Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Tombstone
Pulling up to the house, I nod to the prospect sitting in my driveway. Before leaving the tattoo parlor, I had texted him with an order and roundabout time we’d be home. I wanted to end the day by giving Sutton one of her favorite foods—Thai chicken and noodles.
Today is all about Sutton and me connecting. I’m not trying to be pussified about the whole thing. I’m just trying to show my woman what she means to me before I need to get down to business, telling her about the shit from my past.
From the smile Sutton gave me when we finished up with Devin and Sasha, I knew she'd liked my surprise. The henna on her wrist is absolutely perfect, and Sasha had incorporated my name in the design just as I asked. I figured it was a good way to prove to Sutton that she’s mine.
Plus, it shows what it would be like once her scars are healed enough for those markings to be permanent.
I also can’t wait to see the tattoo she got on her back.
Sasha and Sutton had refused to let me see it before they bandaged it.
That’s all right. I’ll see it later tonight after everything is said and done.
Especially when I’ve got her underneath me, or above me—I don’t want to fuck up her artwork.
Shit, I wonder what she’ll think of my own piece I got Devin to tattoo on my forearm.
Shutting off the bike, I kick the stand down as Sutton hops off. I swing my leg over and straighten as I take her hand in mine.
“Here you go, Tombstone,” the prospect says, holding the bags out for me as I step closer to him. “Everything you ordered is in here. It should still be hot. I haven’t been here more than five minutes at most.”
“Appreciate it, Prospect.” I nod, taking the bags from him with my free hand. “I’ll catch ya at the clubhouse tomorrow.”
Giving me a two-finger salute, the prospect darts back over to one of the spare trucks he had drove over here.
At least he's sensible enough not to bring our food on a bike. I’d have been pissed if he did.
Nothing more irritating than eating cold Thai noodles.
I hate my food getting cold. That’s fuckin’ nasty.
I tug Sutton’s hand and guide her into the house. Only when we’re inside do I release her. “Why don’t we eat in the living room?” I suggest. “We can start the movie, and if you want, I’ll see if I can’t rent Venom two as well.”
“That sounds good to me, but you don’t have to rent the second one. I promised the girls we could go see it in two weeks when we’re all free,” she murmurs, moving ahead of me.
“We’ll see how everything goes,” I say, giving her a smile.
The two of us make our way into the living room, and while I pull the food out of the bags and set out the containers, Sutton brings the movie up on the TV for us.
“I’ve been meaning to ask—why do you have such a large TV?” she asks, taking a seat on a cushion as she tosses it on the floor, her mischievous eyes holding mine.
“Don’t even think it’s got something to do with the size of my dick, Bambina.” I chuckle, quirking a brow as she begins to giggle.
“I wasn’t thinking that at all.” She snickers, rolling her eyes. “I simply don’t get why men have to have such large TVs.”
“It’s a guy thing.” I shrug, handing her one of the containers.
Grabbing a blanket off the back of the couch, I spread it on the floor next to Sutton and toss more cushions down.
This is one thing I’ve learned about my woman—she doesn’t like to eat on the couch.
She’ll eat in a bed, at a table, or on the floor. I’d love to know her reasons for this.
“Whatever.” Rolling her eyes, she opens it and starts stabbing her chopsticks through the noodles.
Starting the movie, I take my position next to her and dive into my food, only stopping long enough to go into the kitchen to snag both of us a beer.
Throughout the movie, we talk about little, minuscule things, nothing heavy. I’m holding the heavy for after. Then afterward, I’m hoping I’ll be holding something even better as I thrust inside her.
Shit, I’m done for where Sutton’s concerned.
The moment the movie finishes, Sutton slowly rolls toward me, making sure to take care to not put too much pressure on her back. Sometime after we’d finished eating, the two of us stretched out, with me holding her to me while we watched the screen.
Having her in my arms feels fuckin’ right. I still want to kick myself for not opening my eyes sooner and allowing myself to be blinded by my past.
On that thought, I focus on Sutton’s features and reach up to stroke my thumb over her lips. Lips I’d love nothing more than to see wrapped around my cock as I fuck her mouth. The simple thought of her using that tongue of hers goes straight down below, making my dick twitch to life.
But first things first, I’ve gotta have this talk with Sutton and get it out of the way. It’s time I open up.
“Sutton,” I murmur her name, though her attention is already on me.
Sutton’s eyes seem to examine my features, and her face loses that lightness to it I’ve enjoyed all day.
Sighing, I drop my hand to her hip, holding her in place. “I told you back when you were in the hospital, I’d tell you about my past when I felt you were ready.” She nods, licking her lips nervously. “I’ve already told you I was married, and it’s my fault she died, but here’s the rest of it.”
Closing my eyes, I suck in a harsh breath. “The club was in the middle of a war. One that took a lot of lives and didn’t fare well for a lot of people. Ronaele, she wasn’t just my wife, but she’s Reaper and Angel’s big sister.” Reopening my eyes, I hold Sutton’s shocked expression.
“They didn’t kill you?” she blurts.
Smirking at her outburst, I shake my head.
“I thought their dad would’ve when we found out she was pregnant, but I manned up and told him I was gonna do right by Ronaele.
I asked her to marry me, which of course, she agreed.
We both cared for each other. She was my best friend, other than her brothers.
We all grew up together.” Getting to the part I dread, I roll to my back and stare at the ceiling.
“See, Ronaele wasn’t just Reaper and Angel’s sister.
She was also a De Luca. Long story short .
. . her mom, Jeanna, she was married to Ronaele’s biological father before he died.
Her uncle allowed Jeanna to leave the family with the promise of letting them see Ronaele.
She agreed, met Reaper and Angel’s dad, who was the Prez of the Satan Keepers at the time.
They fell for each other, and he claimed Ronaele as his own.
“When the war was getting heavy between the club and a rival who wanted to take us down, they started targeting women and children. I thought by sending Ronaele away, I was keeping her safe. She’d just had Bethany not long before, and on the way to a safe house, the De Luca’s own, Jeanna, Ronaele, Bethany, and Jeanna’s youngest daughter, Aniyah—they were ambushed.
Aniyah and Bethany were lucky to have survived.
” Visions of when we caught up to them that night filter through my head.
We’d sent them with prospects, and seeing Ronaele’s lifeless eyes has always haunted me.
“That night, I promised myself I’d do everything in my power to protect my daughter.
I did the only thing I could at the time.
I sent her to live with my sister, who hates me, but she took Bethany under the promise that when I visited, I wasn’t to tell her who I was to her.
I was not to say a word about who she really was,” I mutter, finally looking back at Sutton to find her staring at me with silent tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I failed them both, and I’ll live with that for the rest of my life.
Same as I failed you by not giving us a chance. ”
“You didn’t fail me,” Sutton whispers, closing her eyes, shaking her head in denial.
“Yeah, Bambina, I did fail you. I never even gave you a chance. I treated you like a fuckin’ piece of ass when I should’ve treated you like the gem you really are,” I state, rolling back to my side and wrapping an arm around her waist.
“Tombstone, neither of us were in the right state of mind for a relationship. But I think if you want, I’m ready now,” she murmurs, pressing herself closer to me.
“One thing I’ve learned in therapy is that I have to let go of the past and move forward.
The only way to get a forever like I want is to focus on the future and not let memories get in the way. ”
Reaching up, Sutton wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses her lips to mine. “I want a forever with you, Mason Colt, and I hope you want that with me as well.”
Fuck me.
Sutton is going to be the death of me if she keeps this up.