhouse to see Diesel. When I get home, Lolita’s car is in the driveway.

  “Hey, hot stuff! I like the pink,” she tells me as soon as I walk into the house.

  “Thanks!”

  “What are you doing home? I thought you were going to see Diesel?”

  “I am. I wanted to change first,” I tell her. “Shouldn’t you be at the diner?”

  “Yeah, my shift is in ten minutes. I’m going to be late.” She shrugs.

  I laugh. “You better get going. Have a good shift.”

  “Have fun with Diesel.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me then walks out the door.

  I shake my head, walking to my room. I grab my favorite pair of dark blue distressed jeans, a military green cropped hoodie, and a pair of white Converse out of my closet. Once I’m dressed I head into my bathroom to do my makeup. I settle for a dusty rose smokey eye and a matte nude lip. As I walk out of my room, I send a text to Diesel.

  To D: I’m leaving my house now. Do you need me to pick anything up?

  He responds right away.

  From D: Nah, just need your pretty face to brighten my day. ;)

  His text brings a smile to my face. Something he’s always been good at, even when I don’t want to smile.

  To D: I’ll be there soon.

  I slide my phone into my back pocket, lock up the house, and hop in my car. On the drive to the clubhouse, all I can think about is how Diesel is going to react to my hair.

  I pull up to the gate and Mouse lets me right in. I park in the area designated for cars. I grab the door handle, but before I can open it, it swings open. I come face to face with Hollywood.

  “Tink.” The expression on his face twists into what seems like a mix of confusion and annoyance. “You colored your hair.”

  My eyebrows knit together. “I did.”

  “Hmph.” He shoves past me, climbing on his motorcycle and taking off.

  I fight back the tears welling in my eyes and head to Diesel’s room. I don’t know if Hollywood’s ice-cold behavior will ever get any easier to deal with.

  2

  Diesel

  “Your wounds have healed really well,” Catriona tells me. “You still shouldn’t be doing any strenuous activity for another month or two.”

  “But I can get rid of this fuckin’ sling?”

  “Yeah and I’d say you can go back to work as long as you take it easy.” She pins me with stern eyes.

  “I got it. No havin’ any kind of fun.” I grin, earning daggers from Catriona.

  “I mean it, Diesel,” she says.

  “Mean what?” Tink says from the door. Her hair is a light pink now. “I hope he’s not giving you too much trouble.”

  “Hey, Tink! I was just telling Diesel he still needs to be cautious of his activities for at least another month. But all in all, he’s healing well,” Catriona tells her.

  “That’s great news! D, you better listen to her. We don’t need you doing something stupid and injuring yourself more,” Tink chastises me.

  I throw my hands up in defense. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”

  “I knew she’d be able to keep you in line.” Catriona smirks. She turns to Tink. “I love your pink hair, by the way. It suits you!”

  She’s not wrong. The pink hair is fucking sexy as hell on her. Paired with her outfit today. Fuck. She’s going to be the death of me.

  “Thanks! I was needing someth
ing different,” Tink explains.

  “Well, it was a great choice. Anyway, I better get going. If either of you needs anything, I’m only a call away.” Catriona hugs Tink and walks out of the room.

  “She’s right,” I say. “The pink really does suit you.”

  Pink rises in her cheeks, matching her hair.

  “Thank you.” She avoids making eye contact with me.

  “You look good today. Got a hot date or something?” I tease her.

  “And who do you think I’d be going out with?”

  Now’s as good a time as any to shoot my shot. “Do you wanna go on a date?”

  Her eyes come to mine and I make it a point to bite my lip as my eyes rake over her body.

  She cocks her hip to the side, crossing her arms over her chest and shoots me a challenging glance. “Are you asking me out?”

  I stand so I’m toe-to-toe with her. She’s at least a foot shorter than me, maybe a little more. It’s fucking adorable. “What would you say if I was?”

  This time, she bites her lip as she takes a moment to respond. I reach my hand to her face, swiping my thumb over her lip, causing her to release it from between her teeth.

  Tink looks at me from beneath her dark lashes. “I’d say when and where.”

  A smile spreads across my face. “Tonight and it’s a surprise.”