CHAPTER FOURTEEN
– ZORA –
“Something smells fuckin’ delicious,” Grayer rumbles as he steps into the kitchen.
They’ve been in church for hours. I’ve kept myself busy by making calls to make the arrangements for Balta’s funeral. Seeing with my own eyes what happened to him, being the first one there to help him? It’s confronting reality. My line of work gets lots of horrifying, sad, and gruesome moments.
Hell, four people died right in front of my eyes during my first day of residency at the ER. Every day can be a bad one for anyone, and I’ve experienced a few horrible ones myself recently, but today? Today was hard.
I’ve not known Balta for long, but enough to know he was a great guy. I’m sure the other members of the club will have a hard time coping with his loss. They also need to deal with all the other stuff going on, and it’s why I ended up in the kitchen.
Balta picked up every single thing on the grocery list I made yesterday morning. I wanted to make G’s favorite, chili with jalapeno cornbread muffins. Balta made it possible, but sadly he isn’t here anymore. I’ve made enough for everyone and it’s kept my hands and mind busy.
“Chili? Please tell me you’ve made...”
I cut him off by glancing around him at Fawkes and ask, “Can you please take the jalapeno cornbread muffins out of the oven?”
“Sure thing, Z,” Fawkes rumbles.
Did he just call me Z? I can feel my eyes widen and glance at Grayer.
He gives me a smile and says, “It was either Z or sawbones, and I like to be the only one to use the nickname.”
Lynn told me about the nicknames some bikers pick for their old lady. They could easily use my name, but this feels more personal. Like I’ve been fully accepted in their brotherhood.
I steel my nerves and push myself on my tiptoes to brush a kiss against his mouth.
“Thank you,” I murmur.
The light touch of his hand on my hip doesn’t make me react in a panic. The difference between Grayer’s touch and Ramiro is a sharp contrast. Where one inflicted pain and terror, the other is a warm comfort. Grayer grounds me and reminds me of everything that was once good in my life.
When he and his club brothers stepped into that diner and freed me from Ramiro, he made me wish for the balance we once had; the good outranking the bad.
It’s not so much as cashing in a debt or making up for lost time.
After what happened outside with Balta I want to give back.
The club has enough shit to deal with on top of what I was pulled into. It’s as simple as that.
“I should be the one thanking you,” he murmurs. “Making my favorite dinner for me and my brothers. Damn. Do you know how many times I’ve thought about your chili? Nothing tastes as good as yours.”
I smack his chest and step back to point at Roux. “Mind putting some bowls on the table?”
He nods and starts to set the table along with a few others. Grayer carries the chili to the table and Fawkes hands out the muffins. Everyone is eating and having some light conversation while I glance around the table.
They all came running when they saw what was happening.
Each of them jumping in to help, and even before each of them had a task to back one another up.
Grayer has surrounded himself with a huge family.
None of them are by blood, but the loyalty runs deep.
Spence’s club is where he started working crime cases, fighting for justice, and it shows how big his heart truly is.
The things he mentioned about his grandfather, and the way he was tempted to follow in that direction instead of his father’s if he stayed in town, come to mind.
It’s a harsh balance and this town has always dealt with crime.
He might have walked a fine line if he stayed, but because he left, he fully chose the side of the law.
Deep down he always tried to do the right thing.
Well, if it involved me he did, and I realize the choice of leaving was made because he tried to do right by me.
I swallow hard and turn to look at him. His gaze hits mine since he was already watching me.
There’s no going back for me, because Grayer was my first love, and will forever be my last.
I lean toward him and tip my head back. He doesn’t need words and simply closes the distance to give me the kiss I long for. His tongue caresses my bottom lip and it makes my stomach flip and my heart race. It’s a vivid reminder of how things should be between a man and a woman.
Pulling back, I grab my spoon to start eating. The compliments thrown my way make my cheeks burn, but I do enjoy the way they all grab seconds. When everyone’s finished, I try to gather the dishes until Grayer stops me.
“Let them do the dishes. We need to talk.” His words sound ominous while his tone of voice is gentle.
I follow him into our room and take a seat on the bed.
Grayer is leaning against the closed door when he starts to explain.
“The woman who stepped out of the car and killed Balta is the sister of Alfonso Mendoza, the head of a Mexican cartel. We’ve uploaded the data to a server we share with the government.
They needed the angles for facial recognition.
The sister has been off their radar for years.
We obviously need to take them out, but this shit just got a little more dangerous with the link to the cartel. ”
“It’s not just taking down Ramiro’s father who is scamming people out of their money and going from town to town,” I muse. “The government wants the cartel.”
He gives me a tight nod, confirming my suspicions. “Especially since the money they steal is fueling the cartel.”
My heart races inside my chest. This cannot be happening.
Dammit. Why are there always shitty moments in life followed by bad timing?
Why can’t we have nice things, amazing moments, and a lifetime of fantastic shit?
I feel like I’m just able to catch my breath and here life comes, slamming on the brakes while a freight train hits you out of nowhere.
Awesome.
“So, now what? The ten of us are going against a whole damn cartel?” I snap.
A huge grin slides across his face, and it completely throws me off.
I narrow my eyes. “Why are you smiling like an idiot?”
“Because you included yourself and see our club as one going against the rest.” He steps forward and touches the property patch inked on my neck.
“You truly are the perfect old lady. Caring about the club, taking care of all the brothers and not just making me some food. It means a lot, Z. And no, it won’t be just the ten of us going against the cartel.
We have other chapters backing us up along with the government’s resources.
Everything we need is at our disposal. We already made a plan and put a few crucial things into motion.
I’m going to explain everything, but sometimes you have to trust me, okay? ”
“I always trust you,” I automatically reply in all honesty.
His smile grows. “I know you do. It’s why I told the government not to expect Ramiro.
He’s no longer useful alive since we now know his father isn’t the main player.
Neron is simply a tool for the cartel. Which means I get to kill the fucker locked in the basement who’s currently living on borrowed time. ”
My fingers curl into fists at the sound of that asshole’s name. I’ve wanted him dead from the moment he showed up on my doorstep when he kidnapped me. The pain he inflicted, the scars...on my skin and the mental ones.
Those days of my life were filled with horror, which I can never forget. The way he killed my cat right in front of me still haunts my nightmares. I want to see him suffer. To be the last person he sees before the life dulls from his eyes.
“When?” I ask and can’t help myself when I rattle, “I want to be there. I need to be there when that asshole dies.”
Grayer narrows his eyes and calmly asks, “Are you sure?”
The words Lynn told me before she left enter my thoughts and I place my hands on my hips. “I have Lynn and the rest on speed dial. Do I need to make that call?”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “Darlin’. I was the one who asked Lynn to come here for you. There’s no damn way I can refuse anything you ask.”
Now I can feel my own mouth twitch with a smile. “Anything?” I tease.
He shakes his head and reaches out to caress my cheek.
“You have no damn clue, Z. None. I fucking love you. I did when we were young at heart and even more now that we’re back together.
Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, will ever come between us again.
The choices we will make from here on out will be made together.
Dreams we will fulfil together. Anyone who thinks he or she has a say in our happiness can fuck right off. ”
I sneak my arms around his neck and press my body against him. “I love the sound of that, and I love you, Grayer Xane...you...”
“Yeah, yeah, I have balls. Blue ones thanks to you, but whatever, darlin’. As long as I have you, I can endure a lifetime of...probably not, but as long as I have you, I’ll be happy as fuck.”
I shut him up with a kiss and love the way my body reacts when I’m in his arms. This gives me hope for a future. A future where I might be able to be intimate with the one I’ve loved all my life.