Aubrielle Chapter 6
Things still felt surreal to me. It had been going on six days since Shadow had come rolling into my place, grinning with the news that the Punishers had voted me in as his old lady and that they were starting an investigation into my family.
I’d been thrilled about the old lady part.
I cried as we kissed. When I could speak, I asked him what investigating meant.
Shadow explained in more detail what the club would do, starting with Spawn’s research.
And then, depending upon what was discovered, they would take steps to rectify it.
I asked what that meant. He became grim as he told me that it would either mean my family’s businesses would be dismantled and they would be sent to prison, or removed as a threat forever.
I heard what he didn’t bluntly say. The club would kill my family.
I thought about that on and off over the next couple of days.
At the end of it, I came to a conclusion.
I wouldn’t cry if they were gone. Dad, Rome, Jace, and Jock had brought this on themselves.
They had no redeeming qualities in my mind.
However, I knew if they spent time behind bars, they’d come out to do it again.
They would seek revenge. Whitney and the others, who were caught in it, who were victims like me, were another story.
When I raised that concern to Shadow, he assured me that hurting them wasn’t the goal, though they would have to figure out how to survive and, in some cases, find legitimate work to fill the gap. I was relieved to hear that.
The week passed normally as far as work and school went.
It was the time outside of them that I loved when it was spent with Shadow.
Knowing about my family made it even more imperative, he said, that I be guarded.
The club agreed. Our relationship was growing.
We talked for hours and learned so much about each other.
We shared our dreams, and, yes, we had passionate moments.
We kept it to kissing and mild making out, but I knew he wanted more, and so did I.
That was why I planned to tell him that this weekend, but first, I had to get through the party tonight at the clubhouse.
It was Saturday, and Mayhem had covered my usual work night, so I was free.
It was a surprise considering it was the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
I thought everyone would be at parties and cookouts, but Mayhem came through.
The same was true for getting coverage for him, Sandman, Riot, and Hatchet, so we could celebrate with the rest of the club.
I told Shadow I was nervous about the night. That conversation rose to mind.
“I’m nervous,” I said softly.
Shadow and I were seated in my tiny living room. We had been watching a movie that had just ended. He twisted his body to see me better.
“What are you worried about? This thing with your family?”
“Well, yes, that’s always there, but I mean, I’m worried about the party at the clubhouse this weekend.”
“Why? You know all of them. They’re already friends,” he replied.
“I do know them, and I feel I’ve made friends, but that’s as a friend, not as an actual member of the group, not as someone’s old lady.
You said all the guys voted and agreed to it.
What if someone felt pressured to agree?
Or they’ve thought about it, and they regret it?
What if they think I’m like my family and not worthy of you or your club?
Or the old ladies don’t think I’m right to be with you? They didn’t get a vote.”
The astonishment on his face morphed into incredulity.
“Ellie, you need to get rid of those negative thoughts. Everyone there adores you. You should’ve seen the reaction.
No one is regretting their vote. If they did, believe me, I would’ve heard about it.
They won’t hold your family’s sins against you.
Some of them have the same situation, and the club doesn’t do it to them.
You’ll see. There’s nothing to be worked up about.
We’ll go have fun, and then we’ll spend the night at my house. ”
I loved it when he called me Ellie or Dazzler, his nicknames for me.
No one had ever called me Ellie. I was always Elle or Aubrielle.
The reminder of spending the night at his house, the one I hadn’t seen inside yet, rekindled my excitement.
And his words about how I was adored helped to settle my nerves for the most part.
I’d have to experience it to settle fully.
We’d gone on to watch another movie, with make-out time sprinkled in.
I hated it when he’d leave at night. The hours seemed to drag by.
I counted them until he returned the following morning.
Even if all I did was sit and study, it was nice to have him in the same space as me.
He’d work on his laptop, doing Punishers’ Lager business such as reviewing invoices or vendor contracts, play on his phone, or watch television with his earbuds in.
Sometimes, if I were studying, he’d quiz me, which I found super helpful. I’d never had anyone to do that with.
But studying, my family, or dancing weren’t on my mind at the moment.
The fact that we were pulling up to the gate of the Punishers’ compound was.
My stomach flipped. Maybe part of the reason was that I was on the back of his bike.
Excitement made my stomach feel the same way.
Earlier in the week, Shadow took me for my first ride on his bike.
I was hooked, and every day since, he’d taken me to work and back on it.
The only time we had taken my car was the day I had to pick up a large grocery order.
With him at the house, I cooked more and needed more stuff.
Of course, he insisted on paying for it.
He said it was his fault I needed them. The stubborn man refused to split the cost with me.
When I argued that I had money, he shrugged and told me that what was his was mine.
I’d left it alone for the moment, but I knew it would come up again.
The gate swung open. We glided inside and up to the clubhouse, taking up a spot out front. He expertly backed his bike into the space. When the bike went silent, Shadow offered me his hand to help me get off, and then he did. After taking off my helmet and eyeglasses, I fluffed my hair.
“Does my hair look okay? I want to make sure I don’t have helmet hair,” I asked. I was trying to see it all in his little side mirror.
“Dazzler, you look beautiful. You could be dressed in a gunny sack with dirt on your face, and it would still be true. I do have to say again, fuck, I love your ass in those jeans. And that top, it’s showing off my favorite resting spots,” Shadow growled as he leered.
I laughed and pushed him away as he came at me. I wasn’t strong enough, so he clasped me against his chest. He was kissing my neck and making sexy sounds. My body turned on immediately.
“Will you take your hands and lips off that poor woman and let her come inside? You have her all the time. It’s our turn,” Ratchet called out.
I turned to find him standing by the clubhouse door. He grinned. I waved, causing him to chuckle and wave back.
“Get lost,” Shadow told him.
“Elle, you want me to rescue you?” Ratchet asked.
“Try it, and I’ll forget we’re brothers and break your arm,” Shadow threatened.
“Behave and don’t be so mean. Come on. You’ve been talking about this all week. Take me inside so I can see there’s nothing to worry about,” I told my old man. Wow, that would take time to get used to saying or thinking.
“You’ve been worried?” Ratchet asked.
“Okay, let’s go.” Shadow reluctantly eased back.
As we joined Ratchet, Shadow told him why I’d been anxious.
Ratchet was reassuring me that I had nothing to be anxious about as we entered the clubhouse.
It was filled with bodies. Voices were loud and joyful.
Kids were darting in and out of bodies. No one cared or got upset with them.
They appeared to be what I’d found them to be over the last two years—a loud, slightly chaotic family.
So many people were talking over one another, calling out "hello," welcoming us, and asking us to join them. Before we decided where to go first, my legs were gripped. I glanced down at the smiling, happy faces of Ink and Alisse’s oldest daughter, Arya, and Reaper and Cheyenne’s daughter and firstborn, Lily. The girls would turn six this year.
“Elle, come see our new dolls,” Lily pleaded excitedly.
Arya nodded enthusiastically. I’d played with them on prior visits. I bent down to them.
“I’ve got to say hi to everyone, but why don’t you bring the dolls over to where we’re standing? I’d love to see them.”
“Okay,” Arya replied.
“Why is Uncle Shadow holding your hand? Are you his girlfriend?” Lily asked. Her sharp eyes took in our close bodies and hands.
“She’s more than that. You know how your daddy and mommy are together?” Shadow waited until both girls nodded before he continued. “Well, Elle is the same with me. She’s my old lady, my wife.”
Both heard and clearly understood the term “old lady.” As they squealed and danced in place, everyone erupted in chuckles. I got an extra-hard squeeze on my legs, then they broke. They did the same to Shadow before running off to fetch their dolls. By then, we had their parents join us.
“I swear, they’re something,” Reaper said, grinning.
“We’re in trouble,” Ink muttered.
“Oh, without a doubt. Wait until they become teenagers and start to date,” Shadow said, smirking.
Both men groaned, then Reaper glared at my man. “Hey, don’t feel all superior. First, you’ll be there along with the others to help us repel the horny boys. Secondly, I assume the two of you have talked about kids? Do you want any?”
“Actually, yes, we have talked, and we do,” Shadow answered.