Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
AISLING
The next month passes by with… well, not a lot happening.
Which is good because after what felt like shitshow after shitshow happening, it was nice to have a quiet, normal life. Normal being subjective of course. The only bad thing about nothing happening is that the club still hasn’t found who broke into my place.
The bruises on my face have faded to nothing. I’m lucky I never suffered any memory loss. Doc continued to check on me periodically, but he felt like the scan wasn’t necessary unless I started showing more symptoms.
Frankie lost her mind in true Frankie fashion when I told her what had happened.
She didn’t talk to me for a week because she was so mad I hadn’t called her as soon as it happened.
I gave her the space because I would have felt the same if the roles were reversed.
After a week, she came around and got where I was coming from on not wanting her involved.
I had to promise that if something like that ever happened again, she’s the second person I need to call, Hash being the first.
Hash told me Cain was putting some feelers out with some guy they know named Matteo, but that’s all I’ve heard about it.
Truthfully, I don’t know if he would tell me when they find him, and I’m okay with that.
I don’t need to know the dirty details. I just want to know he got what’s coming to him.
Evening the score will make me sleep a little easier at night.
Hash has helped tremendously with that. There hasn’t been a night that he hasn’t slept in my bed, even when club business runs late.
I’ve told him multiple times that he can stay in this room at the clubhouse, but he never does.
It doesn’t matter if they end at three in the morning.
That man is still coming home to me. He won’t admit it, but I think he blames himself for what happened that night.
In some weird way that guy’s brains work, he thinks if he had been here, he could have stopped it.
Which he probably could have, but I don’t feel like playing the what-if game about this with him for the rest of my life. What happened is done, and the only way to move is forward.
Which is why I heeded on the budget for the couch.
The guilt was eating him alive, and who was I to tell the man he couldn’t get the couch he wouldn’t move his ass from in the storeroom?
The only way I could get him off of it was agreeing to buy it, even though it was way more than I wanted to spend.
That’s the first and the last time I go shopping with Cyrus and Hash, by the way. If the looks we were getting weren’t enough, their arguing over what to get caused a scene. I’m pretty sure the sales associate thought Hash and Cyrus were together and I was just along for the ride.
He let me pick out the new bedding for the bedroom, saying he didn’t give a fuck what the bed looked like as long as he was next to me.
I went with a moody vibe, of course. Hash had the guys repaint the whole house, and in the bedroom, I went with an emerald green and paired that with a leopard print duvet. It’s amazing.
Hash got new cabinet doors for the kitchen and stained those a deep brown that looks almost black. It’s weird how he knows what I’ll like without even asking me.
Everything came together so perfectly. I still don’t know how to repay his brothers.
It wouldn’t have been done as fast without their help.
Well, with the exception of Trick. I haven’t talked to him since the night of the cookout, and to be honest, with everything going on, it slipped my mind to ask Hash what was going on.
I know he was upset when I told him what happened.
It makes me a little nervous about tonight.
Trick and I seem to have a mutual understanding of avoiding each other, but I don’t see how that’s possible since it’s Devils Night and the Halloween party.
He never came over to the house when the other guys did to help fix everything up, and whenever Cormac and I were at the clubhouse, if he saw me, he would walk in the opposite direction.
Hash and I decided to be vampires. I wanted to do Morticia and Gomez, but I didn’t want Hash to shave his beard to pull it off, and he didn’t seem all that keen on the idea of doing that either.
To be honest, he didn’t seem like he wanted to dress up at all.
Part of me thinks he agreed only to appease me.
I went shopping with Evan and Sutton to get the costume.
Hash hasn’t seen it yet, but it’s hot. Even I did a double take in the mirror when I tried it on.
The base of the costume is a black faux leather spandex bodysuit with a red coffin bedazzled on the front, stopping just below the low-cut neckline.
A belt hooks around my waist with a red tulle skirt attached to the back, leaving the front open.
Garter straps attach to the belt. I paired all of that with thigh-high leather heeled boots.
Hash is going to shit himself when he sees me.
Evan lets out a low whistle as she walks into the room, dressed as a cat. “I’ll do you tonight if Hash doesn’t.”
I let out a laugh as I play with the tulle skirt. “If Hash doesn’t, we’re going to have serious problems.”
The girls are getting ready at Evan’s house while the guys get everything ready for the party. I was surprised that Evan let Cain have control over it. She’s a little… crazy when it comes to events and doesn’t like to give up control. She just wants everything to be perfect.
Frankie agreed to watch Cormac so Hash and I could have a kid-free night.
“Do you think Cain will get that I’m a hellcat?” Evan asks as she spins around in front of her mirror, her black tail she has pinned on bouncing with her.
“I think the ears and tail give it away,” Sutton says as she walks in, dressed as a bunny.
Evan turns around and gives Sutton a once-over.
“Holy shit, bitch. Ink is going to eat your ass up.” I nod in agreement.
I don’t know him that well, but he already watches her like she’s his next meal.
“I don’t know how you manage to give fuck me and I’m a virgin at the same time, but you’re killing it. ”
Sutton’s cheeks flush. “Thanks. That’s what I was going for.”
“Are we ready?” Evan asks as she adjusts her cat ears.
“Yes,” Sutton and I say at the same time.
“Perfect!” Evan claps her hands. “Let’s all pile into the Mustang. I’m not walking that far in these heels.”
We all pile in and are thrown back in our seats as Evan slams on the gas, speeding down her driveway before she slams on her brakes, takes a sharp right turn onto the road and another sharp turn right into the clubhouse’s drive.
“We’re here, bitches.”
The music is already blaring out back; the fire is going, and people I’ve never seen in my life are filing in.
Evan links her arms through mine and Sutton’s before she starts talking in a voice low enough only we can hear. “I’m sure Hash and Ink have told you guys, but don’t stray and stay close to your man. If they have to go somewhere, we’ll meet up or they’ll have a man on us.”
“Got it,” I say, trying not to let the uneasiness of it ruin the good mood I have going.
Sutton nods in agreement.
“Let’s go find our men.”
We head around back, weaving in and out of the random crowds of people gathered. I ignore the catcalls from random men as I pass, my eyes scanning trying to find Hash.
“Do you see them?” Sutton yells over the music.
“No!” I yell back.
“Let’s get a drink! They’re around here somewhere!” Evan yells. She leads the way as Sutton and I follow closely behind her as we make our way over to the bar inside. “Levi!”
“What’s up, girl?” The guy behind the bar smirks. “You ladies are looking nice. What’s your poison tonight?”
Evan orders us a round of shots, making me cringe at the thought. I haven’t taken a shot since before Cormac. Hopefully, it stays down.
“I’m surprised they’re letting you walk around unattended,” Levi says as he sets the shots down on the bar.
“We haven’t found them yet. Have you seen them?” Evan asks as she hands us each a shot glass. “Cheers, bitches!”
She taps the bottom of her glass down on the bar before throwing it back, leaving Sutton and I no choice but to follow suit.
“Oh my God.” I cough, one eye barely open because I’m wincing so hard. “You could have warned me it was tequila.”
No lime, or salt, or anything. Who the fuck raw dogs tequila like that?
Just as I set my shot glass down on the bar, strong arms circle around my waist, pulling me flush against a hard body.
I tense, ready to elbow whoever it is in the balls as I hear a deep, low voice I would know anywhere. “Is my little vampire ready to get bitten?”
I immediately relax into Hash’s arms, and I turn around in them. I can’t help but laugh as I take in his costume. He’s wearing his regular getup of jeans, a tight tee and his cut. The only part that gives you any indication he’s a vampire is the plastic set of fake fangs he has in his mouth.
“You’re no fun,” I pout. Part of me was hoping I would see him in the costume I picked up for him.
“I’ll show you some fun.” He winks, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from Sutton and Evan.
I look over my shoulder and give them a wave as they look after me with a knowing smile.
“Where are we going?” I yell over the music.
“You’ll see, baby doll. Be patient.”
Hash leads me through the crowd inside until we make it out front, where he leads me away from the crowd, heading toward a garage. He pulls a set of keys out of his pocket and unlocks the side door before pushing me in and shutting the door behind us, locking it.
Moonlight is shining in through the windows on top of the garage walls, shining in on the cars parked in each bay.
“Is this where all the magic happens?” I ask as I look around the garage, finally seeing where he spends all his time for the first time.