Chapter 20
CHAPTER
TWENTY
ASPEN
My phone rings as I tighten my bun.
Ashley.
Panic rushes through me when I see her name. Not because talking to her is odd, but because she’s calling.
Ever since we met, we’ve been texting nonstop, even sending voice messages, but actually calling? Never.
“What’s wrong?” I demand when I answer.
Ashley laughs. “Relax, nothing’s wrong.”
“But you called.”
She sighs. “I’m making lunch, so it was easier for me to call. Do you have a minute? I want to run something by you.”
“You’re sure that nothing is wrong?” I press.
“Yes, I’m fine, I promise!” She raises her voice a little.
“Okay. What’s up?”
She is quiet for a moment before she asks what she truly wants. “I was wondering, do you think it would be possible for me to come to the clubhouse?”
“You want to come here?” I ask, not bothering to hide the surprise in my voice.
“Yeah, I mean, unless outsiders aren’t allowed in or something,” she says hesitantly.
“No, you can totally come here. I just wasn’t expecting you to ask. Have you talked to your brother about it?” I chew my bottom lip.
I don’t know how he will feel about it.
Ashley sighs. “No, I was actually hoping maybe we could surprise him.”
I think about it for a minute. I hate the idea of keeping something from Asher, even for just a few hours.
“I don’t know, Ashley. Your brother doesn’t seem to be the type to really like surprises.”
“Please? I really want to surprise him. Look, it’s been years since I’ve had unlimited access to my brother. Now with everything that’s changed, I would really like to start spending more time with him. Meet the people he cares about,” she pleads.
It is pulling at my heartstrings. Another guilt that settles inside. He gave up his sister to go undercover and blew it all for me.
Leaning against the counter, I sigh.
I get it. I do. Hell, I used to feel the same way about Calloway. Our brothers are more alike than I would like to admit.
Calloway has no problem with my being here, so Asher shouldn’t care if she comes, right? I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? She would be safe with me.
“You know what? Fine. When do you want to come?” I ask her.
“Today,” she says immediately.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I’m not giving you a chance to change your mind.” She laughs.
“Okay, sure. Do you want to drive here, or do you want me to come get you?”
“If you don’t mind coming to pick me up, I would appreciate it. I hate driving to strange places when I’ve never been there before,” she admits.
She doesn’t need to explain herself. I’m the same way.
For a moment, I contemplate seeing if someone wants to go with me. The idea of going by myself makes my skin crawl, but my therapist has been pushing for me to be more independent again.
I can do this. I’m a strong, capable woman. I can make the drive on my own.
“I get it. Let me grab a car from someone and I’ll head your way.”
She seems hesitant now. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Text me your address.”
Even though I have been there before, there is no way I remember the way.
I can’t help but smile when she squeals. “Yay, I’m so excited. I’ll see you soon.”
Hanging up, I shake my head. I hope she doesn’t have any idea in her mind of what this place is supposed to be like, because I can almost guarantee it won’t live up to her expectations.
I open up my text messages and click on Maggie’s name.
Me
Hey, would you mind if I borrow your car for a little bit?
Maggie
Sure. Do you want me to come with you?
I contemplate having her ride with me, but decide against it. It’s not that long of a drive. I’ll be fine.
Me
Nah, I’ll be fine.
Maggie
If you’re sure. My keys are in the glove box.
Me
Thank you!
Leaving my room, I head out. Maggie’s car is parked in front of the clubhouse, and sure enough, her keys are in the glove box.
Taking a deep breath, I turn the car on.
After hooking up my phone to the Bluetooth and queuing up my playlist, I enter her address into my GPS and then put the car in reverse.
After turning around, I head toward the gate.
Ridge waves for me to lower my window as the gate slides open.
“Where are you going?” he asks as he leans on the window.
“Out.”
“By yourself?” he asks, frowning.
“Yes. I’m an adult, remember?”
“I know you are. I’m just used to seeing you with someone, is all.”
“My therapist recommended I try doing things alone again,” I say.
Understanding fills his eyes. “That makes sense. Well, drive safe. Call us if you need us.”
“Will do. Later.”
I roll up the window and take off after he backs away from the car. I turn up the music and begin to jam out. At a stop sign not far from the clubhouse, I notice a big SUV come up behind me. They get so close I can barely see the grill.
“Jesus Christ, there’s no reason to ride my ass,” I mutter as I take off when it’s my turn.
“The First Time” by Damiano David comes on, and I turn it up. As I sing at the top of my lungs, I forget all about the SUV. That is, until I hit town. Once again, they keep riding my ass.
I try to see what the driver looks like through the rearview mirror, but their windows are ridiculously tinted.
Weird.
My heart begins to race as my anxiety starts to spike.
Is it a coincidence that they are still following me? Are they following me intentionally? Are they with Ragged Anarchy?
“Calm down. You’re being ridiculous,” I mutter to myself.
Still, I can’t help but look in my mirrors every time I move.
My hands begin to shake.
Should I call Asher or Calloway?
Do I need backup?
Am I in danger?
Right as I start to reach for my phone, they turn off on a side street.
I take a deep breath and relax into my seat.
“Dramatic much, Aspen?” I mutter to myself.
Five minutes later, I pull up to Ashley’s house. She jumps off the porch before I even put the car in park, heading toward me.
“Excited much?” I tease as she jumps in.
“Yes! Don’t judge me.” She laughs.
“Are you excited to see your brother or what the inside of an actual clubhouse looks like?” I ask as I take off.
“Both, but mainly Asher. I used to love to surprise him, and it’s been a long time since I’ve been able to do so.”
“Well, hopefully he likes it,” I say as I check the mirrors.
“Hey, are you okay? You’re looking a little pale.”
“I’m fine. I just didn’t get a chance to eat before I left,” I lie.
For the rest of the drive back to the clubhouse, we make idle chitchat, and as much as I try to push the shit with the SUV out of my mind, I can’t help but keep checking my mirrors.
Just in case.
ASHER
Walking into the clubhouse, I’m greeted with laughter, and it makes me freeze. Not because people are having a good time, but because I recognize that distinct laugh.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I snap.
“Whoa, what the fuck,” Yak mutters next to me.
All the women turn and face me.
Aspen frowns, but it’s my sister whom I stare down.
“Surprise,” she says weakly as she stands, ringing her hands together.
“I asked you a question, Ash. What are you doing here?” I ask harshly.
“Asher,” Aspen yells, but I ignore her.
“I wanted to see you.” My sister shrugs.
I run a hand down my face as I try to smother my anger.
What the hell was she thinking? She knows better than to come to places like this. She knows I come to her, and that’s it. I don’t want her mixed up in this life. I never have.
Shit, I bet my parents are rolling over in their graves right now.
“Hi, I’m Ashley. This one’s sister.” Ashley introduces herself to Yak.
“I’m Yak, his best friend.”
“Not my best friend,” I mutter.
“He’s in denial,” Yak tells her, making her giggle, which only makes me more pissed off.
I open my eyes and stare at the two women in front of me.
“I need someone to explain to me what’s going on,” I tell them.
Aspen crosses her arms over her chest and frowns. “Your sister wanted to surprise you, so I went and picked her up. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I’m sorry.”
Ashley rests a hand on Aspen’s arm. “You don’t need to apologize. You did nothing wrong.” My sister turns back to me. “It was my idea, and I told Aspen you wouldn’t have a problem with it.”
“You know the rules, Ash,” I grit out.
“That was before. You aren’t undercover anymore, so I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“Of course it’s a big fucking deal. I’ve worked my ass off to protect you and keep you off everyone’s radar, and now you’ve walked into the lion’s den,” I snap.
Ashley scoffs. “Please, everyone here has been nothing but nice to me since I arrived. The only one being a dick here is you.”
“Tell me why. Explain it to me like I’m five,” I demand.
“What? Do you want to hear that I’m fucking lonely?
Do you want to know that I cried happy tears when you told me you were leaving the FBI because it meant that I could see you more, only I don’t, and it pisses me off?
I want to know you, Asher. I want to do shit together.
I want to know your girlfriend and your friends.
I want to be an active part of your life.
I knew that you would never make the move yourself, so I would have to force your hand, and I won’t apologize for it.
The only thing I regret is dragging Aspen into this. ”
“It’s fine,” Aspen tells her quietly.
“It’s not, and we both know it,” my sister tells her adamantly.
I close my eyes as everything she said hits me.
I fucking hate that she’s felt alone, but at the same time, I understand. Shit, I’ve felt it myself. When I was under, I was a lone wolf. A man alone on an island with no one in sight. I just never thought she would feel the same way.
It doesn’t make what she did right, though. She should have talked to me about it first.
Aspen steps forward, and I instinctively wrap my arms around her.
“Life is short. I can’t blame her for just wanting to be an active member in her brother’s life. She and I have that in common,” Aspen says quietly, taking the wind out of my sails.
What she doesn’t say is that’s how she ended up being held captive, and if she had never tried to surprise her brother, we would have never met.
“The club is family. We protect our own,” Yak murmurs, reminding me he’s still with us.
He’s not wrong. Shit, these guys have given me a sense of family I didn’t know I was missing. It would be fucked if I denied my sister the same experience, wouldn’t it?
“You’re right,” I say out loud to no one in particular.
I lean down and kiss the top of Aspen’s head before looking back at my sister.
“I’m sorry for reacting the way I did.”
She shrugs and offers me a soft smile. “I mean, I wasn’t expecting you to be excited. Honestly, I expected you to put up more of a fight. Maybe even throw me over your shoulder as you drag me out of here kicking and screaming.”
“I would never do that.”
“Bullshit,” the three people who know me the best say in unison.
The three of them look at each other and start laughing.
“Great, is this what I have to look forward to? The three of you ganging up on me and causing trouble?” I groan.
“I would never,” my sister says.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Aspen adds.
“I’m a fucking saint,” Yak quips.
I shoot him a dirty look. “And I’m the pope.”
Aspen begins to giggle. “God, could you imagine him in those robes the pope wears?”
My sister and Yak begin to laugh like the thought is fucking hilarious.
“Okay, enough. Otherwise, I’m going to have to keep the three of you apart,” I warn them.
“Does this mean I’m free to come and go as I please?” my sister asks with laughter in her voice.
“Yeah, sis, you can. But if I ever tell you that you can’t, I need you to listen and trust me that it’s for the best. Understood?”
“Got it.” She nods.
A beautiful smile covers her face, making her look so much like our mom, it hurts.
“All right, sis, let’s go get a drink. I need you to tell me everything about our boy here.
I want all the nitty-gritty details of his childhood.
Who was his first girlfriend? Which Ninja Turtle was his favorite?
I want to know everything,” Yak says as he throws his arm over my sister’s shoulders, pulling her away.
“I really should keep those two away from each other,” I murmur.
“Please, he’s harmless,” Aspen tells me.
He is. It’s just weird seeing my two worlds collide. It will take some getting used to, but it’s not a bad thing.