CHAPTER FORTY
-:- TwoCents -:-
I can’t wait for Saturday and the surprise for Pais. I have left everything in Mia”s capable hands, and oh boy, she has enjoyed herself. Buzz and Wings went along to oversee the safety of all the Ol’ Ladies while they shopped for new dresses. Buzz was not impressed with the way they kept splitting up and going in opposite directions, while Wings enjoyed the entire experience giving vivid descriptions of the lingerie shopping.
The Ol’ Ladies all think they are shopping for a surprise celebration party Mia is holding for Axel. Telling them they all have to look special, but some commented that why did they need a dress. I’m not sure how Mia got around that question, and I don’t care as long as the beans were not spilled.
I notice Axel giving Pais smirks and she was getting more suspicious as the days passed. Axel will renew the vows, as he is ordained, and his teasing of her he’s finding highly amusing.
Meat and Star have been spending time at TJs making sure everything will be perfect for the night. Beer is stocking the bar to the hilt because the place will buzz and you can bet the brothers will down a skin full. Geek and Stew have planned an array of foods that everyone can dive into, some of which I’ve never heard of, but Mia was excited, so it must be okay. All the staff will get extra in their pay for coming in and making sure this is a tremendous success.
My mind is wandering so badly that I nearly jump out of my chair when a voice snarls. “Wake the fuck up, man. Axel has called an officers meeting in his office.”
Looking toward the door, Drag is shaking his head in disgust, but I smirk because he has to find his woman still, and we all will give him as much shit as he has us. I can’t wait!
Taking a seat in Axel’s office, I wait for whatever this meeting is about. Wings has this look on his face, not sure if he”s just curious or if he knows something about this meeting.
Axel walks into the office, places a mug of coffee on his desk, and takes his seat. Buzz closes the office door before walking over to his seat.
“I’ve had word from Boardman Charnwood that they have rounded up every one of the fuckers involved in the Maurice Brooks case. None are getting bail, and are incarcerated until trial.
“The thing is, brothers, we have friends that are not happy with what has happened, who has been involved, and they want their pound of flesh.” Axel is looking from one of us to another.
“What does that mean, Pres?” PT asks.
“Well, we may see some of these fuckers getting shanked. We have gang members, MC brothers, a cartel man, and a billionaire that are looking for payback. They are the ones that will want retribution for sisters, girlfriends, mothers, brothers and children…” Axel takes a deep breath as he pauses, and we can all see he’s affected by all that he’s found out over the last months. “I’ve been told by my connection that a lifer is being paid five million to take out six of these assholes. The money will pay for his family to have a good life, and he knows he’s never getting out, so it’s one way he can do something he sees worthy before his time ends.”
“They don’t deserve to continue breathing and in his position, I probably would have done each of them free of charge,” I snarl, because we know most of the ones that were taken will either never be found, or are dead already.
Grunts and nods of agreement from my brothers show they all feel the same as me regarding these pieces of shit. They sure are going to be hot when they take their last breath because Satan will be waiting to welcome them.
“Will your connection keep you informed?” Drag asks.
“Yeah. I’ll keep you all up-to-date. I’m not sure they’ll be breathing long because even criminals have some morals where trafficking is concerned,” Axel responds to Drag’s question.
Later in the day, I walk into the common room and am surprised to see Pais sitting alongside Soloman. Walking over, I shake his hand before kissing Pais on the top of her head and taking the seat next to her.
“How are you?” I ask, and I am genuinely interested. He’s not related to Pais, but he would have been her stepson, although that sounds wrong, as they are nearly the same age.
“I’m good. I gave notice at my job, hated it anyway and opened up a business consultancy company. So far, I have picked up eight clients and their businesses have shown a marked improvement since I was taken onboard. I feel like my future has more promise than ever before.” Soloman is looking damn proud of himself, and I’m sure he deserves to feel that way. “I came to let you know that I scattered the ashes amongst the rose bushes. A friend who is a minister came and said a prayer while I did it. I’m going to miss him, but I’ll try to do him proud.”
“You will, Solo, you really will,” Pais says and grabs Soloman’s hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Solo?” I question.
“Well, Soloman is a long name, and you call me Pais, and my name is nowhere near as long…Oh, yes it is…Anyway, I like Solo and it’s what I’m going to call him. You don’t mind, do you?” Pais says all this in one damn breath, and it’s a wonder she isn’t blue in the face from lack of oxygen.
“No, I don’t mind at all. It’s actually good to have a new name, sort of…to go with my new life,” Solo, as I’ll now think of him, replies.
“I like it too, and yeah, it will be good to go with your change in job and where you live.” I can see he wants to say something, and I lift an eyebrow to encourage him.
“Would you mind if I stay in touch, Paisley? I have to admit I’m a little lost and feel alone rambling in that mansion.”
“I would be hurt if you didn’t stay in touch. I’ll come and stay with you now and again if that’s okay? TwoCents and some of the brothers would be up for a BBQ if you’d like that?” Pais says, and asks.
“Yeah, I would like that. You coming to stay and the BBQ. I have plenty of bedrooms, a large kitchen and the pool, as you know.” Solo grins, and he looks damn lighter already, just from Pais wanting to stay in touch.
For a minute, I had forgotten that Pais used to live there with Maurice. Now, I’m not so sure I like the idea!
Giggling draws my attention and looking at Pais, she’s laughing but looking right at me. Shaking her head at me, she turns back to Solo.
“Should I tell TwoCents I only lived at the mansion for the last month of our marriage?” Pais teases while directing the question to Solo.
“Well, it may make him feel better,” Solo replies with a smile on his face.
Changing the subject, I ask, “Have you had any contact with the Wicked Witch, Davinia?”
“No, not a word. I have had a private investigator check what’s going on with her mind you. She’s working at a diner, serving greasy joes. Living in a tiny apartment that she leases. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer person,” Solo chuckles.
“She has money from the will reading, and she had jewelry she could have pawned or sold. She could have found herself another sucker to marry,” Pais is, by the look of it, thinking out loud.
Solo laughs, “Not sure she’ll be lucky to find another sucker because it’s gone around quickly that she was living off her son, and what she did to her previous husbands. Turns out she’s been married four times, and as soon as she spent all their money she divorced them.”
“Fucking hell, maybe she’s a vampire and not a witch?” I mumble, which has Solo and Pais laughing.
The rest of the week flies past, and Saturday evening comes around. Pais thinks we are going to Axel’s celebration and is fairly excited about it. I can’t wait for her to see what’s really going down.
Pais is dressed in a lavender off the shoulder dress. The bodice is tight but not showing too much cleavage thankfully, as I’d not be happy about it if it had. It sits tight to her tiny waist and flows to mid-calf. She looks stunning, and the lavender matching shoes have her looking classy as hell. I’m feeling damn lucky that she was in the bank that day.
Walking into TJs, I make sure Pais is tucked into my side. The first person I see is Solo, who I had secretly arranged to be here. He’s beaming at Pais and she splutters, ‘What are you doing here?’ But I whisk her past him before he can answer.
I walk Pais into the room, which is decked out with garlands, flowers, and a beautiful archway covered in roses. Axel is standing on the other side of the archway, looking smart in his black trousers, white shirt and kutte. He even has his hair up in a man bun.
“Come on, Pais.” I carefully tuck her hand under and over my forearm as we make our way past the people who have formed an aisle towards the archway.
Pais whispers, “What’s going on?”
“We’re getting married again, renewing our vows. Since we didn’t have a ceremony the first time.”
“Oh, my…” Pais gasps. She grips my forearm, and when I look down at her, she is beaming. “Thank you, Daniel.”
Now, I’m wearing a smile because that’s the first time Pais has called me by my given name and not my road name.
After the vow renewal, we dance, eat, laugh and have an awesome time. I watch as Pais dances with Solo. They both have huge smiles on their faces, and I’m positive we’ll be seeing more of Solo after this.
Checking the time as I’ve had enough, I walk over to Pais, pick her up bridal style, and walk out of TJs with everyone cheering and throwing out comments that would curl your grandmother’s hair. Mind you Sybil, and Amelia have shouted a few things they shouldn’t even know about which had Axel frowning at them, and Mia throwing her head back laughing.
The evening is a fucking good one, and rolls into Sunday. I run down to the kitchen to grab sustenance for us both, and quickly back to my wifey. I can’t wait for the cabin to be finished and get us moved in because that’s when I’m going to work on making babies, and yeah, I mean more than one. I want a parcel of kids given time, and thankfully, so does Pais.
Monday afternoon, I have everything to take to the bank, and Wings is ready to ride along with me. Walking through the common room, Pais walks over to me, kisses me, and tells me she’s coming with, too. She has her helmet in her hand and is wearing her leathers, so she’s planned for this.
Wings is chuckling and winks. I see he’s had a hand in this. More than likely Pais has asked him where he’s going and POW, she’s coming.
“Okay, come on.” Grinning because I love it when she’s riding bitch.
Walking into the bank twenty minutes later, we stand in line for the teller. Wings decided to wait with the hogs out front, so it’s just me and Pais.
“FREEZE! EVERYONE STAY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.”
Not fucking again, I think, and quickly eye the asshole who’s trying to hold up the bank. My temper rises. I push Pais behind me, shout loudly, ‘FUCK THIS SHIT’, then run over to the asshole, punch him, which has him land on his ass. Before I punch him again and knock him out.
Pais, however, picked up a vase with silk flowers and smashed it on another prick”s head, knocking him clean out. I hadn’t even seen this one as I was concentrating on the one in front of me. Pais gives me a beaming smile and looks more than a little proud of herself.
Wings runs through the front door of the bank, weapon in hand and seeing the assholes down, stops and shakes his head. “Fuckin’ hell, you could have left one for me.”
“Stop whining like a bitch, Wings. It’s not good for your street cred,” Pais states, and I throw my head back, laughing at the look of disbelief on Wings’ face. But it’s the way he looks around to see who noticed that keeps me laughing.
“Deal with this shit. We’re going back to the clubhouse.” I pick Pais up and haul ass to my hog. I need to get my woman home because I need to worship her, and the bravery she just showed. I’m one lucky fucker, and I”ll never forget it.