Astrid Chapter 10 #2
“Look at her, she’s picked up the lingo so easily. We refer to our fellow members as brothers because we’re a family. Old ladies, which is what Astrid is, are what we call our wives. It’s a term of respect. And as for me, I oversee the club’s strip club.”
Cass’s mouth tightened. He looked at me.
“I thought you said he was your boyfriend. I don’t see a ring on your finger,” he accused.
“It’s coming, but we do things differently in clubs.
Some bikers don’t legally marry their old ladies.
To them, the commitment of naming them their old lady and presenting them with a property cut, which is a leather cut like mine, which denotes who the woman belongs to, is enough.
However, in my club, we not only give them the title and property cut, but we also marry them.
I’m waiting for the perfect time to ask her. She can show you the ring then.”
“I think we should figure out what we want to eat before we talk anymore. I have a feeling our waitress will be back soon,” I interjected.
Neither objected, so we spent the next five minutes or more studying the menu.
Mayhem kept up a stream of chatter, mostly with me, about what I’d eaten here and would recommend.
It was a relief when the waitress returned with our drinks and took our food orders.
After she left, it was back into the mix.
Nothing Mayhem said was untrue or said with disrespect toward Cass.
I think that was putting my former commander’s teeth on edge.
He was growing unhappier, and he wasn’t trying to hide it.
Goddamn, this meal was a mistake. I should never have agreed to do it.
I wasn’t sure how long Mayhem could keep up the facade before he broke.
“How was your day at the office?” I asked. I wanted to divert the conversation to Cass and away from us to decrease tension.
“It was the usual and busy, but that makes the day go by faster. Had a briefing on an upcoming mission. Mayhem, you said you were in the Army. I don’t think I could handle being a ground pounder. I’d find it boring and under-stimulating to my brain. But I understand we need you guys.”
Cass’s assumption about Mayhem and calling him a ground pounder was meant to be an insult.
He assumed that Mayhem had been an infantryman, and his remark about under-stimulating his brain was a snotty jab, indicating he thought Mayhem had to be uneducated.
My anger was steadily growing, so I knew Mayhem’s had to be.
I didn’t know how he was restraining himself from calling Cass out, but I’d had enough.
I knew Mayhem was holding back due to his promise to me. Forget that shit.
“Mayhem, no need to keep that promise you made me,” I told him as I reached over, took his hand, and brought it to my mouth. I kissed and nibbled on his knuckles. I let my emotions show on my face—love and sexual desire.
He smiled at me. “Are you sure, Fury?”
I loved that he’d given me a nickname, and choosing Fury had played into my prior squadron’s name, as well as how he saw me as a strong, unbeatable woman who would do whatever it took to protect myself and others. That had been his explanation when I asked.
“I’m positive.”
“Excuse me, why is he calling you Fury? A promise?” Cass asked.
“Fury is my special nickname for her. All old ladies get one in our club. It’s like my road name. When she gets her property cut, which should be soon, it’s ordered, it’ll read Fury where mine reads Mayhem,” my man told him, pointing it out as if Cass wasn’t smart enough to see the name on his cut.
“Astrid, are you alright with this?” Cass asked.
“Okay with what?” I countered.
“Wearing something that proclaims you’re property and having him give you such a nickname. I never saw you letting a man dictate to you.”
Before I could answer, Mayhem did.
“I’ll answer that, but first let me clear something up.
I wasn’t a ground pounder in the Army, though there is nothing wrong with that.
They’re the backbone of the Army and our military.
Your assumption that I was is insulting, but I know you meant it to be.
Probably thought I was too stupid to figure that out.
When I went through basic training, the drill instructors, DIs, quickly saw I had skills they needed badly.
Upon graduating from boot camp, I was sent for advanced training.
To qualify for that, I was advanced to E-3 status upon finishing boot camp.
I became a Special Forces sniper. In case you don’t know, that takes a lot of math and even science knowledge.
“I’m not uneducated either. I took college courses while in the Army and even after I got out and joined my club. Our president knows that having educated brothers only helps the entire club succeed. I run a profitable business.
“As for Astrid’s nickname and being my property.
Her name pays not only respect to her squadron, but also to the woman she is.
She’s strong, a protector, and she’s unbeatable.
What happened to her shows that. It’s a damn compliment.
Lastly, in my world, referring to someone as property doesn’t denote ownership or that the person is subjugated.
It means that she is mine to protect, love, and defend.
Anyone messing with her needs to know who’ll come after their ass if they dare to touch or hurt her.
It’s a warning. Anyone attempting to harm Astrid in any way will not only have me coming after them, but my entire club and those we’re friends with will defend her to the death.
If anything were to happen to me, my club family would look out for her and any children we have.
They’ll have a forever family even without me. ”
My heart was pounding by the time he was done. The things he said, while some he’d told me before, resonated with me and made me even more anxious to have my cut and to shout to the world he was mine and I was his. Cass turned his head to me.
“Astrid, please, tell me this is a joke. He’s someone you paid to do this. You can’t expect me to believe that a woman like you would fall for a man like him. If he’s a real biker, what did he use to force you to be his old lady? Whatever it is, I can protect you.”
I heard the sincerity in Cass’s voice, but his words pissed me off. I leaned slightly over the table toward him.
“Cass, listen very carefully. I won’t repeat myself.
Mayhem is a biker. He did nothing to force me to be with him.
I love him and want to have a life with him.
We’re moving in together. After I get my cut, I’m tattooing his fucking name on my body.
If he asks me to marry him, I’ll say yes.
If he doesn’t, I’ll still remain with him for the rest of my life.
I’m happy. Why must you try to ruin it?” I hissed.
“Because you should be with me, not someone like him!” Cass practically shouted.
His fist came down on the table, rattling the silverware and glasses.
Heads turned, and murmurs grew louder. Usually, Cass would never do anything to attract undue attention or besmirch the uniform he was wearing.
Since he’d come straight from work and undoubtedly to lord his rank over Mayhem, he was in his uniform, which technically was a no-no. This wasn’t an official Navy function.
“I’m with the person I love and who loves me. I thought I made it clear that you and I would only ever be friends,” I fired back.
“If you’d just stay here and give me a chance to court you, I know I can change your mind.
All this nomadic wandering is the cause of this.
You let yourself become lonely and then latch onto some man to appease that loneliness.
Leave him, stay here in VB, and let me show you the life you can have.
It has to be way better than living in some hovel with him.
He’s a biker. You know what that means. He’ll cheat on you, is making money illegally, and you’ll always be in danger. ”
“I’ve heard enough of your bullshit! Astrid is mine. She’s coming back to Bristol with me. You know nothing about me as a man, a biker, or about my club. We don’t make our money illegally, and we sure as fuck don’t cheat on our old ladies,” Mayhem growled, yet he kept his voice down.
“Please, you expect me to believe that you aren’t selling sex at that strip club you manage? Or that you don’t sample the goods?” Cass sneered.
I was done. However, Mayhem called it before I could.
“Astrid, I’m sorry, but I’ve got to leave. If I don’t, I’ll bury my fist in this prick’s face. I know he’s a friend, but you might want to reconsider that. It’s clear that he won’t stop wanting or chasing you.”
“I agree. I’m ready. Let’s go,” I said.
Mayhem stood, pulled back my chair, and I rose. Cass came to his feet, rushing around the table toward us. Mayhem took my arm but placed himself so that he was between Cass and me.
“Astrid, stay. We need to talk. He can leave,” Cass stated.
“Step away. You heard her. We’re done. Hope you enjoy dinner,” Mayhem said coldly.
“Astrid, you can’t mean this,” my former friend muttered darkly.
“Oh, yes, I do. And for your information, the club is full of wonderful people, and none of them would cheat on their spouses. I don’t want you to contact me anymore, Cass. Your feelings blind you, and I don’t want to be repeatedly defending my choice to you.”
Mayhem began heading for the door. We were the center of attention in the entire restaurant.
I held my head high and kept my back straight.
When Cass tried to get around Mayhem, I was maneuvered out of his reach.
He dogged our steps to the door, still yapping.
I tuned him out. Cass would’ve followed us to the parking lot if the manager hadn’t stopped him.
Mayhem and I didn’t waste time getting to his truck.
When we got inside, I told him, “Honey, let’s go to the hotel. We can order something there. Until then, I just want some quiet. Is that okay?” I needed to organize my thoughts and calm down before speaking about what had happened.
“We can absolutely do that, babe.” He squeezed my hand, then he put the truck in gear, and we were off.