Chapter 9
Aubrey
When Dean finally unloads every filthy, fucked-up secret, it’s like something inside me snaps.
I feel like I’ve been drowning for days and just now broke the surface, and holy shit, it burns.
My lungs feel like they are full of fire.
Now I know everything, and I still can’t fucking breathe.
But this is a different kind of feeling.
It’s not fear or heartbreak. It’s something sharper.
Something that feels like rage and courage got together and had a mean little baby naming it ‘resolve.’
I want to scream, rip something apart, smash a fucking window.
I want to grab him and never let go, pull him behind me and dare the whole damn world to come for us.
There’s this wild, protective urge that’s ignited inside me…
raw, fierce, and so much bigger that my fears could ever be.
I’ve never felt anything like it. Not for Clint, not for anyone.
I thought I knew what it meant to care about someone…
to love someone with everything you have, but this is different.
It consumes me in a way that makes my bones ache.
The thought of those bastards coming after Dean…
wanting to hurt the man I love, makes me see red.
If these bastards want to start shit, they picked the wrong bitch.
I’ll burn this whole town down before I let them take Dean from me.
Wait. What the hell is wrong with me?
Maybe I’m losing it. Or maybe, for the first time, feeling this much is the only sane reaction I have left. But one thing is clear as glass: if these assholes want to play games. Then game on, baby, I’m not the one who’s going to break.
Dean’s pacing like a caged animal, jaw clenched, veins bulging in his arms. I swear if he grinds his teeth any harder, he’s going to break everyone in his skull.
“Aubrey, you don’t have to do this. If you get hurt…fuck. If you get caught in the middle, I’ll never…”
“Stop.”
I get right in his face, so close I can feel his breath, smell the sweat, anxiety, and all the feral energy oozing out of his skin.
“Too late, Dean. I’m already in this. You think I’m just going to sit here and let them rip you apart while I watch from the window, clutching my pearls? Get real. If they want a fight, they just picked the wrong bitch.”
His eyes go wide as he stares down at me, searching, maybe hoping I’ll break.
I don’t.
My hands are steady, but my heart is beating like a freaking jackhammer. For a second, he says nothing…then he takes my face in his hands, being rough and gentle all at once.
“Fine. But we do this my way. We do it smart. No fucking heroics, Aubrey. I mean it.”
I let a slow, mischievous grin spread across my lips. “Define heroics, tough guy.” And he almost laughs.
There’s a dark edge in his eyes that makes my pulse stutter, but I hold my ground. I think he likes it. I know I do.
We hole ourselves up in Dean’s room for the rest of the night, consuming bad coffee, cold pizza, and coming up with every dirty trick we can think of to nail these bastards.
Dean knows the MC life better than anyone.
He knows how to bait them, where to hit them where it hurts, their weaknesses.
But I know this town…every nosy neighbor, every back alley, every cop who owes me a favor. We are a fucked-up dream team.
“I can get Jax to run his mouth,” I say, scrolling through my phone for the best audio app.
“He’s a control freak. He wants to see me scared; wants to think he’s got me under his thumb.
If I play my cards right and act like I want to sell you out, he’ll get cocky.
I just need him to say one incriminating thing.
Make one threat. That’s all it’ll take.”
Dean’s face goes dark, and murder fills his eyes. “He touches you; I’ll slit his fucking throat.”
I let out a laugh, loud, and a little unhinged.
“Easy, killer. This is Crystal Falls. Half of Maggie’s Taproom will be watching.
And I’ll record everything. If he gives us what we need, he goes down.
He cuts all ties with you, taking his goons, and leaving town.
Or hell, I drop that shit straight to the sheriff or every rival MC this side of the state line. He’ll be lucky if he ever rides again.”
Dean looks at me, shocked by this side of me. Like he’s torn between pride and horror. “And if he figures you out? Aubrey, these guys are fuckin’ wolves. They can smell bullshit a mile away.”
I pull the taser from my bag that Gina gave me for my birthday, cocky as hell. “Plan B. Besides, you’ll be close. If things go sideways, you come in swinging.”
He stares at me, jaw ticking, and I can only imagine the thoughts that are running through that gorgeous head of his.
“You’re fearless. Or just insane.”
I shrug. “Maybe I’m both. But someone’s got to do it.”
He leans in, kissing me hard before he pulls back, eyes wild. “Aubrey, please be careful. Don’t get yourself killed.”
I grin, but my stomach is churning. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
We attempt to get at least a couple hours of sleep, but neither of us is able to rest. Every time I close my eyes, I see Jax’s evil sneer, Dean’s bloodied fists, my own nervousness.
But I’m ready for this. I’m ready to fight for the man I love.
The next day, I walk into Maggie’s like I own the place, but inside I’m a wreck, nauseous with so much adrenaline pumping through my veins.
The grill is buzzing with its usual lunch rush of locals, construction workers, even a few sad drunks.
I walk straight to the bar and order a shot.
I can feel eyes on me before I spot him.
Jax is at the back, sprawled out with two of his goons, boots propped up on the table, looking like he’s king of the fucking world. When he sees me, his lips curl in that sleazy, predatory smile.
He jerks his chin toward me. “Well, if it isn’t the little waitress with a body and a smart mouth. Where’s your boyfriend? Michaels didn’t want to watch you beg for your life?”
I force a nervous giggle, sliding into character, my phone recording in the back pocket of my jeans.
“Dean is a fucking mess. He’s got too much baggage, and I’m done letting him take me down with him. Yeah, the sex is insane, but I want out. I’m over it. This shit is way too much for me.”
Jax leans in. His breath smells like beer and something rotten. He grabs my chin, tilts my face up so I have to look him in the eye. “You’re smart, sweetheart. Play your cards right, and you’ll be protected. We take care of girls who take care of us. Not like some people I could name.”
I have to fight the urge to break his thumb. Instead, I let my lower lip tremble. “Is it true? About that girl? About the club breaking the rules?”
His eyes go cold, and he lets go of my chin, but his fingers trail down my jaw in a way that makes my skin crawl.
“People talk too much. But your boyfriend? He never knew when to keep his fucking mouth shut. He played hero, and now he’s got a lot of people thirsty for his blood. You too, if you don’t play nice.”
He lets that threat hang, then leans back, staring me down. “But you help us get to Dean, and you walk away clean. Hell, you might even end up better off than when you started. We like loyalty. We reward it.”
I nod, eyes wide, playing the scared, desperate girl. “Just…please, Jax. Don’t hurt me. I’m not cut out for this life.”
He grins, all teeth. “Wouldn’t dream of it, doll. Not unless you make me.”
His hand slides over my cheek slowly, and I have to fight the urge not to bite him. I want to jab my taser into his gut and watch him piss himself, but I don’t. Instead, I give him the best trembling, scared look I’ve got. “I won’t. I promise.”
He leans in close, letting his lips brush against my ear. “Good girl. I’ll be in touch. Don’t fuck this up.”
I can’t get away from him fast enough, barely making it past the jukebox before I gag in the bathroom, shaking so hard I almost drop my phone.
I check the audio…thank God, the whole thing is there.
Jax’s threats, his offer, a half confession.
Enough dirt to make him the most wanted man in three counties.
I shoot a text to Dean, my fingers barely able to cooperate.
ME: Got it. Meet me at The Cozy Corner.
Back at the diner, Dean listens to the recording. “That’s enough,” he says. “The Sheriff will take this straight to the DA. Or, if Jax wants to keep playing, I’ll send it to every rival motorcycle club in the state. He’ll have to run to save his own ass.”
I rest my head on his shoulder, feeling the adrenaline finally crash. “Do you think it’ll work?”
He squeezes my hand, gentle for once. “Yeah. You were fucking brilliant, Aubrey.”
Gina bursts into the back office, waving her phone, eyes wide. “The Sheriff is on his way. If you two are smart, you’ll disappear for a while.”
“Wait…how does the Sheriff even…” I ask Gina, so confused.
“There’s no time for questions. Both of you have to go…now…out the back,” Gina says, already pulling us toward the door that leads to the alley behind the diner.
When we step outside, we can hear the sirens of the squad cars roll up. We stand at the edge of the building, out of sight, watching as it all goes down. Jax is screaming, cussing out everyone, but he’s got cuffs on his wrists and fear in his eyes. The rest of the club scatters like cockroaches.
“What the hell just happened?”
Dean turns to me, his eyes wild and terrified. “Don’t matter. It’s over now. Fuck, this is too much. I shouldn’t have let you go in there like that. You could’ve been killed.”
I laugh, tears burning, high on pride and relief. “So could you. But we weren’t. We did it, Dean. We fucking did it. I love you, Dean Michaels.”
He pulls me into his arms, holding me close, and I let him. Breathing him in like I can’t get enough. “I love you more, Aubrey Ryan.”
And for the first time, I let myself believe we might actually be okay.
That we both could have our happily ever after.