by BE Kelly
“Lyra?” she whispered into her ear.
“Not now,” Lyra pleaded. She gave Remi a smile but she could tell that Lyra wanted to do anything but smile. “I’m fine,” Lyra lied.
Tank pulled her back against his body and wrapped his hands around her belly. “While we have everyone’s attention,” Tank shouted over the unruly club members. “Lyra and I also have an announcement to make.” Lyra smiled up at her husband and nodded. “We’re having a boy.” Tank kissed her cheek and the whole bar erupted into one big celebration that seemed to go on forever. After a few minutes, Tank held up his big hand, to hush the crowd again. “I’ve also decided on Lyra’s MC name.”
Lyra looked up at him and burst into tears. “Tank,” she sobbed.
“I’m sorry it took me so long, Honey,” he said. Remi couldn’t help the fresh wave of tears that now coated her cheeks, watching the two of them together. “I just didn’t want to fuck it up—you know?” Tank asked.
“You won’t,” Lyra choked. “I know you won’t fuck it up, Tank.”
“Mystic,” Tank whispered into Lyra’s ear. He was just loud enough for Remi to hear her friend’s new name. She had to admit, it fit Lyra.
She nodded and Tank smiled down at her. They were truly beautiful to watch together, seeing all the love they had for one another.
“Mystic,” Tank called out to the bar. Another round of cheers and toasts sounded through Reckoning and Remi wondered if she’d ever get used to the MC life. She had a feeling that would be her learning curve, but one she’d willingly figure out. Belonging to Texas and Jag left her little choice and she was fine with that.
Texas
Texas and Jag spent the night with Remi between them, up in their room above Reckoning. It was decided that they’d stay in town for a bit until things could be settled with Aylen. Tonight, they’d either find Remi’s cousin or discover just who their mole was. Either way worked for him—Tex was spoiling for a fight. It was just his nature to want an eye for an eye and he definitely wanted to fuck up whoever took Remi’s little cousin.
Just before Remi and Jag were awake, he heard a soft tapping at their door. He and Jag had a strict “do not disturb” policy in place. If someone was knocking at their door, it better be damn important.
He pulled on his jeans and opened the door to find Reaper and Tank on the other side. “Fuck,” he whispered. “It’s important, isn't’ it?” Tex grumbled.
“Yeah, sorry man. I think this is something Jag’s gonna want to hear too,” Tank said.
“I’m up,” Jag grouched.
“Me too,” Remi sat up and yawned, forgetting that she wasn’t wearing any clothes.
“Shit, Raven,” Tank yelled. “My wife will have my balls if she knows I just saw that.” Remi giggled and covered herself with the sheet.
“Sorry guys,” she said. Texas made a mental note for him and Jag to have a talk with their girl about boundaries while they were at Reckoning. “How about I get dressed and meet you downstairs?” Jag stood and pulled on his jeans, leaning over the bed to kiss Remi.
“Don’t be long, Honey,” he said.
“Promise,” Remi agreed. “I’ll be right behind you.”
They sat at the table closest to the bar and he and Jag helped themselves to some much-needed coffee. Jag sat down across the table from Tex and they both looked expectantly at Tank. “Let’s just have it,” Jag growled.
“Well, I was going to at least let the two of you drink your fucking coffee,” Tank grumbled. “Sorry to wake you so early but we have some intel you need to hear.”
“Let’s hear it then,” Remi said, bouncing down the stairs to join them. She stood over the table and put her hands on her hips, trying to look badass but to Tex, she passed for sexy as fuck. Jag pulled her down onto his lap and laughed when Remi protested, squirming around on his lap, slapping at him. Texas could tell the whole scene was turning Jag on too.
“You keep wiggling that sexy little ass of yours on my lap and this meeting will be over. I’ll haul you over my shoulder and carry you up to our room again,” Jag promised.
“Fine,” Remi spat and stilled. “Let’s hear this news.”
“I think I know who our mole is,” Reaper said. “He’s not one of our guys but he’s connected to Reckoning.”
Texas didn’t like the way this was going. They had always just assumed that the traitor was inside the club. “Who?” Texas asked.
“It’s a guy named Ringer. He’s my ex-business partner’s son,” Reaper said.
“The one who took Chloe and then ended up being on our side?” Tex asked. He and Brick had gone to Texas, to help Ringer keep an eye on Sophie when things went down with Reap’s boss, Anthony Sr. Tex thought for sure Ringer was on the up and up. From the way he took care of Sophie, he’d even bet the guy was in love with her. Sophie gave him shit at every turn and Ringer didn’t seem to care—if that wasn’t love, Tex wasn’t sure what was.
“I didn’t have him pegged as a traitor,” Texas said. Reaper looked about ready to tear him or anyone else apart for getting in his way.
“Well, I found that asshole hanging around Tito’s in Perdition MC leathers. It can’t just be a coincidence that he shows up now, out of the blue, after staying away from NOLA for so long. He’s been gone for months and he’s what—just back? It’s too much of a coincidence,” Reaper said.
“Okay,” Jag broke in. “Let’s say this guy is our mole. How do you explain that he wasn’t even in town during the whole ordeal with Lyra and Tank? I just don’t think it adds up. Texas said he seemed like a good guy,” Jag added.
“Thanks for throwing me under the fucking bus, man,” Texas grumbled.
“No problem,” Jag shot back.
“Enough,” Remi demanded. “You two can bicker like old women later. Right now, I’d like to hear what Reaper has to say. My cousin’s life depends on it.”
“I think we need to head over to Tito’s,” Reaper said. “I’ve had intel that your cousin will get there in about an hour. We can find Ringer and question him. I’m done trying to figure his ass out. Just when I think I can trust him; the shit always seems to hit the fan.”
“Sounds good,” Remi said, standing. Texas pulled her back down to his lap. There was zero percent chance that either of them was going to let her just tag along on this little mission.
“No,” Jag barked. “No fucking way are you going with us.” Remi tried to stand and Tex banded his arms tighter around her waist.
“You can’t stop me from going to save my cousin, Tex. In case you have forgotten, this was my rescue mission and I’m allowing you both to tag along,” Remi yelled. She squirmed to get free form his lap and Tex let her up. She wanted to have this argument here and now, and there would be no stopping her. Remi was a force when she wanted to be.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” Jag said. Texas and I can’t just let you walk into something like that.”
Remi barked out her laugh, “I think you’re forgetting who I am and what I do, Jag. I’ve been in worse jams.”
Yeah, I remember finding you tied up in that paper factory,” Texas said. “If I remember correctly, Jag and I saved your sassy little ass.”
Remi shrugged, “Okay, that was one time. You can’t both hold that against me for the rest of my life.”
“No,” Texas agreed. “But you’ll have a nice long life, with us, if you fucking obey us and stop giving us so much shit for wanting to keep you safe.”
“I’m sure we can all come to some kind of compromise,” Tank offered. “How about we let Remi tag along and you two keep an eye on her. It would be good to have her there in case her cousin needs her—you know, a familiar face.” Texas hated the idea of dragging Remi back into danger but what choice did they have. From the stubborn look on her face, Texas could tell that he and Jag were fighting an uphill battle.
“Fine,” Jag agreed. Tex shot him a look like he had lost his mind and he had the nerve to smile. “She’s not going to bac
k down and we’re running out of time.”
“Come on, Tex,” Remi begged. “Just give me a chance to prove that I can handle myself.” Jag was right—they had no other choice.
“Fine,” he spat. Tex pointed at her and she smiled. “You stay with either me or Jag the whole fucking time,” he ordered.
“Of course,” she quickly agreed.
“Let’s head out,” Tank said. He and Reaper stood. Remi took Tex and Jag’s hands. It’s going to be fine,” she promised. Texas worried that there would be no way for her to keep that promise.
****
It was just past ten in the morning when they got over to Tito’s. Traffic was crazy and the Perdition’s bar was clear across town. Remi seemed to become more distracted with every passing moment and Texas worried that she was going to drive herself half-crazy with worry.
“It’s going to be alright, Baby,” Jag promised.
“Don’t make me a promise you can’t keep,” Remi said. “Aylen might not be alright and I’m going to have to face that fact.”
“How about you just try having a little faith,” Texas said. “Is that the van you saw in your vision?” he asked, pointing to the white van that sat in the back of the bar’s parking lot.
“Yes,” she said. Remi pulled free from her seatbelt and tried to crawl over Tex’s lap, to get out of Tank’s truck.
“Where the fuck you think you’re going?” Tex asked.
“To get Aylen out of that van,” Remi said.
“No,” Reaper said. “No one leaves the truck until we figure out what the fuck Ringer is doing and who he’s talking to.” He pointed to the back door of the bar, where a guy with dark hair and tattoos that covered both of his bare arms was talking to a woman who looked a hell of a lot like Remi. Tex knew the guy was Ringer and if he had to guess, the woman was Remi’s cousin.
“Aylen,” she whispered. “She’s alive.”
“If your cousin is being held against her will, why isn’t she bound? Look—” Texas pointed to the pair, who looked to be having a deep conversation about something. “She’s not being held against her will at all. No ropes or duct tape, like you saw in your vision.”
“You’re right,” Remi said. “Why isn’t Aylen trying to run or fight? She’s free.”
“Let’s let it play out and see where this goes,” Tank ordered. Remi sat back in between him and Jag and watched Aylen out the front window of the pick-up. He was right, Aylen and Ringer looked to be having a deep discussion about something or other and Tex wondered how her cousin even knew the guy. Remi said that Aylen had never been out of New Mexico. How would she know some guy from NOLA? Remi looked like she was about to demand they let her out of the truck when a tall man walked out of the bar and pulled Aylen against his body. Her cousin willingly let him wrap his arms around her waist. Aylen was letting the man touch her and from the way she looked up at him, she wanted it.
“What the fuck?” Remi swore. “What the hell is going on here?”
“That’s a damn good question,” Reaper agreed. “Let’s find out.” They all got out of the pick-up and crossed the parking lot. As soon as Aylen saw Remi, she ran to meet her cousin.
“Remi,” Aylen said. “Please don’t be mad.”
“Mad?” Remi asked. “Why would I be mad? I’m so happy to see you. Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
“I’m fine and they didn’t hurt me,” Aylen promised. “I wasn’t sure what was happening but now I understand. I’m so sorry that I put you and Nena through all this. But, I’m fine. I’m going to be fine.” Remi looked past Aylen to where Reaper was pinning Ringer up against the back wall of the bar.
“How are you connected to this?” Reaper shouted. “What the fuck does this have to do with you?”
“I’m prospecting with Perdition,” Ringer said as if that would explain what he was doing back in town. “I’m just trying to help out my Prez, Rios here. Ringer looked over to Perdition’s president and Texas worried that there was going to be trouble between the two.
“I know who Santiago Rios is,” Reaper said. “How do you know Aylen?”
“I think the question here is how do you know my Aylen?” Rios asked.
“Your Aylen?” Remi questioned. She turned to Aylen and held up her hands. “What the hell does he mean, calling you his Aylen?”
Remi’s cousin shrugged, “I guess exactly what it means. I’m his,” Aylen said.
“Because he bought you?” Remi asked.
Aylen barked out her laugh and Texas worried that they were going to leave Tito’s without Remi’s younger cousin. It didn’t seem that the woman wanted to be saved by Remi or anyone else. She wanted to be just where she was and that might break Remi’s heart.
“You don’t understand, Remi,” Aylen said. “You never will, and that’s alright. I think it’s time for you to leave, cousin.” Aylen turned and Remi grabbed her arm. “Let go, Remi,” Aylen growled.
“Or what?” Remi asked. “This isn’t you, Ay. You’re the sweetest, kindest person I know. Don’t turn your back on me, Aylen.” Texas hated hearing the pain in her voice. All he wanted to do was protect her but he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to save Remi from the heartbreak of losing her cousin.
“Aylen,” Remi sobbed. “Think about Anali and your mom. Think about our family,” she begged.
“I am—you are all I’m thinking about, Remi,” Aylen promised. “Please, I know what I’m doing.”
Texas wrapped his arm around Remi’s shoulders and she turned to sob into his chest.
“Baby,” he crooned. Jag pressed up against her back and wrapped his arms around her and the three of them stood like that, her cocooned between them for what felt like forever.
Tank cleared his throat, “Um, I hate to break this up guys but we should be going. Nena has tried to call my cell a half dozen times and she’ll want to know what’s going on here.
“What the hell do I tell her?” Remi asked. “I have no idea what’s happening. This is crazy.” Ringer came back out of the bar through the back door. “I know you don’t trust me, Reap,” he started.
“No, I don’t,” Reaper agreed.
Ringer laughed and nodded, “Right. Well, I just want you to know that Aylen isn’t in any danger. She’s Rios’ ol’lady—nothing and no one will touch her.”
“Is that a threat?” Reaper asked. He stood nose to nose with Ringer and Tex put Remi behind him and Jag. If there were going to be punches thrown, he didn’t want her anywhere near the guys.
Ringer held up his hands, as if in defense. “Nope,” he said. “I’m just letting you know that she’s safe, is all.”
“Like my sister was safe with you?” Reaper spat.
“Whoa now—Sophie was always safe with me, Reap. I—I’m in,” Ringer stuttered and for a minute, Texas wondered if the guy was going to admit that he was in love with Reaper’s little sister. For all their sakes, he was hoping the guy was smarter than that. “How is Soph?” Ringer whispered.
“Sophie is none of your fucking business,” Reaper said. “Stay the hell away from her and we won’t have any problems.” Reaper turned to walk back to Tank’s truck. “Oh and Ringer, that was a threat,” Reaper said, over his shoulder. Ringer shook his head and walked back into Tito’s.
“Let’s go, Honey,” Jag ordered.
“I can’t,” Remi insisted. “I can’t just leave Aylen here.”
“You heard Ringer,” Baby,” Tex soothed. “She wants to be here and she’s safe. There isn’t anything we can do to stop this from happening. We need to go fill Nena in and figure things out from there. It’ll all work out,” Texas promised.
“No, it won’t but I appreciate you trying to make me feel better. You’re right, I can’t force my cousin to listen to reason but this isn’t over,” Remi shouted as if she was hoping Aylen could hear her. Texas wondered what they were missing. Something wasn’t quite right but he couldn’t put his finger on it. One thing was true, this was far from over. For now, h
e just wanted to find some sort of normal that the three of them could settle down into. The rest would work itself out.
Remi
Remi waited for the guys to get home from church. She had spent the whole day at work, reorganizing the children’s section at the library and the last thing she wanted to do was go back into town with the guys. Remi insisted that they go to Reckoning and have a good time but knowing her guys the way she did, Remi knew that they would be back to their little cabin just as soon as the meeting was over. That gave her just enough time for a bubble bath and a glass of wine.
It had been just over a month since she found Aylen. Remi had seen her cousin around town and every time she ran into her, Ay pretended not to notice her. It was getting old and Remi wasn’t sure if she had much more fight left in her. After their meeting, she found Nena and told her about the strange encounter with their cousin. Nena said that she had a vision, the night before, and she believed Aylen was telling them the truth. For now, Nena convinced her to drop the whole thing but running into her cousin around every corner only had her anger amping up to new levels.
The guys had convinced her to move in with them. Jag and Texas had a great cabin, just outside of town, not too far from Tank and Lyra. Remi decided to move in there and make it their home. They even remodeled the master bedroom and adjoining bath, to make sure they had enough room, for the three of them. Remi loved them for trying to make her feel as if life was moving forward, as normally as possible. That included making her keep her promise to marry them both.
Their commitment ceremony was beautiful. Tank performed the ceremony and even though it wasn’t legally binding, it was absolutely perfect. They pledged to love her and keep her safe for the rest of their lives and she knew that Texas and Jag meant every promise. They were her warriors, her knights—although she’d never admit that to either of them. And now, she was hoping that they would agree to be the fathers to her babies. It was their next step and one Remi hoped they would both be ready for.
