“Marry me,” she whispers. I will deny her nothing.
“Forever.”
“Yeah.”
With the four boats, we’re all able to make it out to the island together. Bristyl and I step off hand in hand and walk together to a small clearing where the officiant stands. We’d talked about her dad walking her down, but she wanted us to walk together. Whatever she wants, she gets.
We decided not to do any of that traditional shit, just to say what’s on our minds at the time and ride it out.
Holding my woman’s hands, I look deep in her eyes. “One phone call brought us together, and there isn’t one damn thing on this earth that will pull us apart. You’re mine forever. Mine to love. Mine to protect. Mine to honor. For every day of our lives.” I slip the gold band on her finger.
Bristyl’s smile is huge, and a tear falls from her eye. “Knew from the moment I saw you that you were something special. I just didn’t think it was mine. Now, I know you are, and I’m never letting you go. This ride of life we have will be together every step of the way. Love you.” She’s so damn beautiful as she slips the ring on my finger.
“You may kiss the bride.” Grasping her, I kiss her hard, wet, and deep. Knowing I’ll never let her go.
Chapter Eleven
Jacks
“Harder,” Emery moans out loudly, and I comply, thrusting my hips faster as the door rattles with each movement. “Jacks!” she calls out, falling over the edge, and I’m right behind her.
Our breaths take a while to even out as I rest my forehead on hers. Her body is wrapped around me, back to the door, my cock deep inside my woman.
A loud pounding comes to the door, thumping my woman’s head. Anger bubbles as I hear, “You’d better not be fuckin’ my sister in there.” Deke. While I smile, he’s still going to get a piece of my mind. No one hurts what’s mine. Not even her damn brother.
“Shut it,” I bark out as Emery begins laughing. Pulling out, we put ourselves back together enough, but she still has the fuck me hair. Love it.
Pulling open the door, I get in Deke’s face. Now, Deke is a bad motherfucker, and not many people get in his face. Except I don’t give a shit. “You fuckin’ made her hit her head. Don’t do that shit.”
He chuckles. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”
Emery comes up to my side, and I wrap my arm around her. “Oh Jacks, stop it.”
A kiss comes to my cheek, and we back away from Deke.
“Right. Austyn and Bristyl are looking for you,” Deke says to his sister. “Something about an electric slide.”
“Yes!” Emery says, giving me a chaste kiss and then, she’s gone.
“You gonna put a ring on that finger?” Deke asks. It should piss me off, but it doesn’t. He cares about her, and the more people that do the happier I am. Keeping her safe will always be my top priority, no matter the cost to me.
“One day.”
Truthfully, I bought the ring the same time I had her cut made. One day, very soon, we will. She’s my woman, and I’m her man. A fucking ring doesn’t change shit. But not right now. Not here. I want to be at home.
“Better.”
“Will you stop givin’ me shit?” I chide back. We’re actually good friends, but one might not tell from the razzing we give each other. He’s a cool guy when he’s not pissed off. “When you gonna tell everyone about the baby?”
He stills. “Shut the fuck up.” All joking aside he growls.
“Brother, no one’s around. Made sure of it. Wouldn’t do that shit to you.”
“How the fuck do you know?”
I shrug. “I’m observant.”
“Fucker.”
“So? You need to put it out there, brother. Emery will be over the moon, and I can’t keep this shit from her.”
“Tomorrow.”
I slap his shoulder. “Thank Christ. Can’t hold that shit from my woman much longer, and she’ll be ecstatic to be an aunt.”
“Yeah.”
I pull him in and slap his back a few times. “Let’s go get drunk, daddy.”
He gives me a smirk. “Amen to that.”
This is a time to celebrate.
Chapter Twelve
Emery
We knew that today would be an early one, but fuck me, Bristyl wanted brunch early. Judging from her puffy eyes, she’s regretting it.
Jacks wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his side. “Love you,” I say, snuggling into him.
“Isn’t that a song?” he teases, and I lightly smack his chest.
“Smartass.”
“At least I’m smart.”
He is. After getting shot, we had a rocky time only because he wouldn’t let me be. He didn’t give up, though, not until the doctor checked me a million times. But I guess that’s what you get when you get a badass, alpha male.
I’m just happy to be here with my family to celebrate.
Food is consumed while Cooper and Bristyl open their cards. We all decided to go the card route so we weren’t hauling shit back and forth.
Cooper smiles at Bristyl, their love burning bright.
Jacks reaches around him and pulls out a box, holding it out to me.
“What’s this?” I say, taking the box from him. “Is it for Coop?”
“Nope, open it and see.”
My heart thumps hard in my chest as a smile graces my lips. Opening it up, there is a blank piece of paper inside, and I quirk my brow at my man. “Turn it over.”
Surprise fills me along with warmth. The picture is a large structure that has a very large swing hanging from it. It’s called a sofa swing, and I’d shown Jacks a picture of it a while back, telling him that it would be perfect by the pond.
“You’re getting me this?”
“They’re building it while we’re here.”
Clutching the picture and dropping the box, I wrap my arms around my man. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you. Any-fucking-thing.”
Damn, I love this man. He knows me inside and out. Forever.
A piercing whistle comes across the room, and I see my brother standing at the head of the table, Rylie next to him. All attention goes to them.
Deke holds three small boxes in his hand and yells, “Mom, Dad, Emery, come here.” His order is met with my eye roll. I go to move out of Jacks’ arms, but he grabs my hand and comes with me. Whatever, I’ll have him by my side without hesitation.
Deke hands me one of the boxes, while Rylie gives my mother and father theirs. Deke says, “Open them.” He wraps his arm around his woman, pulling her close into his body.
My mother looks at me then my father. She shrugs, and we all open the boxes. Pulling off the lid, my heart stops beating in my chest. A small white pacifier sits surrounded by yellow tissue paper.
Eyes wide, I look at Rylie. “You’re pregnant!”
My mother screams and takes off to Deke, while I take off to Rylie. “I’m gonna be an aunt!”
She hugs me back. “I’m only three months.”
“Don’t care! I’m gonna be an aunt! I’m going shopping!”
I hear Jacks chuckle as I detach from Rylie and launch myself in my brother’s arms. He’s been through so damn much, and he deserves this. Deserves to be happy. Deserves everything good in this life. He deserves to have a complete family. Now, he has his woman and this little bundle. “Hey, Daddy,” I joke, and he hugs me tighter. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Me too. Best news.”
Pulling away from him, tears shine in my eyes. “You’re gonna make a great dad, Deke. I just know she will love you and be perfect.”
“She?” He responds as my father steps up.
“Never know, son. May have had you first, but she came second.”
“My swimmers know what to do,” he says, releasing me and then hugging my father.
“And if they’re smart, it’ll be a girl.” Jacks wraps me in his arms tight.
This is the best ever.
Everyone together. Everyone happy, safe, in love. And our Ravage family keeps growing.
We’re bound by love, by loyalty, and by destiny. Good, bad, ugly, we’re bound by family.
We’re bound by the Ravage MC.
About Ryan
www.authorryanmichele.com
“Gust” Lost Valkyries MC
By Esther E. Schmidt
Editors: Christi Durbin & Virginia Tesi Carey
Chapter 01
***Gust***
“Can you hurry up already?” I grumble at Ronin, my Prez.
We’ve been walking around the store—fucking grocery shopping—for like half an hour already and he hasn’t thrown anything in the cart.
“Somewhere you need to be, Gust? You on a fucking timer or some shit?” Ronin growls and rubs a hand over his neck. “Why the fuck is this so damn hard? Fucking groceries.”
My phone starts to ring and I ignore my Prez to snatch my phone from my pocket and answer it on the second ring.
“Gust?” a voice cracks.
“Who the hell is this?” I snap, jerking Ronin’s gaze to land on mine.
“Hey, old friend, it’s Keegan. Listen, Gust…I need a favor. One favor, please. I won’t ever ask you for anything else,” a blast from the past rushes out.
Why the hell is this idiot calling me after, what? Nine years or so? Growing up we used to live next door to each other. I watched the fucker spiral into bad shit. I’m not one to judge since I’m Lost Valkyries MC, but the MC Keegan started to hang out with nine years ago? Helios Darkness MC. No. Fucking. Morals.
None. They kill for their own benefit, deal drugs, and are not shy about using minors. That kind of shit. Me and him cut ties nine years ago and neither one of us looked back. Keep it to different goals or outgrown friendship, me leaving to join the army, what-the-fuck-ever. But I didn’t want anything to do with the fucker.
“Keegan,” I spit in disgust. “I’m hanging up now ‘cause I don’t owe you shit.”
“No, wait, it’s about Paisley, please,” the fucker begs and I’m very much aware of the fact I didn’t hang up.
The reason? Paisley. White hair, scrawny little bundle of fluff clutching her books, thanking me with a jingle bell voice every time I got her home safe because her fucked up brother didn’t care to do it himself.
I gave her a ride home uncountable times. Her parents didn’t have much money and had to work every damn second of the day to bring food to their table, they thought her brother would look after his sister, but no…most of the times she walked home. Well, I made sure to give her a lift whenever I saw her walking alongside of the road. Easy enough with her being my neighbor so it wasn’t like I had to drive the extra miles.
“Nine years, Keegan. Like I said, I don’t owe you shit, call someone who gives a fuck. One of your brothers for instance.” I snort, my mind spinning with all the reasons why this idiot would call me and not someone he knows or is a part of his MC, unless…
“You fucking idiot! What the hell did you do? You put the heat on her? Where the hell is she? Gimme the damn address,” I growl, my blood pressure spiking, causing me to feel the vein in my temple start to throb.
Keegan rattles off an address. “Get her out and keep her safe. I’ll,”
“No, you fucking won’t. You’ve done enough. I’m gonna make sure she’s safe and you’re gonna fuck off.” I don’t wait for him to throw words back but just end the call.
“What’s going on?” Ronin questions, shopping long forgotten.
“Someone I used to live next door to calls me out of the fucking blue to pick up his sister.” I shove my phone into my front pocket. Ronin keeps staring at me and raises his eyebrow in a silent demand for me to elaborate. I rub a hand over my face. “Last time I saw him…he was a prospect. Helios Darkness MC.”
Ronin’s face morphs into visible disgust. Yeah, same here, buddy.
“I know,” I grumble. “But, fuck…why would he call me? After all these damn years. Fucking hell, I just know he did some shit and dragged Paisley into his mess. I don’t owe him shit, but,”
“Women don’t ask to be pulled into club business. You never,” Ronin adds some curses but I cut him off.
“Listen, I need to head over to,” Remembering the address, it suddenly clicks. “Dammit. He gave me the address of the motel near Red Burton, the one with the pink doors.”
“Aw, fuck. I’m coming with; let’s go.” Ronin stalks past me straight out the door, heading for our bikes.
It’s close to ten minutes later when I park my bike and head for the room number Keegan mentioned. Two other bikes are parked and I nod to Ronin, whose hand slides to his gun.
I pound my fist on the door and bellow, “Paisley, it’s me, open the fuck up.”
I’m not even sure she remembers me since it’s been nine years since I last saw her. Hell, the only words we used to exchange were only a handful at a time. Though I’ve always felt protective of her, I can’t explain it any other than that.
Nine. Years. Yet here I am pounding on the door as if those years didn’t happen because I know for sure two bikers are in there and don’t fucking know what’s going on. All I know is that I need to get her home safe.
The door swings open. A meaty dude with slick hair and no sense of hygiene is swallowing up the space in front of me. “What do you want?”
I hear a woman yelp and see movement, and hear a struggle behind him. I place two hands on his chest and push the fucker inside. The fucker sputters and bellows until Ronin shuts him up by aiming his gun as he closes the door behind him.
Another meaty dude with the same leather cut as his buddy is holding on to a woman. In his other hand is a phone which he throws on the bed as he sneers, “What the hell is Lost Valkyries MC doin’ here?”
Ronin and I both ignore his comment and my focus is drawn to the woman’s body. Fucking curvy where it counts and with it my eyes feast until I get to her upper body where her shirt is ripped and she’s holding her fucking hands up to keep her breasts covered. Sweet, fluffy, candy cotton colored hair. Not white, fucking pink hair. Where’s the scrawny girl I knew?
“Paisley,” I growl, and hold out my hand, hoping to fuck the tiny as shit worm I knew morphed into this tremendous butterfly.
Her eyes lock on mine and I can see the wheels turning inside her head before it clicks. “August!”
Fuck. Long time since hearing my full name, even back then she was the only person who refused to call me Gust. She dashes around the asshole—who’s holding a piece of her clothing—and runs straight into my arms.
I place a finger underneath her chin, tipping her head slightly back. “You okay?”
Her bottom lip fucking trembles, eyes flowing over with fucking tears as she gives a tiny shake. Utter fury flows through my veins and I want to tear these fuckers apart.
“She’s Helios Darkness MC property. You have no right to barge in here and interfere with our club business,” the meaty fucker who opened the door sneers.
“I fucking well can. You’re in my damn town. Un-fucking-announced. And you throw at me this woman is Helios Darkness MC property? Gust, ask the lady,” Ronin snaps.
Fuck. This shit is bad. If it’s true we’re risking a war, walking straight into it. Did Keegan set me up? Why the hell would he do that shit? I haven’t seen him in years.
“Darlin’,” I address Paisley with my eyes locked on the two bikers. “Are you Helios Darkness MC property?”
“No!” she snaps, her voice stronger and pissed off. “My brother is Helios Darkness MC, I don’t have anything to do with his club. Keegan told me to meet him here.”
One of the meaty fuckers steps forward. “She’s Keegan’s blood, he’s not here, she is. I repeat, she’s Helios Darkness MC property.”
“Gust?” Ronin presses. “What’s she to you?”
The feel of this curvy woman plastered against me, trembling and barely covered. Even if I only knew her when we were teenagers growing up ov
er nine years ago…hell, even if I didn’t fucking know her, it’s like my Prez said; women don’t ask to be pulled into club business.
I state the only thing that grants her full protection. “She’s my Old Lady, my fucking property. You’ve fucking touched what’s mine, and now you need to die.”
My fingers dive into Paisley’s pink hair as I bury her face against my chest, preventing her from watching my arm raise as I flash it up and pull the trigger at the same time Ronin takes out the other guy.
“This,” Ronin snaps, “is way fucking better and easier to handle than fucking grocery shopping.”
Chapter 02
***Paisley***
Two gunshots ring out and I feel August’s chest rumble with laughter about something the other guy said. Every breath I take makes my lungs fill with the scent of leather, sandalwood, citrus, an indistinguishable link to August. Memories of the past fill my body as I sag further against this man.
Man. Not the young, sweet guy who looked after me when my brother would drop me like a hot potato and run off to wherever he spent his time. August would always show up out of nowhere and made sure I got home safe.
A sigh rips from my very soul. Not from what went down before this man stepped back into my life, but from the way my body welcomes his, as if my body recognizes its soulmate by some kind of chemical reaction his scent draws out. Insane. Seriously. There’s love at first sight, but I’ve never heard of smell and hand over your heart.
“We need to get out of here, now,” the guy August came with states.
I lift my head from the comfort of August’s chest and glance over to the other guy. His cut states he’s the President of Lost Valkyries MC. Turning back, I see August is a part of the same MC. His words now rush back about how he said I was his Old Lady…his property, and with it saved me.
But still bouncing from one ball to the other—MC to MC. I know what it did to my brother, how it changed him. I should have never returned to my hometown. Dammit, I’m sure this MC is just as bad, August is just as bad. I need to save myself, get away as far as I can from all these guys.
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