33. Ace
ACE
I sneak out to the barn, looking left and right to make sure no one is watching. The box full of vegetation I’m carrying would give the game away to anyone who knows what porcupines eat.
Hopefully, no one will look in the barn for my fugitive friend.
The cats and kittens have been living here, undisturbed now, for some time, so hopefully all the other animals will be left alone, too.
Not that the porcupine is anywhere near the kittens.
That wouldn’t be safe at all. No, it’s in a separate part of the barn where it can’t cause any harm.
I stop at the porcupine pen first, to make sure he or she is recovering from the injuries it looks like it suffered after fighting with another porcupine.
Then I clamber up into the hayloft to tend to the other animals.
Once I’ve fed my growing menagerie, I climb down the ladder from the hayloft and bump smack into Ghost.
“You know,” he says all casual and smirky, “you could feed the snails to the porcupine. I’m sure they’d be a rare treat for it.”
“There’s no porcupine here. I got rid of it.” I hold his gaze unwaveringly. “Also, you’re thinking of armadillos. Porcupines are herbivores.”
“Of course.” His smirk just gets more annoying.
“So,” I change the subject, “I think we need to initiate Jack into our group.”
Ghost’s brows shoot up. “You want to initiate the prez into our… what? Sex club.”
“It’s not a fucking sex club. Don’t make it sordid. We all love her, and he does, too. I wasn’t talking about sex, although… yeah, sure, that, too. For now, though, how about we do something together? Just the five of us. Something fun.”
“Fun?” Ghost chews his cheek as if he doesn’t even know the meaning of the word.
Honestly, I don’t think he does.
“Yeah, fun. You know, happy-happy times. Fun and laughter. Joy. A feeling of amusement and enjoyment.”
“I know what the word means.” He huffs out an annoyed breath.
“Do you, though?”
He grinds his teeth. “Ace, do you want the prez to know you’ve got the armadillo in there?”
“It’s a fucking porcupine, and it’s a good idea.”
“What’s a good idea?” a female voice comes from behind us.
“Fuck me.” I practically jump out of my skin.
I turn around to see Camile smiling sweetly at me. “What ya doing?” she asks faux innocently.
“Nothing,” I say, scuffing the ground with my foot and not meeting her eye.
“Feeding his armadillo,” Ghost chimes in at the same time.
“Do we need to check you out for a brain injury?” I tap his head, and he bats me away. “P-O-R-C-U-P-I-N-E.”
“What’s a good idea?” Camile insists.
“I think we should do something fun now Jack is home.” I shrug.
“Well, I imagine there will be a big party before Jack’s original chapter heads home.” Camile gestures to outside the barn, as if showing me where said party would occur.
“I meant just the five of us.” I clarify. “To try to get Jack used to the… umm… dynamics.”
“Oooohhh, the dynamics.” Camile’s mouth twitches, and Ghost laughs softly.
“Fine, fuck you both.”
I start to walk away, irritated, but Camile hurries after me and grabs my arm. “Hey, Ace, I’m only joking. I think it’s a really good idea, actually.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do.”
“But what sort of thing should we organize?” Ghost catches up with us as we stroll back toward the clubhouse.
“I know.” Camile claps her hands. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to do ever since being a kid. I never had the chance growing up.”
“What’s that?” I’m keen to make her dream come true.
“A picnic.”
I stare at her for a moment. “A picnic?”
“Yep, a picnic. With a proper picnic basket. I’ve always wanted one.”
The yearning in her voice has me getting half hard because it’s almost sexual. Still, it’s hard to imagine four massive, tattooed bikers, sitting down to eat out of a cutesy picnic basket.
“You know, those wicker ones, with the straps that hold all the plates and cutlery in place?” She sighs. “Some of the fanciest stores sell them. I think you can get them from that super upmarket store in London. What’s the name?”
London? We can’t go shopping in London. What is she talking about? I don’t know, not really, but I nod as if I am following it all, just so I don’t stop her daydreaming, because she’s so pretty like this.
“They are amazing,” she says. “We have to get one, obviously cheaper and local, and then I can plan the picnic.” She nibbles on her lower lip. “Can any of you cook or bake?”
“I can cook,” Ghost says. “But the ol’ ladies will make us a ton of food to go.”
“Noooo, I want us to do it. Fancy little sandwiches, and cakes and stuff.”
Camile’s eyes are so happy that I don’t want to ruin her fun by pointing out that we’d all prefer chicken thighs and corn.
“What would these fancy little sandwiches have in them?” Ghost asks warily.
“Cucumber. I don’t know what else, but I saw people eating cucumber sandwiches once on an old TV show, and it looked so whimsical.”
“Can’t we have sliders and chicken wings instead?” I plead.
She turns a sharp gaze on me. “You know, for someone who loves to rescue animals, Ace, you sure do like to eat them.”
My jaw drops. I can’t believe she just said that. It’s not my fault I was born as a meat eater.
With those cutting words, she walks off fast toward the clubhouse. “I’m going to talk with the ol’ ladies and see what we can come up with.”
I turn to Ghost. “Looks like we’re having a picnic.”
Two days later, we’re loading the bikes up with the stuff we’ll need.
Blankets. Towels. Cushions. And a huge-ass picnic basket that we ordered online.
Due to my amazing abilities as Road Captain, I’ve found a perfect spot.
It’s a field with a river running through it, which is picture-perfect, but also seems safe.
I scouted it out yesterday. It’s not too far from the compound, so the rest of the guys could get to us in a matter of minutes, if needed.
Even better, it’s surrounded by woods with no clear path through, so we’re unlikely to be disturbed.
The day is sunny, but there’s a slight nip in the air. We’re wearing hoodies under our cuts, and Camile has on the prettiest baby pink sweater that I just want to rip off her body.
Ghost finishes tying the picnic basket to the back of his bike.
Surprisingly, he’d been the one to go shopping with her for all the things she needed. He’d gone with her to town, trailed by a few guys at a distance, who watched to make sure they were safe.
“Is it secured?” Camile asks, her worried gaze fixed on the basket.
“Darling, it’s so secure that not even a tornado would remove it.”
This afternoon, we will have an innocent picnic with our girl, then tonight will be debauchery.
This evening, there’ll be a big party at the compound with both the clubs coming together to drink and dance and celebrate.
In two days, Jack’s old club members will travel back to their chapter, so we’ll have to say goodbye.
It will seem strange not to have them around. Phoenix, particularly, seems like the kind of guy we could use around here.
We climb on our bikes—Camile riding with Jack, me leading from the front—and travel at a slow, steady pace to the picnic spot. It’s a pretty day, and there’s no need to speed when we could be taking in the sights.
We arrive and park the bikes, then take the short walk through the woods to the place where the trees part, before opening into a pretty wildflower meadow with a river running through it. I doubt most people know this place exists.
Stepping into the meadow, Camile looks around, then runs to me to throw her arms around me. The scent of something sweet and seductive washes over me and I hold her tight.
“What was that for?” I ask when we break apart.
“For finding us the perfect spot. It’s so pretty.”
I’m staring right at her. “Yes, it is.”
“I mean the view, silly.” She slaps my arm.
“So do I.”
Her giggles are contagious.
Jack is watching us, but his expression is unreadable. I still have daily worries that he will get pissed at sharing her and want her all to himself.
What would Camile do then? If forced to choose, would she pick us? Or him? I have a deep-down terror that we’d lose out in that situation, though she’s reassured me several times that she’s already had the conversation with Jack, and he’s promised he’ll demand no such thing.
“Okay, let’s get the picnic basket set up.” Camile goes up onto her toes and bounces like an excited kid.
I can’t help but smile at her giddiness.
“Anyone would think we’d bought you a diamond ring, not a picnic basket.” Ghost nudges her, but the minute he says it, the atmosphere between us changes.
Jack pauses from where he’s spreading out a large blanket. “If anyone is buying Baby-girl a ring, it’s me.”
Fuuuuck. My stomach dips.
“But we can choose it together.” He winks to us, and the tight band around my chest eases a whole lot.
“A ring?” Camile squeaks. “I mean… that’s really a big commitment.”
Jack laughs softly. “Oh, did you think we’d let you walk away, now that we’re all head over heels?”
“Yeah, not happening.” Ghost tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
My fears ease. Jack wants this, all of us involved, as much as we do. Maybe he realizes it’s the only way to keep Camile happy. Or maybe he’s thinking about her safety. There’s a strength in numbers, and this is the way. Even if one or two of us are taken out, she still has the others.
Or perhaps this is an extension of the club, or a more condensed version, and he knows the club is where he’s the happiest. It’s always been like family for him.
Whatever his reasons, I just thank God he’s come to this conclusion.
This is my family now, too.