by Ryan Michele
Walking out of the bathroom, G.T. pulls his boots up and laces them. His eyes meet mine and a sexy whistle caresses his lips. “Damn Angel. You look fucking hot.” I blush, my body getting flushed. “But there are two things missing.” I look down at my leathers; boots and jacket are all exactly where they should be. Nothing is missing.
“What?” I question and look over to G.T. on bended knee in front of me. I gasp my hand slapping my mouth, tears spring to my eyes and my gaze falls onto a very sparkly ring in G.T.’s hand. “Oh. My. God.” I mutter, my eyes focus on his. Inside of them, love is bursting through, sucking me in like a vise.
“Angel. I love you. I’ve loved you for so many years and I need to make this official. I want you by my side always. I want you in my bed next to me every night. I want you to be my wife. I need you to be my wife. Will you marry me?” I stand there stunned. My lips try to move, but nothing comes out and I think I may have forgotten how to breathe. Years, I have loved this man and now he will really be mine. I never thought this day would come. Never thought he would want this step. Always dreamed he would, but never thought it would be a reality. And here it is, staring me in the face. G.T.’s eyes are pleading with me, but there is one thing that needs to be clear.
“It’ll be only me from now on. No one else touches you, ever.” I say with all the confidence I can muster, but it comes out breathy, the shock still evident. But he needs to answer this question. It’s too important.
“Absolutely baby. There is no one else for me. You are it. You are the reason I breathe. You are the reason I live. I love you.” He smiles and my breath leaves my body again and I suddenly feel a bit dizzy. I close my eyes pulling myself back together, as much as I can.
“Yes.” I find my voice, but it’s quiet and croaky. My entire body shakes and there is no way to control it.
He smiles showing me his beautiful dimples and I want to lick them. He reaches out and grabs my shaking left hand pulling it up to his lips and kissing my ring finger. He slides the gorgeous ring on to my finger and I breathe in deep, blowing it out slowly. The diamond is square and encased in the band which is either white gold or platinum, I’m not sure which. Small diamonds are embedded in the band going all the way around. It is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“I picked this ring so you could still wear your gloves because I plan on having you on the back of my bike every damn chance I get. And I’m a selfish bastard and want it on your damn finger even when you’re working on an engine, gloves will protect it.” He smiles seductively and kisses the diamond he just placed on my finger.
“It’s beautiful.” I pause. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Thank you.” I stare into his crystal eyes; he stands and his full lips slam to mine, passion and love exploding though his kiss. His hands encase my face and I pull my hands up resting them on his. This kiss is tender and loving and special. I give him all of me down to my soul.
He pulls away, both of us breathless. “One more thing.” His forehead presses to mine far too briefly as he lets go and heads to the closet opening the door wide. My eyes travel to his delectable ass, my mouth becoming dry. I lick my lips; the taste of cherries exploding on my tongue. He bends down and turns around with a large white box in his hands. My body begins to sweat. I know what is inside that box. It’s amazing that the ring knocked me on my ass, but this, this just feels like too much.
He slowly pulls the top off of the box and pulls the tissue paper away. I stop breathing and stare at the beautiful work in front of me. A gorgeous black leather rag with intricate crisscross ties around the edges lay in the box. G.T. picks it up by the shoulders holding it up. The patch on the front says Angel and I blush. He turns it around and my mouth goes dry. On the back is the Ravage top rocker just like his and on the bottom it reads ‘Property of G.T.’
I don’t even bother trying to stop the tears or even when I break into sobs. He really is mine. “I had this made for you. It’s time for you to be my wife and my ol’ lady.”
I nod my head unable to formulate the words and try to control my breathing. “Time to put it on Angel.” I slip out of my current jacket and turn around for G.T., who slides the soft leather across my body. It smells of leather and oil and I relish in its smoothness under my fingertips.
I turn around and smile at him wiping my face dry. “What do ya think?” I say my voice regaining some of its punch.
“I think you are the most beautiful fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” He pulls me close crashing his lips to mine and I can’t breathe. He sucks every bit of air out of my body and my knees grow weak. He wraps his arm around my waist holding me tight to him and I clutch onto his shoulders feeling his muscles flex under my touch. He pulls away looking into my eyes.
“When we get back, I’m fucking you all night long. I will be so damn deep in that tight body, you will always know you are mine. My girl. My ol’ lady.” Shivers rake my body and I smile up at him wanting that more than words could say.
“Is that a threat or a promise?” I tease, biting my lower lip and looking up at him batting my eyelashes.
“A fucking promise. Let’s go before we are really fucking late and they start pounding on the damn door.” I nod and check my makeup, thankful I didn’t put much on. I slap some cherry lip gloss on smacking my lips together. G.T. holds his hand out and I take it happily, shutting and locking the door behind us.
We walk into the main room to cheers. The core brothers of Ravage and their ol’ ladies stand around smiling knowingly. Harlow comes barreling through the crowd moving people out of her way. “Let me see.” She yanks my hand eyeing the beautiful ring. “It’s gorgeous.” She looks up at her brother. “You did good.”
“You didn’t see it?” I ask because surely he ran it by his sister. Right?
“No. Jackass here wouldn’t let anyone see it, so don’t be surprised if you get mauled with everyone wanting to see it.”
He shrugs. “I wanted you to be the first to see it, Angel.” My sweet, sweet biker man.
“Come here!” Ma yells pushing Harlow out of the way. She is the only woman on this planet that could get away without a fist to the jaw. I go willingly into her open arms and embrace her whole-heartedly. “I am so damn happy right now. You make him so happy and that’s all I ever wanted for him. But for you, I’ve always thought of you as a daughter, now we get to make it legal.” I choke back the tears. I will not cry anymore. Even happy tears.
“Turn!” Harlow says loudly and I know what she wants. I slowly pull away from Ma and turn making my leather shown to the world. More whistles and hollers come from the group around me. Then they are all on both G.T. and myself, every ol’ lady and brother taking their turns hugging us and kissing us on our cheeks.
Becs is one of the last ones to come up to me. He wraps his arms around me and I breathe in deep, pulling him tight to me. He leans in close to my ear. “Your dad would be so happy for you girl.” I nod into his shoulder. “Your man went and talked to your dad.” I pull away looking into his elated eyes.
“What?”
He smiles. “He went and talked to Bam. He’s a good man, Angel.” I close my eyes and let the words sink in.
“Angel.” I whisper.
“Club name after all.” Becs says kissing me on the cheek and falling back in with the crowd. I turn and see G.T. talking to Dagger. I know I shouldn’t. But I can’t help myself. I charge towards him and jump into his arms. He catches me and I latch my lips onto his, wrapping my hands through his hair and pulling him as close as I can. His hands grip my ass and pulls me tight to him.
“Alright you two.” Pops calls and I pull away from G.T. His lips are swollen from mine, making me smile. “If we don’t ride now, we’ll never go.”
Everyone nods and I set off for a ride with my family.
“Thanks.” Pops shakes hands with Lambrouni’s men followed by Becs and myself. A man sits in the chair, his head slumped down, hands bound behind him and feet bound
together. The black bag over his head conceals his face.
“Dagger.” Pops says, lifting his chin. Dagger walks over to the man kicking him on his foot.
“Wake the fuck up.” The man jumps and starts in with a bunch of gibberish that none of us understands. Pops nods to Rhys who leaves and brings back the asshole otherwise known as Jace. He stumbles in, his face battered and bruised. I’d be surprised if anyone even recognized his ass. Not that I give a shit.
His eyes flick over to the man with the bag, who is continually mumbling. “Did you miss your daddy dearest?” Dagger asks grabbing the man’s head and pulling it back.
“How the fuck did you find him?” Jace’s grunts between breaths.
“Skip it. Tell me how the fuck to find Paine and he walks out of here. Or don’t and I fucking kill him while you watch.”
“You won’t fucking kill him. He didn’t do shit.”
I smirk to Cruz. “Fucker really doesn’t understand this shit does he? We thought you were one of Paine’s boys. Surely he showed you how shit works in our world.”
Cruz walks up behind the man grabbing his head in one hand and a knife in the other. The knife traces along his jaw and slightly cuts his skin leaving a trail of blood. The cut is only superficial, but Jace needs to know we mean business.
Jace grunts but doesn’t move. “Dad!”
The man’s head jolts up. “Jace. What’s going on?”
“It’ll be alright, just stay still.”
“What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Jace? You haven’t been running around with your cousin Jared? Have you?”
All us brothers glance at each other.
“Does Jared have another name?” Pops yells.
Jace shouts. “Don’t answer that.” But his dad doesn’t listen.
“Paine. Stupid fucker. Why my brother ever got involved in a gang I’ll never know, but he brought his fucking kid into it too. That’s what this is about isn’t it Jace?” The man shakes his head. “I told you to stay away from him!”
“Dad shut the fuck up!” Jace yells and Rhys slams his fist into his gut.
“What do these men want, Jace?”
“Alright enough, with the fucking male bonding shit.” I cut in, fed up with this circus. “Jace tell us where Paine is or I fucking kill him. I’m done with your shit.”
“He’s right. Either way you die today. Take your father with you if want to, but you’re fucking going.” Becs says crossing his arms over his chest and I nod.
“Dagger.” Pops lifts his chin and he pulls the man’s arm hard, probably out of the socket. He screams.
“Fuck.” Jace says as Rhys holds him and I land a few punches.
“We can keep this up all fucking night.” I bark shaking my fist out.
After what feels like forever, Jace gives us an address. But with his prior record, I need to make sure. I pull the gun out of my holster and hold it to the man’s head. “You want to rethink that address boy? Cause if you’re fucking around with me, I fucking hunt your father down and kill him, no questions asked.” I click the gun and the man starts babbling again.
“I swear that’s the last fucking place I saw him. If you can’t find him there he has a girl and a kid that has a place out on Ebert Road, he’d be there.” I remove the gun from the old man’s head.
“What about the money that you owe and now Shaina? How the hell does she fit in to all of this?” Cruz asks.
“Diamond’s daughter and she was easy. Wanted to hurt her daddy… blah… blah…”
I ask the questions that I need to know the answer too. “Why Casey? What does she have to do with any of this shit?”
He smiles and he will pay for that after he talks. And surprisingly he does and he almost seems to get off on it.
“Paine knows all the little biker brats.” I nod to Dagger and Rhys who pull on his arms and he screams then laughs. “You just don’t get it. Paine wants you all dead. He doesn’t give a shit about that land, it’s about pride. You’re such dumbasses.”
I slam my fist in his gut. “You’re not telling me why.” I move over to his father and cock the gun to his head. “Tell me.”
“Planned out. Moved in a week before she did. Pretty much lied about everything. She was pretty easy to convince, surprisingly.” Then he started laughing harder. “Then when she lost that bastard of a baby.” I’d heard enough as the fury of a father courses through my body. I pound his face over and over and over until it hangs there, blood dripping from it.
I look over at Pops, who nods at me. I point the gun at Jace, pulling the trigger with ease. He falls immediately to the ground.
The old man screams. “Now. We let you go and not a word of this to anyone, or we come and find you. Even if he’s right and gave up Paine, we will kill you, make no mistake about it.” Pops states and nods to Dagger, who picks the man up and takes him away.
“What do ya think?”
“Not the first. Let’s go to the girl and kid.” Becs moves to the door. “Get Tug and Breaker here to clean up this fucking mess.” He looks down at the man covered in blood and I for once can breathe. The fucker is dead.
The house is modest, nothing elaborate, but that’s how someone hiding tries to blend in to the community. Night has fallen and lights shine throughout the house, but I don’t see any movement. I move around the house trying to get a better view, my brothers doing the same. The curtains are drawn, but the light penetrates through them, allowing us to see inside.
I text the brothers saying I see no one. And I get five other texts saying the same thing. I move quietly up to the door, stand to the side and test the handle which turns. The door creaks open and I hear it. A ticking. “Fucking Run, Bomb!” I yell jumping away from the door just as a huge explosion fills my ears.
My head hits the ground. I smell fire, sulfur and something else I can’t place. My head feels so fucking heavy, but I fight to stay awake. I roll to my side and hear my brother’s yelling. I look over and Cruz, Dagger and Becs are carrying Rhys. “Fuck.” I push up on wobbly legs and head over to them.
“He was right there when it went off. He must not have heard you yell.” Rhys’ body is black, but there is no blood.
“Call Doc have him meet us. Now.” He barks as the guys take Rhys to the cage.
“You alright, son?” I stand looking at the huge pile of burning rubble.
“Yeah. We gotta get the fuck out of here. Now.”
G.T.’s been gone all day on club business and it’s been great. Not that he’s gone because I miss him, it’s just when he’s here I’m always preoccupied. Today, I was able to get more than my assigned homework done and work on this massive business plan that one of my professors assigned. I feel very accomplished.
I lay out on a picnic table enjoying the sun shining down. It’ll be dark soon, but I need the fresh air. Brothers from the Clayton chapter of Ravage have been here all day while the guys have been gone. I feel their eyes on me constantly, but ignore them. They know I belong to G.T.
Harlow and I made them sandwiches, but mostly they did their thing and we each did ours. Harlow said that Coop needed a rest, so she decided to lie with him while I bask in the last bit of sun for the day.
It’s amazing how things have changed so much in such a short time. I really never thought that G.T. and I would be able to get to this place. There was just too much hurt there but for some reason we have. And I’ve never been happier.
“Hey Casey.” I hear whispered through the wind. I sit up and look around. Shaina is standing on the side of the garage next to one of the entrances.
“What?” I do not know what is going on between her and club. I do know that she is a ball full of trouble that I don’t want to be a part of.
“I need your help.”
“With?”
She looks behind her and I can’t see anything. A little girl about the age of four pokes her head around the corner her eyes scared. I jump to my feet. “Who’s kid?” I say walking tow
ards them.
“Mine.” A man’s voice comes from behind them and my body goes on instant alert and I let out a painstaking scream that would get anyone’s attention. Jared. What the hell? Before I can say a word, his hand comes up cracking me hard across the face. My knees give out and I fall to the ground, but continue to scream knowing it’s my only salvation right now. He picks me up and wraps his hand around my throat. I kick and scratch anything that I can get my hands on. Something gets stuffed in my mouth and tight arms grip my body making me immobile.
“Stop right fucking there.” I hear screamed in the background. The man slams his head into mine and I see black.
My head throbs as I move it back and forth slowly. I hear soft moans and realize they are my own. My arms are laced with pain and my shoulders are on fire. I try to open my eyes, but they feel heavy and gritty, like sand paper and everything around me is grainy and blurry. I blink repeatedly trying to clear the fog, look up and realize quickly why my arms and shoulders hurt so badly.
My hands are wrapped with a thick metal chain and I’m being held so my feet barely hit the ground. I move my arms slightly and the chains clank together loudly, but do not budge. I look down at my body, my clothes are torn but still covering me. Next to me, Shaina is in the exact same position, but her head is slumped down to her chest and there is no movement from her.
Looking around the room, it’s utterly black with only a small bit of light shining in through a small window and underneath the door, giving me a sliver of hope. It’s enough though to look around, but really there isn’t much to see. The concrete walls are gray and bare, the only thing in the room is Shaina, the chains and me.
Shaina starts to groan and mumble incoherently. I keep quiet not trusting this woman a bit. I have no fucking clue if she’s working for these assholes and I’m not taking any more fucking chances, especially with her ass.
“I’m so sorry.” She groans louder now and if I weren’t tied up, I’d beat the shit out of her. I try to keep my anger in check, it will do me no good right now.