Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
RATTLER
“We’ve done our part,” Saint states firmly. “Stone won’t be a problem anymore.” He pauses to give a chilling grin, “Or at least not once we’ve finished with him. Ames won’t need our protection if our plan with the Pakhan works. She’ll be free to go.”
“The fake marriage worked,” Piston states. “It drew Stone out.”
“The marriage wasn’t fake,” I growl.
“Do you hear yourself, Rat?” Freak snorts. “Where’s the ‘I’m never going to be tied down,’ asshole now?”
Words snorts. “Word is the marriage wasn’t consummated, so it’s easy to annul.”
I can’t contradict him, but I wish I’d had the opportunity to fuck her back in the cabin.
We’d been working up to it, when Stone attacked.
I’d only turned her down because I wanted to take things slow.
I’d be her first, for fuck’s sake. To be honest, I was nervous, wanting, needing to make it good for her.
Treating her so differently to anyone else that had come before.
Bullseye clears his throat, and I bring myself back to the present. Apparently, they’re still discussing making my marriage null and void. I narrow my eyes at him, he fucking knows my feelings about her. Why doesn’t he shut this shit down?
“Yeah, Ames can tell the judge you’ve got a pencil dick that doesn’t work,” Stalker observes while sporting a wide grin.
It’s exactly the type of comment that I would have come up with myself in the not-so-distant past, but right now, I can’t summon the energy to snipe back at him.
Instead, I work on persuading them. If they won’t believe that me, Rattler, has fallen for a girl, perhaps I can use something else to convince them.
“Have you forgotten the money? Club stands to gain five million dollars if we hang on a few years.”
“Four,” Tempest corrects, his eyes narrowing.
“Because as I recall, you were to pocket a cool million.” He gives a heavy sigh, and his brow furrows as he tosses out his accusation.
“Is this what your change of heart is all about? You want to stay married to get the money? Because that I can understand.”
My hand, the one not constrained by the sling, slashes down. “I don’t give a fuck about the money.”
Woody kicks out his legs and pushes his chair back a few inches to give himself room. He stares at me for a moment as if I’m a puzzle to be solved. “If it’s not the money, are you saying, you give a fuck about her?” He snorts a laugh as if he can’t believe what he’s saying.
“Oh, come on, Mr. I’m not ever getting caught in the ol’ lady trap. You want us to think this is anything other than the green?” Paint rubs his forefinger and thumb together.
“If she’s sensible, she’ll ditch your ass. Soon as she knows any danger to her is all over.”
If I could walk unaided, I’d get up and punch Winchester in the mouth right about now.
“It isn’t over,” Saint observes. “Not until we know the Russian won’t be a problem.”
Piston waggles his fingers. “Her brother’s no longer a threat. He’ll be dead as soon as we arrange it. As long as we keep her out of the Russian’s hands, in six years we’ll all be rolling in it.”
My fist hits the table. I don’t want any fucking money. I want her.
Bullseye clears his throat before I can say anything. A clear signal he’s going to speak.
“If the club wants to claim its payday, we’ll have to assess the risk.
We’ll need to keep an eye on her and continue to provide protection.
” His mouth twists. “From what Stone spouted under duress, the Russian was pretty keen on taking her for himself. He’s a brigadier, fuck knows how many Boyeviki he’s got.
If he’s determined to have her, that might mean facing the Russians.
” He pauses to rub his brow. “I’m going to speak to the Pakhan, and see how the land lies.
Once the insurance claims are settled, we’ll be able to pay off Stone’s debt if we have to.
As for Rodion Volkov, maybe he’ll dispose of him himself.
Stone gave us enough info that I think would convince him he’s got a dirty player in his ranks.
” Again, he breaks off, this time to sigh.
“But if he sides with Volkov and agrees he’s got a claim due to promises Stone made, then we’ve got to be prepared to throw hands.
” He purses his lips. “Ames is still worth ten million.”
Ames is fucking mine. I open my mouth to tell them so, but don’t get a chance.
“In which case we can trade the woman to him,” Woody puts in.
I try to stand, but my legs betray me, and I sink back into my chair. All I can use are my words. “Over my dead fuckin’ body.”
Murmurings start, I’m sure someone’s said words to the effect of, that could be arranged.
Bullseye bangs the gavel loudly. His steely glare encompasses everyone. “Can I remind you only yesterday there was an empty chair where Rat is sitting now? Don’t even fuckin’ joke about losing a brother.” He slams both his hands down.
Silence descends, and brothers look contrite.
“Sorry, Rat. I was joking,” Winchester offers.
Piston shrugs. “Said nothing other than what you would have said, Bro.”
And he ain’t wrong. It’s just not the same when it’s directed to me. And far too close to the bone, seeing as only hours ago, I’d thought I was facing my last moments sitting with a fucking bomb on my lap.
Stalker sits forward. “We went into this based on there being a payday for the club. And we’ve already racked up costs protecting her, like having to replace the gates for a start.
” He shakes his head. “They weren’t cheap.
” I glare at him, but he’s only looking out for the club as our treasurer.
He looks at me, then his eyes become more alert as he switches his attention to our tech guy.
“Ames might come into some money now. Genie, can you see if Stone left a will?”
“Already looked into him,” Genie purses his lips. “He ain’t got anything to leave. He went through his inheritance like a knife through butter. He’s got a posh pad, but it’s mortgaged to the hilt, and he’s behind on payments.”
Saint raises his hand. “So, she gets nothing. I suggest we come to an arrangement with her. When she comes into her inheritance, she pays the club. But let her off the hook with regard to staying married to Rat.”
“I fuckin’ want her to stay married to me,” I shout.
They ignore me.
“What about ongoing protection?” Tempest asks.
I go to speak, Bullseye shoots me a glare. “Let’s hold off on that discussion until I’ve spoken to the Pakhan.”
This time he can’t shut me up. “I’m her husband. I’ll provide protection. With or without the club.”
Saint just raises a brow. Okay, so I haven’t done a great job of it up to now.
Doesn’t mean I won’t be able to in the future.
Then I rerun my own words back through in my head.
Am I really proposing to leave the club?
I stare down at my hands, eyeing the gap where a finger used to be.
Could I put loyalty to her above my brothers?
The only answer I can come up with is I hope it doesn’t come to that.
I realise Words is trying to get my attention. When I look at him, he asks, “Does she want to stay married to you?”
I go to open my mouth, but Bullseye gets in first, “It would appear that she does.” He sighs. “Rat, she’s young, she’s got her whole life ahead of her. If the Pakhan agrees, she’s free to do whatever she wants. She should make that choice.”
“I…”
He cuts me off and repeats, “She gets a choice, Rat. And maybe even you should take a step back.” His hand raises to stop my anticipated protest. “You’ve got to admit you were forced into close proximity with her, with no one to depend on except each other—and that’s down to me, I admit it.
Then, came a shitload of all fucked up. Emotions run high in situations like that.
” He brushes his hands back through his hair.
“Maybe you both need time to decide whether a committed relationship is really what you both want. And,” his eyes sharpen like knives as they focus on me, “if you’re still of the same mind, but she chooses annulment, divorcing your ass or whatever it takes, you fuckin’ let her.
” I sit with my mouth open like a landed fish.
“No need to get a judge involved. I can just wipe the county clerk’s records, the marriage will never have existed,” Genie offers.
“Just get her ring back. Club bought that.” Of course, that’s from Stalker.
I’m getting angrier by the minute. Forgetting my injuries, I, again, attempt to stand, then my legs give way beneath me, and I collapse headfirst onto the table.
“Easy, Bro,” Short pulls me up and gets the chair re-situated under me.
My grand gesture gone nowhere, all I can do is cry out, “I don’t want to let her go. Why is no one listening to me?” I get twelve pairs of eyes staring at me.
Tempest shrugs and lets out a sigh. “Because you’re an asshole. And you’ve mocked those with ol’ ladies repeatedly. How can we believe the change of heart?”
Surprisingly, it’s Freak who extends an olive branch.
“What if we give you a chance, Rat? See where her head’s at now Stone’s no longer a problem, and once, if we can, we’ve got the Russian off her back.
If she wants to stay with you, then bring it back to the table.
We’ll vote then on making her your ol’ lady. ”
I’d rather we take the vote now, as I know what her answer will be. She wants our marriage to be real. As do I. I’m certain no amount of time or soul-searching is going to change that. She’s the first person to really care for me. She sees me. I know in my gut this is real.
“You’ll speak to the Pakhan soon?” I almost plead when I address the prez.