Chapter TwentyAinsleyReese
When I awakened and found Reese gone two and a half months ago, I thought I’d never see him again. I didn’t expect that I’d end up inextricably tied to him for at least the next eighteen years of my life.
Spending time with him in a secluded cabin never crossed my mind. It seemed so far out of reach as to be impossible. But however our relationship turned out, I’d cherish our moments together when it was just the two of us with no outside interference. He told me about the deaths of his family and I described the day my parents were killed.
It was a bond I preferred we didn’t have, but luckily trauma wasn’t the only thing we had in common. We talked more football, guns, cooking, music, and movies. We even broached religion and politics. I discovered he couldn’t sing worth a lick, just like me. We preferred beer over wine and tequila over rum. We both liked soft baked chocolate chip cookies, corn-on-the-cob, and apples over oranges. I finally told him what all the New Orleans terms meant and he said it gave him a new appreciation for the city. He liked arm wrestling to win bets and insisted on testing my strength. At the last minute, his arm slackened and he gave me the victory.
In between, we made love and he rewarded my cock suck by licking my pussy for an hour. We barely slept a wink.
As I mounted behind him on the back of his bike, I wished time could’ve stood still. The farther away we rode from the cabin and the closer we drew to Kansas City, the more my anxiety increased.
When we finally reached my house—Roman’s house—and Reese stopped next to my car, I laid my head on his back and tightened my hold around his waist. My eyes burned and my throat ached with my need to cry.
Reese killed the engine, wrapped one of his big hands around mine, and brought it to his lips for a kiss. I sniffled.
“Hey, babe, it’s okay,” he swore.
It wasn’t. Deep inside me, I felt the coming storm, like an unstoppable wave bringing death and destruction. He dismounted, then helped me off the bike. Taking my face between his hands, he studied me and thumbed away the tears that insisted on falling, then dipped his head and brushed his lips across mine.
Standing on my tiptoes, I hugged his strong neck, savoring the feel of his mouth. He took his time kissing me. Still, it ended all too soon.
“Come on, Ainsley. I’ll wait for you to change and get some things.”
Swiping at my tears, I shook my head. “I can’t let you inside. That would be like a slap in my brother’s face.”
“He isn’t my concern. You and the baby are. I’ll stay by the front door while you pack a suitcase.”
“I plan to come back after work,” I hedged, not admitting I hoped Roman called and took back what he said, especially the part about disowning me. “I will probably be late for work today when I’m usually the first one there.”
“Roman doesn’t want you here.”
“Where am I supposed to go, Reese?” I demanded in frustration. “Roman isn’t here right now and won’t be for another twelve days.”
He shoved his hand through his hair. “I’m working something out for you.”
“If it involves going back to the cabin, I don’t accept. It’s too far away.”
“It’s a fucking hour away, Ainsley,” he snapped. “How about you get your shit, take it with you, and I’ll meet you at the daycare this evening? I’ll pay you whatever you’ll make over the next twelve days. No, I’ll triple it.”
“That’s almost sixteen hundred dollars.”
He was silent for a moment. “Would five grand do then?”
“What are you talking about? I earn five hundred twenty dollars a week. Less than that when I’m in school because I have part time hours.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“It’s reality.”
“Roman allowed that?”
“Roman couldn’t strongarm a fucking daycare, Reese,” I huffed. “It’s a legitimate job, adjacent to the early childhood education degree I’m pursuing. It also gives me a sense of independence.”
“Yeah, I forgot. You’re a 21 st century chick. All about autonomy.”
I scowled. “I’m going to ignore that and not call you a chauvinistic fuckhead.” I started around him and then halted. “We’re having a baby and I’ve spent an entire day playing house. I’d have no problem taking money from you. When it runs out, what then? If we don’t work out, what happens to us?” I laid a hand on my belly so the jackass didn’t mistake my meaning. “I gave up my apartment to take care of Roman, and he’s just thrown me a-away.”
All the pain and heartache I’d kept at bay the past hours swarmed me again.
“21 st century chicks want security but we’ve learned from past generations that men are the most unreliable motherfuckers around, so we earn our own bags, fend for ourselves, and have our own safety measures in place.”
“I blame Roman Mac for that mindset.”
“Ha!” I stomped around him and threw over my shoulder, “That motherfucker is just like you, so shut up.”
Reese was hot on my heels. When I unlocked the door and tried to slam it in his fucking face, he pushed his way inside.
“Get out!” I screeched, shoving him back onto the porch. “You can’t come in here, you fucking overbearing prick. Roman might hate me, but this is his house. I can’t disrespect it by allowing you in. Surely, you understand that.”
“Fuck Roman,” Reese spat, drawing his gun. “I don’t want to be in that motherfucker’s house either, but you’re not setting foot in there alone. Not without me checking it.”
“I didn’t get an alert to any suspicious activity when I turned my phone back on.”
“Do you really think any one of us wouldn’t know how to bypass that shit?”
I drew a deep breath.
“Do you have to be such a fucking shrew?”
“If you say you plan to tame me, I will fucking kick you.”
He smirked. “Don’t have to say it, since you just did.”
“You like Shakespeare?” I asked dubiously.
“Can’t stand his work. I find it boring or hard to understand.”
The relief I felt was so absurd that I laughed. It was getting late and Reese wouldn’t leave unless he had his way, so I stepped aside and signaled he go in. I thought his racking the slide a little over the top but I remained quiet.
Several minutes later, he returned and indicated the all clear with a wave of his gun. I kept the told you to myself. It galled me when Roman or Nova threw that at me. Reese and I were alike in a lot of ways, so I’d bet he’d be less than pleased at that boast.
He holstered his gun, took two hundred dollar bills out of his wallet, then stuffed them into the pocket on my jeans. “Check in at the hotel up there on Minnesota Avenue when you get off from work.”
“Roman won’t mind if I stay here.”
“Will you let me stay with you?”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Then until I arrange something better, check in there. It’s not far from the club, so it’ll be easier to get away if you need me. I’ll just be a short distance.”
If not for that tangle of highways all converging near the Kansas River, Reese’s club would be within walking distance of the hotel.
“I’ll do it tonight,” I said primly, thrilled that we’d spend another night making love.
He gave me a quick kiss, then lit a cigarette. “Don’t be long getting your stuff. I have a lot of shit to do today.”
Curiosity almost got the best of me, but Roman had drummed it into me that the less I knew, the better. “Can I have my .357 please?”
“Shit, I almost forgot. Glad you remembered. You need the protection.”
“I can’t bring my gun to work, Reese.” He frowned, but I raised my hands to forestall another discussion. “When I return later, I’ll keep it close by.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, flicked ashes into the wind, and stalked to his saddlebags.
I ended up not arriving “first thing that morning” as I’d promised Razor, but I wouldn’t have concentrated if I didn’t assure myself of Ainsley’s safety, which included escorting her to work. The key card entry and iron fencing around the play yard eased my concerns, though the niggling in my gut persisted.
If not for logistics, I would’ve forced her back to the cabin and handcuffed her to the bed. The only way to do that would’ve been to snatch her keys and strong arm her into her car. I had handcuffs in my saddlebags, but not rope, which I needed to tie her to the seat so she wouldn’t escape.
Besides, not knowing the outcome of the meeting with Razor left me at a disadvantage. Even if everything fell into place and I could’ve gotten her back to the cabin, if Razor killed me, she’d die, too. If they went to the cabin and unlocked her cuffs, they’d kill her anyway. Chances were, they’d sentence her to a worse fate and allow her to die from a lack of water.
So I hugged her tight, kissed her hard, and told her I’d talk to her later. I should’ve prepared her for the worse. Except I didn’t want to worry her. We were both in precarious situations, exposed and vulnerable to the wrath of the Royal Bastards and the Bloody Scorpions.
When I walked into the clubhouse and saw most of the members already seated, I winced. Razor stood at the podium glaring at me.
Knight, Bolt’s son and one of our Enforcers, clicked the lock in place and nodded to the long counter running the length of the wall just inside the door. I disarmed myself and placed my guns and knives in one of the few remaining empty spots.
All eyes were on me as I headed to Razor. The disapproval and mistrust wafting in the air felt surreal. Razor and I rarely gave up our weapons. My job was to protect him. I was big and bad enough to do it with my fists, but the odd fuckhead tested my authority from time-to-time.
Pretending shit was normal, I ignored everyone and walked to my president. I wanted to take my usual spot near the podium, arms folded, gaze roaming over the membership. Razor stared at me, cold and unwelcoming, anger lighting his eyes. I waited for him to speak or to punch me, but his frozen glower and his lack of movement chilled me.
“Is it true, Reese?” Bolt finally asked.
At his distressed tone, I regretted not calling him as I’d intended. I’d been so fucking angry with Razor, then Ainsley came out and I forgot everything else.
“Yeah,” I said finally, turning my head slightly but still unable to see him. “Roman Mac’s sister is pregnant with my kid.”
“Good job,” Baron, Bolt’s younger son, called. He’d always been an ally, even when Knight wasn’t, which was most of the fucking time. “Let that motherfucker choke on that. Not only does he have to live the rest of his miserable existence without hands, he’ll spend his days knowing that bitch betrayed him.”
I stiffened, an automatic reaction at such disrespect toward Ainsley.
“Does he know?” The glee in Warrior’s tone annoyed me. “I heard he’s away. On a run.”
Grumbles rose up at that news. My chopping his hands off was meant to sideline him so he wouldn’t pose a threat to us.
“He knows,” I said flatly, almost certain Razor filled Warrior in on our conversation if the motherfucker hadn’t been listening in the first place. “And, yes, he is.”
“What’d he say to that news?” Marquis questioned.
“He wants nothing more to do with her.”
“Awww, so sorry. That’s the breaks,” Knight sneered.
Balling my fists, I gritted my teeth.
“Where’d you meet that cunt?” he went on.
“Her name’s Ainsley, Knight,” I snarled, unable to take it any longer. I spun around and glared at the motherfucker. “ Ainsley . Put some fucking respect on her name. She’s carrying my kid. If you don’t like it, too fucking bad. It’s done. Interrogate me. Beat the fuck out of me. Shoot me but respect her .”
“Fucking make me, Reese. How fucking dare you come in here all high-and-mighty over that slut. We’re your brothers. She’s just your fucking cocksucker.”
I was so fucking livid, I saw red and moved before I stopped myself, managing one good punch before Bolt and Warrior grabbed me, marched me to a chair, and shoved me down.
Warrior’s punch to the side of my head left me dizzy, while Bolt’s inscrutable look hurt me more than anything else.
“Tell me about her,” Razor finally ordered. “Everything.”
“No.” Disobeying a direct order from my president was never wise, but especially under these circumstances. “I trust her, Razor, and that should be enough.”
“It isn’t,” he barked. “You used all your fucking favors when I let Roman Mac live.”
“Never mind that’s the only favor I’ve ever asked, I understand. Let’s also forget how I’ve never turned down anything you or any of my brothers requested of me. Big, small, dangerous, or fun. Her pregnancy was a fucking accident.”
“Probably because she put a hole in the condom,” Baron called.
“Really, fucker? Which is it? I got her pregnant by design or she sabotaged my cock cover on purpose? Choose, because it sure the fuck isn’t both.”
“Suppose you have to choose, Reese?” Razor asked. “Her or us. And, by us, I mean you make her abort her kid. No matter the paternity, it has the blood of a Bloody Scorpion. Roman Mac .”
“She wants the fucking baby, Razor. What the fuck do you expect me to do?”
Bolt folded his arms and lifted his brows. “Do you want it, Reese?”
Before I spent the last day and a half with her, I intended to support her because it was the right thing to do. I hoped we could co-parent if nothing else. But after our time together, when she was sweet and pliant, trusting me with her body and her emotions, I wanted her. With the baby or without.
Separately and aside from us, she carried something I never knew I wanted, a part of me. My blood, when I hadn’t had that in almost twenty years.
“Yeah, Bolt.”
Rocking on his heels, he nodded. “Do you want her or do you want your kid’s momma? There’s a distinction. One’s an obligation. The other is your world. Both your responsibility, but in different ways.”
“She’s not an obligation. She might not be my world, but I care about her. I enjoy her company.” I met his gaze and gave him a half-smile. “She likes football and hates Shakespeare.”
He smiled. “She sounds like my kind of gal.” He held out his hand. “Congrats, son,” he said gruffly, patted my back, and placed himself between my chair and the podium that Razor stood behind. “My boy’s never done nothing disrespectful, Prez. I know that Roman situation is tetchy and Reese has used up all his favors, so I’m asking you to give her a chance on my behalf.”
“All the fuck you ever do is ask for favors, motherfucker,” Razor growled.
“Long years of friendship’ll do that, Razor,” Bolt retorted. “No matter what mishap got it made, it’s not the little one’s fault. Those two were consenting adults. It was their responsibility to protect against this possibility. If you’re still not convinced, I have a final argument.”
“I wouldn’t stake my life on it,” Razor said with less heat. “You’ll think of fifty more after this one.”
“Possibly, but so far, here’s my last word. By the time her baby is born, Reese will have her firmly on our side. She’ll be his ol’ lady instead of Roman’s sister.”
“Fine, you old fucking pest.” Razor grabbed the gavel and banged it. “Meeting’s adjourned. Reese, we leave in an hour for Wichita. Get ready.”
“Are we coming back tonight?” Usually, we went for collections and stayed overnight.
“In a day or two,” Razor confirmed, then walked off.
I got to my feet. “But—”
Bolt put a hand on my shoulder and shook his head. “Not now, Reese. Let it sink in before you shove her needs down Razor’s throat.”
I told him about Nova, how that bitch betrayed Ainsley, and my gut feeling that she wasn’t safe.
“We’ll sort it out when we get back,” he promised. “You saw to her. Now, it’s time to return to reality and take care of club business.”