28. Aimee
Aimee
It takes me longer than usual to get out of bed. With Levi at the clubhouse the past few days, I’ve been able to sleep, finally catching up on what is lost when he’s not here. I might have grown comfortable around the Twisted Kings, but the bed still feels too empty when he’s away.
Stretching out, I find the other side of the bed cold.
Levi likely woke up hours ago and couldn’t stop his mind from running in circles. He doesn’t like leaving things unfinished, so he probably crawled out of bed to check in with his club about the looming countdown from Titan.
I can tell it’s weighing on him, making him more anxious and protective by the day. He might let me come and go from the compound as I please, but I’m never actually alone. If there isn’t a ranked member with me, then Venom is the one to take me into town .
Levi trusts him as if he’s wearing a ranked patch, and it makes me wonder if it’s only a matter of time before they find a way to expand his role with the club.
Venom is a newer member, but he operates like a lifelong Twisted King.
He keeps an eye on his surroundings and doesn’t make a move without it being calculated.
He hasn’t told me much about where he comes from or his family history, but it’s clear he’s found where he belongs.
At least if anyone is going to drive me around, it’s Venom. We get along, and he doesn’t mind sitting in silence when I’m lost in thought.
I don’t know how Venom feels about being on babysitting duty, especially since he’s forced to drive me around in a truck after Levi issued some unspoken threat to anyone who offers to put me on the back of their bike. But if it bothers him, he doesn’t say anything about it.
Finally, I climb out of bed, get dressed, and shower. The clubhouse is quiet as I walk down the hallway. But when I near the main den, I begin to hear Christmas music.
I turn the corner into a winter wonderland of sorts.
The Twisted Kings managed to take the holiday and put their stamp on it.
The snowmen decorating the shelves behind the bar are wearing cuts, and there’s a Santa on a motorcycle in the corner.
Even the tree is decorated in a collection of mismatched ornaments that pay homage to different brands of liquor more than the holiday itself.
“This is one way to be festive.” I stop at Soul’s side, where he’s leaning against the bar, watching the patch bunnies and prospects decorate .
He grins, taking a sip of his beer first thing in the morning. “It’s nice, right?”
“It’s something.”
Chaos chuckles, crossing the room. “You actually wore that fucking shirt.”
“Told you I would.” Soul shrugs, peeling his cut to the side to show off a white T-shirt with mistletoe and the words Pucker Up on it.
Except that the mistletoe is very low in the front, hanging almost at his belt.
“It’s so they know where I want their lips.”
“I get it.” My nose scrunches, and Chaos and Soul burst out laughing. “I’m starting to wonder how you ever get a date.”
Soul leans back, scanning the room. “I don’t date. I just fuck.”
“Mr. Romantic.” I roll my eyes just as Levi’s arms sweep around me from behind.
He buries his face in my neck and kisses the side of my throat. “How is it you always find yourself with these assholes?”
“Aimee can’t resist my glowing personality,” Soul answers for me, and I just shake my head.
“Or my good looks.” Chaos winks.
“Oh yeah, that’s definitely it.” I grin up at Levi, shaking my head. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He plants a kiss on my temple, holding my back firmly to his chest. “I see you’ve joined the madness. ”
“The bed was empty. What else was I supposed to do?” Biting my lower lip, I rock my ass back to tease him, and he groans.
“I had to get some work done.” Work he doesn’t seem thrilled about since his jaw tightens as he considers what he could have been doing instead.
“Already disappointing your woman, Havoc?” Soul chuckles, taking a sip of his beer.
Levi glares at him, but I’m the one who claps back.
“Says the guy who can’t get a woman to spend more than one night in his bed?”
“Who said that’s their choice?” Soul winks.
I shake my head, and Levi lets me slide from his grip so I can circle the bar to get a bottle of water.
“You know what they say about egos, Soul.” I rest my elbows on the other side of the bar.
“Enlighten me.”
My gaze skims down to the mistletoe on his shirt. “Make sure it’s not bigger than your cock.”
He tips his head back in a laugh. “Not a problem, sweetheart.”
I shrug, glancing at Levi, who is smirking at me.
“I like you, Aimee.” Soul leans forward on the bar, tapping his beer bottle on my water. “You’re feisty. I hope you give my boy Havoc hell.”
“I definitely do.” I circle the bar again and slide onto the stool between Levi and Soul.
Chaos is at Soul’s other side, talking on the phone.
He’s not as outwardly social as Soul, but he’s generally in good spirits.
So when I notice the serious expression on his face, I can tell something is weighing on him.
To the point where he barely notices Wren stopping at his side in a low-cut dress, holding out a decoration.
“Help me with the star.” She nudges his shoulder.
He finally hangs up and shoves the phone in his pocket as he agrees to help her. But when they walk away, tension continues to ripple off Chaos’s shoulders.
“You didn’t warn me it gets so festive around here,” I say to Levi, taking a sip of my water.
“Figured I’d surprise you.”
“Consider me shocked.”
Not just because of the decorations, which would never be hung at the Iron Sinners compound, but because of the camaraderie of it all. How everyone comes together to do this. Members, prospects, patch bunnies. Like a leather-clad family on Christmas morning, getting into the spirit of the holidays.
“A stool, really?” Soul yells across the room as Chaos drags a stool toward the twelve-foot tree.
“You suggest I climb it?” Chaos yells back, flipping Soul off with one hand while placing the star at the top with the other.
Chaos hops off the stool and crosses the room back to where we’re still at the bar.
“It’s because of shit like that”—Soul juts his chin up—“that you’ll never survive a zombie apocalypse.”
“And you will? Two words…” Chaos stops in front of Soul. “Hair product.”
Soul flips him off .
“Is there an impending zombie apocalypse I’m not aware of?” I ask.
Levi tucks my hair behind my ear. “One could only hope it would be that easy to take these two out. But no.”
Chaos grumbles at the amusement in Levi’s tone. “It’s just some shit we say. Reasons we will or won’t survive a zombie apocalypse.”
“And hair product is one of them?”
“He’s got me there.” Soul grins, unapologetically. “If I’m gonna be eaten alive, I’m going to look damn good doing it.”
“That’s sad.” I frown, and Levi chuckles as I glance over at him. “What’s your reason?”
“My reason for what?”
“That you’ll die an ugly zombie death.”
Soul shoots a hand up. “I’ve got this one.”
“Then by all means.” Levi rolls his eyes, clearly not taking any of this seriously.
“Easy. If something’s going to take Havoc down in a zombie apocalypse, it will be you.” Soul nudges my shoulder.
This time, I’m the one who’s laughing. “Me?”
“Love distracts people. He’ll get killed saving your ass just like Steel, Ghost, and Legacy will go down for their women. None of you fuckers stand a chance.”
“Someone’s bitter,” I point out. “But also… I’m offended. Who said Levi needs to save me? I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“She did shoot our boy.” Chaos grabs Levi’s shoulder, and he winces .
“Exactly.” I stand up tall, probably sounding too proud that I shot Levi, so I pull back slightly. “Sorry again about that.”
“No, you’re right.” Levi shakes his head, looking at Soul. “Aimee’s more than capable of taking care of herself. If she can handle you and Chaos, I have no doubt she could survive a horde of zombies.”
“Maybe it’s me who dies saving him.” I slip my hand into Levi’s.
“I think I like that better,” Soul decides. “You’re on my team then.”
“When did this become about teams?”
“It’s always been about teams.” Soul shrugs. “Me, Venom, and Chaos, against the rest of them. Don’t worry. We’re the winning team. They’ll die in the first wave. Second, if they’re lucky.”
“My girl is not joining your team.” Levi shakes his head.
“Wait, you actually play into this whole thing?”
He shrugs.
“You guys have way too much time on your hands.” I laugh.
It’s absolutely ridiculous.
But as the three of them smile at me, I kind of love it.
The genuine friendships. The jokes. Beyond their roles within the club, they care about each other. It makes my chest tighten.
Levi’s gaze moves past me, and I watch as the smile slowly slips from his face. His back straightens, and I turn to see Venom walking into the room with a box in his hand .
“What is that?” Levi’s voice is deathly cold, but I can’t figure out why he sounds like something is wrong.
At least, not until Venom looks up, meeting my gaze before looking at Levi. His jaw is tight, and his back is stiff.
“This was just dropped off with the guys at the gate.” Venom glances at the box, then tips his head toward the room where they hold church.
But I rush forward, sensing there’s more he’s not saying. A reason his eyes keep darting in my direction.
“Does this have to do with me?” I try to reach for the box, but Venom swerves before my fingers touch it. “Is that from Titan?”
“Let me take care of this, Aimee.” Levi is at my side.
I pull away when he tries to steer me by the elbow. “Answer my question. Is this about me?”
“Aimee—”
“That’s a yes then.” I cut Levi off, spinning to look up at him. “Don’t do this, Levi. Don’t shut me out. I’ve done as you’ve asked, and I’ve stopped digging. But this is my father. You promised to at least keep me in the loop. If this is from Titan, then I deserve to know.”
Levi studies my eyes for a long moment before looking over at Venom.
From the corner of my eye, I see Venom nod slightly, confirming this does have to do with my father.
“You can’t keep me in the dark,” I tell Levi. “I won’t trust you if you hide things from me.”
And that’s the truth.
If Levi wants me to stay here, to trust him, then I need him to meet me halfway.
I’ve been quiet as he’s traveled with the club this past week.
As he comes and goes and seeks out information on my father.
I’ve held my tongue so as not to get in the way.
But I sense what’s in that box changes things.
Levi needs to decide in this moment if he can be my partner or if he will step aside. I’ll never be under the thumb of a man again.
He must see that in my eyes because he nods, taking my hand.
Venom, Chaos, and Soul circle me as we walk into church. I’m probably not allowed in here, but I imagine they can’t open the box around patch bunnies either.
Slowly, Venom sets the box down, and I hold my breath as he lifts the lid.
Levi wraps his arms around my waist, and I lose my breath when I see what’s inside.
My father’s hand.
“We need to leave now.”
Something rattles, and I blink my eyes open and find a shadow hovering over me. On instinct, I shoot to sitting and scoot back on the bed.
“It’s okay, honey. It’s me.”
“Dad.” I squint; his face gets clearer as my eyes adjust. “How did you get in here?”
It’s been weeks since Titan has let me see him, and the circles under his eyes have darkened.
“The panels at the back of your closet lead to a storage closet.” He hurries around my room, shoving clothes and random items into a bag. “We need to go while they’re distracted.”
“Go where?” It’s not just the clubhouse that’s the issue when it comes to trying to escape—it’s the compound.
Every corner of it is guarded. And even if it wasn’t, the clubhouse is surrounded by miles of empty desert. I learned that the hard way the one and only time I managed to get out. There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run to.
Titan found me within the first ten minutes and spent a week showing me what would happen if I ever tried again.
“There’s nowhere to run out here.” I climb out of bed and slip on my shoes as Dad shoves a sweater into my arms.
It’s not cold, but I put it on.
“A friend came to the party tonight.” Dad zips the bag and hands it to me next. “He’s about to leave. All we have to do is get you to the back of his truck. He’ll take you into the city.”
“What about you?”
“Aimee, listen to me.” He grabs my arms, and the defeat in his expression has tears burning behind my eyes. “All that matters is that you get out. I’ll be fine.”
“I can’t leave you.”
“You have to, honey.”
My throat burns, and I’m ready to argue, but Dad grabs my hand and leads me to the closet. Sure enough, there’s a hole where a panel used to be. He guides me through until we’re in a storage closet, and then he peeks out the door before dragging me into the hallway .
Through the thin clubhouse walls, I hear the party escalating. Hopefully, that’s enough to keep them distracted.
Dad slips me out the back door, and like he said, a truck idles on the property.
Bikes, trucks, and cars are parked everywhere, but luckily, no one else is around.
“Who is that?” I ask, seeing the silhouette through the rear window.
“Someone who owes me a favor.” He pops the bed of the truck open.
I hop up but don’t release my father’s hand. “We can both go. Why would you stay?”
Dad frowns, opening his mouth to answer me when a shout comes from behind him. One of Titan’s men spots us and swings the door open to yell for someone inside the clubhouse.
“You need to go now.” He guides me to the truck, and I hurry inside. “Lie down.”
“Dad—”
“I love you, Aimee.” The tailgate slams closed behind me. “I’m sorry it had to go this way.”
Dad slaps the side of the truck, and the driver starts to peel forward.
My knees ache as I kneel in the truck bed and grab my father’s hand. Until our fingers stretch with the distance, and then there’s nothing but his hand reaching out.
Bodies begin to flood out of the clubhouse, and I duck down. But I don’t disappear entirely as I watch my father at a distance. He spins to face the men who surround him, until at last, he’s face-to-face with Titan.
They speak for no more than a few seconds before Titan lifts his gun, sending a shot echoing into the empty desert.
My father falls to the ground, and the night swallows him up.
Tears stream down my cheeks as I lie in the back of the truck waiting for them to follow. It’s only a matter of time before Titan’s men will catch up if they saw what my father was doing—who he was smuggling out. Part of me hopes they get here sooner rather than later to end this.
I just want it to be over.
But they never come.
And in the silence, I don’t know if that’s any better.