Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ace
We’ve been back at the Clubhouse for a couple of weeks since the whole, Jalinda and Aerik trying to kill Liz and me, fiasco. Liz hasn’t left my side and I wouldn’t want it any other way. We are dealing with what happened together. She quit her job at the nightclub before we left and Kayne has agreed to hire her at Savage Saints Bar when she’s ready to go back to work.
I’m healing nicely from the stab wound. I don’t know how and Liz is tight-lipped, but I’m thankful for it. I even asked Stone and Tex what happened and all they would say was that it was a miracle and they’re still trying to process it.
Liz heard from her dad, fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, her mom is alive. He said she’s different than how she was when I first met her, but only time will tell. I’m hoping for Liz’s sake her mom isn’t an evil psycho anymore.
Kayne wanted a sit-rep the moment we got back on what went down in Louisiana. I could only tell him what I remembered and that was up until I was stabbed. Stone and Tex filled him in on what they knew, but since they weren’t in the building when everything went down, they could only tell Kayne they heard Liz screaming for help. They also said her dad saved me from death but couldn’t explain how. I don’t think Liz could explain it either or she wouldn’t explain it. Either way, I’m good with not knowing.
“Hey, are you listening or did I fry your brain?” Liz asks, tapping me on the chest. We’re lying in bed, naked and she’s sprawled out on top of me.
“Huh? What’d you say?” I ask, teasing her. Even though I have no clue what she said because I was lost in my head.
“I asked if you’ve heard from Rooster about the two things.” Liz folds her hands and rests her chin on them, looking up at me with those sensual blue eyes.
I blink once, then twice, trying to figure out what she’s talking about when it dawns on me. “Not yet. He’s still looking.” I wrap my arms around Liz’s back and hold her against me.
“Does he have any idea how long it’ll take?” Liz bites her lip when she asks, looking down instead of at me.
“Is there a reason why you’re in a hurry for Rooster to find them?” I counter.
Liz shakes her head no, but I know she’s lying. “Elizabeth Rose, you better tell me the truth,” I demand.
Liz’s eyes snap up to mine and there is fire in them. Good girl. Get pissed off enough to tell me the truth. “Fine. I want to fight.” Liz huffs.
“Was that so hard?”
“No,” she pouts.
“Then don’t tell me what you think I want to hear. Just tell me the truth. If you want to fight, I’ll set up a fight for you. There is nothing wrong with it, Liz.” I lift her chin so she can’t dip her chin again. “Do you hear me? There is nothing wrong with you wanting to get into the ring and fight. Besides, I find it quite sexy.” I wink.
Liz leans in and kisses me but before we can go further, my cell phone rings. “Fuck,” I growl. Liz moves off me and I climb out of bed. Finding my phone in my jeans I discarded last night, I pull it out at the same time it stops ringing. It immediately rings again and Rooster’s name flashes across the screen.
“Yeah,” I say, answering the phone.
“Bout damn time.” Rooster chuckles. “I was going to visit you but didn’t want to see you in your birthday suit. Get dressed and get down here. I’ve found something.” Rooster hangs up the phone before I can respond.
“I’ve got to see what Rooster found. Are you staying here or heading downstairs?” I ask, leaning over Liz and kissing her.
She smacks her lips together, drawing her eyebrows down in a frown. “I’ll head downstairs with you. I’m getting hungry.” Liz’s eyes drift down to my erection and she raises an eyebrow.
“Not for me, woman. I have to see Rooster.” I laugh and back away.
“That ass is such a cock-blocker. I’m going to give him hell when I see him.” Liz slides off the bed, heading to the bathroom. Before she can shut the door she mumbles, “Maybe I’ll make a voodoo doll of Rooster and when he’s getting ready to get head from Alyssa, I’ll poke him in the dick. Then I’ll be the cock-blocker.” She shuts the door and I can’t help barking out a laugh.
Rooster would lose his shit if Liz even pretended to make a Voodoo doll of him. I slide my boxers and jeans on and grab a fresh t-shirt from the closet, a clean pair of socks and my boots. I’m dressed by the time Liz comes out of the bathroom, still naked. She pouts when she sees I’m fully dressed.
“Come on, woman. Get dressed and if you’re good, I’ll reward you later.” I tell her, smacking Liz’s ass when she walks by.
“How good do I have to be? Is there a level I can’t go beyond?” She asks sliding a pair of silk underwear on. She slides a Savage Saints tank top over her head with no bra. I know what she’s trying to do and I have to nip it in the ass before she goes too far.
“Sweet Cheeks,” I stride to Liz in three quick steps.
“Yes?” Liz asks, batting her eyes.
I nuzzle my lips against the side of her neck, making Liz putty in my hands. I nip the sensitive part of her flesh before speaking. “Put a fucking bra on or I’ll have to murder someone. And I’m not feeling murderous today.”
Liz inhales a sharp breath and gives me a saucy grin. “Ok, but I’m still making a Voodoo doll of Rooster. I just won’t tell him I’m not going to use it against him, yet.”
“Deal. I’ll even help you fuck with him. I’m sure Poison will be down with it too. She’s always looking for ways to fuck with one of us.” I peck Liz on the lips one last time. I swat her ass, “Now get dressed.”
Liz slips on a bra under her tank top and gives me a wink. God, I love this woman.
Holy shit.
I love this woman.
“Earth to Ace.” Liz snaps her fingers in front of my face. “Are you with me or did I lose you again?”
I shake my head, trying to clear the thoughts running through my mind. “I’m here.” I rake my gaze up Liz’s sexy feet covered with black riding boots, to her long lean legs, past her stomach then my favorite thing on her body, her chest, up to her face. She’s dressed in a pair of grey leggings with Savage Saints scrawled up one side in black, a black Savage Saints tank top with Property of Ace and her red hair is pulled up in a bandanna.
“You look fantastic in my colors.” I swallow hard, curbing my growing erection. She is one fine piece of ass and I’m lucky she’s all mine.
Liz wraps her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”
Before she can distract me again, I kiss her quickly before removing her arms and pulling her along with me out of the bedroom. We make our way down the stairs hand in hand. I want to tell her I love her but I hold it back. Now isn’t the time. Not when I don’t know what I’m walking into with Rooster.
We come down the stairs to Rooster playing with his daughter Elsa, a very pregnant Alyssa, Stryker and Holly, Kayne and Poison with their baby girl Emine Eve, and Blayde and Siren sitting in the living room. This is very domestic and it makes me raise an eyebrow at the scene in front of me.
“What’s going on?” I question.
“Ace, good you’re here.” Kayne stands up but leans down to kiss Poison before whispering something in her ear. She nods her head while holding their baby. Kayne gently kisses Lillith on the top of her head. Rooster stands, gives Elsa a peck on the cheek, gives Alyssa a heated kiss, then gives her baby bump a gentle kiss. Stryker and Blayze both kiss their women before they turn to me.
“Church.” Kayne’s gruff voice demands. “Poison is staying with the women while we attend to some Club business. Liz, you’re staying here with them.” Liz opens her mouth to give him some sass when I pin her with a glare. She snaps her mouth shut and nods her head. She’s learning.
I kiss Liz before pulling away. “You can tell the ladies your plan while I’m gone.” I wink and Liz’s eyes light up at the idea.
The five of us head to the back of the Clubhouse and enter the Chapel. Kayne takes his seat, Blayde next to him, followed by Stryker and Rooster. I take my seat when Stone slips in and shuts the door behind him. He sits across from me, his face is unreadable, hard as stone. We’re missing Tex, Duke, Butch, Maddox, Axel, Damon, Knuckles, Tatt and Rebel.
Kayne slams the gavel on the scarred table. “Only a select few are here for this because it’s in the other’s best interest to not be involved right now. Blayde will fill them in later, once we have a plan. Rooster, go ahead.”
“A couple of hours ago, I got a hit on one of the men you wanted me to find, Ace. He’s currently living an hour south of here, near Lansing. From what I gathered, he likes the three F’s. Fuck, fight and food. He likes the young boys for all three. This sick motherfucker needs to be taken down.” Rooster looks like he's going to be sick but he trudges on.
“While I was doing some research for a job from a highly paid customer, I came across some information. This customer has asked us to look into the attack on his sixteen-year-old son. His son won’t say what happened, but after reading the details from the police report, it fits with what happened to you, Ace. So, I did some digging and it turns out these men are the ones responsible for your attack and I’m seeing a pattern of more attacks. The man who hired us to take care of this problem said if we do a good job, there will be more business heading our way. Prez, I’m seeing this as a way to get out of the drug and gun trade.”
“Aye, I agree. We’ll take it to vote when it comes to it.” Kayne responds.
Rooster turns his laptop around and my stomach feels like it’s in my throat. I do everything I can to keep what little food I have down. Staring at me are the men nightmares are made of. Their cold, black eyes and smirks are something I will never forget. Rage pumps through my blood.
“I want them both in The Cage tonight.” My voice is deep and deadly. “Together.” I stand up from my seat and leave Church, not looking back.
I spot Liz with Poison and Emine in the kitchen sitting at the breakfast nook and I pause. Liz is holding Kayne and Poison’s little girl on her lap and they’re giggling and playing together. Would she be this good or even better with our kids? Where the fuck did that come from? What the hell is wrong with me? I’m too fucked up to even think about having kids, but damn, if this woman stops the rage thrumming through my body just by looking at her, maybe I can do this family thing.
A shoulder gently nudges my arm and I see Kayne out of the corner of my eye. “She’s good for you, brother. Don’t fuck it up and let her get away.”
“Not planning on it, Prez.”
“Good.” Kayne turns his head to look at me. “Listen, I know what this will do to you. Who do you want there with you?”
“Stone, Liz, Rooster, Blayde and you.” There is no hesitation when I answer Kayne.
“Do you want Poison to come?”
“Yes, she can stay with Liz. I’ll feel better knowing there is someone Liz trusts watching her back when I can’t.” I nod my approval.
“Ok, I’ll have Rooster get it set up and hopefully this shit ends tonight.” Kayne slaps me on the back before entering the kitchen and joining Poison, Emine and Liz.
Liz spots me watching and she dips her head in acknowledgement. I don’t know how, but she knows what I need when I need it. And right now, I need a few minutes alone to process this and get my head on straight.
I head for the garage to the left of the Clubhouse. Tex, Duke and Blayde are out here tinkering around. My hands are vibrating with the need to ride. Blayde spots me coming and meets me halfway.
“Wanna ride?” He asks, motioning to our bikes.
“Yup.”
“Fast or slow?”
“Fast.”
“You got it.”
We mount our bikes and fire them up. Taking off, once we reach the pavement, I open the throttle and let everything go. Blayde keeps up with me as we shift gears, letting the world pass us by. After three hours of just riding, the sun is setting, creating an eeriness, which I find ominous for what’s going to happen tonight. Blayde and I turn down the driveway and pull into our parking spots. I figured Liz and Siren would be out here when we pulled in, but neither of them came out. That’s strange. I can hear another rumble of a bike heading our way from the distance. I set my kick stand down and wait in the seat of my bike for whoever is coming. It sounds like they’re coming in hot and heavy. The rumble grows louder and I recognize Butch’s bike. He’s back from whatever Kayne sent him on with Detective Kendrick.
Butch pulls onto the driveway and doesn’t stop until he’s in his parking spot. He removes his helmet without saying a word to either Blayze or me and heads right into the Clubhouse. I look at Blayze but he shrugs his shoulders. We dismount our bikes and head inside. I spot Butch in the kitchen drinking shots of whiskey. He releases a loud belch before he sets his glass down.
“Fuck, I needed that. That woman is a tornado! She’ll be the death of me sooner or later.” Butch grumbles before pouring another shot.
“Do you want to tell us what you had to do and where you’ve been for the past month?” I ask.
“No.” One word and Butch leaves the kitchen disappearing with his bottle of whiskey and his bad attitude.
“That was…pleasant,” I mumble.
“Don’t worry about Butch. He’ll come to us when he’s ready. Right now, we need to get you ready for tonight.” Blayde slaps me on the back, setting my teeth on edge. “Poison, Kayne, Liz and Stone are already at The Cage. Kayne didn’t know how long we’d be gone and he wanted to get the ladies safe and secure before all the assholes show up. Once you’re ready, we’ll head on over and take care of business.”
“That explains where Liz and Poison are, but where are Siren and Alyssa?”
“Siren, Alyssa, Holly, Stryker, Tex, Duke, Maddox and Damon are split between Stryker’s house and Rooster's house with the kids. Everyone else that isn’t going with us is staying here with the Bunnies and watching over them. We don’t know what’s going to go down or how tonight will affect us, but Kayne figured it would be beneficial for everyone if we split up instead of being in one place. These guys you’re taking out are into some dark shit and have connections in the dark web. Kayne didn’t want blowback on the ladies.” Blayde explains.
“Will Poison and Liz be OK or should I have them go to Stryker’s house?” Now I’m worried I made the wrong decision in bringing those two with us.
Blayde shakes his head, “Nah. They’ll be protected by us.”
I frown, “If it gets bad, promise me you’ll get Liz and Poison out of there.” Blayde nods his head but doesn’t promise. “Promise me, brother. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if something happened to Liz or Poison.”
“Fine, but I’m positive they’ll be well guarded and protected tonight.” Blayde approaches me, “I need you to focus on what you’re doing, not everything else. We have that covered.”
Fuck, I hope he does. If things go sideways, the last thing I want or need is for Liz to get hurt because of what I need to do.
“Ok, Blayde. I’ll trust you to watch my Ol’ Lady.”
We leave the Clubhouse with Rooster and make our way to The Cage. Tonight is do or die. Either I finish this or Liz watches me die.
I’m hoping for the former, but not everything is handed to me. I’ll have to fight my way back to the top and take back what these two assholes took from me years ago. I just hope I’m strong enough to do it.