Chapter 5 - Angel
The neon lights of Eddie's Diner cast a pink glow over the nearly empty parking lot. At 1 AM, this place is a ghost town except for truckers and insomniacs. And me, stress-eating my feelings away.
I'm picking at my fries, replaying the conversation with Dad over and over in my head. Did I push too far? The look in his eyes when I told him I loved Ruthless – I've never seen him look so betrayed.
And now Ruthless is probably facing his wrath alone, all because I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
The ranch dressing sits untouched next to my plate. Usually, I'd be drowning my fries in it, but my stomach is too twisted with worry to really enjoy anything. Still, I keep picking at them because it's better than sitting alone with my thoughts.
Someone slides into the booth across from me. My heart jumps before I even look up – I'd know that presence anywhere.
"How did you find me?" I ask, meeting Ruthless's eyes.
He smirks, and warmth spreads through my chest at the familiar expression.
"You always come here when you're pissed. Double smash burger, extra cheese, side of fries with ranch." He glances at my plate. "And you always start with the fries even though you say they're just a side."
"Fuck," I mutter, but I can't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "You really know me, don't you?"
"Better than you think." His expression softens as he reaches across the table, his fingers brushing over my bruised cheek. "You okay?"
The gentleness in his touch makes my throat tight. "Did he hit you?"
"Once," he admits, and I notice the split in his lip for the first time. Anger flares in my chest, but he catches my hand before I can pull away. "Hey, it's okay. We handled it."
"Handled it how?" I turn my hand in his, linking our fingers together. "Because I said things, Ruthless. Things I can't take back. Things about us."
"I know." His thumb traces circles on my palm. "He told me."
The waitress appears with my burger, doing a double-take at our joined hands before setting the plate down. Ruthless orders a coffee, black, and waits until she's gone before continuing.
"He's not happy," he says carefully, "but he's not going to stand in our way either."
I nearly drop the burger I just picked up. "What?"
"Don't get me wrong – he made it very clear that if I hurt you, he'll kill me." The corner of his mouth ticks up. "But he also told me to bring you home. Said your room's still there if you need it."
Relief floods through me so fast it makes me dizzy. "I thought... I was sure he'd..."
"Try to keep us apart?" Ruthless squeezes my hand. "He probably wants to. But you're his daughter – stubborn as hell, just like him. He knows fighting this would only push you away."
I take a shaky breath, setting down my burger. "So... what now?"
His blue eyes lock with mine, intense and unwavering. "Honestly? I have no fucking idea." He runs his thumb over my knuckles again, the gesture both soothing and electrifying. "All I know is that since I kissed you in that garage, I can't think about anything else. Can't think about anyone else."
"Ruthless..." His name comes out barely above a whisper.
"I know what everyone sees when they look at me," he continues, his voice low and rough. "The enforcer. The soldier. The man who earned his name by showing no mercy." He pauses, and I see something vulnerable flash in his eyes. "But with you? Angel, with you, I'm someone else entirely. Someone who'd risk everything – the club, your father's trust, my own life – just to be with you."
I can barely breathe. This is Ruthless – the man who once put three rival MC members in the hospital without breaking a sweat. The man who never shows weakness, never lets his guard down. Yet here he is, in a nearly empty diner at 1 AM, pouring his heart out to me.
"You're worth everything," he says, squeezing my hand. "Every risk, every consequence. And I'm done pretending otherwise."
"I never thought..." I have to swallow past the lump in my throat. "You're always so controlled, so... ruthless. I didn't think you could feel this way about anyone."
He laughs softly, but there's no humor in it.
"Baby, I've been feeling this way about you for longer than I care to admit. Fighting it every step of the way because I thought it was the right thing to do. But tonight?" He shakes his head. "Tonight showed me that sometimes the right thing isn't what everyone else thinks it should be."
The fluorescent lights of the diner fade away, and all I can see is him – the man who's always been there, who's always protected me, who's now offering me everything I never thought I could have.
"There's something else," he says, his expression turning serious. "Your dad called a meeting. All members. He wants revenge. They tried to attack his daughter. He's not letting them go unpunished."
Reality crashes back in, but surprisingly, it doesn't dim the warmth in my chest. If anything, it makes this moment feel more real, more us. Because this is our life – love and danger, tender moments and club business, all mixed together.
"Then we should go," I say, but I don't let go of his hand. "Together?"
"Together. But first..." He leans closer, his voice dropping lower. "I'd like to have some time alone with you. To actually enjoy this, celebrate us taking this step. Without club business or angry fathers or Outlaws."
My heart races at the suggestion. "Where?"
"My place?" His eyes search mine, giving me an out if I want it. "Or we could go somewhere else..."
"Your place is perfect," I say quickly, maybe too quickly. My thighs clench involuntarily at the thought of being alone with him in his home. Of finishing what we started in the garage.
But anxiety mingles with the excitement. He has no idea that despite my tough exterior, despite the way I carry myself like I'm fully grown, I've never...
God, how do I tell Ruthless – experienced, mature Ruthless – that I'm a virgin? That I've been saving myself, waiting for someone special. Waiting for him, though I didn't always know it.
"You sure?" he asks, studying my face. "We could—"
"I'm sure," I cut him off. "We should celebrate. After all, we’re at war, right? We don’t know when we’ll have another moment like this."
He shakes his head, his expression darkening slightly.
"I think so. The war's been brewing since Chloe wrote that exposé on the Outlaws' trafficking ring. Then they nearly killed one of us, and we hit their weapon stash in retaliation." His thumb traces the bruise on my cheek. "But now? Now, all hell breaks loose. Things are going to get ugly, Angel."
"Then we deserve this moment even more," I say, trying to sound braver than I feel. "Before everything goes to shit."
He drops some bills on the table and stands, holding out his hand. "Ride with me. On my bike. We can leave the other behind."
I take his hand, electricity shooting up my arm at the contact. "Will it be safe?"
"Eddie's got cameras everywhere, and half the police force eats here. It'll be fine until morning."
Outside, the night air is cool against my heated skin. I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. The familiar smell of leather, cigarettes, and something uniquely him surrounds me as I rest my cheek against his back. His muscles flex under my touch as he kicks the bike to life.
As we pull out of the parking lot, I hold him tighter, my mind racing with thoughts of what's to come. The war with the Outlaws, the club's reaction to us, and most importantly, what's about to happen at his place.
I should be scared – of all of it. But with my arms around Ruthless and his heart beating steady against my palms, all I feel is ready. Ready for whatever comes next, as long as we face it together.
The city lights blur past us as we head toward his place, and I close my eyes, letting myself feel everything: the rumble of the bike, the solid warmth of his body, and the promise of what awaits us. Because whatever happens next – with the club, with the Outlaws, with us – this moment is ours.
And I plan to make it count.