Chapter 15 - Isabella
ISABELLA
Ipace the room, staying put like a good girl, like Raiden asked me to. But it’s taking too long, and I need to find to out what’s going on. I pull open the door just as Raiden stalks down the corridor.
“Is it true?”
I step backwards into the bedroom as he stomps into my space, his body tense and demanding, forcing me backwards with the force of his anger.
One look at his face, and I know that he knows about Rocco.
“Are you engaged to Rocco Moretti? Did you run away to get out of the marriage?”
There’s no point in denying it. I should have been honest from the start. “My father arranged the marriage. They decided that we were engaged, but I never consented.”
The anger rolls off him in waves, and it’s frightening. Raiden has always been calm; I’ve never seen him so tense. I didn’t think he’d be this cross when he found out.
“I ran away because if I stayed, I would have been forced to marry. I wanted to sully my reputation so the Moretti family didn’t want me.”
“That’s why you chose the Fuzzy Peach strip club.”
“Yes. If I worked there long enough, word would get out and I wouldn’t be a suitable match.”
It seems like a stupid plan now, but I was desperate. I couldn’t run away and leave my father. But I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love either.
“And I came along and ruined your plans,” he mutters.
It’s true. He did. But I don’t regret it. The last few days have been the best of my life, and he saved me from going through with my hare-brained scheme.
“And so I became the target, your way out.”
I’m taken aback by what he says. Does he think this isn’t real? By the hurt look in his eyes, he does. “What has my father been telling you?”
“That you’re smart, and you realized if you were already married you wouldn’t have to marry Rocco.”
The audacity of it makes me suck in my breath.
“And you believed him?”
By the anger and hurt on Raiden’s face, I know the answer. After everything we shared, after the intimacy of the last few days, he thinks I would do that to him.
“You think I was faking my feelings for you?”
Anger bubbles up inside me. How deep is his love for me if he thinks I would do something like that to him, and how dare my father put such nonsense in his head.
The anger ignites something in me. My blood heats, and anger flares in my eyes.
“You men always think you can control me. You think I would swap one loveless marriage for another? You think I don’t have a heart with feelings? That I don’t want to be loved? You think you can decide who I marry without giving me a choice?”
At least Raiden has the good grace to look sheepish. He backs up as I stalk toward him, but I’m so angry at him my finger digs into his chest with every point.
“Do you think I would say yes and marry you if I didn’t want to?
My father thinks he controls me. But the truth is I would never go through with that marriage.
If we were in the church, I would say no when the priest asked.
But that would embarrass my father. I thought it was better if the Moretti family called it off, if they thought I was unsuitable.
I won’t agree to something as sacred as marriage unless it’s my choice. ”
The fight has gone out of Raiden’s expression, and now he looks miserable.
“You think I said yes to you so I wouldn’t be able to marry someone else?
It’s not true. I said yes because I’ve been in love with you ever since I saw you in the club that night.
For two years, I’ve waited to grow up enough to be the kind of woman you need by your side.
For two years, I’ve thought about you every time I went to bed.
I’ve dreamed about you. I’ve touched myself thinking about you.
I said yes because I don’t want to live another day without you by my side. I said yes because I love you.”
We’re both breathing hard, and he cups my hand in his cheeks.
“Isabella, I never knew… Why did you never call me? You had my number?”
“Because I wasn’t ready. I didn’t think you’d be interested in a girl. And I didn’t want you to save me. I wanted to save myself.”
He chuckles and presses his lips to mine.
“My fiery princess. You don’t need saving from anything.”
“My father thinks differently. He sees enemies in every shadow, and I don’t know if he’s right to be cautious or if he’s paranoid because of my mother’s death. I don’t know if he’ll ever let me be free.”
I slump against Raiden, and he wraps his arms around me.
“He loves you too much.” Raiden kisses the top of my head. “He’s downstairs. Let’s see him together and tell him that we’re still getting married.”
My heart feels heavy. I don’t know how my father will take it, but if I have to choose, I choose Raiden every time.
We head downstairs, and I find my father admiring the vintage bike on the wall while a bearded man who I think is called Vintage tells him all about the parts.
My father seems genuinely interested, and I stop short to watch him talking with the man.
In another life he could be happy with the simple things, good coffee and conversation.
When he sees me, he smiles in relief and envelopes me in his big arms.
“Isabella, I was so worried.”
His look tells me we’ll discuss it more in private, but the relief on his face is real.
His gaze darts to where I’m clasping Raiden’s hand, and a flash of surprise goes through his features.
“We’re getting married, Papa, and you can’t stop us.” I stick my chin out defiantly. “And before you talk any more nonsense, it’s because we’re in love, not because I’m trying to get out of marrying Rocco Moretti. You can give us your blessing or we can run away, but either way we’re doing this.”
Papa sighs heavily, and his beady eyes look Raiden up and down.
“Isabella will have the full protection of the club. We may not be mafia, but we’re trained military men and our chapter is strong. Anyone fucks with us, they fuck with the entire Wild Riders MC throughout the state and any other veterans on the mountain.”
As he talks, the other men from the club come up behind him. I recognize Marcus and Arlo and other familiar faces whose names I don’t know yet. Each of them gives me a nod of support, a silent pledge to protect me as their own.
The women come to stand by their men, some of them holding babies on their hips. Each one gives me a nod as she accepts me into the club.
Warmth spreads through me at the acceptance I’ve found here. Raiden squeezes my hand and I blink quickly, fighting back the tears that threaten to sting my eyes.
I’ve got a family here. A support group of men and women who will ensure no real or imaginary harm comes to me.
My father sees it too, because he looks at the group gathered behind Raiden and he nods slowly.
“All right, Raiden. I give you my blessing to marry my little girl.”
The last words come out choked, and Papa turns away quickly. I fling my arms around him and squeeze him tight.
“Thank you, Papa,” I whisper into his ear.
He bats me off, and I know it’s because he doesn’t want to appear weak. But he’s not fooling anyone.
There’s a popping noise, and both my father’s men draw their guns. Everyone freezes, and Arlo’s voice comes from behind the bar.
“It’s just champagne. I didn’t mean to start a gunfight.”
The men relax, and there’s nervous laughter. Arlo hands around glasses of champagne, and Raiden pulls me to him. Our bodies press together, and he hardens against me.
“Let’s make it a short engagement,” he murmurs into my ear.
I couldn’t agree more.