Crashburn
Author
Salem Morgan
Reads
17.3K
Chapters
74
Wren never expected one reckless night out to change her life. After a motorcycle crash leaves her and charming biker, Jace, injured, she feels crushing guilt—and volunteers to care for him during his recovery. But stepping into Jace’s world means colliding with his older brother Kane, the dark and dangerous vice president of the Iron Vultures MC. Kane despises her for the accident, yet their volatile chemistry ignites into something neither can deny.
Caught between two brothers and a criminal underworld of violence, loyalty, and secrets, Wren must decide whether she’s strong enough to survive Kane’s fire—or if loving him will burn everything down.
Chapter 1: Ride at Your Own Risk
WREN
I was never much of a drinker, but the liquor burning down my throat as I sat on a stool beside a man I barely knew was one of the most pleasant times of my life.
I laughed as Jace slammed his empty shot glass onto the bar, leaning close enough that his cologne, something spicy and woodsy, lingered in the air between us. “All right, Wren,” he challenged, eyes gleaming wickedly. “Game time.”
“What kind of game?” I asked, suspicion mingling with intrigue as Diesel handed out quarters to each of us.
“Quarters,” Hawk explained, flicking his coin expertly across his knuckles. “Bounce it into your drink. You miss, you drink. You make it, someone else drinks.”
“Sounds easy enough,” I teased, flipping my hair back confidently, though I’d never played before.
“Easy, huh?” Jace’s lips curled up, amused. “Ladies first.”
I took the quarter, biting my lip in concentration before bouncing it off the bar. It landed perfectly in Jace’s glass. The boys erupted in applause, Diesel roaring the loudest.
“Looks like you’re drinking again.” I smirked at Jace, triumph flushing my cheeks.
He shook his head slowly, eyes still locked on mine, and raised his glass with mock resignation. “You win this round.”
We played until laughter came easy and the bar lights blurred at the edges, a warm buzz taking over my body.
“Another round?” Jace asked, flashing that disarming, crooked smile that I was quickly discovering was his secret weapon.
“Sure,” I replied, surprising myself. The word felt reckless, exhilarating. The kind of yes that came easy tonight.
Around us, laughter erupted like fireworks. Jace’s friends—three loud, rowdy, tattoo-covered bikers named Diesel, Hawk, and Bear—were an intimidating crew at first glance, but after a few drinks, they felt like old friends.
Diesel, built like a mountain and covered in faded military tattoos, slapped the bar and hooted. “Look at you, sweetheart! Didn’t peg you as the whiskey type.”
“Neither did I,” I laughed, warmth spreading through my chest.
“Whiskey’s the only way to go,” Jace said smoothly, knocking back his shot without flinching, his eyes locked on mine with playful challenge. “If you’re gonna drink with us, you gotta drink like us.”
I narrowed my eyes teasingly. “Is that a dare?”
He leaned in close, close enough that his breath brushed hot against my cheek. “It’s whatever you want it to be.”
My heart skipped. He had charm, the kind of effortless charisma that drew people in, and damn if it wasn’t working on me tonight. I lifted the glass, met his challenging stare, and downed the shot in one burning swallow. Diesel cheered again, clapping his massive hands together like thunder.
Bear, the burly redhead with a beard that could hide small animals, elbowed Jace. “Careful, Dust. Girl’s about to drink you under the table.”
“Let her try,” Jace shot back, eyes twinkling wickedly. “Maybe I’ll let her win.”
“Let me win?” I scoffed, emboldened by the liquor that hummed through my veins. “I think you’re scared.”
“Ooh,” Hawk drawled, adjusting the leather jacket draped over his lean frame. He looked the youngest, barely older than me, but his dark eyes held secrets. “She called you out, Dust.”
Jace chuckled softly, running a hand through his tousled hair, his gaze lingering on my lips for a beat too long. “Yeah, she sure did.”
“All right,” I said, steadying myself against the bar. “One more.”
“One more,” Jace agreed, signaling to the bartender. “But after that, I’m taking you for a ride.”
“A ride?” I raised an eyebrow, daring him silently to clarify.
“On the bike,” he clarified, voice low, dripping with mischief. “If you can handle it.”
I smiled slowly, feeling bold, reckless, and utterly alive. “Bring it on.”
Finally, Bear threw an arm around Diesel, announcing loudly, “All right, kids, enough games. Bikes ain’t gonna ride themselves.”
Outside, the air was cool and smoky. Diesel, Bear, and Hawk lit cigarettes, laughing among themselves, the cherry-red glow lighting their faces. Jace stepped aside, motioning for me to follow, a lazy grin tugging at his lips.
“This one’s mine,” he said, patting the sleek black motorcycle proudly. Chrome gleamed beneath streetlights, menacing yet oddly inviting. “Custom built. Fast as hell.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said softly, reaching out to trace my fingers lightly along the leather seat. He watched me closely, eyes darkening just a fraction.
“Hop on,” he said casually, voice edged with something I couldn’t quite name. “Get a feel for her.”
I swung a leg over, settling carefully onto the seat, gripping the handles. It felt powerful beneath me, dangerous and thrilling. Jace watched, biting his lip slightly before leaning in, flipping a switch with practiced ease.
The bike roared to life beneath me, vibrating deeply, unexpectedly sending a sharp, electric thrill straight through my core. My breath hitched, but I quickly masked it with an impressed smile.
“How’s she feel?” Jace asked, stepping back with a knowing smirk, as if daring me to admit the effect it had.
“Like trouble,” I replied coolly, even as heat rushed to my cheeks and something twisted low in my stomach. “But the good kind.”
His eyes sparkled with approval as Diesel shouted from nearby, “Ready to ride?”
Jace leaned closer again, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “Hold on tight, sweetheart. You’re in for one hell of a night.”
Jace reached for a helmet hanging off the bike’s handlebars, gently sliding it over my head, his fingers brushing my jawline as he secured the strap.
The gesture was careful, intimate, and I felt my heart thump unevenly beneath my ribs. He slipped his own helmet on effortlessly, glancing toward the guys who were already revving their engines in restless anticipation.
“All right, boys,” Jace called out, voice muffled slightly by his helmet. “Where we headed?”
“Open highway,” Diesel yelled, flicking his cigarette aside. “Let’s give her the full experience.”
“Sounds good to me,” Bear agreed, chuckling as he swung onto his massive bike. Hawk revved his engine in agreement, giving a quick thumbs-up.
“You ready?” Jace asked over his shoulder, voice low, eyes searching mine through the helmet visor.
“Absolutely,” I replied, squeezing him tightly around the waist, excitement mixing deliciously with nerves.
The bikes roared, the sound rumbling deep through my bones as we tore onto the road, slicing through the night. Wind whipped around us, tugging at my jacket, and the adrenaline surged in my veins. This was freedom, wild and fierce.
But as we accelerated, flying faster and faster beneath the bright moonlight, exhilaration gradually turned into something darker. A feeling so hot it felt icy cold began to crawl up my spine, spreading rapidly through my body until my limbs were numb, my heart hammering painfully in my chest.
My grip tightened instinctively around Jace, breathing becoming erratic behind the helmet. The world blurred around me, streetlights streaking into dizzying ribbons of light, noise thundering in my ears.
“Hey, you good?” Jace called back, voice faint through the rush of wind, noticing my sudden tension.
I tried to nod, but panic gripped me hard and fast, choking me like invisible hands tightening around my throat. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
“Jace—” My voice cracked, strangled and desperate.
“Hold on!” he shouted, misunderstanding my panic for excitement. He revved faster, bike surging beneath us, and my stomach dropped into oblivion.
“Stop,” I whispered frantically, vision blackening around the edges. “Please, stop—”
But my voice vanished into the roar of the wind. The panic crested violently, darkness swallowing my vision. My body moved before my mind could register, shifting weight recklessly in my blind desperation.
“Shit!” Jace’s yell echoed dimly as the world suddenly jerked beneath us.
Time fractured. Metal scraped against asphalt, sparks ignited like tiny flames in the darkness, and my body was hurled through the air, floating weightlessly for an eternal, terrifying second.
I hit the pavement hard, the force stealing the air from my lungs, agony exploding through every nerve ending. Darkness danced across my vision, whispers of unconsciousness tugging me under.
I blinked sluggishly, colors flashing bright against the night sky. Sirens wailed, blue and red lights swirling dizzyingly around me.
Another blink, and I was somewhere else entirely, enclosed in a space filled with white, harsh lights. Voices surrounded me, urgent and gentle at once.
“Stay with me, sweetheart,” a female EMT soothed softly, her face swimming into focus. “You’re gonna be all right.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but pain choked my voice, stealing my words. Her calm voice blurred, became distant, slipping through my grasp.
“It’s okay,” she repeated, fading gently. “Just stay with me.”
But I couldn’t. Darkness tugged insistently, pulling me under, until finally, mercifully, everything went silent.