Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Delaney
Ihear his motorcycle before he makes it to the door. Even as stressful as everything is, knowing he is here makes everything better.
Walking to the door, I open it, waiting for him to come to me.
He doesn’t disappoint, wrapping me in his arms and kissing me deeply as he backs me into the house, the door slamming shut behind him.
When he pulls away, he smiles at me.
“I missed you,” he murmurs.
“I missed you too. You’re early. I haven’t started dinner yet.”
He turns, locking the door before leading me to the couch. “How did the meeting with the lawyers go?” he asks.
“Good. The school board didn’t have any proof I put the video there myself, and with the angle of the video and such, and the fact that it was only the one, it is looking better for me.
Revenge porn is apparently a real thing exes will do.
It being a public school makes it a little easier too.
They have different rules they need to follow than the private sector. Or so the lawyer says.”
He nods. “I got you the best, so you should be good.”
I smile. “You did, but funny thing is the lawyer says he’s paid up. Do you know anything about that?”
“You’re my girl, and this has a lot to do with us, so it’s my responsibility.”
I shake my head. “No. This was supposed to be a fling. Not cost you thousands of dollars. I know how much that lawyer requires for a retainer. I can’t let you do that for me.”
“You can and you will. Money means nothing to me. I have more than I know what to do with. Let me do this for you.”
I press my lips together. “What if I order you to take your money back? Let me pay for it on my own?”
He cups my cheek. “We both know you don’t have the money to afford him. Even if you did, there are some things that are my responsibility. This is one of them. So order me around all you want, this is nonnegotiable. I pay for the lawyer.”
“I should be angry about that, but it oddly makes me feel better about all of this. Thank you.”
He caresses my cheek “Anytime, and as for us being a fling, I think we both know it’s gone much further than this.”
He’s right. I’ve been too afraid to admit it, but I’m glad he is feeling it too.
I clear my throat. “How was your day?”
He grimaces. “I haven’t been honest with you. I don’t want you to be mad at me.”
My heart starts thumping in my chest as I back away from him.
“Tell me what the lie was,” I demand, all warmth drained from my tone.
“I haven’t lied to you. I just haven’t told you everything that’s been going on.
Blaine has been causing issues for the club.
He knows we are together, and he was doing some shit he shouldn’t have been on the side.
I can’t tell you much more than that. Those flowers you thought I sent?
They were from him. I don’t know why he hasn’t taken credit for it, but I thought it best to let you think it was me until I eliminated the threat.
The problem is, he messed with my president’s old lady.
He’s asking for war, and we cannot protect you if you stay here. ”
I swallow hard. “You want me to stay with you?”
He nods. “At the clubhouse. The club is in lockdown. The garage won’t be open. No one is working until we get this settled.”
“If I say no?”
He shrugs. “Then I stay here with you. I won’t leave you unprotected.”
I sigh. I can’t believe this is my life right now.
“The flowers were from him…” I murmur, trailing off.
“They were.”
“The bagels too then?” I ask, thinking back to the basket of bagels that were delivered to me a few days ago.
“What bagels?” he asks.
“It makes so much sense now,” I start. “I said something about it in passing, but you didn’t react. I thought you were trying to be sweet but not take the credit, but you really didn’t know.”
“No. I don’t like that he’s been stalking you. After the video and the gifts, I don’t like the thought of you staying here.”
“Neither do I,” I admit
“So you’ll come to the clubhouse with me?”
I nod. “I don’t see why not. I don’t have a job to worry about. If it makes your life easier, then I want to go. I don’t want to be here alone anymore.”
I didn’t realize how close Blaine had gotten to me so many times. I really thought he was harmless, but he’s proving to be much worse than he let on.
“Thank you.” He leans in, kissing me softly.
It’s the moments like this that mean the world to me. The little moments that show that he cares.
“Let’s go pack then. How long will I be gone?” I ask him.
“As long as it takes. I’m going to get this solved, though. You’re going to get your job back.”
I press a quick kiss to his lips. “I know. The lawyer says we have a good case. I’m not worried. I trust you.”
“I love that you do.”
“Now, come pack my bags. If you’re quick about it, maybe you’ll earn yourself a reward.”
He chuckles, but before he can respond, I hear another motorcycle.
“Who is that?” I ask.
“Acid. He’s escorting us back to the clubhouse. Smoke didn’t want to take any chances.”
I swallow hard. “It’s that serious?”
His face is grim. “It’s bad enough he was messing with the club businesses, but the brothers brushed it off their shoulders.
It’s part of the game. He came after Kelly.
Smoke would burn the world for her as any of us would for our old lady.
He was an annoying gnat before. Now he’s become a credible threat. One that will be eliminated.”
My heart beats faster in my chest. “Are you going to kill him?”
“Not if we can help it, but if it’s the last resort? We will do whatever it takes to keep the club and our women safe. To hell with the consequences.”
That should scare me, but it oddly makes me feel safer somehow.
Tank
I expected Delaney to put up more of a fight, but she didn’t. She likes being in control, yet she handed it to me without question.
I think it shows how far she has come. She trusts me. It feels so monumental to know that she trusts me. That she is willing to let loose of the reins and hand them over to me to handle.
I love when she dominates me in the bedroom and don’t mind that it bleeds into our day-to-day life, but this is a huge step for her. She’s letting me make the decisions. Giving me the room to do what is best for her in this situation.
I never imagined we would get to this point.
“I’m so glad you decided to come.” Kelly hugs Delaney as soon as we walk through the door.
“I’m so sorry that this happened. If I had never come here, he wouldn’t know to target you. I feel terrible that I’m the reason you lost your license,” Delaney says, the sorrow evident in her tone.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You are not responsible for the choices of others.
I have never seen Tank as happy as he is with you.
It doesn’t matter what your crazy-ass ex does.
We will always be grateful to have you here for that alone.
The fact that you are also a great person and friend only means that we love you even more. ”
“I appreciate that, but I really can’t help but feel like this is my fault.”
Jane walks up, Sloane right behind her.
“If it’s your fault, then it’s my fault my ex tried to kill me and ruin our lives,” Jane tells her.
“And my sperm donor tried to take the club down because of me. It’s all my fault,” Sloane adds.
“I almost ruined the club before it even got started,” Kelly whispers.
“It’s none of our fault. Life happens. We can’t control it. We just have to learn to roll with the punches. You have us now. You have Tank. We can weather any storm,” Jane adds.
“Together.” Sloane nods.
“Always.” Kelly smiles.
“Thank you. All of you.” Delaney steps back, looking up at me.
“I’m going to go put our things down. Why don’t you have a drink with the girls? Call Erica and give her an update too. If he starts to bother her, we can bring her here too.”
She pushes up on her toes, kissing me lightly. “Okay. Thank you.”
I nod, leaving her with the girls before heading down to my room. I take a few minutes to unpack her bags, putting her things into the drawers I barely use.
It feels right seeing her things next to mine. It makes me want to make this permanent.
When I’m finally done, I step out of my room to find Smoke standing there with Acid.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“He was at the house. He watched you leave. Followed for a while, but turned off,” Acid informs us both.
I grimace. “What the fuck is this guy’s problem? I should have taken care of him when I had the chance.”
“Hindsight is twenty-twenty. We can’t do anything about it now. We also can’t kill him outright. Not without provocation,” Smoke reminds me.
“I know, otherwise he’d already be dead,” I growl.
“I think it would be smart to ask her to be your old lady now.” Smoke has been pushing this for weeks now.
“That’s not exactly how our relationship works,” I mutter.
“Figure it out, Tank. She’d be safer with your patch.”
He walks away, Acid following behind him. I rub my hand down my face.
I know they are right. I have wanted to ask her for a while, but I don’t want to overstep any lines. That’s not how our dynamic is.
Shaking off the thought, I head down the hall back to the main room. Everyone is here, reminding me of how big the club has grown.
What started off as only a couple of guys from Boston looking to start a new life has turned into a brotherhood. I like seeing everyone enjoying themselves, even if it is under such shitty circumstances.
I make my way over to Delaney, smiling as she tells a story about one of her kids from school. I take the seat next to her, wrapping my arm around her. I love that she doesn’t question it.
We all continue to chat until Smoke makes his way over. He gives me a look, telling me to get on with it.
I shake my head, ignoring him.
“What’s going on?” Delaney asks me, looking between us.
“Nothing,” I tell her.
Smoke snorts. “He’s supposed to be asking you a very important question.”
Smoke gives me a knowing look.
“What does he want you to ask me?”
I wince. “To be my old lady.”
Delaney’s eyes widen before she starts laughing. I can tell she gets why I won’t ask. I don’t want to ask. I want her to take it.
She turns to Smoke. “Oh, he’s not going to ask me. He doesn’t need to. I’ve been his old lady for weeks now. I didn’t realize there was something formal we needed to do, but yeah, he’s mine. I claimed him, and I would love to see him try to get away.”
She looks back at me, eyes twinkling. The looks she gives me promise me punishment if I try to leave her.
She doesn’t realize what she did, though. My smile is wide on my face, unable to hold in how I feel. I fucking love this woman.
“Tank?” Smoke asks, eyebrow raised.
“You heard the woman. She claimed me, which is why I didn’t need to claim her. Is there an issue?”
Smoke thinks it over before laughing, “Nope.” Then louder, he says, “Attention, everyone. Tank has claimed his old lady. Everyone congratulate Tank and Delaney.”
A round of cheers sound out as people come over to talk to us. I hear them, but I’m not paying attention to them.
All I can think about is the woman next to me. The same one who seems to know exactly what I need and is happy to give it to me. As happy as I am to give her what she needs.
We are perfect for one another.