3. Chapter Three
Chapter Three
A riel had snuck out of Pit’s house before dawn. He’d gotten up with her, kissed her goodbye, and watched her until she disappeared into the compound. As she’d left, he’d growled that she needed to show him the vulnerability in their system so he could fix it.
She wondered how he’d feel when he realized it was a backdoor to their security system that they’d bought from her company. When Ariel had started working for the bail bonds, she and Remi had spent a large amount of time together. When Ariel had mentioned some of the weaknesses in the security at the bail bonds compound, Remi had challenged her to write or make a better one. Ariel had accepted the challenge. When she’d come back with the ideas and prototypes later, Remi had fronted her the money to incorporate and have her own company. Ariel had paid Remi back over the last ten years until Ariel now owned all of her company.
Even if Ariel never worked again, she could survive on her salary from her company. Ariel texted her mom, dad, and brothers to meet her at seven a.m. at IHOP at Legends Outlets Mall. When Ariel had started seeing Pit three months ago, she’d moved her base of operations to the Homewood Suites by the Kansas City Speedway. There was a small kitchen in the room and plenty of places to eat out. Most of the time, she moved around because she enjoyed it. Between the safe houses the non-profit connected to the bail bonds had and vacation rentals, she chose whatever would work for her job. She had a company SUV and then also had bought a new-to-her Harley Davidson sport bike to get around town. Her Iron 883 was perfect for her size.
She parked her bike and then headed into the hotel. She was on the fourth floor because she would rather be higher up and not have young kids jumping on her ceiling. She opened her door and tossed her keys on the table, kicking the extra plate out to keep the maids out of her room. Her place was on a special cleaning schedule but a couple times she’d been surprised when someone new started.
She dropped her clothing and flicked on the shower. Catching sight of Gavin’s love bite on her brought a smile to her face. Her thighs were a little sore from when she’d woken him with a blowjob during the night. He’d given her a couple minutes of control, then flipped her onto her back, slid her legs up until her feet were by his face, and proceeded to pound her until she screamed his name again. Her thighs weren’t quite used to being that close to her own face, but when he’d leaned down to kiss her, she’d just lived with the burn of unused muscles.
She shampooed her hair and washed her body, thinking through how best to deal with her dad and brothers. She wanted to set it up so they didn’t hold anything against Gavin. She finished showering and wrapped her hair in a towel, then dried off. She’d get ready and then make sure she was at the restaurant first. Establishing territory was the first step to controlling the narrative.
Ariel read a couple more pages of her book, and then her timer went off. She glanced at her watch: six-fifty-five a.m. She looked to the parking lot and saw her family minus Brew, who was still in Texas, walking in.
War glanced around the room and started to head toward a back booth on the other side of the restaurant. Her mom saw her and motioned for War to where she was sitting. Oh, Mr. MC President was not going to like that she picked the booth where she could see the parking lot and the entrance. Only one of them would be able to see even close to her line of sight.
“Morning. Hey, why don’t you scoot over so we can all fit?” War said.
She wasn’t falling for his maneuvering of her. As she started to give him a piece of her mind, Remi, Sarah, and Beth walked in the door and headed for their table.
“Nope, I’m good where I’m at. I’m sure everyone can find a seat,” Ariel relayed and waited to see what War would do.
He grunted and took the next best seat. Once everyone was seated, Ariel motioned the waiter over.
“I’d like more coffee all around, and I’ll take French toast and bacon.”
Everyone else ordered. Immediately after the waiter left, War turned toward her.
“Spill it.”
Ariel just stared at her older brother. She loved all her brothers, but she wasn’t in high school anymore. They were all adults, and they needed to understand she wasn’t going to be treated as a child. War’s face blushed when she didn’t immediately answer.
“Hey, it’s good to see you. I think what War meant to say is how have you been doing, and we’re sorry we put trackers on your vehicle.”
She giggled. Leave it to Roam to try to be the peacemaker. She’d cut War some slack, but he’d need to see her as an adult.
“I’ve been doing great. I would have been happy to answer any questions about my job. I guess I don’t remember anyone but Mom asking. But since you’re asking now, I’ve met someone, and I can’t wait for you to meet him.”
Her dad sat forward in his seat. “We’d love to meet who you’re dating. When?”
Her dad’s and War’s phones beeped with a text message. Pit was right on time.
“When do you want? It looks like Pit is having a barbecue for the whole MC, us, and anyone we want to invite tonight. I can tell Pit no if you were planning on tonight.”
Ariel acted like she was pondering it. “You know, let’s meet at the barbecue.”
“Perfect.” War’s satisfaction in his tone was almost more than she could stomach. Sometimes older brothers were seriously annoying. She couldn’t wait to see his face when he realized who her man was.
Ariel enjoyed the meal after the issue of her significant other was out of the way. Her brothers and dad asked more in-depth questions about what she did for the bail bonds. She loved talking about her job, especially when the guys were listening. Then she decided why not get it all out in the open and told them about her company. When she was at the part about Remi going in with her, War turned his head toward her like she’d betrayed him. Ariel had actually giggled when Remi had reminded him they hadn’t been together yet.
The only thing that would have made her day better was if Brew could have been there for breakfast. After they finished, she asked the women if they’d like to go shopping with her later. If she was getting married tomorrow, she wanted at least a cute dress. They made plans to get together later, and then she headed out to her car.
She paused and then decided she’d swear Brew to secrecy.
Ariel: Do you promise to keep a secret?
She waited for Brew to reply. Bluff Creek was three hours from the Saint’s Outlaws MC. Brew was at their Cider Creek Chapter, and it was another five hours farther away than Bluff Creek. If she wanted him here tomorrow for the wedding, she’d need to tell him today.
Brew: Haven’t I always unless it endangered you?
Ariel: Okay, I need you at the Saint’s Outlaws MC clubhouse in Kansas City tomorrow, no later than one-thirty. Also, how about you bring at least two coolers full of Bluff Creek Brews? The ceremony will be casual, so just nice clean jeans.
Brew: Ceremony?
Ariel: I’ve been dating Pit and have fallen in love with him. We’re getting married tomorrow.
Brew: Pit, the President of SOMC?
Ariel: Is there another Pit?
Brew: Don’t be a smartass. Who knows?
Ariel: Only Pit and I know we’re getting married tomorrow until Mom, Dad, War, and Roam find out tonight at the party. Long story, they showed up because the tagging they put on my vehicle went wonky.
Brew: How mad were you?
Ariel: I sent each of the four trackers in different directions.
Her phone rang and she picked up.
“Hello.”
“Hey, does he treat you right?” Brew’s deep voice asked.
“Yeah, he does. He’s everything I’ve always dreamed of. Can you make it?”
“Nothing could stop me. What time’s the party and the big reveal? If I hurry, I can be there for that.”
Brew had been the brother she’d grown up with. Roam and War had already been serving when she was in high school, but she and Brew had been there for each other. She was so glad he could make it because she couldn’t imagine getting married without him there.
“Seven p.m. Thanks for coming.”
“You know I wouldn’t miss it. Love you.”
Ariel stared at the phone and then pulled out of the parking lot. She had a little bit to get done before tonight.