Chapter Twenty
Aspen
He didn’t know I was here.
That was what Banshee believed. But did I believe it? I wasn’t sure. So much had happened in the months since I had been living in the clubhouse that it was only a matter of time before everything came to light.
My fingers trailed over Banshee’s chest. Every night I fell asleep in his arms, and every morning I woke up the same way. This could have been my life. But how much of it would really be different if he’d made a different choice that day?
I believed with everything in me that we would still be at war with the Death Dogs. Whatever Skinner was after, it wasn’t about me. He’d never even paid me any mind after the wedding.
For three years I was nobody.
And then I became someone.
Someone important, someone my husband needed. Someone he relied on to do what he couldn’t.
And when I finally realized what was happening... what Pepper was doing, I did what I had to do to protect myself.
“You’re thinkin’ hard this morning, baby girl.” His arms tightened around me. “You ready to tell me everything?”
“W-what do you mean?”
I didn’t look up at him; I knew he’d see the lie on my face. The worry. He’d ask questions I didn’t want to answer.
“Do you know why Skinner moved the club up here?”
“I really don’t. I promise, Banshee, if I did, I would tell King. I just know it isn’t about me.”
“But there’s something else?” His hand rubbed up and down my back, comforting me. Lulling me into a place where I felt safe. Maybe it was time to tell him the truth. Tell him everything.
I tucked my hand under my cheek and felt his heartbeat. It was steady. Unlike mine, which felt like it would rocket its way out of my chest at any moment.
“What happened that day? Why did that fucker beat you the way that he did? Why was he trying to kill you?”
“He wasn’t trying to kill me. If he killed me, he’d never get back what I took.” I closed my eyes against the questions I knew were coming.
“What did you take, baby girl?”
“His money. He knew I had a degree in accounting, so he had me handling the money from his deals.”
The room was silent as I let what I’d said sink in. I didn’t know whether he’d still trust me after I told him everything.
When he said nothing, I continued. I needed him to know everything. Needed someone to know. I hadn’t told Haizley this. I didn’t want her burdened with my crime.
“I knew they dealt in drugs; my father’s club isn’t any different. I don’t like it, but it wasn’t my decision. But what I didn’t realize at first was that Pepper was cutting his stash. Doubling and sometimes tripling it.”
“Cutting it with what?” His voice was low, angry.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. But he had me creating a separate set of books. One for us, and one for Skinner.”
“He was skimming.” It wasn’t a question. The answer was clear. If Skinner found out what Pepper was doing, he’d be dead. And so would I.
“I knew if Skinner found out, I would be held responsible for what Pepper was doing, because I was helping him skim the money. It wouldn’t matter that I was doing what I was told. The good little wife just following orders.”
The truth was that death would have been a reprieve. Knowing Skinner, he might have let me live. Let me work off the debt. Even if I’d handed over the extra money Pepper stashed away, I would still be responsible for what Skinner deemed a betrayal.
And I would be expected to work that debt off on my back, or on my knees.
“What did you do?”
“I hid the money. I moved it to an offshore account Pepper couldn’t access.
It was something I had been doing for months.
I’d planned to leave. Disappear with the money so I had something to live on.
Skinner didn’t know what had happened. As far as Pepper was concerned, he was handing over exactly what he should every week. ”
“How did he find out?”
“It was our anniversary. I’d planned it meticulously down to every detail. I had something in the food that would put him to sleep and give me time to run. Time to pack up my car and get the hell out. I would have had at least a twelve-hour head start on him.”
I knew he wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t risk Skinner finding out what he’d done. How much money he’d made off him.
“But...”
“But I hadn’t taken into account that Pepper actually had any humanity in him. He never looked at the main account. Whenever he needed money, he had me transfer it. But for some stupid reason, he’d decided to get me a gift.”
I huffed out a laugh.
“He wanted to buy me a necklace. A diamond necklace that cost more than he’d ever spent on me in the three years we’d been together. And when the card declined, he went to the bank. The account had only a hundred and fifty dollars in it.
“He came home early and tore the house apart looking for it. That was when he found the bags I had stuffed under the bed. He knew I was leaving and taking the money with me. But he couldn’t kill me because then he’d never get the money back.
He hadn’t counted on Valhalla and the Nyght Nymphs coming to my aid and getting me out. ”
“What happened to the money?”
“It’s still in the account. I haven’t touched it.”
“How much is in there?” Banshee asked.
I lifted my head and looked at him. “Over nine hundred thousand.”
“Holy fuck, baby girl.” He covered his eyes with his arm and inhaled deeply. When he looked back at me, I couldn’t read his expression, but when he spoke, I deflated. “We have to tell King.”
“I was afraid you would say that.”
We each took a shower and got dressed. I did everything I could to slow the process. King had enough to deal with. He didn’t need my adding to his stress.
I tried to explain to Banshee that Pepper wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t want to risk Skinner finding out what he’d done. But he said it didn’t matter. We needed to be prepared in case he did.
As we stepped into the main room, Mimic stormed out of church and out the front door. Indie chased after him.
“Johnny, follow him,” King called out before slipping back into church and slamming the doors behind him. I saw Torment, Kytten’s therapist, at the bar with another man I didn’t recognize.
It must have had something to do with Valhalla.
Kytten had gone to meet her, not knowing King was putting her on lockdown with Mimic.
Mimic and Indie followed her, and Val ended up dead.
I didn’t know all the details. I didn’t want to know.
I was mourning her death. Despite what she might have done, she’d saved me.
We had just sat down when Jack stepped out of church and looked around the room. He motioned to Banshee, who walked over. The two of them had their heads together when Banshee looked back at me. Something was wrong.
“Baby girl, you’re needed in church.”
“Why?” I asked, my eyes locked on the door Mimic had stormed out of.
“Kytten asked for you.”
I nodded. Whatever it was, I would handle it. Just like I’d handled everything. Never let them see you sweat, right? I stepped through the doors and heard a woman gasp.
“Irene? What are you doing here?”
“Diana?” My eyes filled with tears as I stared at my sister. Diana. She was alive. After all these years, she was alive. I pulled my lips between my teeth and looked at Banshee. Could he see the fear and panic?
Diana stood and moved around the table, walking slowly toward me like a ghost or an apparition until she was standing in front of me.
Diana reached out. I stepped back, bumping into Banshee, who caught me, wrapping his arms around me.
Kytten rushed over and placed a hand on my arm. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe.” She looked at Diana over her shoulder before turning back to me with a smile. “You’re my aunt,” she said.
“What?” I looked at Kytten, then Diana. My head was a jumble of confused thoughts and emotions.
“Congratulations, it’s a girl.” Kytten laughed through tears. “And a boy,” she added. “But he’s throwing a tantrum at the moment. He’s good at those.”
King scoffed, and Diana chastised Kytten, “Rosie. Be nice to your brother.”
Jack threw his head back and laughed, cutting the tension. “She’s the only one besides Indie, and my old lady, who knows how to handle the kid’s tantrums.”
“Shut up, Jack,” Blade hissed.
“I don’t understand.” I looked at Diana, then Kytten. Nothing made sense right now, and I pressed myself back against Banshee.
“It’s a long story, Irene—”
“Aspen,” I snapped.
“What?” my sister asked.
“I’m not Irene anymore. She died two years ago. It’s Aspen now.”
“I guess we both have stories to share.”
I nodded. Looking around the room, I asked, “Is Haizley here?”
King groaned. “She’s gonna rip my fucking balls off. Gunner, call your old lady.”
“Who’s Haizley?” Diana asked.
“She’s a therapist. You’ll love her,” Bane said. My eyes trailed his hand as he reached out for Diana. “I think between her and Torment, we should be able to work through all this shit.”
“Dr. Dunaway is here?” Kytten asked.
“Out in the main room, with Payne.”
“And you didn’t think maybe I needed him here when I reunited with my mother?”
“Baby, you know how your brother is. Torment and I both thought it was a good idea that he wait.”
“You’re seeing Torment?” Diana asked.
The voices were all blending together inside my head. I didn’t know who was talking as I stared at my sister. I wanted to reach out and touch her, to prove she was really here. But she was a link to my family. One I couldn’t have. Not now. Not with everything happening.
“I think maybe he should come in here,” Kytten whispered.
“I’ll get him,” Bane said as he left the room.
“I-I need to go,” I whispered to no one. Diana looked at me, pain cutting across her face.
“Aspen, do you want me to tell Haizley to come find you?” Gunner asked.
“Please,” I replied, my eyes pleading with Gunner. I had to leave. Had to get out of this room.
“Can we talk later?” Diana asked, reaching out again, but pulling her hand back when I winced. I didn’t mean to. I just couldn’t handle this right now. I felt blindsided by my past.
“Maybe, yeah.” I nodded. I didn’t wait for Banshee. I left the room and ran upstairs. Crashing through the door to our room, I ran straight to the bathroom. I kneeled on the floor, my arms holding tight to the toilet, and threw up.
Banshee was behind me, holding my hair, rubbing my back.
“How is she here?”
“I’m not sure, baby girl.”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and looked up at him. “She’ll tell them where I am. She’ll tell them I’m here.”
He pulled me up off the floor and held me against him.
“I will always protect you,” he whispered, as a soft knock filled the room.
“Aspen, are you okay?”
I shook my head. I quickly brushed my teeth and met Haizley and Banshee in the room. I bit my lip as I played with the hem of my shirt.
“What happened?” Haizley asked.
“Her sister is here,” Banshee supplied, knowing I couldn’t speak yet. He cradled my face in his hands and tilted my head until I was looking into his eyes. “I’m gonna go downstairs and find out what’s going on. Talk to Haizley.”
I nodded. As he left the room, I looked at Haizley and burst into tears. She quickly drew me in close. We sat on the bed, and she held me against her as I cried.