Chapter 18
Terror and Bullet moved as fast as we did, and they have my back. The arm still aches but I need that motherfucker in front of me. Giving a nod to Terror and Bullet the three clubs move in unison. I move ahead and shoot at whoever tries to stop us to get to Ash.
Kicking the door I freeze seeing Ron holding Ash closer. “Your dogs can wait outside.”
“You’re a dead man,” I rasp at him.
He smirks at me while he licks her face. Ash elbows him, making him even bolder. He turns her to face him and moves closer, but Ash spits him trying to back off.
“She’s more savage than Caroline.”
Hearing her name, my fury takes over and I move toward them.
Ron points a gun at her and I go wild. “Take me, motherfucker! it’s with me you have a problem. I’m here!” I throw my Glock on the floor. Be a man and deal with me!”
He points the gun at me and I feel relieved.
Ash”s cry is like a punch in my throat. “Leave him, you bastard!” She tries to reach the gun, but he fists her hair and yanks her back.
“Would you do anything to spare him?”
Her eyes are on me while her tears stream down. “Anything. Just leave him.” Her plea hurts me, but I can’t leave her with him no matter the consequences.
“Seems the bitch has more gut than Caroline.”
“Don’t you dare…” A shot makes my heart stop, but Ashley’s scared scream makes me blink.
“To do what, huh? Talk about my woman?”
He’s lying. Caroline would have never betrayed me. No, she wouldn’t do that to me.
“What are you talking about?” I try to carry on his bullshit while taking a step ahead.
“You didn’t figure it out?” he heartily laughs. “She wasn’t running from us but coming back to us.”
“Lies!” It can’t be. I couldn’t be that blind.
His chuckle echoes while he focuses on Ash as I do, and the pain I see in her eyes slays me. “He’s using you to erase his guilt for having killed a man who told him the truth.”
“W-what truth?” she stutters.
“Caroline was pregnant and was about to come back home, to her real family.”
I throw myself on him. “That’s a fucking lie.” My fist meets his jaw. “I’d know if my woman were pregnant.” And she wasn’t. He’s playing tricks on me.
He chuckles and the pain irradiating from my side it’s so intense I can’t even breathe while he pushes me away. I collapse on the ground gasping for air I can’t take in. “She was carrying my baby.” The kick on my side makes me feel my lungs burning. His baby?
“Rock!” My vision blurs while he catches Ash before reaching me.
I blink once and everything seems to fade away. He’s looking at me with a shitty victorious smile while Ashley kicks and yells with all the breath she has. Peering at my hand I see it covered in blood.
“Babe, look at me!” Her voice sounds so far. “Zane please!”
My vision blurs again and I shake my head.
“I’m sorry, Rock. I need a ‘me’ moment. It’s becoming overwhelming.”
“What is overwhelming?”
“Our relationship, this whole fighting clubs thing.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You want to break up?”
“Rock, I can’t handle all this anymore. I need a moment.”
Isn’t it what they call before breaking up? I punch the wall and close myself in the office trying to keep up with The Vipers who are always a fucking step ahead of us.
What have you done, Caroline?
“Leave me, motherfucker!” Ashley’s cry snaps me back and seeing her struggle to break free gives me all the strength I need to get back on my feet. I won’t lose her too. She needs to live. Ash bites and scratches him and Rod shoves her on me. It’s all Blue needed, and the broken glass makes her scream while the shot blows his head. I drop on my knees, shielding her but the room is spinning, blurring again. “I’m sorry, Princess.”
“Rock.” Her cold hands are caressing my face. Slapping me. “For fuck’s sake Zane, you can’t leave me.” Her tears land on my face. “Help! Call an ambulance!”
“Shhh,” I try to move my arm but can’t even control it. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Please, please, please, stay with me.” I feel her press on my side and the pain irradiating cuts my breath. All I can do is look at the angel who gave a sense to my life. “I swear God, Zane, if you dare to leave me, you bastard, I’ll come get you, do you hear me?”
The doors open and I jump on my feet, reaching the doctor with a few steps. “How’s he?”
It’s a torture they don’t let us in.
“The surgery went well, no lethal damages but he needs to rest and take it easy since there’s also a cracked rib.” His words make me breathe again. Flashes of the bastard stabbing him pop in front of my eyes, making my stomach knots. “He keeps asking about you.”
“What? Is he already awake?” I feel lost, he got in a few hours ago, the longest of my life; how can it be possible?
He looks confused. “The surgery took us ten minutes, haven’t you seen the nurse? He’s in the room.”
“The nurse?” I move backward and sprint toward the doors. If there is one of The Vipers in here he may be in danger.
“Ashley!” Blue’s voice booms but nothing else matters. My heart races, making my body tingling. I swear God is someone tries to hurt him again I may lose my mind and fuck the consequences.
Mac’s faster and blocks me from behind lifting me up. “Easy tiger!”
“Put me down!” I yell at him.
“No, you should calm the fuck down because if something…”
“Easy, Princess.” Rock appears in the doorway holding his side, his voice is barely a whisper while his eyes are on me.
Mac releases me and I punch him, but he doesn’t flinch.
Moving toward Rock relief washes over me. He’s alive. He’s okay.
“You hurt?” Rock’s jaw clenches looking at my wrists. “Is that yours?”
I follow his gaze and shake my head. “I’m… I’m good, Rock.”
“You’ve blood on you, Princess.”
The adrenaline and fears start to subside and I feel like the stupidest person on earth. “I… I tried to put pressure on your wound but I had my arms…” I burst into tears all the bravery fades away, same as the strength in my legs. What was I thinking? Stupid me.
Mac lifts me up and takes me into Rock’s room, helping me to sit. Blue brings me some water but the only thing I can do is silently thank God for having kept him alive.
Rock lifts my chin and shreds my tears away. “I love you, Princess.”
“I was so scared to lose you.” Scared is nothing. I’d have done everything to keep him alive.
“She gave a piece of mind to all of us, Prez.” I turn around to find them both in the doorway.
He slightly smiles. “How so?”
I get on my feet, rage fueling me. “They wanted to take me back to the clubhouse, but they didn’t get that my place is where you are! I may not know how to properly shoot but I swear God, I’ll use them as a target if they try again to keep me away from you!”
“She’s good at throwing things at us.” Blue chuckles.
“Princess,” he caresses my cheek, “your safety is what matters, and they were following my orders.”
I don’t even realize when my palm meets his face. I heard the gasps behind me, but I don’t care. “Don’t you fucking dare to do it again, Zane!”
“We…”
“Yeah, see ya Prez.” The door closes behind me. Our breaths are synchronized, our eyes locked to each other. He closes the distance between us, grabs my face and his mouth crashes on mine consuming me in a passionate kiss. My heart races in my chest and I know I stepped out of my place but he needs to understand he’s my everything. I can’t live without him.
“There’s rules to be followed in my world.” He mutters, “Not moving alone is one of it and keeps you safe!”
“Zane…” I sigh. I know it’s my fault. All of this. I put his life in danger. The entire club’s.
“No Ash, the entire club watches our back for a reason.”
“Because of your orders.”
“No, because you’re part of us, too. You’re mine, Princess, and they adore you as much I love you. We never seriously talked about what it means to be a Black Panther or with me, and I blame myself for it.” He tries to pick me up but freezes in pain, cursing under his breath.
“You should rest, your ribs and wound need time to heal.” Wrapping an arm around him I try to lead him back to the bed. “We’ll talk about everything later.”
“No,” he pats the bed, “I pushed this conversation for far too much.”
Pulling the chair closer I take a seat and grab his hand placing it on my cheek. “Okay, let’s talk then. Why are you blaming yourself?”
“For everything, Ash.” He closes his eyes while leaning back. “I should be the one to keep you safe.”
“I have an entire club watching my back.”
“They touched you.” His eyes linger on some bruises on my face, arms, wrists.
I shrug. “Dad always said I’m a hothead.”
He chuckles. “I saw it, baby, but I pushed our conversation because for once, I was afraid of scaring and losing you for good.”
“You’re the best thing that happened in my life, Rock.” I get on my feet. “I’m not good at showing my feelings, never been,” I take the blouse off. “but I love you.” His eyes linger on my front, then on my arm.
“Who…” he gasps, peering at the aftercare tattoo bandage which has been replaced a few minutes earlier. “Mac.”
“I couldn’t ask anyone else.” I smile, feeling so nervous.
“My Princess.” The sparkle in his eyes goes right to my nerves.
“I told you, I’m not going anywhere, Rock.” I kiss his forehead and he pulls me in a passionate kiss.
I sit across from Rock, my eyes fixed on him as he begins to unravel the story of the Black Panthers. His voice resonates with authority and confidence, yet there”s a warmth and pride that seeps through his words.
“Back in ”32, there was a group of friends who came together with a purpose,” Rock starts, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “They had seen our community suffer and were tired of it. They wanted to protect our own, to make a change.”
As Rock speaks, I can”t help but be captivated by the determination in his voice, the passion that radiates from him. There”s a sense of belonging that washes over me, as if I”ve stumbled upon something truly meaningful.
“They formed The Black Panthers MC, a brotherhood unlike any other,” Rock continues, his eyes filled with a mix of pride and emotion. “The hierarchy within the club is simple, yet it speaks volumes about who we are. Today, I’m honored to stand as the president, lead and protect our family.”
A surge of admiration courses through me as I listen to Rock, marveling at his commitment to his role as the club”s leader. I can”t help but wonder about the weight he carries on his shoulders, the responsibility he bears for each member.
“Brick, my loyal right-hand man, serves as the deputy,” Rock explains, his voice infused with respect. “He”s always there, ready to step in when needed. And then we have Mac, the second in command, a man of loyalty and strength. Blue, our captain, keeps our brothers in line, ensuring that our rules are upheld.”
As Rock describes the roles of the club”s members, I can”t help but feel a sense of camaraderie and unity. The Black Panthers is more than just a motorcycle club; it”s a family, bound together by unbreakable bonds of trust and loyalty.
“We ride together, we fight together, and we protect each other at all costs. Our bond is forged through blood, sweat, and tears.” Rock declares, his voice brimming with conviction.
In this moment, as I lock eyes with Rock, I understand that I’ve found a family, a brotherhood that will always have my back. And I can’t wait to contribute to their cause and make a lasting difference in our community.
A knock on the door startles me. I turn my head to see Mac entering, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He’s holding a box in his hands, and a knowing smile plays on his lips.
“Hey, Princess, sorry to interrupt,” his voice is filled with excitement, “I’ve got something for you.” He walks over to Rock, handing him the box, and winks at him before stepping back.
Rock sits up holding his side, his gaze locked on me. There’s a mixture of nervousness and anticipation in his expression. “You sure you want to be a part of my life? To be a part of this club and this family?”
A surge of joy fills my heart, and I can’t help but smile. “Like I have any choice.” I burst into laughter. “I want to be a part of it all, Rock.”
With that, he opens the box and pulls out a vest, adorned with the club’s emblem—a fierce panther—on the back. The vest is adorned with property patches, signifying my belonging to him. I find it so freaking amazing.
As he hands me the vest, a wave of emotions washes over me. I slip it on, feeling the weight of its significance. It represents more than just a piece of clothing; it signifies my acceptance into this family, this brotherhood.
Standing by the door, I notice Mac, Blue, Brick, Denise, and even dad, all wearing proud smiles. They’ve been waiting for this moment, supporting Rock and me every step of the way.
Once I’m fully adorned in the jacket, the guys, in unison, let out a powerful roar that echoes through the room, and I feel a sense of belonging like never before.