Hyde: Northern Grizzlies MC Next Generation Book 1, page 1
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Published in the United States of America.
Hyde, Northern Grizzlies MC Next Generation, Book 1
Copyright 2025 Maura O’Brien
Photography: FuriousFotog
Cover Model: Joe Adams
Cover Art and paperback formatted by Dark Water Covers
Edited: Darlene Tallman
Hyde
Northern Grizzlies MC
Next Generation – Book 1
M. Merin
Contents
Dedication
Who’s Who!
Part One
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Part Two
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
Epilogue
Additional works from M. Merin
About the Author:
Dedication
Once upon a time, a girl that always had a book in her hand, started writing. And it led to a wonderful world filled with other girls who loved books…
I never imagined that anyone would be interested in my stories and pretty much pinch myself constantly nowadays – because not only do people read them, but I’ve made such wonderful friends during this journey.
A few years ago, one such friend was going through a difficult time and when another writer created an online benefit for her, Leslee Sears Nevill was one of many people who answered the call for help.
Leslee and I have been in contact since my first year of publishing and I was so happy to meet her at a signing I attended along the way. When she won my contest to Name a Character, we had a very quick conversation.
See, I know how she felt about Gunner (Northern Grizzlies MC, Book 3), and at the time, I was playing with this story and sent her a tidbit.
We chatted here and there, deciding on Le-Lee/Leslee’s looks and a few other items, and I truly hope the real Leslee is happy with the finished book!
Leslee – thank you.
Thank you for being there for others.
Thank you for your patience while I got around to finishing this story,
and most of all, for supporting this wonderful Indie world.
XO, Merin
Who’s Who!
Books in chronological order/some children are not yet named:
Wrench, prequel: Wrench and Amy. Children: Marc (road name: Heat), Malcolm, Morgan, Marina
Jasper, Book 1: Jasper (President) and Emma. Children: Twins: Christopher (road name: Lock) and Ruth, and Hunter
Flint, Book 2: Flint (previous president) and Briana (Bree). Flint has 3 children from his first marriage, and Molly MacNeil. Flint and Bree adopt Joe.
Gunner, Book 3: Gunner (Alexander Sorenson) and Riley Maddock. Children: Leslee and Xander
Charlie, Book 4: Jake, Charlie, and Connal (MFM). Children: Gemma, Roan, and Bridget
Michaels, Book 5: Mike and Tabby Michaels. Children: Nathaniel, Catriona, Margaret, and Jarrett
Betsy, Book 6: Russian and Betsy. Child: Lily
Shade, Book 7: Shade and Jessa. Children: Daniel and Hannah
Chains, short story: Chains (Cal) and Sophie. Children: Josh and Leigh
Royce, Book 8: Ryan (Royce) and Molly MacNeil. Children: Finn & Aiden (twins) and Sean & Liam (twins)
Silver, Book 9: Silver and Maggie. They raised Silver’s niece, Alex, from fourteen years old. Children: Carolina, Maura, Nicholas
Part One
Prologue
Hyde
“All rise for the Honorable Rachel Shapiro,” the bailiff calls out, his voice sounding harsh as my heart beats a mile a minute.
Wiping my sweaty palms against my jeans, I look over my shoulder to where Flint and Bree are sitting. He gives me a nod as she turns her head to wipe a tear away.
“Joseph Madda, approach the bench,” Judge Shapiro calls out, looking at me over the top of her glasses.
I can feel her perusal with every step I take, before her eyes shift over my shoulder and she scans the courtroom. I know what she sees, as her gaze lands on each of the Northern Grizzlies stuffing the gallery behind me.
A bunch of bikers.
And me, barely eighteen, with two small nicks on my freshly shaved face, and wearing a borrowed jacket over a pair of jeans and heavy boots. But I shined my boots, just in case that counted for anything.
“Well, this is certainly not what I’m used to dealing with in this court,” she says, her tone nearly has me squirming. “I had a long talk with Flint and Briana Kelly earlier, and while this is unusual at your age, I want you to understand the weight this document will hold after I sign it.”
“I know, ma’am,” I croak out when she pauses.
“Address the Judge as ‘Your Honor’,” the bailiff gently corrects me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Kelly think very highly of you. So much so, that from this day forward, their names will hold significant positions on your birth certificate. Mother and Father. Additionally, Mr. Kelly’s three older children care about you as well. I would like you to know, they’ve submitted a letter to the court, welcoming you as their brother,” she tells me, holding up a couple of sheets of paper. One she folds up and puts to the side, before placing the other in the folder in front of her.
It is seconds later when I feel Bree’s hand slide into mine and Flint’s hand clamp down on my shoulder that I start to relax for the first time, unsure why I was nervous to begin with. I squeeze Bree’s hand three quick times and she squeezes back the same number.
Nodding to the three of us, the judge continues. “Those who stand before me tend to be significantly younger than you and for them it’s a process with many more steps involved. From my interview with Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, I know they would consider you their son whether or not I signed these papers. That they’ve made their home, yours, and cared for and supported you for several years now.
“From what I do know about your story, I imagine that holds some weight with you,” she concludes, tilting her head to the side. “Given your age, I will ask you, before the bench if this is what you want. That you want Flint and Briana as your parents, and from this day forward, for your name to legally be changed to Joseph Kelly?”
“Um, ma’am, um, Your Honor,” I correct myself, my eyes shifting to the bailiff who gives me a nod. “I was wondering if I could have a middle name? Because I don’t have one. From before, I mean.”
In addition to a couple of chuckles from the guys behind me, the judge smiles for the first time and it lights up her face. “What did you have in mind?”
“Brian, like her name. Just without the ‘a’ at the end,” I answer the judge, leaning down to kiss Bree on her temple. “Joseph Brian Kelly, please.”
“I will have that added to the final document,” Judge Shapiro replies after visibly swallowing and I catch the bailiff clearing his throat, his eyes now glued to the floor.
“If you three will please step forward and sign your full names on this,” the Judge requests, placing a pen next to a document. When I step forward, she holds up a bowl of lollipops. “As I said, you’re a bit older than the children I typically see, but if you get adopted in my court, you get a lollipop.”
I sign my new name on the document, then carefully select my favorite flavor. As soon as I stick the lollipop in my mouth, the guys behind me start laughing again, which quickly turns to clapping and hollering.
Standing before them, I’m quickly pulled into Bree’s arms.
“Damn it, you made me cry,” she growls up at me, her green eyes unnaturally bright.
“I love you, Ma. I wanted your name, too, not just Flint’s,” I tell her, pressing my forehead against hers. I was tied up about asking you first.”
“I love you so much,” she says, squeezing my biceps before stepping back.
Flint pulls me in for a quick bear-hug.
“Mr. Kelly,” the judge says, and Flint turns to look at her. “No, the other one.”
Turning to look at her, she’s holding out the letter she had mentioned. “Although I doubt you’re into scrapbooking, I thought you should have the opportunity to read what your new siblings had to say on your behalf.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking it and transferring it to my other hand before I reach out again, this time to shake hers. From the surprised look on her face, I can see that isn’t the norm, but she matches my firm grip.
Turning back, I see Sheriff Michaels putting his hat on his head before he pushes open the door, exiting the overcrowded room.
I smile, thinking about what a dumb, scared, lonely kid I was before he dropped me off on Flint’s doorstep.
Chapter 1
Hyde
“Joe, can you take Leslee for a second?” Riley calls out to me, and I turn to see her juggling a stroller and a couple of bags.
Surprised that Gunner isn’t with her, I nod and rush forward to unfold the stroller and make sure it seems to have clicked into place. “Let me have that, too,” I say, reaching out for a black leather bag and laughing when I see the Northern Grizzlies patch on it.
“Yeah, Gunner isn’t a fan of traditional diaper bags.” She smiles over at me as she slams the door on her truck.
Even though we’re close in age, I’ve been in awe of Riley since I met her. She’s got her shit together in a way I’m sure it’ll take me half my life to catch up to her.
“How’s Leslee been doing?” I ask, smiling down at the sleepy girl in the buggy.
“Perfect. I know it’s early yet but she’s really taking it easy on me,” Riley says, popping the stroller up on its back wheels when we approach the door to the clubhouse.
The door swings out just then and nearly knocks into me.
“Riley!” Flint yells, his complexion ashen even before his eyes had even registered us. “Thank fuck. They’ll be here with Gunner soon. Roy and Sophie are on their way to help out. He’s going to be alright, kiddo.”
Riley’s face drains of all color and I’m not sure her knees would have held her if Flint didn’t grab her in time.
“What…” Riley can’t seem to get any other words out of her mouth and her lower jaw trembles.
“There was some trouble and he was shot. They’ve got him in an SUV and they’re bringing him here now,” Flint states in a calmer tone of voice than he had originally used.
Motioning them to head inside, I take control of the stroller and cringe when the baby starts to fuss, pushing against the straps until she spots her mother. Looking around, Riley’s eyes search the room until they fall back on me.
“Can you mix a bottle for Leslee?” she asks me, pulling an empty bottle and a container of powder from the diaper bag. “It doesn’t look like there’s anyone else around.”
“He can handle that,” Flint says, pushing the supplies against my chest and pointing me to the kitchen. A quick glance tells me I’m the only prospect in here, so I quickly move to fill my task—thankful to find the directions clearly spelled out on the side of the container.
When I return, I can’t help but smile at the little girl; she seems big for barely a year old and is waving her arms in frustration. Riley thanks me as she reaches for the bottle and little Leslee’s mouth opens in expectation. Everyone is running around, preparing for Gunner to be brought in so I sit down next to Riley, knowing that Gunner would want someone to keep his wife steady.
For lack of anything else to say, I ask how much Leslee weighs and Riley starts telling me all about her, while constantly shifting her eyes between her child and the door. Halfway through the baby’s meal, the room breaks into pandemonium as Gunner is carried in.
“Please take her,” Riley says and pushes Leslee into my arms, desperate to rush to her husband. “Just until Bree or Charlie get here.”
The baby looks up at me and lets out a gurgle, pushing her brows together in frustration. Worried that she’s going to cry, I shove the bottle back between her lips.
And just like that, she cuddles against me and falls asleep moments later, still sucking on her bottle. Bree arrives shortly afterwards, and after checking on us, she begs for a second to go down to see if Riley needs anything. I stay in place, scared of waking the little girl up.
It’s when I hear Leslee’s stomach rumble and feel a load filling the diaper that I stand up, grabbing the diaper bag and head down the stairs—one deliberate step at a time.
Riley and Bree both turn to look at me.
“I don’t do diapers,” I announce and thankfully Bree steps forward to claim Leslee.
I turn and run. No disrespect to Gunner, I mean I practically want to be that man when I get older, but sticking around will get me stuck with diaper duty eventually, I just know it.
Getting back to the main room, Shade calls my name and waves me over to where he and Royce are standing by the door.
“Come on,” he tells me, turning on his heel and walking toward the row of bikes outside. “We need a third man to go clean this shit up.”
I grin, getting on my bike and quickly following them past the gate. It’s nice to be asked, I think, not knowing at the time we were riding off to kill a few men.
That was the day I learned that I’d never be much use to the club in that capacity.
*
Three years later
“Again, Joey! Again!”
“You’ll puke all over me if I do that again.” I laugh down at Leslee and bop her nose with my finger, trying to ignore her pout.
At four years old, I can barely resist her requests as it is—let alone when she sticks out her bottom lip.
“None of that, sassy pants,” Gunner calls out to his daughter as he crosses to us.
“Daddy!” Leslee’s face lights up and all thoughts of having me swing her around disappear as she skips to her father.
Gunner gathers her up in one of his arms and she immediately scales up it, climbing to sit up on his shoulders as he looks over at me. “Hyde, you can let me know if she’s bothering you.”
“I’m not, Daddy,” Leslee announces, resting her chin on top of his head and smiling brightly at me.
“Now, why is it you’re never in the playlot with your friends?” Gunner tilts his head so he can look at her face while pointing toward the massive playground that was built for all my brothers’ children.
“Because Joey needed to be saved!” She leans down and loudly whispers this in his ear.
“Is that right?” Gunner laughs and looks at me in question. I’m as confused as anyone at her statement, but she doesn’t keep us waiting.
“Uh, huh. I heard Holly telling Cricket she was going to get Hyde to play hide the salami with her today and that sounded dis-gust-ing!” Leslee bursts that gem out, with total authority behind her words and I’m not sure who turns redder, her father or me. “Don’t laugh, Joey! Isn’t salami yucky? I hate it!”
“I don’t like salami either, Leslee,” I tell her, holding my hands up so she won’t get upset with me.
Leslee starts bouncing since Gunner’s body is shaking with laughter, and I try to keep an innocent look on my face for the precocious tyrant who’s staring down at me. She’s way too sharp for her age though and starts to look suspicious.
“Why is it, whenever I send you to look for Leslee, I have to come looking for you both?” Riley’s voice is full of humor as she approaches us, and we all turn to see her waddling our way.
“You’re right, next time I’ll save myself the effort and text Hyde to bring her to us.” Gunner laughs, reaching one hand up to tickle his daughter even as he lowers his head to kiss his wife. “You okay, Sweetheart? I was just headed back to you.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask Riley, not entirely sure what you’re supposed to say to pregnant women.
“Like I swallowed a watermelon,” Riley answers, gliding her hand down her rounded belly. “Hyde, I hope Leslee wasn’t bothering you?”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Leslee growls, giving us a frown that rivals her father’s. “Joey, tell them you like me best of all.”
