He grins and I roll my eyes. “What?”
“You know you really turn me on when you’re angry.”
“Asshole.”
Laughing, I exit the car and take a deep breath. I’m so ready for this.
Sebastian joins me and as we head toward the large wooden door, I point to the sign above it.
‘Abandon hope all who enter here.’
Sebastian shakes his head and I laugh. “You’ll see.”
I push on the door and as we enter the steel compound, I hear the noise from the bar down the long passageway and my heart sinks. “I’m sorry, honey but it appears to be happy hour.”
Grinning, I pull him after me and then drop his hand immediately and rush straight into the arms of the man making his way toward us down the hall. As I jump into the strong tattooed arms that close around me in a steel embrace, I feel the tears building and say huskily, “It’s good to see you, Ty.”
A deep voice growls, “You too, darlin’, what took you so long?”
For a moment I just relish the comfort this Reaper has always given me and settle into his arms as I’ve done a thousand times before, then he growls, “Who’s the guy?”
Pulling back, I beckon Sebastian forward who looks mighty pissed and say happily, “This is Sebastian, meet Tyson, Seb, a good friend of mine.”
Sebastian looks wary as Tyson sizes him up. Then he holds out his hand and as Sebastian takes it, grips it hard and growls, “I remember the name. You better be treating Angel right this time.”
Nodding, Sebastian says firmly, “I always have.”
Tyson frowns and I say quickly, “It’s ok, Ty, he’s telling the truth. I may have run before knowing the facts but it’s all good now.”
“Then why are you here?”
Tyson stares at me and I know he sees everything. They have an uncanny knack of spotting bullshit in a second and I sigh. “My problem isn’t with Sebastian, it’s with someone I never saw coming.”
Looking concerned, Tyson growls, “What do you need?”
“Ryder.” I say the one word that gets results and Tyson nods. “Of course, although I must warn you, he’s in a bad place.”
“What do you mean?” Immediately I’m worried because Ryder is never in a bad place, although I’m relieved when Tyson laughs softly. “Ashton’s nearly due and Cassie’s been sent home for fighting again. He’s pissed at her because he wants Ashton to be trouble free in case it sets off her labor. He had to ask his sister to stay to deal with Cassie and now Ashton’s pissed at him.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes. “He is in a bad way. Thanks for the warning.”
All the time we speak, I’m conscious that Sebastian is waiting and taking it all in. God only knows what’s going through his mind right now and I feel a little bad for him. At least he’s only met one Reaper so far, Tyson’s a pussycat compared to most of them, largely because his childhood sweetheart came back to him and is now firmly by his side, when she’s not touring with her band that is. If anyone knows what it’s like to lose your heart, it’s Tyson, which is why we spent so much time together.
He looks at Sebastian and nods. “Follow me and I’ll spare you the third degree from the rest of them. They’re in high spirits because we’ve just had a good result in the field. I’ll take you out back to Ryder’s office and get him to meet you there.”
Smiling my thanks, we follow him to catch up with the man who we all look to in a crisis. I’m glad we saw Tyson first because when the guys are in high spirits, it’s a lot to deal with.
Another reason why I’m grateful to Tyson, is the scene that’s playing out through those doors right now. Where there’s a Reaper, there’s a girl and if she’s not their old lady, she’s a whore. At least that’s what we call ourselves and others may not understand the true meaning of it here. It’s not just the women either, the men are just the same and sharing is caring around here. No pressure, no ties and no questions asked. Just an understanding that occasionally two people need comfort in each other to get through the shittiest storm. Yes, I’m grateful that Sebastian doesn’t get to see that side of me - yet.
Tyson shows us to Ryder’s office and as we wait for the bastard himself, I try to curb the flutter inside. Sebastian says quietly, “Who’s Ryder?”
Taking a deep breath, I fill him in.
“He’s the president of the Twisted Reaper MC. Hard assed ex-soldier and Navy Seal. Special forces and the hardest man I’ve ever met. He runs the Reapers for the government under the radar and the others are much the same as him. Ex-military, mostly special forces and unforgiving bastards. They help dispose of the government’s enemies with no questions asked and are responsible for keeping the shit out of the news. Ryder King is a man no one wants to meet and the only people who call him a friend are his deputy Snake, who you met at the cabin and Brewer his close friend. He’s married to Ashton, who is the only girl I’ve known him to love, and he has a daughter Cassie who was the result of one of the whores trying to trap him.”
“What happened to her?”
“She’s dead.”
Sebastian looks shocked and I shake my head. “Not by him, she was a drug addict and picked up some guys in a bar one night. She was found dead in a ditch.”
Sebastian falls silent and I can tell he’s trying to understand the world I’ve been living in since I left.
It doesn’t take long before we hear footsteps and I prepare myself to meet the man we all look to in a crisis.
As the door swings open, I almost weep with relief when I see him enter the room with a smile.
“It’s good to see you, darlin’.”
I nod and say happily, “You too. First tell me, is Ashton ok?”
He nods and I see the softness enter his eyes that her name always delivers. “She’s coping, which is more than can be said of me. Luckily, Bonnie’s around and is taking up most of the slack.”
He looks across at Sebastian and nods. “This must be the infamous Mr Stone.”
Sebastian nods and holds out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you, sir.”
Rolling his eyes, Ryder says simply, “It’s Ryder, we don’t stand on ceremony here.”
He points toward the seats in front of his desk and looks concerned. “I’m guessing you’re here about Moretti.”
“You guessed right.”
He leans back and looks thoughtful. “Tell me your problem.”
I fill him in and he listens with a blank expression and once I finish, laughs softly. “Interesting.”
I wait as I see him working things out and then he looks at me and smiles. “You don’t have a problem, at least not the one you think.”
“What do you mean, the guy’s mafia, of course I have a problem?”
Sebastian leans forward. “We think he wants to marry Anastasia to gain control of the company. If Angel’s out of the picture the position falls to her sister. As her husband, he would take control of the company which could be worth billions in the future.”
Ryder shrugs. “You’re probably right but I doubt he has plans to remove Angel from the situation. He’s just seen an opportunity to protect his interests in a business that could make him more money legit than any he runs illegitimately. You see, Angel, Tobias Moretti may head up a crime family but the word on the street is he’s cleaning them up. You see, he’s now in the habit of securing well respected businesses that require no work on his part, with maximum pay-out. He leaves the running of those companies to the people who know how to and reaps the dividends his shares bring. The fact he’s made this move is indeed an interesting one but I’m guessing has more to do with protecting the future earnings of the company, than actually gaining control.”
“But what if you’re wrong?”
Ryder raises his eyes and I say quickly, “What if he decides that he wants me out of the way? I don’t think I can live with the pressure of waiting for something to happen; it’s too much, Ryder. What with everything that’s going on and the fact my si
ster could be in danger herself, I just want him out of the picture.”
Leaning back, Ryder nods and I watch his expression soften. It’s an unusual sight and I think I hold my breath as he leans forward and stares me right in the eye.
“You’re a Reaper, Angel and nobody messes with us. Now it’s up to me to make sure Moretti knows that.”
“What are you going to do?”
Ryder narrows his eyes and the tension immediately increases in the room. “Pay him a visit.”
Almost as if they have a sixth sense, the door opens and Snake and Brewer enter the room. Jumping up, I hug each one in turn and Snake grins. “I told you you’d visit.”
He looks at Sebastian and holds out his hand. “Take care of her or I’ll be seeing you.”
Sebastian nods. “Then I won’t be seeing you.”
Laughing, Brewer hugs me and winks. “So, Angel’s leaving us.”
His words cause the tears to fall as I realize what that means. It’s one thing living here and being part of their world where everything is safe and easy and I’m not sure if I’m ready to take on the responsibility of the world outside these walls. Suddenly, a strong hand pulls me back and into the arms that I know I belong in. Sebastian says firmly, “I’ll look after her, you have my word on that.”
Ryder’s voice cuts through the emotion in the room as he growls, “Snake, grab about ten of the men, we’ve got a visit to make.”
Snake grins and I roll my eyes. God that man thrives on conflict. However, I feel anxious and it must show because Ryder laughs. “Chill, Angel, it won’t be the first time we’ve had the pleasure of meeting Moretti. This time it’s personal though. Leave it with us and take the time to catch up with the others. Show Sebastian who Angel is now and just relax knowing we’re dealing with it.”
He jumps up and reaches for his battered leather jacket from the chair next to his desk and as he slips it on, a lump forms in my throat. Heading across, I reach up and kiss him on the cheek and whisper, “Thank you.”
He winks and then grins. “Any excuse to get some peace. My sister is seriously pissing me off and I’m liable to be much more of a danger to the people here than I will be to Moretti. You’ve just done me a favor, honey, now go and introduce your man to the rest of them.”
We follow them out and I take Sebastian’s hand and squeeze it reassuringly. Maybe now he’s met Ryder, the rest won’t be such a shock. Then again, maybe not.
Chapter 32
Sebastian
I’m not sure I’m ready to meet Angel’s ‘family’ as she calls them. The men I’ve met so far remind me of the hell I sent her to and even though I see the love they have for her; I still can’t help feeling responsible for breaking Angel so badly.
She leads me toward the noise coming from a door at the far side of the hall and I prepare myself for not liking what I see inside. However, before we reach it, we hear a loud, “Angel!”
Turning around, I see a stunning woman heading toward us, looking so happy, sweet and heavily pregnant and I realize this must be Ryder’s wife, Ashton. Walking with her is another stunning woman with long red hair and stunning eyes and she looks just as happy to see Angel who squeals and runs into their outstretched arms.
As I wait patiently for their hugs to end, I look at the women who appear to be very out of place in this rough environment because they look - normal.
After a lot of excited chatter, Angel turns and pulls me forward. “Sebastian, meet Ashton and Bonnie. You’ve already met their old men, so you may as well see where the real power lies in this place.”
I’m won over immediately by the warm smiles and looks of mild curiosity the women give me and Ashton says in a soft southern drawl, “We’ve heard a lot about you, Sebastian, it’s good to finally meet you.”
I note the sharpness in Bonnie’s eyes and wince a little before smiling. “Hopefully the things you hear in the future will be a lot more flattering.”
Angel laughs softly and slips her hand in mine. “It’s all good. Sebastian has suffered just as much as me but it’s all in the past now.”
The women look happy for her and Ashton says sweetly, “We were just heading to the bar to chill out for a bit. Ryder’s sister’s sitting Cassie and as he’s been called away, we thought we’d get some peace for once.”
Angel looks at her guiltily. “I’m sorry, I’m the cause of that, I hope you don’t mind.”
Laughing, Ashton and Bonnie share a look. “We should be thanking you, honey. Ryder’s been impossible these past few days and all his fussing is seriously pissing me off. I can’t do a thing without him trying to interfere and it’s making me stir crazy. Thank god for Bonnie, she’s the only sane one in this place I can count on to keep it real.”
Bonnie rolls her eyes. “Those men may be hard bastards but their clueless to normal life. No, we’re making a night of it, although Ashton’s sticking to the soft drinks but I intend on getting wasted.”
“While the cat’s away…” Angel laughs and the girls all share a look that shows the bond they share that outsiders will never understand.
Bonnie looks at me and shakes her head. “I don’t envy you.”
“Why?” I feel surprised and a little worried but she laughs softly. “The first time an outsider ventures into the Reaper’s den it can be a lot to deal with. They’re good guys and girls, so don’t be put off by what you see.”
The alarm bells ring and I can tell that Angel is nervous beside me. Bonnie and Ashton throw her a pitying look which only increases my anxiety.
They walk with us and I still can’t believe these two women live here and look as if this is normal.
As we reach the door, the girls smile reassuringly and Angel takes my hand and appears to take a deep breath. “Are you ready for this, Seb?”
I squeeze her hand and whisper, “Nothing can change how I feel about you, darlin’, you know that.”
She looks unconvinced and as the door opens, the noise that hits us drowns out any further conversation.
All around us are bikers. Huge, ferocious looking men all with one thing in common. The tattoos they wear on their muscle-bound bodies and their fuck-off attitude. It makes me shiver just looking at them because you wouldn’t want to meet one of these men on a dark night, let alone what must be around thirty of them. They are positioned around the room, either laughing in groups or playing pool or cards. A huge bar dominates one end where I see various women with a drink in hand and if they aren’t chatting among themselves, they are pressed against one of the men or sitting on their laps. It’s like a scene from a violent movie as the guys party hard and the women appear to love every minute.
It doesn’t take long for them to notice Angel and I hear calls of, “Angel, honey, good to see you.”
I try not to let it show how disturbed I am, as one by one they envelop her in a hug and throw me an appraising look. I feel their curiosity mixed with a hard look as they work out the relationship between me and the woman they obviously care a lot about. Angel tries to introduce me but their names are soon forgotten as another one is added to my memory. The girls shriek and swamp Angel with kisses and questions and they too assess every inch of me as I wait patiently beside Ashton and Bonnie who act as the sweetest type of bodyguard.
I try not to judge but I see in an instant what goes on in this place. The men are crude and the women appear to love it. The air is supercharged with testosterone and sexual energy and unlike Blacks, there is no restraint. The alcohol flows and the jokes are blue and the women have pure excitement in their eyes as the men surround them. This is one big party that’s certain to end in the bedroom and my heart hurts at the knowledge this is how Angel existed for five years. Thinking of her with even one of these men is bad enough but knowing that she’s probably been with most of them is a lot to take in and yet I am no different. I too have lost track of how many women I’ve had sex with and I should judge myself more harshly because there was no love in my heart for any of them.
I can tell that Angel holds a heart full of love for these guys and so, I suck it up and smile as she tries to introduce me to her life.
Once the initial excitement at her return subsides, we head toward the bar with Ashton and Bonnie who laughs. “Well done, Sebastian, you dealt with that well.”
Pulling up stools, Ashton groans as she tries to make herself comfortable and Angel looks concerned. “How long?”
“Two weeks but to be honest, I hope he’s early.”
“He?”
She grins and Angel’s face softens and I can see why Ryder is so overprotective of her. This woman has a softness and vulnerability that would make a man kill an army to protect her. She is sweet and almost innocent but there’s a hint of steel running through her that shows she’s no pushover.
She says softly, “Yes, a little boy. We are undecided on a name but I’m sure when the little guy makes an appearance, it will all slot into place.”
Bonnie laughs. “The guys have a sweepstake. Snake thinks it will be Titan.”
Rolling her eyes, Ashton laughs. “He’s lost then.”
Angel laughs and I wonder about these women. It seems such a violent place to bring a small baby to and Angel must sense my concern because she leans in and whispers, “I’ll show you around later, you’ll understand then.”
A girl who is serving drinks behind the bar approaches and looks at me with curiosity. She grins at Angel and laughs, “You were right about him, honey - gorgeous.”
Feeling my lips twitch, Angel groans. “Ok Milly, don’t give him a bigger ego than he has already. It’s good to see you by the way, don’t I get a hug from my best friend?”
Unlike the other greetings I can tell these girls love each other very much as they hug it out across the bar. I can sense the emotion as they hold on to each other and Bonnie whispers, “Milly is Angel’s best friend here. She’s missed her terribly even though it’s not been long. The single girls here rely on each other more than most because they understand only too well what it’s like living in this madhouse.”
Completing Beauty: Books 1-3 Page 16