Ace of Hearts

by Chantal Fernando

  “Thank you,” I tell him, sincerity in my tone. “I love the bike, Gage. And more than anything I love that you’re going to teach me how to ride it.”

  He smiles at me, and we share a quiet moment.

  “Now, when do we begin?” I ask him.

  I was only going to stay here a night or two, max, but how can I leave now? I’ll have to call my mom and let her know I’ll be staying a little longer, something she isn’t going to be very pleased about.

  He laughs at my eagerness. “How about first thing tomorrow morning?”

  I notice a woman walking over toward us. I can’t guess her age, but she’s definitely older, although her tight jeans and red crop top make me guess she thinks otherwise. She looks to me as she approaches, and it’s clear that this woman must be Veronica, Gage’s girlfriend. My assumption is proved correct as Gage quickly introduces us as I slide off my new toy.

  “Veronica, this is my daughter, Erin. Erin, this is Veronica,” he says, smiling down at me, as if he’s pleased. “Isn’t she a beauty?”

  As he gives me the compliment, the pride in his tone nearly my undoing, emotion threatens to spill out of me in the form of tears.

  “Nice to meet you, Erin,” Veronica says, pink lips forming a wide smile. “And, yes, Gage, she’s stunning. I can’t wait to get to know you, I have no doubt the two of us will become close friends.”

  I can’t tell if she’s being sincere, and for some reason his real name on her lips annoys me. Still, I was brought up to respect my elders, and that kind of kicks in, giving her the benefit of the doubt. If this is the woman Gage has picked to stand by his side, I’m sure she’s a good one. He picked my mom, right? So he has good taste. Or had good taste. I find myself looking to Ace to see his reaction to Veronica, but his expression is blank. It usually is though. The man seems to be a master at hiding.

  “Thank you,” I reply to her. “And it’s nice to meet you too. I was wondering where all the women around here had gone to.”

  She smiles again, batting her lashes, and looks to my father. “I don’t live in the clubhouse, so I’m not here all the time, as with most of the women. I thought the two of you would want some time together anyway, so I didn’t want to intrude. We’re going to have a big dinner here tonight though, so that way you can meet everyone in the Cursed Ravens family. Trust me, everyone will make you feel welcome. We’re all very excited to have you here, Erin.”

  “That sounds nice,” I tell her, forcing a smile. “Thank you.”

  She waves me off. “It’s no problem at all.” Then she turns her head to Knuckles. “We’re all dying to eat your famous pasta again tonight. You have to taste it, Erin. It will make you never want to leave.”

  My eyebrows rise. “You cook?”

  I don’t know why I’m so surprised, but I am. This place is kind of Neanderthal, with the men in charge, from what I’ve seen so far anyway, and I just pictured the women doing the traditional gender roles and cooking and cleaning for the men. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, hell, I consider myself a strong woman, and even I’d probably get in the kitchen for Ace. Not that I’d ever, ever admit that out loud. There must be something in the water here, or perhaps it’s the testosterone floating in the air.

  Knuckles crosses his arms against his chest. “It’s modern times twenty, Erin. There’s no more traditional gender roles, and you know what? Men can multitask too.”

  I feel my slow-spreading smile light up my face. “You know what? I like you, Knuckles.”

  He’s obviously a man not to mess with, but I think Knuckles might have a soft side hidden beneath the beard; the hand, thumb, and forearm tattoos; and the scarred knuckles from who-knows-how-many fights.

  “I like you too, Trouble,” he replies, lip twitching. “I know my girls will like you too. You’ll get to meet them tonight.”

  “Girls?” I ask, hoping he doesn’t mean some harem of women he carries around or something.

  “I’ve got two little girls,” he tells me, with the same pride in his tone that Gage had. “Willow and Westley.”

  “Pretty names,” I tell him, softening my tone. “I’m looking forward to meeting them.”

  I wonder if he’s married. I glance down at his hand but don’t see a ring. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a text message from my cousin Celina.

  Your mom just called me. Apparently I’m supposed to talk you out of living on the road and sleeping with hordes of bikers.

  I snicker to myself and quickly type back, not wanting to be rude to my present company but needing to reply to this.

  Too late. Already slept with three and currently living off the grid. Considering throwing my phone away so I have no contact with the outside world.

  Ha-ha. If you need me, I’m there. Be safe, baby cousin.

  I slide my phone back away and glance up, only to see everyone staring at me.

  “Sorry,” I say quickly. “My cousin is checking up on me. But speaking of phones, there’s a conversation you and I need to have,” I say to Gage.

  I don’t miss the look he shares with Ace. I hope I don’t get Ace into trouble, but I think Gage needs to know that what he did isn’t okay. Does he not trust me, is that it? I don’t know, but I want to get to the bottom of it.

  “Is there now? Why don’t you walk with me and you can tell me what’s on your mind,” he says, gesturing down a pathway behind the clubhouse. “You can have a look at the property; it’s beautiful this time of year.”

  I nod, and we both leave the rest of the crowd. We walk in silence until we come to what I assume is the view he wants me to see. It’s spectacular. “You own all of this?” I ask him in awe. All I can see is green. Trees, plants, flowers . . . I’d never have thought this view was hiding behind the two-story house these men call home.

  “We do,” he replies, glancing out at the acres upon acres. “I actually inherited the farm and the house. I had it renovated, of course, but yeah. This is where I grew up, Erin. Just me and my old man. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters, and my mom passed away when I was about seven, so when he, too, died, the house was given to me. I’m not close to anyone else in my family, so I made my own, and now they all live here.”

  “I hope that changes,” I say quietly, looking straight ahead.

  “What changes?” he asks.

  “That you’re not close to anyone in your family,” I say, looking down at my feet.

  He reaches out and wraps his arm around me, albeit a little awkwardly, but I appreciate the gesture. “Erin, you are my family,” he says, clearing his throat. “And I’d love it if you’d come and stay with me whenever you can—you always have a home here now, and someday, all of this will be yours.”

  I lift my eyes and stare at the beauty that is his land but then turn to him, taking in his profile. “Thanks, Gage. I’d love to come and spend time with you, maybe when I’ve got my college break.

  “I also want you to know that going through my phone is completely crossing a line.”

  His body jerks as he winces. “I just wanted to see . . . I was curious, Erin. Fuck.”

  “Wanted to see what? What kind of girl I am? Thought you could find things out without actually speaking to me and asking me, or getting to know me the proper way?” I ask, lifting my head and staring daggers at him.

  He sighs and admits, “You need to try to understand. I didn’t know anything about you until you walked into my club. Things are different in my world, and I wanted to make sure you are who you said you are and that there’s nothing I needed to be concerned about. I have enemies, Erin. I had to be sure.”

  My eyes widen as I get it.

  He has trust issues, but he wanted to make sure I wasn’t hiding anything or trying to hurt anyone.

  “I guess that makes sense, but still. I know you’re new to the whole fatherhood gig, but trust is important, and there have to be some kind of boundaries.”

  “You’re right, and I’m sorry,” he
says, pausing before adding, “I can’t even remember the last time I apologized. What are you doing to me, kid?”

  My lips twitch at that. “Well, I’m glad you gave me an apology. Now I won’t have to call your club Snooping Ravens MC instead of Cursed Ravens.”

  “Thank God for that,” he replies, smirking. “And you’re right, this is all new to me, and I don’t want to fuck it up.” He gestures to the clubhouse. “This is all I know, Erin, and I never knew about you. So now I’m thinking, what if you hate this, the way I live, or don’t want any part of it? What am I meant to do then? I can’t lose you when I’ve only just found you, but this is who I am. This is who your mother kept you away from. I’m not a good man—I know this—but for you, to you, I know I could try to be. I’d give you everything I have, the shirt off my back if need be. I guess I just have no idea what you’re thinking right now, and I’ve kind of thrown you to the wolves . . .” He laughs under his breath. “Or the ravens, as it were.”

  I step in front of him and look him in the eyes. “I’m out of my element here, yes, but I want to know you, Gage, and I know that this is who you are. I’d never ask you to change that. I guess I just want you to get to know me, and perhaps spend more time with me. Not that the Ravens haven’t been nice to me, because they’ve been great, but it’s you who I came here for. I don’t need the bike, although I absolutely love it, and I don’t need your home. I just want to catch up on what I’ve missed out on all these years, and I want to see where half of me came from, more than just the eyes.”

  “Be careful what you wish for.” He smiles.

  I smile back and exhale deeply, a weight suddenly lifted off my shoulders.

  We’re right where I wanted us to be—on the same page.

  8

  After my conversation with Gage, I return my attention to my new bike. I smile down at it and run my fingers over it. “I will call you Black Beauty.”

  “How original,” Ace teases, amusement written all over his expression. “It’s a good bike.”

  “Good?” I repeat, my voice raising an octave. “It’s perfect. Wonderful. An absolute delight—”

  “I get it,” he replies, cutting me off and chuckling deeply under his breath. “You love it.”

  “I do, even though I can’t ride it. When did you get your first bike?” I ask him, curious.

  “My dad gave me his when I was about sixteen or seventeen,” he explains, those gray eyes hypnotizing me as he speaks. “He was a biker too, in a different MC though.”

  “Was?” I ask softly.

  “Yeah, he’s been dead for a few years now,” he explains, shifting on his feet like he’s suddenly feeling uncomfortable, which makes me start to feel a little uncomfortable.

  “I’m sorry,” I tell him, but all I get is a shrug in return. His dad is clearly not a subject he likes to speak about, and I get it. Nobody likes talking about loss, and no one needs the reminder of everything they’ve endured in their life. Living in the present is the best way.

  “So being a biker is in the blood?” I ask, changing the subject. I step closer toward him, nudging him gently with my shoulder. “Like it’s in mine?”

  He shakes his head at me, lip twitching. “It might be in your blood, but there are no female members of the Cursed Ravens.”

  I purse my lips. “So what are all the women here? Walking vaginas?”

  He makes a sound between laughter and choking, and I start to tap him on his broad back just in case it’s the latter. “Let’s not forget what my first impression of you was, Ace. Sitting there in between two women, looking like a pimp on a throne.”

  “The shit you come up with,” he mutters under his breath, before running his fingers through his soft-looking hair. “Well, there are old ladies, who are in committed relationships with members, or there are hang-arounds, who come for parties or temporary fun.”

  “So Veronica would be an old lady then,” I surmise, biting the inside of my cheek.

  Ace looks uncomfortable again, but he answers me. “No, Veronica isn’t Prez’s old lady. He’s never taken one.”

  I’m a little shocked by this, yet it makes me want to get to know my father even more.

  “So the old ladies, I’m guessing they are respected?”

  Ace nods. “Yeah, and if they weren’t, whoever disrespected them would be going head-to-head with whoever she belongs to.”

  “Belongs to?” I repeat, enunciating each syllable.

  “You want the truth, or bullshit?” he fires back, studying me. “This is how it is, princess, and you’re in this world now.”

  “I’m neither an old lady nor a hang-around,” I point out.

  “You’re something more special than that,” he says, moving his gaze to my bike. “I don’t call you princess for no reason. All the men here would lay their lives down for you because of how much they respect your father.”

  I ponder his words, and my place here. What if I wanted them to respect me for just me? Maybe I shouldn’t overthink too much and just try to enjoy the time I get to spend here with Gage and with Ace.

  “Hopefully it won’t come to that,” I tease, looking to his bike, which is now parked next to Black Beauty. “When can we go on another ride on your bike?”

  “Tomorrow maybe,” he murmurs, looking toward the clubhouse. “Everyone will be here soon, all to meet you, so you’re gonna be busy tonight.”

  “And where will you be?” I ask, resting my arm against him so our skin is touching as we stand side by side.

  “Where do you want me to be?” he asks, a teasing glint in his eyes.

  I move so we’re facing each other. “Wherever I am.”

  “Knuckles is right, you are trouble,” he says, stepping back and putting some space between us. “Prez isn’t going to like this, Erin. He made his rules pretty fuckin’ clear when it comes to you.”

  “We haven’t even done anything yet, no rules have been broken,” I reply, looking up at him beneath my lashes. “Besides, I am not in the MC, and he never told me to stay away from anyone. Not like I’d listen, ’cause he can’t tell me what to do.”

  “Do you think it’s better to ask for permission, or forgiveness?” he asks, but before I can give him an answer we’re interrupted.

  “There you are,” Dreads says, amber eyes smiling. He comes and stands right in between the two of us and studies my bike. I don’t know how he misses the lingering tension in the air, but either he’s completely oblivious or he doesn’t care and is ignoring it.

  “Can’t wait to see you on that,” he says, whistling. “You’d be the only woman here who knows how to ride.”

  “Really?” I reply, shocked at the admission. “Don’t any of them want to learn?”

  Then again, who am I to question their motives? I don’t even have a driver’s license. And being on the back of a bike is an experience I wouldn’t want to give up either, being pressed against your man, not a damn worry in the world.

  “Nah,” he says, shaking his head. “I think they leave the riding up to us. Are you ready for tonight? I don’t think you’ve ever been to a party like this one before.”

  “That wild?” I ask, brow furrowing.

  “No, not wild,” he says, looking to Ace for some help, but he just stays silent. “Just a lot of people, most of them rough. We do have some wild nights, but this isn’t the occasion for it.”

  “Well. I wasn’t nervous before, but I am now,” I admit, wringing my hands together. I step away from Dreads so I can see more of Ace. “What should I wear? I didn’t bring many clothes, because I didn’t think I’d be staying this long.”

  Damn, maybe I should have stopped being so stubborn and actually done some shopping this morning. I know Ace is thinking the same thing, but my narrowed gaze and tight lips dare him to say it out loud.

  “It’s casual. Jeans and a top is fine,” Ace says, and I don’t miss the once-over he gives my body. I suppose I could wear the same crop top and jeans I wore when I arrived, b
ecause I don’t have many other options for a party, even if it’s a laid-back one.

  “Didn’t you go shopping this morning?” Dreads asks me, frowning.

  “Don’t even ask,” Ace grumbles, sliding his hands into his jeans pockets, probably so he doesn’t try to strangle me.

  “You went shopping and didn’t buy anything? What kind of woman are you?” Dreads asks, scratching his chin. “I would have just chosen some shit for you. I have great taste.”

  I eye his original look, which is along the lines of hippie meets biker—a tie-dyed T-shirt with his leather cut over it and dark, worn, ripped jeans and biker boots—and wince.

  “What a shame I missed out on that,” I say in a sweet voice. “If only you weren’t drunk this morning, maybe we’d be wearing matching rainbow shirts right now.”

  “I don’t think you could pull this off,” Dreads murmurs with a straight face, and when Ace chuckles I realize he’s being dead serious, and join in on the laughter.

  “I should get ready,” I tell them, and take a step toward the clubhouse. I want to look nice tonight and put a little effort in with my hair and makeup.

  “I’ll walk you to your room,” Ace says, falling into line next to me.

  “I’ll see you in a bit, Dreads,” I tell him with a small wave, then leave him standing by the motorcycles.

  “Watch yourself, Ace,” I hear him calling out behind us. I guess he did notice the tension in the air, then.

  Shit.

  “I can walk to my room alone, you know,” I tell him.

  “But do you want to?” he asks, looking straight ahead.

  “No.”

  We walk side by side in silence until we hit the hallway, and then I reach out and take his hand in mine, and give it a tight squeeze. “Thank you for walking me.” It’s intoxicating being around him, and I want to get lost in him, but I know I can’t ask him to disobey his president’s order.

  Maybe I can test the waters tonight. Drunk people love to talk, and I didn’t miss all the alcohol being carted into the clubhouse today. It’s been a while since I drank a lot, and I’m kind of looking forward to letting loose tonight and having a little fun.