45. Camile
CAMILE
When I reach the clubhouse, I’m a little nervous.
The guys called a gathering of the entire club this evening, and Jack told me to dress up.
That’s it. Dress up and be at the clubhouse at eight.
I haven’t seen any of them all day and instead have had Saul and Big Mike babysitting me, so I know that something is up. I just don’t know what.
I’m wearing a short, strappy black dress, with heels. On my wrist is a silver bracelet, and I have a Tiffany silver key around my neck. Mom bought it for me many years ago, and I cherish it because of that.
Yesterday, she and my brother moved to the apartment they’re renting.
I was sad to see them go, but also a little relieved.
I have a feeling Mom knows there’s something going on between me and more than one man.
She’s not a fool, and she’s got eyes. Even though we’ve all kept the PDAs to a minimum while my family were here, I expect she’d only have to see me look at them to know my feelings.
Despite not talking about it to me, I could feel the weight of her concern. No doubt, once she’s settled in, I will be getting a call. I think at that point, I’ll just ‘fess up. I don’t want to lie to her, even if by omission.
I walk inside the clubhouse and stop short.
The place looks entirely different. It’s no longer a dingy biker bar, but a brightly lit space.
It’s spotless, so someone has given it a deep clean, and it’s been decorated.
There are tablecloths on the usually beer sticky tables, and a long trestle at the back has food laid along it.
Bottles of expensive champagne sit in ice buckets, and placed on either end of the bar top are two huge vases filled with pink roses. At the front of the room is a stage and a microphone, so maybe there’s going to be a band, too.
What the hell?
People mingle around, and I’m not quite sure what to do with myself.
“Hey, there.” Felicia saunters over to me. “Something tells me all this is in honor of you.”
“Really?” I look around, my heart filling. “Like a welcome party?”
“Yeah, just like that.” She winks at me.
I don’t get the wink.
“What?”
“Bitch? For real? Those men are going to claim you. You’ll get your Property Of patch, I reckon.”
My what?
Oh, no.
I love the guys, but wearing a patch that says I’m their property? That’s so…
“Hey.” Felicia squeezes my hand. “Don’t take it the wrong way. It’s a huge sign of commitment and respect.”
I glance at the bar and frown. The women working behind it are wearing different clothes than normal. I guess that’s for me, too, just for tonight. I had mentioned to Ace my dislike of the topless situation.
“I get that. It’s just under the rules, I belong to them, but they don’t belong to me.” I sigh.
“Oh, girl.” She laughs. “I’ve never seen four men belong to anyone more. Ace came in here yesterday and told them there’s no more topless requirement. They can wear what they want, as long as their tits are covered. So… I mean… I think you own them right back.”
He did? Oh, Ace. The man always manages to make my heart melt.
The door opens, and speak of the devil. Ace strolls in, as gorgeous as ever, followed by Rook, Ghost, and finally Jack.
They look my way, and Rook and Ace peel off from Ghost and Jack and head to me.
“Hey, Princess, want some champagne?”
“What’s going on, Ace?”
He grins. “You’ll see.”
As I sip ice-cold champagne with Ace and Rook, more people filter in until the space is absolutely heaving.
I’m still kind of confused about what’s going on. It’s clearly a party, but is it really for me?
Ace suddenly turns to me. “Is this enough for you?” he asks out of the blue.
I blink at him, unsure what he means. “What? The party?”
“No.” He gestures around. “The MC? This life? Us?”
It’s a moment of vulnerability that is rare to see in Ace, and I glance over at Rook, who nods along with Ace’s question.
“Of course it is,” I say with a small laugh. “How could you think it’s not?”
“Because we’ve never really asked you,” Rook says. “We’ve never checked in with you about what your dreams are, and what you see for the future. We know you love us, but is it enough?”
“Oh, Rook, it’s more than enough. All of you… it’s more than I ever dreamed of.”
“What did you dream of?” Ace asks.
I consider this for a moment. “I’m not sure I ever did allow myself to dream, not properly.
My life had already been mapped out for me before I was even born.
” I take a sip of tart champagne, to hide my emotions.
“But when I did allow myself to, all I ever wanted was to make the world better, perhaps do charity work to help people, especially disadvantaged families. There was a lot of poverty back home, and it was heartbreaking”
“We do a lot of that kind of thing.” Rook shrugs. “You could help organize charity runs and ride outs, maybe help us plan what to fundraise for?”
I beam. “I’d really like that. And I guess, other than that, I just wanted to find love. Real love.” I smile nervously. “And a family one day. Lots of babies running around who look like me and their dads.”
Ace pulls me in for a kiss. “Lots of mini Aces.”
“And Rooks,” Rook throws in.
I giggle. “And Ghosts and Jacks.”
“It’s going to be a busy household,” Rook says. “Just how I like it.”
“Oh, got to go.” Ace puts his beer down and rushes off to the back of the room.
I shoot Rook a questioning glance, but he only winks at me. His hand finds mine and holds it tight.
The lights go down, and for a split second, it’s total darkness, but then a spotlight clicks on at the front of the bar, highlighting the stage. Standing on it are Jack, Ace, and Ghost.
What on earth is going on?
“Thank you all for coming,” Jack says in that deep, gruff voice of his.
“I know this has been a period of upheaval, and we’ve had a lot to deal with, so we’re going to have more club events moving forward to make sure we keep morale up.
Tonight, though, is special. As I’m sure most of you are aware by now, there’s a lady who has joined our club, and she’s claimed more than one heart. ”
My throat runs dry. Oh, God, this must be what Felicia said, and they’re going to make me their property. My inner feminist is screaming that it’s not okay, but there’s a part of me, the little girl who never got much love or attention, who is screaming in giddy happiness.
“Camile. Can you come on up here?”
Rook takes the champagne from my other hand and leads me to the stage.
I clamber up and feel my face burning as everyone looks at us.
“Camile,” Ace says, “we want to officially welcome you as an ol’ lady of the Verona Falls Riders MC. You turned up all scared and bruised, yet in a short time you captured my heart, and I know you’ve got these three bastards wrapped around your finger, too.”
I laugh but can feel the heavy weight of the gazes of the rest of the club on me. Do they approve? Or do they hate this? It’s certainly unconventional.
“So, we had a patch made for you.” Rook squeezes my hand as he speaks. “Then we realized you didn’t have a cut for the patch. So, we had a cut made, too.”
Ghost steps forward. “This is yours, Camile.” He holds up a denim waistcoat. “It means you’re now officially our property, if you accept? All four of us.”
I nod, unable to find my words. I’m still feeling a little nervous that I’m stepping wholly into something I don’t fully understand, but nothing could stop me from taking these men as mine.
“This is your cut, and here’s your patch on the back.
” Ghost hands it to me and turns it around so I can see the large patch that says Property of Jack, Ghost, Ace, and Rook.
I stare in disbelief. If, a moment ago, I’d been unsure of being their property, seeing that they’ve put all their names on that patch, despite it being taboo in their world, has made me speechless. In the best way.
Jack frowns. “Do you accept?”
I nod again, then realize I need to speak, damn it. “Yes, Jack, I accept.”
The room erupts into cheers and foot stomps as I hold the soft denim cut with the leather patch in my hands. I know for these men this is as serious as marriage.
“We got them, too.” Ace says.
“What?” I shout over the noise.
“Me and Rook, look.”
Both turn around, and I see the new patches they’re sporting. They state Property of Camile.
“Oh, wow. I can’t believe you did that!” My heart swells with joy, and tears prick at my eyes.
I glance at Jack and Ghost, subconsciously looking for theirs.
“They couldn’t, Princess.” Ace pulls me in for a hug. “I think that might be going too far outside the rules of this world, for the prez and his enforcer.”
I nod, understanding immediately, and it doesn’t matter. The fact that Ace and Rook did it means the world.
Jack holds his hand up for the crowd to quiet down.
“There’s no deeper commitment in our world than making a woman your ol’ lady, but in the world out there, it’s not seen that way.
” He focuses on me. “Camile, you mean everything to us. We don’t just want you to be our ol’ lady, we want you to be ours in every way. ”
All four men seamlessly drop to one knee, leaving me with my mouth agape.
Jack reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small red box.
Oh, my, God!
“Camile, legally, you can only marry one of us, but in our hearts, you’ll belong to us all, and we’ll be yours in return,” Ghost says seriously.
“Camile,” Ace smiles as he speaks. “Please…”
“…will you marry us?” Rook finishes.
“Be our wife.” Jack pops the box open on his words, and a ring with four huge diamonds sparkles under the lights.
I can’t help it, tears overwhelm me, and I burst into happy sobs as I nod, trying to get my words out.
“Y-y-yes,” I finally manage to say. “Yes, of course. Yes, yes, yes.”
The cheering starts up again and I’m surrounded by my four men, heart swelling with happiness.