by Jenika Snow
Demon shook his head. “I may have given you my word on not taking you out, and I know the club will back Zeke up on that, but you have to be punished, Shakes. You betrayed us, turned your back on the MC, and you have to pay for that.”
Shakes nodded, knowing this was going to happen, knowing it needed to happen. “I take responsibility for what needs done, but I’d do it again, Demon. I’d leave and take Daniella with me. She’s my old lady and I love her.”
Demon didn’t respond right away, but then he exhaled, ran a hand over his face, and looked at Shakes once more. There was this openness, this almost sympathy on the other man’s face. “I know what you mean, man, and I would have done the same to be with Deanna. I would do anything for her.” Demon stepped closer. “But you have to pay, Shakes.”
“I know.” Shakes looked at Joker and Steel.
“We’ll take a vote at the club, but you need to give up your cut. You need to leave the club.”
And that was like a fucking blow to his head. He knew he’d have to pay, but giving up his cut, leaving the club, still came as a shock. He looked at Daniella, at the woman he loved, the woman he’d die for, kill for. He cupped her cheek, stared into her gorgeous eyes, and knew he’d do whatever it took to be with this woman.
“You don’t have to leave. I can’t let you walk away from them,” she said softly, tears in her eyes. “I can’t be the one that makes you give up everything.”
He smiled softly and leaned down to kiss her. “I’d give my life if it meant being with you for one more day.” Shakes pulled back, took a deep breath, and faced Demon and the other members again. “Make the vote. I’ll respect whatever the club decides.”
Although the vote for him giving up his cut had to be unanimous, he knew, without a doubt, the brothers would vote him out. But Shakes would do anything to be with Daniella, even if that meant walking away from the men he considered family, and the club he’d give up everything for. But Daniella was important to him; so important he’d black out his MC ink, give up his cut, and forget he was ever in the MC.
Three days later
Daniella was scared, worried for Shakes They sat in his living room, the phone call he’d just received weighing heavily on him.
“Are you sure this is what you want, that I am what you want?” She didn’t want him giving up his world, his life, for her.
Shakes stared at her, the hardness in his face having her sit up straighter. “Come here,” he said in a commanding, deep voice. She stood, moved over to him, and when she was within his reach, he grabbed her and pulled her onto his lap.
“Don’t say shit like that again. I love you, will always love you, and if giving up my cut and blacking out my MC patch ink means I can have you and not run, then you better fucking believe I’m going to take it.”
“But the MC is your life, your world.”
He smiled and cupped her cheek. “I don’t have a choice leaving the club, baby. Running with you sealed my fate. But even if I had the choice again, I’d chose you.” He kissed her again. “The club has been my life for a long time, but I betrayed the club to be with you, and I don’t regret that. I have to pay the price.”
“But you’ll be losing a piece of yourself, and I’m afraid you’ll hate me for it.”
“Stop, Dani.” He leaned in and kissed her. “I love you. Okay?”
She nodded, smiled, and leaned in to kiss him. “We don’t have to run anymore, Shakes.”
He shook his head. “No, baby, we don’t. I can finally give you that happily ever after you deserve.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, loving the sound of that, but worried about what he’d be missing in his life not being in the MC. She didn’t know much about motorcycle clubs, but she knew that it would eat away at him, take a little piece of his soul not being in the club. She just hoped he didn’t regret this decision once it was all said and done.
Chapter 18
Shakes entered he clubhouse and found all of the brothers waiting for him. His patch had already been burned; he’d seen it out on the parking lot in a metal drum.
All the brothers were waiting for him. He wore a leather jacket without any markings.
“You know the drill,” Demon said.
“I’m voted out, and I’ve got to have my ink blacked out.” Shakes had a choice, have his ink blacked out, or have a brother cut it off. He was more than happy to have the ink blacked out. This was his decision and he was more than happy to leave the club if it meant staying with his woman.
Daniella was his life. The club was amazing, and he was grateful for the time he’d spent with them. The brothers couldn’t give him what she could: the love, the support, and the feeling that he was cared for. He loved her with all of his heart and soul.
“I didn’t want any of you to get in trouble or for you to be in pain because of me. I love you guys, but I love Daniella more than you.”
“We get it, brother,” Joker said.
“Even I get it.” Demon let out a sigh. “I hate that we’re going to be losing you, but there’s nothing we can do. You betrayed the club, and there has to be a punishment.”
“I accept all punishment that you decide I need.” He removed his jacket, and he watched, felt, as the room grew hot, tensed.
Shakes held his arms out, turning in a circle so they saw he was free, and without weapons. “I’m not armed. I’m not here to fight.”
He tugged up his shirt, and took a seat. Drill, the guy who did all the ink was waiting.
“This is going to hurt,” Drill said.
“I don’t care about the pain.” He took a seat, presenting the ink on his arm. Once his arm was blacked out, he’d give him his back.
The brothers relaxed as the machine started to buzz.
“On the last Friday of the month, Dani and I are getting married. You’re all invited,” Shakes said.
“You sure you want us to be part of that?” Demon asked.
“I’m taking my punishment. I’m out of the club. Not one part of your vote said we couldn’t be friends, still be family. I’m out, and my cut is gone.” Shakes looked around at the men he’d considered friends. “You’re still my family.”
Demon gritted his teeth.
Deanna came from behind Demon. She placed a hand on Demon’s arm. “We’ll be there. Daniella’s a nice woman, and we still love you Shakes.”
“She is. She didn’t know that I’d put your life in danger.”
“I get why you did it, and I know all of the other bothers would have done the same if they were in your shoes. You’re in love.” Deanna smiled at him, and he was thankful she wasn’t angry with him.
The rest of the brothers accepted his invitation. Joker offered him a bottle of whiskey as Drill started working on his back.
“No. I accept this.” The burn on his arm was nothing compared to the burn that started on his back. He was in pain, and it fucking hurt. Thinking about Daniella helped the pain to lessen just a little. This he could handle because at the end of it, he was going to go home to his woman, the love of his life.
The biker life was great, and he’d miss parts of it. He was going to keep his bike, which he’d gotten back for a good price, and he’d get to go on rides. They didn’t take that from him, and he’d have Daniella in his life. In time, the rumor about what he’d done and how he’d been cut off from the club would spread. He’d have no support from the brothers in other chapters, but even if that hurt, he knew this was what he needed to do to make things right. He had to do this for himself, the club, and Daniella.
Daniella arrived at her father’s place, and she’d never been more nervous in her life. They had left the ranch, and the town behind, and they were back, living near the Soldiers and her father, in Shakes’ place. She wasn’t going to go back on her promise, and she would make an effort to be in his life.
The guard on the door gave a nod and let her inside.
She walked down the long corridor until she was outside of her fa
ther’s office. Her heart was pounding, but she found the strength to knock on his door.
“Come in,” Zeke said.
Blowing out a breath, she opened the door. Zeke had his head over a document on his file as she entered. When he looked up, she saw the shock on his face.
“Daniella,” he said, closing the file.
“All you do is work and live in this room. Do you know you’ve got a whole house to live in?” she asked, rubbing her hands together in front of her. She’d hated living in this fortress. It had only served to remind her of the life her father led, and the life she was trapped in.
He’d saved the love of her life.
“There’s no rest for the wicked. Where’s Shakes?”
“He’s taking his punishment from the club.” She shivered, thinking about what that meant. He’d not gone into much detail about what was going to happen.
Zeke nodded. “I couldn’t make them keep him. The club would have looked weak because of it.”
“What about you? Will you look weak?” she asked. She folded her arms, wishing there was something she could say or do that would break the tension.
“I’ve spoken with Shakes, and he’s going to be working for me. I’ll pay him, and his lack of position will show to the world his punishment,” he said.
“He’s told me he’ll be working for you as a grunt or something.”
“If anyone thinks they can take me on, let them. They’ll come up with a brick wall of force.” He nodded at her bound arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It was just a graze.”
Zeke climbed out of his chair and rounded the desk to stand before her.
“Thank you,” she said.
“I have never wanted to hurt you, Dani. I love you. You’re my girl, and I’ve only wanted to protect you. Your safety means more to me than anything.”
“We’re going to be staying close. I’m going to go to college like before. Shakes wants me to finish. I’m scared,” she said.
“What are you afraid of?”
It was the first time he’d ever asked her what she was afraid of. Usually, he found out the source of her problem on his own, sometimes totally misjudging the issue, and took out her problem. He always asked questions afterward.
“He’s given up everything for me. Won’t he come to resent me?”
“Shakes is the kind of man to weigh his options. Before he came to me, he’d have already made a decision based on two outcomes. He would have thought of everything, and set out his course of action.” He dropped his head, sighing. “He’s a good man. He’s not the man I wanted for you. You’re my little girl, and I saw you with a doctor, a man who doesn’t have a past like mine or Shakes, but I can see how wrong I was. Shakes loves you, and he’ll do whatever he can to protect you.”
“I love him.”
“And he loves you. I’ll always be here with you, for you, and I want to work on our friendship, honey. I really want us to get to know each other.”
“Well, if you want you can come around to dinner next week,” she said.
“I’d like that.”
“Also, Shakes and I are getting married at the end of the month. I’d really like it if you’d be there to give me away,” she said.
She watched, amazed, as tears filled his eyes. It was the first time she’d seen him look happy.
“I’ll be there.”
Taking a deep breath, she closed the distance between them. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she gave her father a hug. She’d not given him a hug in over ten years. Closing her eyes, she released a sigh as Zeke held her tightly.
“I missed you, Dani.”
“I missed you, too, Dad.”
“I wish I was a better father for you but I’m not. I can’t change who I am. I wish I could.”
She let the tears spill from her eyes, truly happy to be with her father.
After a few minutes, she pulled out of his arms. “I better be getting back. I don’t know how long Shakes is going to be, and I don’t want him to be worried about me.”
“I’ll be around tomorrow. You’d better warn Shakes you’re cooking for me.”
“I will. I love you, Dad.” She kissed his cheek and turned to leave.
“I love you too, Dani.”
She left him alone, and drove back toward Shakes’s home. As she pulled into the driveway, she saw the Soldiers van coming around the corner.
Demon was driving the van, and he nodded at her. “What’s going on?” she asked.
The back opened, and Shakes stumbled out. Going to his side, she saw his back and arm was blacked out, and she winced. There was some blood, and Joker helped her carry him into the house.
“You’re going to need to clean his back. He’ll be fine in a couple of days,” Joker said.
The Soldiers didn’t linger, and she winced at the mess of his back.
“Are you okay?”
“I am now that I’m home.”
They were all inside the house, making the space seem small. “I can’t believe they did this to you,” she said. Daniella left him, going to the bathroom to grab the first aid kit. She knelt on the floor beside the sofa, and set about fixing up his back.
“This is what needed to be done. I’ve taken my punishment. We’re good now, baby. You’re going to be mine, and we’re going to be safe.”
She cupped his cheek. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Daniella pressed a kiss to his lips and attended to her man’s back. This is what she wanted, well, part of what she wanted. They were both safe, neither her father nor the club were hunting either of them. She just wished she wasn’t cleaning up Shakes’ back. It wasn’t perfect, but it was close.
Epilogue
Three months later
Shakes sat on the porch, drinking his beer, and watching his woman in the small garden she’d made just last week. He never saw himself living this life. He’d been so fucking proud of the club, of being in the club. Shakes had sported his MC tats proudly, and jumping from woman to woman had been the norm. But then Daniella had come along, and he’d fallen head over heels. He loved her. God, he loved her so damn much.
In the last three months, she’d become a part of his life irrevocably. She was going to school, because he was damn sure she’d get her degree and make something out of her life. He wanted that for her, and wanted her to do whatever she wanted without restrictions. He was also working for her father, and although working for Zeke was the last thing he wanted to do, it ensured that everything worked smoothly. He stared at her, a smile on his face.
He didn’t know what he’d do without her. No, that wasn’t true. He’d fucking lose it, destroy shit if she was taken from him.
“I swear these things aren’t going to grow. I think I did something wrong,” she said almost to herself, but then looked up at him, squinting.
“I think putting them in the ground is sufficient,” he said and smiled. Hell, he didn’t know shit about gardening, and had no desire to learn anything about it. “Maybe you should check out that plant in the corner.” He pointed the corner of the small patch of dirt she’d created for her plants and vegetables. She looked at the spot he pointed out, looked at him with a wrinkled brow, and then went over there. She bent over, and he grinned.
Her ass was in the air as she was on her hands and knees. The shorts she wore were gaping slightly, showing him that delectable crease where her legs met her ass.
She looked over her shoulder and grinned. “You’re such a dirty old man.
He started chuckling. “Baby, you like that I’m dirty,” he gave her a wink. She went back to gardening, and he sat there, realizing this was his life now, and damn was it a good one. It might be boring at times, anticlimactic since he was used the violence and danger of the club, but being with Daniella, having her at his side, was so worth it. Fuck, was it worth it.
He loved this woman, loved her so damn much he ached inside because of it, and having a lif
e where he watched her garden instead of riding his Harley with the MC, had him content and happy. Wasn’t that what life was really about? He had regrets about a lot of things in his life, but being with her wasn’t one of them. This was his life now, and he embraced it. She was his world, and he’d be there for her no matter what.
RUIN AND RISE (The Soldiers of Wrath MC, 4.5)
Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow
http://www.SamCrescent.wordpress.com
[email protected]
www.JenikaSnow.com
[email protected]
Published by Crescent Snow Publishing
Copyright © June 2015 by Sam Crescent and Jenika Snow
Digital Edition
First E-book Publication: June 2015
Edited by Editing by Rebecca
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This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
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Sometimes falling into the ruin doesn't mean you can't rise from the ashes.
Shakes and Daniella went through hell to find their happiness, but it didn't come without a price. To keep Daniella, Shakes had to lose a part of himself.
Can they really rise from the ashes and not get burned?
But then Daniella and Shakes' life gets turned upside down again when an unexpected pregnancy strains the already volatile relationship Shakes has with Daniella's father, Zeke.