by L. Grubb
“You’ve got a shit lot of stuff to catch us up on, Jase.”
Fuck. There’s me not wanting to bother telling them now all was done and dusted, but I should have known that wouldn’t be the case. She’s psychotic, delusional and deranged. She’ll have that kid thrown into care as soon as it’s born. She’s not got a maternal bone in her body. Fuck her, she’s gone and first thing tomorrow, I’m getting that injunction against her, not just for my own safety but for Frankie’s as well.
Beast and Roofie grill me on what they’ve just overheard and witnessed and I tell them everything. They berate me for not telling them sooner, for shutting them out. I shrug my shoulders, I’m not going to mention the main reason why because the girls are here at the table, listening to everything I say. They’re fighters as much as us three guys are and I don’t fancy being punched in the face.
After everything is said and done, we enjoy the rest of the evening laughing and joking. Carlotta and Gemma tell Frankie stories about the three of us and make her feel right at home like I knew they would. I’m proud to say that we’re now a big happy family and I’ll fight to keep Frankie. I can picture a future with her and that’s never happened to me before, so that’s a good sign right?
6 months later
My heart is pounding, threatening to come through my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous.
“You okay, babe?” Frankie asks from beside me as we watch a live band on the stage at the bar. The pub expanded, finally, and now has a stage to showcase local talents.
“Yeah, I’m fine, why?” I smile at her and try in vain to hide the nerves that are tingling around my body.
“Your leg is bouncing and you haven’t stopped staring at your watch for the past half hour.” Her brows crease as she eyes my face. I smile wide, showing off my dimples that always distracts her.
“Honestly, I’m fine.” I lean forward and kiss her. “I’m just going to use the toilet.” She nods and I weave my way through the tables. Thankfully, the toilets also lead to back stage and I head that way, my palms sweating.
I can feel the sweat beading on my forehead and my upper lip so I scrub a hand down my face. This must be the most terrifying thing I’ve ever had to do but I’ll see it through because I don’t think I can see a way for this to go wrong.
I’m met at the corner of the stage, out of view behind the curtain, by the bar manager and he asks, “You ready, son?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” I take a few deep breaths and once the song has ended I slip through the curtain and onto the stage.
I wish I had my phone because I’d love to capture the horrified look on her face. She squirms in her seat as she looks at me confused. Going up to the mic, I tap it to make sure it’s on before I start my speech. “Frankie? From the first moment I saw you, I was mesmerised. I think you’re the only woman to ever put me in my place. I wanted you from the first time you shot me to ground and made me walk off with my tail between my legs. The last six months with you have been the best of my life. You’re my own personal cheerleader at my fights, your never ending support makes me love you all the more.” I pause. “Come here, Frankie.”
She gets up on wobbly legs and climbs the stairs at the side of the stage. “What are you doing?” she whisper-shouts.
I take a deep breath and drop to my knee. “Would you do me the biggest honor and become my wife?”
You could literally hear a pin drop as the whole room holds their breaths in anticipation.
I look to Frankie, begging with my eyes because she’s making me look like a complete fucktard. A single tear falls from her eyes and she throws her arms out to the side of her. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
The pub erupts into cheers, beer and other assortment of drinks fly through the air and it’s like their favourite soccor team’s just won.
I stand to my feet and pull her to me, taking her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss before placing the small triple studded diamond ring on her finger. “You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.”
“You’re the prince charming I’ve always wanted,” she replies, kissing me.
Our story is over for now, but I’m sure we’ll be back… I mean, we have an MMA fighter wedding to plan, right?
THE END
Keep reading or a sneak preview of Holding onto Hope (Crusaders MC #3)
Prologue
Mack
Present
The sound of gunshots resonates through my skull, the constant banging causing my brain to bash about in its confines.
Bolting upright, I survey my surroundings. In bed. I’m safe. I can feel the droplets of sweat trickling down my back making me physically shiver. The uneasiness making me want to scratch my skin off, layer by layer.
I try and scrub the remnants of the nightmare from my face with trembling hands, but all it does is spread my sweat around my tired face.
Fuck. I can’t remember sleeping a full fucking night. These dreams haunt me. Will I ever be free of them? Or will I suffer with PTSD for the rest of my God damn life? Only time will tell, I guess. Time that I don’t want to waste living in the past. What choice do I have though? I don’t chose these damn nightmares…they chose me.
I thought becoming the Prez of the Crusaders MC’s UK chapter, that my mind will be filled with other shit that erases everything else. In a way, it does…in the day time, night time is a different story. I’m sick of feeling like this, sick of being so exhausted that half the time I feel like I’m letting my club down. But no one knows what I’ve been through, except my VP, best friend and confidante. Not trusting any other fucker in this place anymore, he’s the only one I can turn to.
A matter of months ago, we had an inside snitch, a patched brother who I trusted but wish I didn’t. He was sneaky, undetectable…at least for a short time anyway. Our big boss, from the LA chapter in America came over, not at all happy with the shit that’s happening here. Everything got cleared up, the rat has been offed and for now, all is calm.
You know the saying, ‘the calm before the storm’? That is how shit always is here. Other MC’s in the area batting to be top dog. Fuck them, they can’t get any higher than me, not for as long as this club is alive.