Chapter 44 #2
Stalker’s sucking his lower lip into his mouth. “Club agreed to protecting Ames for a share of her inheritance. That way, we’ll end up with nothing.”
Bullseye has his elbows on the table, he’s propped his chin on his hands. His eyes are half-closed, but I suspect he’s listening to everything. While the brothers start circling the arguments around, he appears to be thinking.
Suddenly he comes up life. “We’ll have the twenty thou from the insurance that would clear Stone’s debt.
They’re just being greedy wanting more, but that doesn’t mean they’d stop coming after Ames and Rat once they know they’re husband and wife.
Ames won’t be safe until she’s twenty-five and can do whatever she fuckin’ likes with her inheritance.
Words is onto something, if Ames dies, Rat gets everything, and no one’s got a call on that money.
” He pauses and grimaces. “We can talk it out, plan and keep going around in fuckin’ circles, but we can’t do much unless Ames is on board with disappearing, and Pippa’s set to make this work.
I suggest we get both the women in here and talk it out with them present. ”
All eyes come to me. “Satin’s death sent Ames into shock.” I hold my hand up at the murmur. “I’m not saying she shouldn’t be involved, but we’ve got to tread carefully. Any sign she’s getting distressed then I want her out of here.”
Still everyone is staring at me. I shake my head, “What?”
Woody snorts. “We’re waiting for you to make some snide comment about bitches being allowed in church.”
I feel my face burn. “Er, yeah. Brothers, I said shit in the past…”
“Makes a difference, doesn’t it, when the other shoe’s on your own foot?” Short chortles.
Prez looks down the table at Lancelot who’s stayed silent during his first church. I was probably the same when I initially sat at the table in this hallowed space. “Lance, could you go find Pippa and Ames and bring them in here, please?”
Lancelot stands so fast his chair almost topples over. Then he’s out the door like the demons of hell are after him.
Tempest chuckles. “Takes a brother a moment to get out of the prospect headspace.”
“Didn’t take Rat long as far as I remember,” this comes from Piston.
I just raise my middle finger.
Conversations start around me as we’re waiting, I don’t join in. Asking Ames to completely change who she is is a pretty big ask.
Pippa enters first. “I’ve given Jade to Trixie,” she tells Saint. Then, as normal when she comes into church, her man pushes back his chair as an invitation for her to sit on his lap. When she does, he uses the time while we wait to give her a scorching kiss.
Knowing my legs won’t allow me to do the same thing with my woman, I ask, “Can someone bring another chair in for Ames?”
Woody stands and claps his hand on my shoulder in passing.
When he returns, he not only brings the spare seat in, but pauses with it angled behind me.
The brothers shift down to make space for it next to mine.
For which I thank him profusely. Ames will be out of her depth entering this meeting, me being able to at least hold her hand will hopefully make it easier.
At last, Lancelot returns with my woman in tow. He immediately spies where he should direct her, and leads her over. She’s biting her lip and her eyes are wide open, but takes my hand when I hold it out to her.
Leaning in, she whispers to me, “What’s going on?”
Something that might change your life forever, I think to myself.
While out loud, I tell her, “Nothing to overly worry about.” My eyes examine her.
“Are you feeling okay? Because if this is too much for you, we can delay it.” And fuck what anyone else has to say.
She’s mine, and I’ll do what’s best for her.
My attention is caught by Saint who’s talking quietly to Pippa. Then he indicates Bullseye should lean in. There are murmurings at the end of the table, but when the three part, they seem to be in agreement.
After a couple of minutes, Prez bangs the gavel to get our attention. Then he raises his chin toward Saint’s old lady.
Pippa sits forward, Saint’s arms at her sides.
She glances across to where my woman is sitting beside me.
“Ames,” she addresses my woman directly, “what I’m going to tell you is secret.
My life depends on you keeping it quiet.
As Rattler’s old lady, if you stay here, you’ll probably learn it anyway.
But if you’re going to leave the club, please speak up now. ”
Ames stiffens beside me.
Before Pippa can continue, I get in first. “I want you to stay, Ames. I want this marriage to be real. I want you as my ol’ lady.
” If I was able I’d go down on one knee and propose, even though given our status that’s unnecessary.
But immobile, grand gestures are beyond me, and I just have to keep to words.
I use the strongest ones I have in my arsenal. “I love you, Ames.”
A chorus of awws go around the table.
She swallows. Her voice sounds shaky when she starts, but soon firms up. “I know you’ll all think me crazy, but,” she smiles toward me, “I love Rattler, and I want to make my life with him.” She squeezes my hand.
“Right then, Ames is officially Rat’s,” Prez announces as I pull Ames closer and give her a kiss. “Pippa, when the lovebirds are ready, I suggest you begin.”
“Hold on,” Ames asks, “Do I have to sign a non-disclosure agreement?” She pauses, then adds, with a quirk to her mouth, “Maybe in blood?”
Pippa snorts, “You’re one of us now.” She shifts position on the VP’s lap, and I can see his grimace.
From the way she’s sitting, she’s right on top of his cock.
I suspect he’s got ideas for a better use of his time.
“Okay, so here it is.” Pippa draws a deep breath in.
“I was a Secret Service agent. I got in a bad spot, was blamed for something that wasn’t my fault.
I was run off the road and almost killed.
” She pauses only to glance behind her, and gets a nod from Saint.
“Saint rescued me, which was right out of character.” She pauses for the chuckles and laughter, and only continues when it dies down.
“Not only did he bring me here, but the club swung into action and made it appear as if I was dead.”
Ames frowns. “That’s not so easy…”
Pippa interrupts. “No it was not. Words happened to have a Jane Doe in a freezer at the funeral home. Genie…” I notice she doesn’t mention Ace’s part in it.
“Altered my government dental records and DNA so it matched the body Words had. I was declared dead. I was free, able to live my life as I want to.” She presses her lips together.
“It’s been, what, ten months now?” She glances behind her to Saint who nods to show he agrees with her calculation.
“I’m still cautious about going out in case I’m recognised, I don’t want rumours about a dead woman walking.
But that was down to my death being publicised.
And in case you are wondering, I wouldn’t ever go back to my old life.
I’ve got Saint, I work with the Kings, and to top it all off, I’ve got Jade. ”
“We,” Saint corrects with a smile. “We’ve got Jade.”
“I’ll remind you of that next time she’s filled her diaper.
” Pippa’s comment in an over-sweet tone makes us all chuckle.
Even Ames smiles. She gets back on track.
“You might wonder why I’m telling you this, but your brother made an offer to the Bratva which was accepted.
They want to honour that. They want to get their hands on your inheritance by way of marrying you off to one of them.
Probably Volkov if he’s come back into the fold, maybe someone else. ”
Ames jaw drops. “What the…”
Prez holds up his hand to quiet her. “The thing is, they want you for your money.” Pressing his fingers into his temples, he lets her know the implications.
“The Russians don’t know your’re married to Rat, but if they find out, the solution would be simple.
Rat would just be someone to be got out of the way. ”
Ames flinches, her hand has hold of mine in a death grip, and her voice is hoarse.
“He’ll come after Flynn to get to me.” Then, to my surprise, slowly she starts to relax.
Sitting up straighter, she speaks in a more normal tone.
“You wouldn’t have gone through with the vote to make me an old lady if you were going to throw either me or Flynn to the wolves. You’ve got a plan. I want to hear it.”
Prez jerks his head toward Words, who clears his throat loudly, then sits forward. “The thing is, Ames, I’ve got a body on ice…”
“Satin,” she breathes out, showing she’s certainly not slow on the uptake.
“Yeah,” Words picks it up again. “Satin, who’s not unlike you in colouring.”