Chapter Nine
Akira
The bell above the door jingled as I stepped into the cozy coffee shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping me. Scanning the room, I spotted Dawson tucked away in a quiet corner booth, his expression unreadable as he stared out the window. I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and made my way over to him.
“Hey,” I said, sliding into the seat across from him. My voice came out steadier than I felt inside.
Dawson turned to face me, his blue eyes studying me intently. “Akira. Thanks for meeting me.”
I nodded, trying to quell the butterflies erupting in my stomach. Being around Dawson these days made me a little nervous, like he could see right through me. I clasped my hands together under the table to keep them from shaking. We’d been friends since birth, but he was also Logan’s VP. That made a huge difference right now.
An awkward beat passed. I cleared my throat. “So… what did you want to talk about? I’m on limited time. My jailers outside will haul me back to the compound in the next half hour.”
He glanced out the window and grunted, reminding me so much of his dad right then. I noticed he didn’t seem surprised my dad had made sure someone kept an eye on me.
Dawson leaned back, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “I think you know. You and Logan Pierce. Your relationship puts everyone in a precarious position. You know damn well the Reapers aren’t going to let you waltz off and marry someone in my club. And if you hadn’t known before now, the fact Viking and Sticks are glued to your ass should have been enough for you to realize it.”
My pulse quickened at the mention of Logan, a thrill running through me even as dread pooled in my stomach. I loved Logan with every fiber of my being. Wait. Marry? I’d never said anything about getting married. Of course, I’d love that, but still…
“Can I ask you something?”
He nodded. “Go ahead.”
“Did you get shit for marrying Nora?”
His brow furrowed. “I mean, the Swift Angels didn’t like the amount of trouble she brought with her, but if you mean the Reapers… No. My parents loved her.”
“Exactly. Why is it different for you to be with someone who isn’t part of the Dixie Reapers? Or even the Devil’s Fury, Reckless Kings, or any other club we have ties to. It’s wrong and you know it.”
Dawson sighed, running a hand over his close-cropped hair. His blue eyes softened with concern. “Akira, I get it. I do. I don’t claim it’s right or fair. It just… is. A lot of changes have come to the Dixie Reapers since long before either of us were born. But it didn’t happen overnight.”
“Speaking of the Reckless Kings, they seem to make it work. Hayley is with their VP and her dad is Chief Daniels. If Beast and Hawk could figure it out, why can’t Savior and Saint?” I asked.
“I don’t have the answer to that. Not sure Savior and Saint do either, but you bring up a good point. Somehow, the Reckless Kings get by. However, they’re in Tennessee and Chief Daniels is here in Alabama. It’s not like they see each other all the time. The club just has to keep its nose clean one week, two or three times a year.”
“So, what? I’m just supposed to ignore my feelings? Pretend like Logan doesn’t exist, like he doesn’t make me feel alive in a way I never have before?” My voice rose, frustration bleeding into my tone.
Dawson held up his hands placatingly. “I’m not saying that. I’m just saying… you need to be careful. Think about the consequences. Not just for you, but for Logan too.”
A chill ran through me at his words. I knew the risks Logan was taking by being with me. If my dad convinced Tempest to scare me into submission, which is what most likely happened, then what would he do to keep Logan away from me?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside me. “I know. Trust me, I’ve thought about little else. But I can’t just walk away from him. From us. I won’t.”
“Love is a powerful thing. Maybe it even has the power to bring two very different clubs together. I can’t say for sure.”
I bit my lip. “You know, growing up, we were always told not to take any shit from bullies, and not to let anyone bully those we cared about. And yet, isn’t that essentially what my dad is doing?”
Dawson closed his eyes. “Damn, Akira. Please don’t tell your dad he’s being a bully. Even I can’t save you then. No one can.”
“I hate feeling like I have to be at war with my family in order to have the life I want. It’s exhausting.”
“I didn’t tell my dad about my club or my job. You seem to think I have it easy, but I don’t. I thought for sure my dad was going to tell me to get the fuck out and never come back. Wraith may still come around. With everything going on with your mom, this just isn’t a good time to load him down with more stuff -- like his daughter being in a relationship he doesn’t understand or like.”
“If I wait for it to be convenient, it will never happen,” I said. “There’s always something going on and you know it.”
We both sat and talked a while, about anything other than my relationship, and then I made my way back outside to my car. I slid into the driver’s seat, my fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. The leather felt cool beneath my skin, grounding me in the present. I closed my eyes, allowing myself a moment to process the magnitude of the decision I knew I had to make.
Choosing Logan meant defying generations of tradition, risking the very foundation of my identity. Even though my dad was the first in his family to be a Dixie Reaper, the club had been around for a long time. The Dixie Reapers were more than just a club. They were a way of life, a bond that ran thicker than blood. But as I sat there, the weight of my love for Logan settled into my heart, a force just as powerful and unyielding.
As I turned the key in the ignition, the engine roared to life. I pulled out of the parking lot, my destination clear in my mind. With each mile that passed, my resolve grew stronger. I was Akira, daughter of Wraith, but I was also a woman in love, ready to fight for what I believed in.
I rounded the corner and the sight of a young couple walking hand in hand caught my eye. They leaned into each other and I was struck by the simplicity of their love, the ease with which they navigated the world together.
I want that . I felt a pang of envy. I wanted a love free from constraints and expectations, one that allowed me to be myself. Why did it seem so easy for other people and not for me? Why did the Reapers have to hold onto their daughters so tightly?
As I drove, I decided to make a call. “Call Leigha.”
I listened to the line ring through my car speakers and she picked up after the fifth one.
“Akira? Everything okay with your mom?” she asked when the line connected.
Oh, God. I hadn’t even thought about that. “I didn’t mean to worry you. Mom is… well, she’s as good as she’s going to get right now. You know she’s a fighter. I was actually calling for another reason.”
“What’s up?”
“When you decided to stay with the Reckless Kings, with Cyclops, how did you pull it off?”
She laughed a little. “You make it sound like I pulled off a heist or something.”
“Maybe Cyclops is the one who pulled off the heist -- after all, he got to keep you.”
She belted out a laugh so loud I winced. “Oh, my God. Wait until I tell him that. Why are you asking all these questions?”
“Because there’s someone I like and Dad doesn’t approve.” I told her about Logan, what club he was with, and everything we’d been facing. “I need some advice. Dawson has been fairly useless, other than telling me maybe Dad would come around sometime.”
“I get it. That’s why I left home. I told Lyssa I wanted to have some fun, so she invited me out here. But my end goal was to have a life. Dad was suffocating me.” I could see that. Preacher definitely had held on tight to Leigha. Same for her sister, Lara, who was still living at home even though she was a year older than me. “I’m afraid I don’t have an answer for you on this one. Just don’t give up. If you really like this guy, then hold on as tight as you can. And honestly…”
“What?” I asked.
“Well, if anyone asks, I didn’t say this. Ever. But how much of a fuss could he kick up if you’re already married?”
I pulled the car over, staring straight ahead. Married? That was the second time today that word had come up. And she made a good point. If Logan and I were married, then neither club could do a damn thing about it. My dad would either have to accept the situation, or lose out on meeting future grandchildren. I knew Mom would throw a fit over that one.
“You have definitely given me something to think about.”
“Mm-hm. Just remember what I said… it wasn’t me. Last thing I need is my dad calling and telling me I’m a bad influence.” I smiled, knowing Preacher would do exactly that. “I really do wish you luck, Akira. If you love this guy, then don’t ever let go. No matter what anyone says, it’s your life and you’re the one who has to live it.”
“Thanks, Leigha.”
We talked a few more minutes before hanging up. Now I just had to figure out how to get Logan on board with this plan. It wasn’t like we’d discussed marriage, or even moving in together. How the hell did I even start that conversation?
* * *
Logan
I stared at Akira, thinking I must have misheard. Of course, Tank had given me the same idea earlier, but to have her put it in such a way… Yeah, it had been an awful idea.
“You want to get married so your dad has no choice but to accept our relationship?” I asked.
“Yes! I mean, I want to be with you, and I know you’re the one, Logan. But isn’t it a great idea?”
“No, Akira. Do you even know how that sounds?” Shit. And to think I’d thought of doing the same thing to her. I felt like crap just hearing her say we should get married just so her dad couldn’t drive us apart.
“What’s wrong? You don’t want to marry me?” she asked.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but you’re asking for the wrong reason. Besides, don’t you want a romantic proposal? Something we can look back on fondly for the rest of our lives?”
“What lives, Logan? At this rate, we’ll never be together. I told you my dad’s club terrified me the other night. As if that wasn’t bad enough Tempest followed me, driving into a line of Dixie Reapers, so now I have someone openly tailing me every time I leave the house.” I looked around to see where they might be now. “I managed to lose them. Don’t ask me how because you don’t want to know. Let’s just say they won’t be leaving a bathroom for a while.”
I winced. Not a pretty picture to paint. “They mean well.”
“They scared the hell out of me! I thought someone was trying to kidnap me,” she said.
I could see the tears forming in her eyes and I felt like an ass for being the one to put them there. I adored Akira, I really did. But marrying like this felt wrong. She deserved a real wedding, with her dad walking her down the aisle, her mom watching from the front row. Not some quick trip to Vegas just to shut everyone up.
“Did you know most of the Dixie Reapers didn’t have a wedding? A lot of them are technically married, but the club hackers handled it.”
I held up a hand. “I’m not sure this is something I need to hear.”
“Well, you’re going to anyway! Wire and Lavender can hack into any system. It wouldn’t take much for them to access Vital Records and create the files saying we’re married.”
I groaned. “Shit, Akira. I told you I didn’t need to hear that! You realize I’m in a club with police officers, right?”
“So is Dawson. You think he doesn’t know about it?”
I threw my hands in the air. “Are you saying you want to get married that way? Really? You don’t want a dress, a bouquet, bridesmaids, and all the other stuff that goes with a typical wedding ceremony? Will you really be content to look back ten years from now and realize someone used a computer to marry us?”
“If that means we’re actually together in ten years, then yes. I’d be fine with it.”
I couldn’t win with her. I’d known she was stubborn, but this was taking it to a new level. Although, as much as I’d have preferred a traditional wedding, I had to admit one in Vegas was better than her idea. At least there would be some sort of ceremony. Not that I had the time to take off work right now.
Was this one of those differences we’d need to overcome? I’d expected it from other people in our lives, but I hadn’t realized it was something we’d see in each other. Then again, all couples had issues to work through, and things that made them different from one another. Ours was just… more unique than most faced.
“Can we agree to put this on hold for right now?” I asked.
“But…”
I placed a finger over her lips. “Hush. Think of it this way. How would your mother feel, after going through such a rough battle with cancer, to find out she missed her only daughter’s wedding?”
“Fine. I get the point.” She leaned her forehead against my chest. “Sorry. I guess I got carried away.”
“I’m glad to hear you want to marry me, though. At least now I know when I ask, you’ll say yes.” I smiled, running my hand over her hair. “Takes a bit of pressure off me.”
She giggled and looked up at me, her eyes shining brightly. “I love you, Logan. Please don’t ever change. You’re perfect just as you are.”
My heart kicked in my chest. “Love you too. More than you’ll ever know.”