Chapter 19 Lana #2
“I invite you to a Michelin-star restaurant and you blow on your food like a four-year-old. I mean, c’mon, look at you Lana, where are your manners?”
Come on, Lana, this is different.
It’s Carter.
He… He loves you.
I’m almost sure of it.
No words we said, from either side, but…it really, really….feels like love.
And the right kind of love heals; it doesn’t hurt.
We all get out of the kitchen and follow Mia to the living room, where I’d say about twenty people are either chatting, playing cards, or sitting on the sofa and laughing together. I immediately spot Carter, who’s talking with a brown hair man, almost his size, with tattoos reaching his neck.
Rose passes by me and reaches forward, the man turns to her with a warm smile, resting his hand on her hips and kissing her hair.
Carter nods to them and then makes his way to me.
My jaw drops at the sight of his thick biceps as he walks toward me.
Removing his jacket was definitely a good idea.
He reaches for me and takes my hand, and we don’t even say anything as another man appears next to us.
“So, it was ‘bout time you brought your girl here,” his rough and deep voice echoes in the room, even with the chatter and the rock and roll music in the background. He’s the same height as Carter, but he’s not built like him.
I’d say his chest is larger, and it reminds me of the body of a fighter.
He stares at Carter for a bit, then at me, and there’s no hesitation in the fact that he is the boss.
Something in his aura tells it. He commands the room and all the people in it. That’s the man from the photo.
Mia’s husband.
His boss.
Don’t mess this up.
Don’t mess this up.
“I’m Ares, welcome to the Raven Sons, Lana,” he declares, and I swallow hard, feeling in my bones that this man holds our fate in his hands.
CARTER
“You’re scaring her,” I grunt to Ares, because Lana's hand turned icy cold in mine, and I don’t like it. I’m not convinced he’s doing it on purpose, but I’m also aware that Ares scares the shit out of everyone except a few of us. I know because I have the same effect on people.
“Carter, no, I’m-” Lana mutters, but I know she’s deflecting because, as Dr. Parks said, not everything I think can be said out loud, but right now, I couldn’t care less.
“I’m trying to be nice,” barks Ares, frowning at me. “Don’t worry, Lana, you’re welcome here. I’ve heard lots ‘bout you,” he says, studying her like he always does with everybody, but I actually appreciate that he’s reassuring her.
“Thank you so much for having me here,” she says with a sweet as fuck voice, and I suddenly want to get out of here to have her all to myself. One bite wasn’t enough; it only made me hungrier.
“Have you met the other women?” I ask her.
“I did, they’re all really nice, and I think I should start learning sign languages.
I didn’t know you guys were all fluent.” She seems relaxed, yet all I want to do is tell her that there’s no pressure; the folks here are glad to meet her.
Actually, as I stare at her for a longer time than I would deem acceptable, I realize I’ve never been more proud to hold someone’s hand in mine.
LANA
“I had everyone take an online course so Rose’s would never feel left out,” Ares grunts roughly, and I’m starting to understand that beneath this bear-like behaviour, there’s a big heart hiding somewhere.
I mean, his wife is literally the analogy of a firework, so he must be a teddy bear in the other areas of his life.
“I’ll try to do the same to catch up,” I say, hoping that I made a good impression, the memories of meeting Ben’s boss still crowding my brain, and how this evening had ended up with me laid on the kitchen floor with a bloody nose.
As if he knew what I was thinking about, Ares stares at me deeply, which makes me fidgety. Is he a mind reader or what?
“You need anything, or any help,” he pauses, “you call us”.
His voice is rich and serious, “You’re one of us now, the whole club’s got your back.
Remember that,” he states, then a little storm appears next to him, clutching his black sleeve shirt, Mia’s boa dropping feathers on Ares’s leather boot.
My lips part as I nod. Does he know about my situation?
But then I remind myself, he’s the boss of a motorcycle gang that owns the whole region.
He knows everything he wants about everyone around him.
For some strange reason, I trust him. And if I were to call the club, I actually think they would come and help me.
A strange sense of belonging blooms in my chest, and I look around at the other women I haven’t met yet, chatting and laughing with other men in the living room.
Nobody’s crying, yelling, or fighting. They all feel safe. And I do too.
“How’s my little tornado?” he mutters just for her, but I hear it nonetheless.
“All good, hubby. I was about to borrow Lana,” she says, winking at me.
“Oh, and guys, we’d like to go out next week for a girl’s night.
” Mia claps her hands enthusiastically. I wonder why she informs Carter, but then I remember that he’s the one guarding her everyday when she goes out so it’s a part of his job to know that.
He did also tell me about a certain Ash, but I haven’t met him yet.
“Out?” grunts Ares, furrowing his brows.
“Yes, out in the big dark scary world.” Mia chuckles before rolling her eyes. “I made a pact with Kia and Erin to get Rose and Lana on the dancefloor until their feet hurt, and I’m not breaking that promise.”
“You wanna go dancing?” Carter asks me in a lower tone, his body fully turning to me, and I notice from the corner of my eyes Ares towering over his much shorter wife, who is joining her hands and pleading her case.
They are negotiating, and that’s actually adorable because I wasn’t expecting this man to turn into mush for his wife.
She’s got him wrapped around her little glittery fingers.
“Um…yes, actually. I’d like that. The girls are really nice, and it’s been ages.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Carter pulls me a step away toward a bookshelf while Ares and Mia are still deep in conversation.
“That I wanted to dance?”
“I would’ve taken you.”
“Um…” I glance around, making sure no one’s listening. “Ben never let me dance. So I just stopped thinking I could.” Carter’s jaw tightens. I reach up and touch it, instinctively.
“I’ll take you, with Ash and a few others, just to be safe. And then you’ll dance until your feet hurt. I don’t know how long that takes, but when it does, I’ll carry you to the car,” he says, voice cold as ice, and suddenly I’m melting.
“You’re blushing,” he adds, angling his head.
“After what you told me, how could I not?” I whisper, teeth grazing my lip.
“Lana…” His eyes drop to my mouth like a starved man.
“Yes?”
“You gotta stop biting your lip like that.”
“Why?” I blink up innocently at him.
“You know why.” I smile, slow and dangerous, shaking my head as heat curls low in my stomach and spreads like wildfire.
“Go with the girls,” he commands me roughly, running his hand on his face. I nod, but then he laces his hand in mine. “I’m the luckiest guy on earth.” Then, he drops a soft kiss on my forehead, and I melt at the touch. “I’ve never been more proud of holding someone else’s hand.”
He’s not Ben.
He’s not embarrassed by me.
He’s proud to be with me.
My heart speeds up under my ribcage and I know that if we were alone, I’d kiss him way longer so he’d know how much his words heal my heart.
We turn to Mia and Ares hand in hand and she claps, “I won! We are going to have such a fun night!” Ares looks at her with a smug smile, like he can’t believe he married this woman.
“Let’s go,” she says, grabbing my hand, and I follow her until we reach the other girls back in the kitchen, but this time in the little breakfast nook by a bay window.
I’m glad I’m with them, because those guys out there seem nice, but it’s still very new to me, and I’m already a bit overwhelmed by all the new faces.
“Alright, enough men’s talk. Who wants to play poker?” Erin grins at me with a pack of cards in her hand.
CARTER
I passed by the kitchen a few times, and my girl was laughing and joking with the other women.
Mia is going all out to make her feel welcome and I really appreciate it.
They’ve been in there for an hour, and their voices and laughter keep getting louder, which I guess is a good sign.
Passing by a bookshelf in the hallway, I notice a small frame on it.
It would go unnoticed for most people, but details are important, and I like to be aware of all my surroundings.
It looks like a handwritten note from Ares to Mia.
“Your lunch is set on the terrace.
I’ll be there at eleven.
I cannot wait to see you, my little tornado.
A.M”
Before Mia came into his life, I wouldn’t have bet on my boss leaving handwritten notes to any woman, but right now it doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Turns out he’s a psycho in our world, but once he’s around Mia, there’s not much left of his armor.
Kind of like me with Lana. Voices behind the walls catch my attention.
Ash's distinctive familiar tone reaches my ears. I stay put where I am, looking at the books while listening to Ash’s banter.
I’m so used to being around him, I know what face he’s making even without seeing him.
“Sorry I’m late, there was so much traffic I got stuck in a fucking jam,” he complains, and I hear the sound of a beer opening. “Just got it from the fridge, by the way, did you guys see that woman in the kitchen? The brown hair one?”
I hold my breath.
“What about her?” chuckles Shadow with his deep voice. Ash didn’t see Lana arrive with me; he must think she’s a friend of Mia. And the guys are playing with him like a canary in the lion's den. They know anyone glancing at her is as good as a dead man walking.
“She’s super hot.”
“Did you talk to her?” asks Tank, and I’m fucking sure he’s smiling from ear to ear.
“Fuck yeah, told her I was available if she wanted a tour of the house.”
“And what did she say?”
“Nothing, it’s weird, she stared at me, and all the girls burst into laughter, women, go figure.
” Shadow clears his throat as I freeze behind the wall, wondering what the fuck else he said to my woman.
Ash is the only motherfucker that could get away with it, only if he truly didn’t know who she was.
“We better tell him now before he finds out and runs for his life,” Shadows says with a restrained laugh, aligning with the other guys.
“You can’t hit on her,” says Bones, his footsteps joining the group.
“Why? She’s hot, I’m available, what’s the matter?”
“You can't hit on her ‘cause she’s Carter’s girl,” Shadow deadpans, and I hear a slap, which I guess is him on Ash’s head.
“No way. Carter’s girl is a mom?” He says Mom like the word doesn’t belong anywhere near a stunning woman like Lana. My fist clenches before I even think about it. Silence drops. And I’m pretty sure everyone’s staring at him, waiting for his brain to catch up and do the damn math.
“No way!” shouts Ash. “No fuckin’ way,” he realizes his mistake, “and I fucking hit on her I’m so fucked.” I hear his tall body fall on the leather couch.
“If Carter had seen you, you’d be in trouble, kid,” says Shadow, his twenty years above Ash talking from experience of watching me as the enforcer of the club for years.
“No shit,” groans Ash, his voice faltering. I grin behind the wall. It was an honest mistake. He’ll learn.
“I didn’t know, I swear,” he pleads as I come into the room, watching him hold both hands in the air.
“I know, ” I smile and walk toward him, disheveling his hair, “but from now on, I hear you hit on my woman, you'd better run fast.” Ash chuckles and his shoulders relax as if he had been ready to run for his life a few seconds ago.
“Well, congrats then, you’re a lucky guy,” he says, and I nod back, taking a gulp of my beer.
The luckiest on earth indeed.