Unruly Defender

by Schmidt, Esther E.

  “Other than the fact I’m suddenly engaged to be married, yes, all dandy.” Clemente rubs a hand over his mouth before he drops it and his face is back to its familiar all business look. “A business deal, nothing I can’t handle.”

  I feel my eyes widen. Did he just say? He can’t be serious. “Are you telling me you struck a deal and your end was to marry some girl you don’t even know? What the hell, Clemente? You can’t be serious. Your own father didn’t pressure you into this part of the family traditions. You know what happened to our father and my mother.”

  Clemente shrugs. “This is different. I don’t do love and it was necessary. Besides, my uncle values the tradition and so do all others of the familia. I’m the head of this familia now Gracy, I can’t ignore my responsibilities. Besides, from what I’ve heard she’s supposed to be the beauty of Italy, she’s going to look pretty on my arm.”

  “She’s going to look...are you insane?” I screech and jab a finger against his chest. “Do I need to rip your brains out through your nose to check your sanity?”

  His left eyebrow raises and his attention goes to Yates. “Thirst for blood and brains, eh?”

  Yates grins. “She’s an Unruly Defenders’ old lady, you can’t blame her for standing up for your future wife.”

  “You can pick her up from the airport in two weeks when she arrives. I was going to send the limo but maybe it’s better if you—”

  I cut him right off and huff, “You didn’t just say that.” I close my eyes for a brief moment and take a gulp of air to calm down. “Please don’t tell me you’re that guy. You know, the one who’s a gloating, self-absorbed dick who is so damn impersonal that he sends a freaking limo to pick up his future wife to let her arrive all by herself to marry your insane, self-absorbed ass. Oh. My. God. Are we seriously related? Because if we are, we are going to have to spend a lot of time together so I can give you some proper advice on how to unjerk yourself, mister.”

  Laughter rings out around me and I have to shoot a glare around the clubhouse because this shit isn’t funny. An arranged marriage? I can’t begin to imagine what this woman might be thinking or what she’s in for.

  Clemente has always been sweet, kind, and caring to me but I’ve also seen the coldness his eyes can hold. And let’s not forget the fact he’s the head of the familia. Talk about a lot of responsibility, stress, and a status to uphold.

  “I agree to have you around me a lot more, Gracy,” Clemente says, affection wrapping around each word. “It’s why I suggested you pick her up at the airport but clearly I’m going with you. But I want her to feel welcome and I hope having you with me will put her at ease in some way.”

  “Nice save,” I mutter and gulp down the rest of my rosé. “And what was that about bringing me along? To do what exactly?”

  “Front row seat of Rush getting arrested for murder, among other things,” Clemente casually throws out.

  “Murder? He’s finally going to get arrested for killing Eddie’s father and his own? You guys leaked the evidence that implies he’s behind all of it and how those men’s death wasn’t an accident at all?” Excitement fills my veins. Finally, there’s light at the end of the tunnel to put an end to all of this.

  Clemente is about to say something but Eddie’s voice thunders from behind me, “Maybe it’s best she stays here, and we need to be going, right?”

  Clemente tilts his head slightly and I can see a nerve twitch underneath his left eye as he stares at Eddie. What’s that about?

  “We’re going, but she’s coming with us,” Clemente states.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Eddie starts.

  “It’s not up to you, it’s my decision. She’s my sister and I’m telling you she’s coming with us.”

  Okay, then. I guess I’m about to find out what’s going to happen next.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  — EDDIE —

  I’m not liking this one damn bit. I glance to my left and watch how Gracy is looking out the window, her hands folded and resting on her lap. I wanted to save her from this part and I know it’s wrong but it’s going to be like pouring salt on already open wounds.

  I reach out and take her hand in mine. She instantly leans her body in my direction and I relish in the way we’ve grown close in such a short period of time. The limo comes to a stop and I give her hand one last squeeze to get her attention.

  “Whatever is said inside, I know it’s going to be hard for you to hear and understand. But you need to know I’m right here for you, and there are a lot of others around you who also love you and are there for anything you need, okay?”

  Her eyes stare into mine and are checking to see if there’s an answer for the unspoken thoughts I just gave her. Until mischief starts to dance in her eyes.

  “Also love me,” she muses. “Eddie, is this your sneaky way of saying you love me?”

  A smile spreads my face, making my cheeks hurt, and I shake my head. “Woman, I’m trying to tell you to brace yourself and all you catch is the love you part?”

  She shrugs but I can tell by the flush of her cheeks and the way her gaze hits her lap that she’s feeling vulnerable and this is turning less into a casual discussion or joke.

  I place my finger underneath her chin and tip her head up so she can look at me while I give her my words. “We might have just started but the connection we share was locked like a solid unbreakable chain. Whatever the chain is made of, steel, silver, gold, platinum? Does it represent value? Not to me because it’s the meaning behind it that counts, not the name you attach to it. So, adoration, love, head over heels, or the feeling of belonging together...one, the other...it’s all about the feelings expressed between us. And what I feel for you in this moment in time is solid, and I can also tell you it will only become fiercer and stronger. I’m not giving you the exact words right now, but I am warning you...do not walk away from me at any time, because you’re the one holding my heart, Gracelynn.”

  Her eyes go wide at my admittance but Clemente breaks our connection when he grunts, “This is why I don’t do the whole love thing. It makes me physically nauseous.”

  Gracy glares at him and snaps, “You reap what you sow. You’d do best to open up some or you’ll end up with an ice queen for a wife.”

  Clemente shrugs. “I don’t see any problems with it. As long as she melts between the sheets.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” Gracy mutters and shakes her head disapprovingly.

  “Showtime, folks,” Clemente says and the door of the limo opens.

  Just before we head inside, I lean in and whisper right next to Gracy’s ear, “Remember, you have a whole new family at your back.”

  She turns and surprises me by grabbing my head and crashing our lips together for a fierce kiss.

  When she pulls back she says, “Sunrise, sunset, and everything in between.”

  “Everything in between,” I croak.

  “Then let’s do this,” she says fiercely and laces her fingers with mine.

  The moment we step inside tension thickens the air around us. Clemente checks his gold watch and I know he must have more information than he shared with me. This man has contacts everywhere and can make anything happen. He doesn’t even need the added bodyguards surrounding him because everywhere he goes people know what he represents and the repercussions along with it if something were to happen to him.

  The sound of someone stumbling comes from our right and Rush comes around the corner. His face shows lacerations and bruises and his eye is swollen shut. He pulls a gun on us and I roughly shove Gracy behind me.

  Clemente is aiming his gun at Rush’s head and releases a humorless chuckle. “Put it away, asshole. You’re a dead man walking as it is, and no one in here is going to join your trip to hell. And it has nothing to do with the beating you took. But, in case you were wondering, I’m delighted to tell you I’m the one you can thank for the little postponement of your nearing death. You little, pitiful speck of a m
an. Did you really think you could get away with setting up shop in my district without me knowing or agreeing? Not to mention what you did to my family. This has been a long time coming but you’ll know soon enough. I deliberately ordered the cartel to keep you breathing when they gave you the beating and handled Den since he was of no use to me but you? I have plans for you. Plans that involve justice on a different kind of level since my sister deserves it. And seeing she’s the old lady of the man you sent to prison for shit he didn’t do, he deserves his chunk of justice too.”

  Sirens start to flare up in the distance.

  “Ah, right on time,” I grunt, already knowing what’s to come.

  “They can’t touch me. I didn’t do shit,” Rush grunts.

  Clemente slowly shakes his head. “On the contrary, Rush, we know exactly what you did. And everyone else will know soon enough too.”

  The sirens are becoming louder and Rush locks his eyes on me. “This will play out the same way it did when they came for me back at the clubhouse. I’m walking out within a few hours. You have nothing on me.”

  “Spencer won’t bail you out this time, Rush,” I state, feeling Gracy tense behind me.

  The police burst inside and I notice Clemente isn’t holding his gun anymore. Rush is the only one holding one and with the loud shouting and guns pointing from the law, Rush surrenders and finds himself with his hands cuffed behind his back. They read him his rights and when they mention the reason, I hear Gracy gasp behind me.

  Her tiny fists clench around my leather cut and in this moment I’m glad Clemente has the right connections because we’re allowed to slip away from the scene as I guide her outside. It’s time I shared this final piece of information with her because I don’t want any secrets between us and with the recent events it’s clear she can handle a lot.

  Though this part will hit hard and I’m trying to think of a way to start but she catches me by surprise when she whispers, “When you went with Clemente to handle Spencer...you made it seem Rush did it?”

  I wince at the way she easily supplies we killed a man and voices it as “handle it.”

  “Not exactly. We did have a long talk with him but it was mostly Clemente’s father, Stephano...your father...who did the talking...and the handling part. But, Gracy,” I croak and I place my hands on her hips to keep her pinned. “When Stephano pressured Spencer, Spencer admitted something Clemente and Stephano already suspected.”

  She swallows hard and the way a tear slides down her face, it’s not hard to guess she knows what I’m about to say.

  “Spencer paid Rush to kill your mother and made it look like a suicide. A few days before her death, your mother contacted a lawyer and had divorce papers drawn up. She was officially going to leave Spencer. He would be left with nothing. Not one penny. This was the reason he needed her gone and also filed the papers to have you give up the inheritance so he could get his hands on everything. I’m very thankful you walked out of his life all those months ago because I have a feeling this man wouldn’t have thought twice to get rid of you too.”

  I pull her close and I feel her arms sliding around my waist to hold me just as tight.

  Clemente stalks up and asks, “Everything okay?”

  Gracy pulls back and croaks, “I don’t think it’s going to be okay for a while. But with the support of those around us we will pull through, right?”

  Clemente opens his arms and Gracy turns to accept his hug. “Right,” he murmurs and places a kiss on the top of her head.

  He eyes me for a moment and the slight lift of his chin lets me know I made the right decision. I would have wanted nothing more than to kill Rush with my bare hands but it was too much of a risk. Not to mention we needed him to take the fall for the shit he did so everything is out in the open and all of us will get the closure we need.

  This is why I talked Clemente into getting the police involved and making sure he’s thrown in jail to pay for the crimes he did. Satisfaction roars in my veins when I see them drive Rush off. Closure. Justice finally wraps around all of us and it’s the first step in putting everything behind us.

  Open wounds will take a while to heal, but with the right gentleness and care, there isn’t anything we can’t handle together. Because when I look at Gracy, I see my future and the brightness of the sun that holds all the warmth my heart is filled with.

  All of us get into the limo and ride back to the clubhouse. Clemente and Gracy agree to have dinner next week along with her father and though I didn’t want to intrude, the both of them made sure I said yes to joining them.

  It’s hard to believe I’m stepping into the clubhouse with the knowledge everything is handled. I know there are a lot of things to do but I feel lighter now that we don’t have to glance over our shoulder at every turn.

  Building the future is what needs our attention and it’s exactly where my devotion is. To build this club stronger than it was. To run my father’s company with the same dedication he once started it with. And to spend as much time in my mother’s presence...and finally, to make sure I enjoy every sunset and sunrise with the woman who holds my heart.

  And when I glance down and lock eyes with her, I can see the same promise reflecting in her eyes. Time is precious and while each of us have the one life we’re living, you have to make damn sure to set priorities and make the right choices about how much everything is worth to you in the end.

  I might have been consumed with the need for vengeance, blinded by it so much I was willing to risk my own life along with it. Instead I’m glad to say, somewhere along the line, it shifted by the more important things life has to offer. And in the end, it all worked out the way it’s supposed to be, with one huge difference...my bright as fuck future I intend to enjoy every damn second of.

  Like I said, it’s all behind us and when Yates hands me a cold beer and Gracy a glass of rosé, we share another look. Though mine is one where I take her glass out of her hands and give it back to Yates.

  “You’re not allowed to drink,” I tell her and her eyes go wide at my demand.

  She starts to sputter but stops when I point at her belly. Her lips part as understanding dawns. Her shoulders sag and she grumbles, “Then you’d better entertain me in another way because I’m allowed to have a little stress relief to make my body fill with joy.”

  A growl rumbles low in my chest as I thrust the beer back into Yates’ hands. “I’ll give you plenty of entertainment all right.” I grab her by the waist and hoist her onto my shoulder, heading for my room the next instant as I smack her ass and tell her, “Fill your body up with joy...cum-ming right up.”

  “Dirty man,” Gracy squeals as her giggles trail through the air behind us.

  “We’re having a party, kids,” Yates bellows. “You can’t skip your own late ‘welcome home, slash, we finally settled that shit’ celebration party.”

  “The day is still young, Yates,” I shout back before I open the door to our room.

  There’s no way I’m missing out on making love with my woman. I’m pressing pause on the whole damn world because there’s nothing more important than sharing an intimate moment with the one you love. The one who opened my eyes and took my hand to guide me into the part where life becomes worth living.

  — THREE WEEKS LATER —

  “I don’t know if I can do this,” Gracy whispers as we’re standing in front of a large mansion that’s owned by her biological father.

  I step in front of her and cup her face. “You’ve been postponing this for three weeks now. It’s time. Besides, you already met him a few times before you knew he was your biological father. You’ve mentioned how friendly and sweet he was and how your mother loved spending time with him. There’s no need to be nervous. Clemente is here, you’ve seen him multiple times after knowing he’s your brother. And I’m right here too.”

  “I know I’ve seen Clemente, but it’s not like he killed Spencer. I can’t help but be afraid I will blurt out something about Spencer a
nd rattle off words how I think he should have come back for me and how my mother should have told him about me the second she knew she was pregnant. See? I’m such a mess with all of this.” Her voice cracks up at the end and I know how hard these past weeks have been for her.

  She might have been holding up strong but when the dust settles it’s the pieces you have to pick up behind you to move forward. We’ve been doing this together but Gracy has been putting this meeting off for weeks now and it’s not helping either one.

  Clemente has called me a few times to ask for my help in bringing them together because his father has been doing better ever since he killed Spencer. He’s excited to meet Gracy and I can’t blame him, everyone loves her.

  All the bikers of Unruly Defenders MC love her and go out of their way to make her feel at home at the clubhouse. And that’s another thing, she demanded we’d live at the clubhouse for the time being.

  It was something I would have been willing to compromise with because the estate is close by too, but I loved her reasoning since it mirrored my own. The MC needs me—and her along with it—as a visible presence. Building up everything just as the connection between us. The strong foundation is there and we have all the time in the world to make it stronger to rise above.

  “We’re all family, Gracelynn. And some might think we’re a screwed up one, but we relish in that shit because at our dinner table there isn’t a limitation of what can or cannot be discussed. So, you throw out what’s on your mind. I’m pretty damn sure your father would rather face awkward questions than to not see you at all.”

  Her eyes fill with understanding and determination. “You’re right. We’re doing this.”

  “We are,” I agree and ring the bell before she can change her mind.

  It’s unnecessary to ring the bell because we already passed security but I’m sure they were watching the cameras and gave us this moment before opening the door.

  My suspicion is correct when Clemente is the one opening the door. “Sis, glad you could make it.”