Where We Promise (Stone Riders MC #3)

by Ashley Munoz

I’d wish for a good life. One with love, happiness and hope.

“Don’t mind him, he’s a nerd stuck living in a motorcycle club. He’ll inherit it someday from his pops, but the kid has no clue what to do with it.”

Decision made, Jameson King would like me, and I’d make sure he never stopped.

I was currently staying in a random cabin on rival club property.

Luke, the asshole, had aligned himself with a man recently released from prison, Jefferson Quinn. The madman wanted to claim the very club I was now living with. They made quite a pair: Luke wanted the Chaos Kings, and Jefferson wanted to take the Stone Riders from his son, Killian Quinn. So, Jameson came here with the remaining loyal men…and me.

My hand went to my swollen stomach protectively as my mind threw back the memory of when I discovered I was pregnant. I stupidly assumed Luke would be happy.

But I didn’t know the Stone Riders, and while Jamie assured me their members would never harm me, I still felt nervous. The club was under new leadership from what I understood.

I was twenty-five, jobless, single, pregnant, and technically homeless.

I realized too late that I had already turned toward him again, like he was the sun and I was a sunflower searching for heat. “You can’t sleep because you don’t feel safe. I’m here now, you’re safe. Go to sleep.”

He’d protected me against the club…he’d shielded me from Luke. He’d given me a place to live and made sure I was safe. But he’d also broken my heart.

He was beautiful, and if I were the type of person who created art, I’d paint him.

I remembered what they felt like under my touch.

Promise me, Jameson. You’ll take care of her, keep her safe. Promise me. I owed him everything.

They likely thought Jamie and I were fucking, and that I was just member hopping, as if I hadn’t been loyal to Luke. I wasn’t the one screwing other people in front of him after he’d rejected me and the baby.

“You’re practically a member, Pen. I know women aren’t but Luke and

me, we trust you. So don’t say anything.”

“I would never say anything.”

You play the new girl part very well, my hats off to you, but don’t pretend like every guy in this school isn’t tripping over themselves just to get your attention.”

“apparently not every guy.”

That was my son’s heartbeat. Not Luke’s. Mine.

“These losers are my family.”

I had never really claimed them, nor had they claimed me, but Jamie was worried about me getting in the car and that had to stem from somewhere that thought of me as

more than just an extra body ...

“What happened to Penny from last year who picked wildflowers, wore ripped jeans and always had that hair back in a braid?”

“You mean the one who tripped over herself to get your attention?”

“yeah…what happened to her?”

“She got tired of being ignored.”

His eyes seemed to burn as he searched her from head to toe, and then gruffly said, “Ne ingrediaris silvam solum.”

“Let’s be clear. I allowed you to live after meeting with her because Killian was present, but if you ever talk to her alone, I will kill you. She is not available; she is not open property. She is mine.”

“When you can protect yours, you can say shit about mine. But rumor has it, Luke’s old lady is in your care, but your members nearly ran her over. You’re a pathetic leader, Jameson. The king of chaos has toppled from his throne and now he’s relying on the Stone Riders for scraps of safety. Watch who you’re speaking to and stay the fuck away from what’s mine.”

Penelope and I had a complicated past. One full of unspoken truths, missed chances, and stolen moments. I’d hurt her. She had hurt me.

“Because I watch you. You stare at people who kiss like you wonder what it would be like…you always get this tiny pink flare under your freckles, and then you dip your head like you’re embarrassed just thinking about it. People who have been kissed, don’t stare the way you do.”

“I hate when you do this.” My eyes were back on him. “Do what?”

“Lower your face as if you don’t belong to stay in the moment…as if you need to separate yourself from what’s going on. You do it a lot in the club.”

“I don’t belong there.”

“You do. You’re the only thing there that feels like home.”

I’ll watch over you, and you can kiss or fuck, do whatever you want but first, you’ll have this.”

“Have what?” I whispered, my eyes still clinging to his.

“Me,” he rasped, just a singular second before leaning in and pressing his lips to mine.

There, on a cold October night, Jameson King stole my first kiss in the middle of the street. I wish he hadn’t.

I wanted Jameson to want me. I wanted him to want my heart. I wanted him to crave me the way I did him.

“Behind closed doors, but in public, you’d be mine.”

You’d be mine. The only thing I had ever really wanted, but it would be fake.

“Look, I know the idea of being married to me doesn’t hold that much appeal, but it’s only temporary.” “Stop it—” I snapped, “don’t act like I wouldn’t be honored to have you as my husband, Jameson. That was never our issue, and you know it.”

“Why can’t you understand this, Pen? I honestly don’t get it. Luke not only rejected you, but he fucked other women in front of you. While you were pregnant with his kid.”

“Stop defending him. Just fucking stop, Pen. I have been there for you. Me. I have sacrificed.”

“I have given up my club, my home, everything I know, all to keep you safe. Yet at the mere idea of marrying me, you start making up some bullshit about Luke.”

“I should have known that’s how this would go. You’d rather be tied to him, even after everything, than be in a fake marriage with me.” “No.”

“I’m not waiting for Luke. I don’t want Luke, but I also don’t want you to give up your life, and you shouldn’t have to tie yourself to a sinking ship or lose your club just to keep me safe. There has to be another way.”

“You have to just trust that this is what I want, Pen. I’ve never done anything I didn’t want to do. I could hand you off to someone else or find someone to keep you. Hell, I could leave now and just trust the Stone Riders to keep you safe. I want to be here, and I want to do this. Please trust that.”