by Sam Crescent
She couldn’t recall a time when she had been this happy, this contented.
Seconds later, Butler returned, and he helped her up, carrying her through to the bathroom, where he placed her in the tub. He followed her, though, climbing in behind her so that she rested back against him.
He took hold of her hands and locked their fingers together.
“What do you think your club will say?” Mandy asked.
“They’re going to love it. The girls love a reason to celebrate, and our getting together will be a big fucking reason.” He kissed her neck.
Wrapping his arms around her, she stared ahead. “How will you get your patch back?”
“By proving that I know what I want. That the drugs are a problem, but I can handle it.”
She tilted her head back. “I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
“Good, if I ever start using at all, I want you to go straight to Devil.”
“Why do I not like the sound of that?”
“I wasn’t always a good person, Mandy. I want you to promise me you’d do that.”
“You’re not going to use again. I know you’re not.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise, Butler.”
“I love you, Mandy, and to me you’re worth fighting for.”
She stared at him for the longest time and knew he’d have something in place. Devil would take care of it. She wouldn’t ever let that happen.
When it came to Butler, she was in this for life, and there was no getting out of it, not for her.
****
“What are you doing in here late at night?” Lexie asked, stepping into Devil’s office.
“I am accepting an invitation to a very interesting picnic slash barbeque, slash potential bloodbath.”
“Is this that thing I’ve heard you and Lash talking about? I thought this already happened and you turned it down,” Lexie said, picking up the fancy envelope.
“It was, and then for some reason or another, it got canceled, and then new invitations were sent out. I just got off the phone with Lash, and he’s going to accept.”
“The Billionaire Bikers MC, sounds like a rock band.”
Devil blew out a breath. “They’re … not a real MC. At least, I don’t consider them to be. Not in the sense of the club. They’re all fucking rich as shit, silver spoon kind of crap.”
“You’re blasting them, but I sense a little respect there, honey. What’s going on?” Lexie said.
Devil pulled her down into his lap. He held her hip and leaned back, aware of her gaze on him. “They do good deeds.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“No, it’s actually a really good thing when I think about it. They deal mostly in trafficking.”
“How can that be a good thing? It’s illegal.”
“No, no, not what I meant. They’re the ones that have broken a couple of trafficking rings and provided sanctuary for women that have been rescued. Some of the women they have been able to save before anything really bad has happened to them, but there have been others that were not so lucky.” He took the fancy card out of her hands. “They’ve invited the clubs, as you know, to a fancy picnic. Don’t know what it’s for yet.”
“You think they’re reaching out?”
“Could be a reach out. Only way of finding out is to check it out, right?”
“When is it for?”
“End of the summer.”
“Cool,” Lexie said. “I’ll be sure to wear my fancy dress.”
“Whatever you wear will be fancy.”
“You know how to say all the right things.”
“Butler and Mandy are arriving back tomorrow,” he said.
“Oh, is this a good or bad thing?” she asked.
“I’m hoping it was a good thing.”
“How was the drug thing?”
“I dealt with Michael, and he took the stripper and the pimp.” He ran a hand down his face.
“How are you dealing with it all though?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“For so long you’ve been the guy to make all the decisions.”
“I know.”
“Now you’re calling up Michael and the Feds, and getting them to resolve matters. I know you put on a brave face for it all, but this is me, Devil. Speak honestly.”
He didn’t like how she seemed to know everything he was thinking.
Stroking her cheek, he stared into her eyes.
Most of his life before coming to Piston County he didn’t believe in love. He didn’t even think that he was capable of such a strong emotion. Meeting Lexie had completely blown his entire world apart. Piece by piece, he realized he was only living part of a life. The moments he craved more than anything were these.
“It’s hard, baby. I’m not going to lie. It … it would be a lot easier to just kill them. I’ve got a nice big clubhouse for me to bury their bodies. But—and this is the pretty big but—a huge one.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve got you and my babies, Lex. Killing these people is easy. Where one falls, another rises, and that is all that happens. One down, two up, three up, and it goes on and on. There has to come a point when I realize dealing with the club, taking care of my family is where my focus should be.”
“You’re not going to regret this, are you?”
“No. I’m not. The decision to stop the drugs and the gun runs wasn’t an easy one. I didn’t just flick a switch and think, ‘We’re the good guys now.’ I thought long and hard. I thought about you, our kids, Kayla.” He saw the pain in her eyes.
“Why Kayla?”
“Because her death hurt you in a really bad way. Ashley’s death. That young woman, club whore or not, didn’t deserve to die. The men we’ve lost, the pain they’ve suffered. We’ve done enough,” Devil said. “Too much. We’ve loved, we’ve lost, and it has been a fucking heartbreak of a journey, which was why I decided to do this. To call Michael, to go legit, to help others. I’ll never regret that.”
She cupped his face, and he held her tightly.
While he had his wife, Devil knew he would fight to the ends of the earth to keep all the bad shit at bay.
Chapter Twelve
One week later
Back in Piston County, Butler didn’t go to Devil to tell him that he’d found his place and that he’d also taken his woman. Instead, he made a home with Mandy. He helped her get back into the swing of things with her cleaning work. He saw his club brothers around town and there was a wish that he could wear his leather cut, but at the same time, he wanted to earn it.
The old ladies had started to accept Mandy into their circle, and they had taken her under their wing. Not only did she clean now, but she’d been pulled into the schedule of taking care of the shop, babysitting, and even being there at the club get-togethers, which was why they were pulling into the Chaos Bleeds clubhouse.
He turned the ignition off and was about to climb out of the car when Mandy grabbed his arm.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go,” Mandy said. “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Mandy, baby.” He cupped her cheek. “I’m not uncomfortable with this. I promise. They’re our family.”
“But you’re not wearing your leather cut.” She had a little pout to her lips.
“It is one of the things I miss. I’d have loved to see you naked and strutting around our place in it.” He kissed her. “I love you, and I love my club.”
“I want you to be happy. That’s all I want.”
“And I am.” He pressed his head to hers. “Come on, let’s go and mingle.”
Climbing out of the car, he moved to her side and helped her out. She took his hand, and together they walked around toward where the barbeque was going on. Devil had his youngest daughter Ameila on his hip.
Kids were wandering around. Not only were there club brothers but friends of the club as well. He spotted a couple of the strippers from Naked Fantasies
, and the feeling of family was thick in the air. He tightened his grip around her wrist, not wanting to let go.
“You made it,” Mia said, coming toward them.
Mandy was suddenly pulled into a hug, and then he was.
“Of course they would come. There’s no way that anyone would turn down a club barbeque, especially with my man controlling the grill,” Lexie said.
“I’ll go and get you a drink,” Mandy said, kissing his cheek before she disappeared. He watched her go and turned toward Lexie.
“How have you been?”
“I’ve been really good. What about you?”
“Good.”
“You don’t look good without the leather though,” Lexie said, touching his arm.
“Something had to give, and I’m sure Devil filled you in.”
“He did. So, this thing with Mandy, is that the real deal?” Lexie asked.
He was about to speak when Devil moved up toward his wife. “Good to have you here.”
They shook hands, and Ameila reached out toward him.
“You want to go to Butler, sweetheart?” Devil asked.
Before he knew what was happening, Ameila was in his arms, and he smiled into the little girl’s face, who let out a little giggle.
“She’s growing up so fast,” he said.
“They all do. Simon’s already writing his wedding vows,” Devil said.
Lexie chuckled.
“Speaking of vows, I’m marrying Mandy.”
“Congratulations,” Lexie said.
“Oh, she doesn’t know we’re marrying yet. I was hoping … if you don’t mind … could you guys help me organize something really romantic?” he asked. Since their trip away, he’d been thinking about how he’d propose.
For this he wanted one special evening, twinkling lights, romantic dinner, soft music.
Lexie looked toward Devil. “I can help.”
“Come, talk to me,” Devil said.
He put Ameila in Lexie’s arms and followed Devil toward the grill. There was already chicken cooking away, and he had three grills set up.
“How have you been?” Devil asked.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and Dick told me about what happened. The deal he has with you.”
“He did? That does surprise me.”
“I want you to do the same to me.”
Devil turned toward him now, staring at him. “You do realize that Dick has never once gone back on the drugs.”
“I didn’t want the fucking drugs, I realize that now. I wasn’t going to take them.”
“The temptation wasn’t there?”
“It’s always fucking there. It would be a hell of a lot easier to just take them and have you put a bullet in my head, but that’s before I had Mandy. She’s … everything. The club has been my family, and I didn’t think that I was needed here. We’re settled, everything is taken care of, and you didn’t need me. It’s stupid and fucking childish, but that was the way it was. I didn’t think you needed me, and I couldn’t have Mandy. She was always there and out of reach.”
“You had to fight for her, Butler. The moment you did, everything fell into place.”
Devil reached out, and he saw him pull a leather jacket from out of the cooler. “This is your cut.”
“You’re giving it back?”
“You didn’t take the drugs, Butler. You had a minor setback while you got your shit together. You ever take, I’ll be burying you in this. The club, your woman, our very future needs you. Your place is right here, and it has been for over twenty years, Butler. We go way fucking back, you and me. We rode together, partied together, got shitfaced together. You lost your way, and I get it, I do.” He turned to look toward Lexie, who was surrounded by their children. “That woman … she loves me. Me! She wants me in her life. After everything I’ve done, and there is no second guessing that. She is my entire world, as is this club. They come together like peas in a fucking pod. There is a place here, man. If you want it.”
He stared down at the jacket. It was like a lifeline.
“Mandy is mine.”
“Of course. You can’t keep your eyes off her. It took you long enough to claim her.”
“You told me to keep my hands off the cleaner.”
“Sometimes you have to fight for the shit you want in life. You’re going to marry her, and that’s all right with me.”
Holding open the jacket, Butler stared at his patch, and as he slipped it back on, everything felt right in his world, finally. The leather fit against his skin, and even in the heat, he didn’t feel too hot or scratchy. This was his cut, his place in the club.
Mandy came out, holding two sodas for the both of them.
He held his arms open, and she stepped between them.
“Hey, handsome. I almost didn’t recognize you there with all that leather.”
He tilted her head back, claiming her lips. There was a chorus of cheers as the club erupted, and he laughed.
“Is it like this all the time?”
“No. It’s not.” Pulling his leather cut from his body, he placed it over her shoulders. “I knew you’d look sexy as hell.”
She rolled her eyes. “You could stand the heat, but it’s a little hot for me.”
He took the soda from her, and it wasn’t long before Sasha was pulling her away. He sipped at his drink and watched as the old ladies enfolded her into the group.
“She blends in well,” Devil said.
“She’s a good woman. The best.”
“I’ll agree to disagree on that point.”
“All of our women are the best,” Butler said, laughing.
“So, remember that invitation that got canceled?”
“Which one? The Billionaire Bikers one? The posers?”
“The very ones.”
Butler rubbed the back of his head. He didn’t like the idea of going to an MC gathering, especially when it was hosted by a bunch of men who made more money than all of them combined.
“You’re thinking of going?”
“With our new endeavor of being good little bikers, I thought it would be worth a shot seeing what they had to offer.”
“And?”
“And I want you to come along. Family is invited, but I don’t know if I want to risk it.”
Butler started laughing. “No man in his right mind would take his family to a big, full-on event like this. All it will be is a bunch of men from all the clubs around, and I don’t know.”
“It will suck big time, I know.”
“I’ll come. It’ll be interesting to see what billionaires think they can handle the MC.” He finished off his soda and glanced at Mandy. “She really does look great.”
“She’s family, Butler. Just like you are.”
“I see you got your shit together,” Dick said, joining in the conversation.
Dick slapped him on the back, and it took all his restraint not to punch him. He had to remember Dick’s words of wisdom even if he didn’t like it.
“Yeah, I got my shit together.”
“Good. The club isn’t the same without you, man.” Another slap to the back, and Dick moved away.
“If you’re wanting to kill him right now, then you know you’re back in the fold.” Devil flipped the chicken, and he sipped at his drink. Lexie gave him the thumbs-up, and Mandy was laughing.
Life was really good.
****
Mandy checked the time once again and cursed that she had listened to Butler’s promise to be back in time. Lexie had needed to leave for some family thing, and she’d offered to stay late at the shop.
“Come on, Butler, where are you?”
After twenty minutes of waiting for her ride, she was at the end of her patience. Crossing the street, she began the long journey home. At least she’d been wearing pumps for this and not heels. She never wore heels on the job. She believed they were the worst curse of all.
Sending him another text, she hoped it would beep w
ith a message that he was late but coming. Nothing.
She got nothing, and it annoyed her.
He was finally back with Chaos Bleeds, and already he was ditching her.
Keep calm.
Keep cool.
After walking for forty minutes, she got to her building. She had already planned how she was going to yell at Butler and make him sorry for believing he could be reliable. She stomped all the way upstairs, and as she made it outside of her apartment, she stopped. A foot from the door were rose petals. Bending down, she picked up one of the petals and stroked the softness between her fingers.
There were so many of them, all over the place.
As she opened the door, soft music filled the air, and she stared at the path of rose petals.
“Hello,” she said, stepping into her apartment.
Closing the door behind her, she was careful, not wanting to mess up the beautiful display spread out for her.
Rounding the corner, she came to a stop. There were no blaring lights, but so many candles, all of them lit and twinkling.
Butler stood near the table. He wore a tuxedo, and the scents of the food made her stomach growl. He held a bottle of sparkling water, and some passion fruit concentrate. She didn’t have any alcohol in their apartment. He told her he didn’t mind if she wanted to get some, but she had merely shaken her head.
Alcohol didn’t mean anything to her. She liked water and soda a lot more. Butler on the other hand, he meant the world to her, and she found giving up alcohol an easy sacrifice to make.
“What is all this?”
“I wanted to share a romantic gesture with you.”
“Okay. I’m quite easy. Picking me up would have been very romantic,” she said.
“I know, but we had to finish here.”
“We?”
“I got Lexie and a couple of the other old ladies to help me. I wanted this to be perfect.”
He poured them both out a drink, and she watched as he held a chair out. “Come and sit.”
Putting her bag on the floor, she stepped toward him, taking a seat at the table. He slid the chair underneath the table, and she took a sip of the drink. It was fruity and delicious. “You certainly know how to surprise a girl.”