Chapter 34
Gabriella
The next morning I was sore in all the right ways.
I’d woken up many times with a familiar pain, where abandoned muscles had been used and abused. But it had never felt like this. It had never felt so… perfect.
It reminded me of the old days. When things had seemed so complicated, and yet had actually been the easiest times of our lives together.
And Vienna… he had been. Just…
Wow!
He was everything I remembered and more. He pushed my body to the limits, but rather than getting off on it, he was there with me, along for the journey, exploring new avenues with me.
The words he spoke… the things he did to me.
The backs of my hands came to my cheeks as they flamed, remembering everything he had done, the words he had uttered.
And it was as I was reminiscing that I heard a buzzing sound coming from next to me.
Sitting up, I looked at the familiar black device on the table, which was buzzing wildly, and looked at it as though it was carrying the plague.
Had Vienna bought me a phone? But why? He was right next door for fuck’s sake.
Although… he had been right next to me when I fell asleep.
With a scoff and a roll of my eyes, I resigned myself to the fact that Vienna was weird. He barely slept, he rarely ate, he just moved about in a chaotic, behemoth way.
It was only when I unlocked it and saw what was happening, that I realised exactly why Vienna had bought me this.
This was just a completely different means to torment his club, and now I was getting front row seats.
You’ve been added to The Devil Wears Leather
Dante: No.
Vienna: Come on, you love it.
Dante: I most certainly do not.
Rachel: Ooh, he’s very stern, isn’t he? ??
Dante: Don’t start, woman.
Steph: Can I start?
Dante has left the chat.
Steph: I’ll take that as a no. ??
Vienna added Dante to the chat.
Dante changed the group name to The Devil’s Disciples MC.
Gabriella: I’m so confused right now.
Hacksaw: This chat is a security nightmare.
Rachel: Bore off, old man.
Rachel changed the group name to Sin > Devils.
Jade: I approve.
Gabriella: Why am I here? What is this?
Dante: We ask ourselves this every day.
Vienna changed the group name to The Beard Appreciation Society.
Vienna: Ladies, what do you think of this?
Vienna sent a picture.
Jenna: I don’t hate it.
Riley: I’m staying silent. It’s my job to keep the peace.
Rachel: I think we’re all being far too diplomatic. You’ve all gone soft. I’ll tell you the truth, Vienna.
Vienna: Go ahead, hair buddy. I’ve already braced myself for the pain of your words.
Rachel: Well… it’s fucking awful. But an improvement on the rat you’re currently wearing.
Vienna removed Rachel from the group chat.
Dante: Ooft. Good luck, brother. It was nice knowing you.
Monster: It’s peaceful without her.
Hacksaw: I’m telling her you said that.
Monster: Doesn’t seem like something a man who cares about security would do.
Gabriella: I’ve already taken a screenshot.
Monster: Who the fuck is this and why is she getting me into trouble?
I wasn’t entirely sure whether I should be offended or amused.
Vienna: Do you want to die?
Steph: You put some respect on her name, Monster! Don’t make me break out the photo album…
Monster: No, wait! Sorry, Gabriella. Screenshot everything.
Hacksaw: Please don’t do that.
Gabriella: Can we circle back to the photos?
Vienna: What she said! ^^ I want to know what photos we’re talking here.
Steph: I am not at liberty to say. But there may or may not be ass-less leather chaps involved and a long, long…
Monster: Steph, you promised!
Dante added Rachel to the group chat.
Dante removed Rachel from the group chat.
Gabriella: Lucky guy, Monster. You’ve been saved by the domestic.
Ant: Rachel’s got his phone again, I take it?
Vienna: Ahh, lovers’ paradise.
Dante added Rachel to the group chat.
Dante removed Rachel from the group chat.
Steph: She’ll bite him again if he’s not careful.
Dante: Will one of you add me back before Dante snatches his phone off me again?!
Vienna: I thought you hated the chats?
Steph added Rachel to the group chat.
Dante removed Steph from the group chat.
Rachel added Steph to the group chat.
Oh, for fuck’s sake! This was getting ridiculous. I went into the settings and claimed the admin role.
Gabriella is now an admin.
Gabriella changed the group settings.
Rachel: I think I love you.
I was beginning to understand why Dante looked permanently exhausted. But then again, it had taken me less than five minutes to become a willing accomplice, so… was I really any better?
Hacksaw: I still think this chat is a disaster.
Vienna sent a picture.
The Birds: Ugliest ass we’ve ever seen.
Vienna responded by sending a voice note, absolutely screeching, “Caw, caw!”
The Birds: Real mature.
Vienna: Chicken, Rooster, get your ladies in line before I turn their cars into a nest again.
Gabriella: Pardon?
The Birds: You wouldn’t dare.
Vienna sent a voice note. “Try me, CAW, CAW!”
Rachel: Gabby, old buddy, old pal, make me an admin.
Gabriella: There’s so much happening right now.
Rachel: Don’t worry about it. Don’t focus on them, focus on me. Now… about that admin thing?
Rachel is now an admin.
Rooster: Traitor.
Chicken: Well… she is a Rider.
Vienna: brB
Dante: Oh, dear…
Hacksaw: …
Rachel: …
Steph: I’m so excited.
Rachel: You’re sick.
Steph: Tell me you’re not excited, you liar.
Dante: I’m having to hold her back from following him.
Steph: Aw, you’re talking to me!
Dante: …
Steph: …
Rachel: …
Monster: …
The whole chat went silent. I heard the door next to me slam, heard Vienna’s heavy footprints down the hallway. I quickly ran to the door and pulled it open, only to see him practically leap over the banister and jump down the stairs.
And then he was gone.
From the other end of the hallway, I saw Rachel poke her head out, clearly naked as the day she was born. She shook her head at me, I shrugged my shoulders in return, and then Dante appeared and pulled her back in the bedroom.
The whole chat seemed to remain silent until around ten minutes later when it pinged with a notification.
Trent: I don’t want to alarm anyone, but Vienna has just kicked down Chicken and Rooster’s door.
Imogen: Legit off its hinges! It was brilliant!
Rachel: What’s happening?
Imogen: A lot of banging.
Hacksaw: Not to brag, but… I have access to security footage.
Rachel: Send it to me.
Hacksaw: Not a chance.
Rachel: Dante, tell him!
Dante: Not a chance.
Vienna sent a photo.
Vienna: Anyone else got anything to fucking say?
I laughed out loud, seeing that Vienna had taped Chicken and Rooster’s heads together with thick masking tape and had thrown eggs at them.
Rachel: Well… that escalated quickly.
Steph: Monster, why do you never defend me like this?
Monster: You bring it on yourself, woman, that’s why!
Steph: Oh, that’s lovely that is.
Vienna: I can’t help it if I’m the best.
Steph changed the group name to Vienna Cries When He’s Tasered.
Vienna: That felt unnecessary.
Hacksaw: This group chat is unnecessary.
Gemma: I wholeheartedly disagree.
Hacksaw: Did anyone ask you?
Dante: You going to untie them anytime soon, Vienna?
Vienna: What do you mean? I’m already back home. They can untie themselves.
The Birds: We’ve done it.
Vienna removed The Birds from the group chat.
Steph added The Birds to the group chat.
Steph: stop being a bitch, Vienna. If you can give it, you can take it.
Vienna removed Steph from the group chat.
Gabriella added Steph to the group chat.
Vienna: Traitor.
Gabriella: Well. I am a Rider. You coming to tie me up now?
Steph: Ooh, it’s getting spicy. Rachel, are you seeing this?
Steph: Rachel??
Rachel changed the group settings.
Dante is now an admin.
Dante changed the group name to Hell in a Handbasket.
I laughed at the domestic, only to see that Vienna was once again messaging me.
Vienna: You’re not a fucking Rider.
Vienna: You’re going to pay for saying that.
Vienna: I swear, your ass will be so sore, you won’t be able to sit for a week.
Vienna: You’re fucking mine, Gabriella. I don’t find this Rider talk funny at all.
I sent him a GIF of a woman riding a bike. Because why not? I lived to tease him. And then I focused back on the group chat.
Rachel: DANTE, STOP SNATCHING MY PHONE!!
Dante: Grow above 5ft and reach for it next time.
Vienna: Anyone else picturing her stomping her foot?
Rachel: I’ll stomp on your foot.
Vienna: Don’t be that way, hair buddy.
Hacksaw: I’m muting this chat.
Vienna: ...
Dante: ...
Rachel: ...
Gabriella: ...
Gabriella removed Hacksaw from the group chat.
Gabriella added Hacksaw to the group chat.
Hacksaw: Damn you.
Vienna: Does that work? Is it now unmuted?
Gabriella: Yep.
Hacksaw: Why would you do that to me?
Gabriella: Sorry, buddy.
Dante: If I have to suffer, so do you.
Gabriella: Besides, you said you cared about security.
Hacksaw: I’d turn a blind eye if it were Vienna’s safety at risk.
Rachel: I think we all would.
Vienna has left the group chat.
Dante: Ahh, well.
Rachel: Isn’t it peaceful?
Steph: It’s a lot less hairy.
The Birds: We prefer it.
I laughed. I had never witnessed such chaos in my life. These people were supposed to be one of the most feared motorcycle clubs in the country, and yet they were behaving like children who’d discovered sugar for the first time. And then I noticed Vienna had messaged me privately.
Vienna: I acted a bit rash. Add me back.
Gabriella: What’s in it for me?
Vienna: Please.
Vienna: I’ll be your best friend.
Vienna: I’ll make you breakfast for a week.
Vienna: I’ll buy you your own beard.
Gabriella added Vienna to the group chat.
Dante: For fuck’s sake.
Rachel: Let’s hear her out.
Gabriella created a poll.
Does Vienna’s beard make him look like Gandalf?
Everyone immediately voted yes.
Vienna: I feel betrayed.
Rachel: Your Sin cut will be with you within the hour, Gabriella. Welcome to the inner circle. I approve of everything happening here right now.
Steph: Dante.
Dante: Don’t speak to me, Snow White.
Steph: I meant to ask... has your engine been rattling?
Dante: ...
Dante: What did you do to my bike, Steph?
Steph: ??
Dante: WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BIKE???
Rachel: The forehead vein is out.
Dante: Fuck off, Rachel.
Rachel: How rude!! She put plastic animals in your engine, Dante. And I fucking helped her!!
Hacksaw: I’m not sticking around for a domestic.
Vienna: I fucking am!
Poor Hacksaw. He’d spent the entire conversation trying to restore some semblance of order. Unfortunately for him, he was dramatically outnumbered and I couldn’t resist what I did next.
Gabriella muted Hacksaw.
Gabriella: Vienna, grab the popcorn and meet me upstairs. Steph, you dim the lights. Jade, bring wine. Hacksaw... go watch the cameras or something. Everyone else, my room. Make yourselves comfortable. Stat. We have a domestic to watch.
If you can’t beat them, join them, I suppose.