Chapter 22
TRIGGER
The weight of everything that’s happened still lingers in the air as Aerianna stands near the bar, with my arms wrapped tightly around her waist. The rest of the Club is still buzzing from the revelation about Benton, but I have something else on my mind.
Capone, Tiny, Blayze, and the rest of the high-ranking members are discussing strategy, but I’m not listening. Instead, my focus is entirely on Aerianna. On the way she’s standing so tall despite everything, on the fire in her eyes that hasn’t dimmed despite the horrors she’s uncovered.
“You good, Kitten?” My voice is low, meant just for her.
She exhales sharply, looking up at me. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be ‘good’ again, Trigger. But I’m here.” I nod, my grip tightening. That’s enough for me.
I raise my voice, addressing the room. “Listen up.”
The chatter dies instantly. All eyes turn to me. I’m not a man who speaks unless I have something to say. Aerianna tenses slightly under the weight of all the attention, but I don’t let her pull away.
“I’m claiming Aerianna as my Ol’ Lady.” My voice is absolute.
A beat of silence, then a low murmur spreads through the room. Some nod in approval, and others, like the Club Bunnies, not so much.
Pearl, who just apologized to Aerianna, gives me a long look before shaking her head with a small smirk. “Well, shit.”
Tiny whistles low, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “Damn, brother, finally locking it down, huh?”
Blayze crosses his arms, his expression unreadable. “You sure about this, Trigger?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” I don’t even hesitate. My grip on Aerianna’s waist is possessive, protective.
Aerianna is still processing what just happened. The Club is watching, waiting for her response. Her throat goes dry, and she suddenly feels very exposed.
“This is,” she swallows, steadying herself. “This is serious for you?”
I turn her in my arms, cupping her face in my hands. “Dead serious, Kitten.” My blue eyes burn with certainty. “I don’t just want you in my bed. I want you as mine. Officially.”
She searches my face for any doubt, any hesitation, but there is none.
“I’ve spent my whole life keeping people at arm's length, but I realize something.” Aerianna rests her forehead against mine and whispers. “I don’t want to run anymore.”
A roar of approval erupts around them as I smash my lips to hers, sealing the deal in front of the entire Club. Cheers and whistles echo through the room, but Aerianna tunes them out, melting into my embrace.
“What happens now?” Aerianna asks.
I lean in, my voice low. "Now, you’re mine. And I’ll make sure no one takes you from me. You’re not just a partner in this war, Aerianna. You’re my everything."
Capone comes up to us with a cut in his hands. “One more thing, Aerianna.” He holds it up, and pride fills my soul. It reads Property of Trigger with our Club logo on the back and Ol’ Lady on the left breast pocket.
Aerianna grabs it with trembling hands. “This is mine?”
“Yeah, Little Kitten.” I take it from her hands and put it on her. It fits like a second skin. “This is yours, and I would be honored if you wear it everywhere you go.”
Aerianna runs her fingers over the soft leather. “I will.” She looks up at me with longing and love shining in her eyes. “But it might look weird wearing an MC cut while I’m on the job.”
I expected that. Hell, I’ve been thinking about it since the moment I decided to claim her. Aerianna has spent years dedicated to her badge, to justice, to a system that barely deserves her. But the FBI? It’s never been her real home.
“About that,” I say, watching her closely. “You ever think about leaving the Bureau? Maybe working with Zach in his department instead?”
Aerianna tenses slightly, her fingers tightening on the leather. “I have,” she admits. “But leaving the FBI isn’t something I can just do overnight.” She exhales, her throat working as she swallows. “I joined because I wanted to stop men like Benton. If I leave before this is over, it will feel like,” she hesitates, searching for the words. “Like I failed.”
I step closer, cupping her face, forcing her to look at me. “Kitten, you didn’t fail. You found the truth. You dug deeper than anyone else, risked your life when no one else would.” My voice drops lower. “You’ve done more than enough.”
Aerianna releases a shaky breath, but I can see it, the war inside her. The duty she’s always carried. The burden of unfinished business.
“I need to see this through,” she finally says. “Once Benton is handled, I’ll resign.” Her voice firms with resolve. “And then I’ll figure out what’s next.”
I nod, pressing my forehead against hers. “We’ll figure it out together. You don’t need a badge to deliver justice. Not when you have me and the Club.
My jeans grow tight and I want nothing more than to whisk Aerianna away and fuck her with nothing but her Ol’ Lady cut on.
Aerianna raises an eyebrow. “I’m starting to learn this.” She looks around the room. "Where's Elise?"
The question pulls me out of the lust-filled haze I’m in when Aerianna is around.
Fuck.
I scan the room, my gut tightening when I don’t see her. She hasn’t been the same since we got her back, but I figured she’d at least stick around for the party. Now? I’m not so sure.
“She’s been off,” I admit, rubbing the back of my neck. “Didn’t think she’d slip away tonight, though.”
Aerianna squeezes my hand. “Go check on her.”
I don’t want to leave. Not tonight, not after everything. But I look down at Aerianna, and she gives me a knowing nudge.
“I’ll be here when you get back.” That’s all I need to hear. I press a quick kiss to her temple and head down the hallway.
Elise’s door is cracked open, the soft glow of a lamp barely lighting the space beyond. I knock once.
“Elise?” No answer. I push the door open the rest of the way.
I spot my sister on the floor, curled up against the bed, knees drawn to her chest. Her fingers are tangled in her hair, her shoulders shaking.
Fuck.
“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.
Elise doesn’t look up. I crouch in front of her, keeping my movements slow, careful. She’s wound too tight, like if I move too fast, she might snap.
“Elise,” I say, voice low, steady. “Talk to me.”
She shakes her head violently, her breath coming too fast, too ragged. I know that look.
Panic.
Pure, unfiltered fear .
I clench my jaw, trying to push down the frustration clawing at my ribs. I’m not mad at her. I’m mad at the fuckers who did this to her, that I wasn’t there sooner. Mad that no matter how many bodies I drop, I can’t fix this.
“Elise, you’re safe,” I tell her, my voice softer now. “You hear me? You’re safe.”
Her head snaps up, wild eyes locking onto mine. “Safe?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it, only something broken. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be trapped like that? To know no one’s coming for you? To feel like no matter what you do, you’re never getting out?”
My stomach fucking twists.
I wasn’t there. I didn’t see what they did to her. And now? Even though she’s back, even though I’d burn the whole goddamn world down to keep her safe, it wasn’t enough.
She presses her hands to her temples, her voice cracking. “I can still smell that place, Carter. I can smell him. Every time I close my eyes, I’m right back there.” She sucks in a breath like she’s trying to hold herself together. “I wake up screaming.”
Goddamn it.
I exhale sharply and reach for her, slow and deliberate. She doesn’t pull away, so I rest my hand on her shoulder, gripping her gently.
“You’re not there anymore,” I tell her, my voice steady, certain. “You’re here with me and with the Club.”
She lets out a shaky breath, nodding, but her whole body is still trembling.
I hesitate for half a second, then pull her into a hug. She stiffens at first, like she doesn’t know how to react, but then she collapses against me. Her fingers fist in my shirt, her whole body shaking.
“I don’t know how to fix this,” she whispers.
My jaw locks. “Neither do I, but I know one thing. You don’t have to fix it alone,” I tell her, my voice rough. “I got you, Elise, always.”
She grips me tighter, silent tears soaking into my shirt. And for now, that’s enough.
Elise finally fell asleep. It took a while with her body shaking, her breaths coming in those sharp little gasps that cut straight into my fucking soul. But after sitting with her, keeping my voice low and steady, she finally drifted off. I don’t know how long it’ll last. Probably not long. But for now, it’s something.
I step out of her room, shutting the door quietly behind me, and find Pretty Playboy leaning against the hallway wall, arms crossed over his chest.
He straightens when he sees me. “How’s she doing?” The worry in his voice is evident.
I drag my hand down my face. “Not good.”
He nods like he expected that answer. “Can I stay with her?”
I think about our conversation in the van and know this is the right person to help Elise when I can’t be there. “Yeah,” I say, glancing back at the door. “She shouldn’t wake up alone.”
Pretty Playboy doesn’t ask questions, just pushes off the wall and moves past me, slipping inside the room without a sound. I hope I’m not making a big mistake.
I head for the bar, my boots heavy on the hardwood, my mind already shifting gears. Elise isn’t the only one still in danger.
Benton is still breathing, and that’s a problem I plan on fixing.
The common room is still buzzing with energy, but when I step inside, the mood shifts. The laughter dulls. Eyes flick toward me, reading the tension in my shoulders, the sharp set of my jaw.
“Church, now,” Capone demands. He kisses Danyella before stalking down the hallway to our Chapel.
I do the same with Aerianna. Before I can step away, she grips my cut. “How’s Elise?”
I shake my head. “Not good. She finally fell asleep, and Pretty Playboy is staying with her for now.”
“If you need me to be with her, I will. No hesitation.”
“Thank you, Little Kitten.” I kiss Aerianna’s forehead. “I’ll be back out in a little while. Hang out here with the other Ol’ Ladies, and don’t hit anyone, please.”
Aerianna smirks. “I’ll do my best.”
“Smart ass,” I grumble against her lips.
“But you love me anyway.” The moment the words leave her lips, her eyes grow wide, and she slaps a hand over her mouth.
“I do, Little Kitten. I love you more than I thought possible.” I confess.
“I love you, too, Carter.” I pull Aerianna against me, feeling the soft curves of her body against my hard ones. Leaning down, I kiss Aerianna and pour everything I have felt, still feel, and will forever feel into this kiss.
Catcalls erupt around us, and I pull away, kissing her one more time.
Stepping into the hallway, I make my way to the back of the clubhouse, where the doors to the Chapel stand like sentinels. With a deep breath, I push them open.
All eyes turn to me.
Time to handle business.
Once I take my seat, Bones leans his forearms against the table. “That look on your face means we’re about to get real fuckin’ busy, don’t it?”
Capone slams the gavel onto the table, starting Church. “We’re finding Benton.” The room goes silent.
Tiny lets out a low whistle. “Been a while since we went hunting.”
“This isn’t a hunt,” I correct, my voice cold. “It’s an extermination.” No one argues.
“Benton has been stalking my Ol’ Lady. He has been using his badge to kidnap and rape innocent women. After what Serena and Kayla told us, he has to be a big part of the Black Market Railroad. He’s still out there, breathing, existing like he doesn’t have a goddamn target on his back. That ends now.” I take a breath, then move onto the next problem.
“The girls,” I say, shifting my focus to Capone. “They need to go to the safe house.”
Capone frowns. “Aerianna’s gonna love that.”
“She can be pissed all she wants,” I snap. “This isn’t up for debate. Elise is in no shape to be left alone, and Aerianna is a target. If Benton gets wind that I just claimed her as my Ol’ Lady, he’ll come after her.” My knuckles turn white. “That’s not happening.”
“Who’s taking them?” Bones asks.
“Knight and Jax,” Capone says. “I want them out of the city by sunrise.”
Tiny nods. “I’ll let them know.”
I exhale my pulse a steady, slow thud in my ears. “Once they’re out, we focus on finding Benton. I want eyes everywhere. Street-level. Online. Every contact we got.”
Bones pulls out his laptop and starts typing away. “Guess we’re gonna have some fun, then.”
I don’t smile. This isn’t a game. This is justice.