Chapter 16
Sixteen
IZZY
I have no clue what surprise Cason has for me, but as he finishes getting his tattoo, I’m practically bouncing with excitement. I stay as still as I can. The last thing I want to do is mess up his design, but it’s hard. Finally, he taps my leg.
“All done, Angel,” he says, and I stand while he grabs my hands.
“Alright fuckers, listen up,” Swift yells getting everyone’s attention.
“We have a few announcements we need to get out of the way so everyone can enjoy the rest of their night. Piper and I have a special surprise today, and Hitter has some news of his own,” Swift tells the room. “Piper baby, get your sweet ass up here.” She laughs, but I hear her head to the front with him.
“First, club business. Our newest bar, Devils Crossroads, will open in two weeks. The prospects will run this one with me watching over the business side of things.” All the prospects hoot and holler at the announcement until Cason tells me Swift is shooting them a scowl, and they immediately stop.
“Alright, now on to the more personal news. You all know my Ol’ Lady, Piper. Well, it’s not just going to be the two of us anymore,” Swift says.
Then I hear Piper shout, “We’re pregnant!”
Everyone loses their minds, cheering and yelling at the news while crowding around the happy couple. All the brothers get to slap Swift on the back and give Piper a hug… Well, everyone but Beau. Swift pushes him away, and he just laughs before walking over and grabbing a drink. Cason finds it hilarious as he tells me what’s going on.
“Alright, alright. Thank you all for the well wishes, but there’s still more to come. Our brother Hitter has a few surprises in store,” Swift announces, but it leaves me confused.
A few surprises? Cason takes my hand and drags me toward Swift and Piper’s voices.
“Settle down, assholes,” Cason yells, and just like when Swift spoke, the group instantly quiets.
“If you all didn’t know by now, this is my angel, my Izzy. I have a couple of questions for her,” he says, handing me a large box. “I know you can’t see it, Angel, but I want you to open it up, anyway.”
I draw down my eyebrows in confusion but start opening the box. When I finally pull the contents out, the material feels rough to my fingers. Like leather. Leather? I keep feeling along the item and realize it’s a vest of some sort. It’s not until I feel over the big patch on the back that I know what it is. I’ve felt it many times since it’s on the back of Hitter’s cut every time I hold him. The difference is that I can feel the letters on this one, which spell out “Property of Hitter.”
“Angel, will you be my Ol’ Lady?” he asks me, and I scream… I can’t help it. I already know what the vest means since Piper explained hers to me. I wasn’t sure if it was just because she’s with the club's president or what. I guess I finally got my answer, and I’ve never been so happy in my life.
“Yes, yes, of course!” Cheers go up at my agreement, and then there’s another booming voice.
“Ask the other one before you get trampled,” Swift says, and that’s when I feel Cason grab my hand and shift as if he’s kneeling down.
“Marry me, Angel. You know being an Ol’ Lady is deeper than any marriage, but I want you to have my last name, anyway. I want everything that life has to offer with you, Angel. You already agreed to one. Now agree to this one, so I don’t have to kidnap your beautiful ass,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. Tears are running in a steady stream down my face, and I couldn't care less.
“Of course!” I say, bouncing a little. I’m lifted into Cason’s arms in the next second, and he’s twirling me around. I’ve never been this happy in my life. He sets me down and whispers in my ear.
“There’s a tracking device in that ring. I’m scared to death of losing you, and I won’t hide that from you. Always keep that ring on, and I’ll find you anywhere you go, wherever you are, I promise,” he tells me, and it makes me smile.
I wonder how much other shit of mine has a tracker in it. I think Piper told me she has one in all her shoes that Swift doesn’t think she knows about. Piper and I talked about it, and it doesn’t bother us. They are there for our safety and prove just how much our men love us. With the life we’ve both had, I’d rather they know where I am than not. It’s comforting, at least. From the very beginning, Cason has done everything he can to make me happy, safe, and loved; he’s a dream come true. A dream that I never want to wake up from since I know from the bottom of my heart he sees me and loves me for me.
Later, with the party in full swing, I’m sitting with Piper, and we mingle around, with Cason not far behind. I realize what I missed out on all my life. This club is an enormous family. They all love each other, look out for each other, and always have each other’s back. Everyone here is accepted for exactly who they are, nothing more or less. They celebrate each other’s dreams and decimate any foes that might stand in their way. I may have had the family part in name only, but I never had the love. Until now, that is, all because of Cason and the Reckless Omens MC. Now, as I feel the smile that has not left my face get bigger, I know I have so much love all around me I could just explode.
BAM
BAM
BAM
My entire world explodes. Everything shakes from the impact, and Piper falls, pulling me down with her to the ground. The center of my back hits some point on the ground, sending a shock of pain up my spine. There’s noise everywhere, and my ears are ringing so loud I can barely hear anything. It’s so overwhelming.
“Isabella?!” I hear Cason roar but can’t tell where it’s coming from. Then all hell really breaks loose. Gunfire rains down from all sides, and I don’t know where to look or what to do.
“Come on, Izzy, we have to get to the safe room,” Piper yells beside me, grabbing my hand and dragging me up.
“You’re going too fast. I can’t keep up, Piper,” I tell her as I hold tightly to her hand, but I’m getting jostled and shoved from all directions. Piper is yelling and holding on tight to me, but I get shoved so hard to the side I fall, breaking contact with Piper.
“Move, you fucking pussy. If you aren’t going to help, get out of the fucking way,” Piper is yelling, but I can tell her voice is getting further and further away. I stand quickly, trying to focus my hearing in the direction I last heard her voice. With the mayhem and turmoil all around me, I need to really focus in order to try to locate her.
“Piper!” I yell, but get no response. There’s no way she can hear me over the gunfire, screaming, and commotion.
I try to feel along the wall, having no clue where I am. I start in the direction I last heard Piper’s voice. Hopefully, it will lead me to the back door of the compound, and I can find my way to the safe room. I’m moving as fast as I can, but I trip and fall forward. I get up quickly and keep moving again, still having no idea where I’m going. All I know is I have to make sure I’m not a distraction or a target.
The noise of the battle currently going on is quieting down. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing, since I have no idea if we’re the ones winning. Trying to keep focused, I keep moving, thinking the best option if I can’t get to the safe room is to get as far away from the fight as possible. By now, I don’t know how long I’ve been wandering around. I want to call out for help, but I’m scared the enemy will hear me. Finally, I hear a voice coming toward me, singling me out.
“Isabella? What are you doing all the way over here?” someone asks. I know the voice, which puts me at ease, but I don’t know which brother it is.
“Piper was helping me to the safe room, but we got separated. I couldn’t find my way and was just trying to stay out of the gunfire,” I explain, jumping when I feel his hand on my elbow.
“Come on, Hun. It’s me, Dread, and that explains why Piper is yelling and screaming, ready to kill every fucker who came through those gates. Hitter thinks you got to the safe room,” he tells me, making me feel better. At least he won’t be distracted and worried about me.
“How did you know Piper was yelling and screaming?” I ask, letting him lead me in what I hope is the right direction.
“I went to check on the families and heard her. I thought I heard her say something about someone getting lost. I came to this side of the building to make sure none of them sneaky motherfuckers were trying to hide. We almost got all the fuckers, but there are some still coming out of the fucking woodwork like roaches,” he tells me, making a turn; I’m guessing around the building after pushing through a door, the cool night air hitting me in the face. He slows me down, and I think he’s checking the side before he grabs my arm and pulls me again.
“Come on, it's clear from here. The guys are on the other side of the building. If we stay along the wall, we can get you into the building and to the safe room without being noticed,” he explains right before we hear an unfamiliar voice that has my heart dropping.
“You almost made it, didn’t you? Hiding like the fucking cowards you both are. Looks like this is the end of the line for you.” A shot rings out, and I scream, knowing that the bullet is meant for me.
I wish I had enough time to tell Cason how much he’s meant to me. How many times he’s saved me and how much I love him. Now, it’s too late.