Not long after that, Reaper’s right-hand man at the tattoo shop he owns, Nick blew into town with his little brother and sister in tow. Cody and Emmaline were skinny, unkempt, and wearing clothes two sizes too small for them not appropriate for the snow that had begun to fall. Adelyn took one look at the little girl who reminded her so much of herself and decided right then and there to take her in.
Emmaline flourished under Reaper and Adelyn’s care, growing into one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever laid eyes on. Married to Wheels, the son of Devil’s Spawn President, Cage, they have two kids together and another on the way.
His family might be made up of blood and choice, but one thing never ceases to amaze me about the imposing man at my side. If he chooses to bring you into the fold, there will never be a time you’ll question his love, loyalty, or devotion. Something which is reflected in his gaze as he stares captivated by the tiny woman in his arms.
Shaking those thoughts off, I clear my throat.
“Her life wasn’t good, brother. Far from it. Nancy’s a cunt as you’ve seen, but it goes deeper than that. If you knew even half of her history, you’ll realize that you have to tread carefully here,” I say in warning.
“I know,” he grates out, struggling to contain his emotions. “When that fuckwit called me, I had him and her bitch of a mother investigated. Called in favors, paid a fuck load to grease palms to get what I needed. As soon as I saw a picture of her, I knew she was mine. And when I read the reports, saw her hospital records, and heard what she’d been through it fucking eviscerated me, Gage.”
The tears steadily dripping down his face are a testament to how deeply he feels for the daughter he’s only just met, proving I was right. Now that he knows about Aislinn, there will never be a time he won’t love, protect, and honor her. The thing is, he’ll have to get in line because as her man that’s my job first and foremost.
“Can I have my woman back now?” I ask, opening my arms.
Begrudgingly, Reaper hands her over, and I place a gentle kiss on the top of her head before settling more fully into the cushions. Sighing heavily, Reaper scrubs his hands over his face and stares into the distance, lost in whatever memories are plaguing him.
“Ade wanted to come with me, but I asked her to hang back until I’d gotten the lay of the land. I don’t think there’s much chance I’ll be able to hold her or Steel back much longer, though,” he admits wearily.
For the life of me, I don’t know how Aislinn will take having a pre-made family. She hasn’t had a real family before so it will be nothing if not daunting being thrust into a large, loud, yet loving one such as theirs.
“Give it a day or so,” I suggest. “Talk to her when she comes around, tell her what you just said to me, and for Christ’s sake let her lead this. If there’s anything I know about my girl, it’s that she doesn’t take kindly to people making decisions for her.”
Inclining his head in agreement, he commands,
“Tell me about her.”
So I do. I tell him how brave and strong Aislinn is. How she had me wrapped around her little finger the moment I saw her fiery red hair and bright green eyes. I left nothing out, not even the shit I’d prefer not to remember in this lifetime or the next. I told him everything up until the day I left, and how it broke me to walk away from her.
Lastly, I tell him,
“I love her, brother. I always have. It doesn’t take a lot to love a woman like Aislinn, there’s just something about her that draws you in, wraps around your heart, and refuses to let go. I’m not going to ask your permission because regardless of the fact you’re her dad, you don’t know her like I do, but I intend to marry her as soon as she lets me. Tomorrow, the next day, a month from now, I don’t give a fuck when, but I want my ring on her finger and her promise that I’ll never have to live without her again.”
“Do I get a say in this?” A sweet, slightly slurred voice mumbles, jarring me from our conversation.
Smiling widely at her, I gather Aislinn close to my chest and kiss the tip of her nose.
“Sure you do,” I smirk, knowing what I say next will piss her off to no end. “As long as you say exactly what I want, when I want in front of a minister, you can have at it, baby.”
Huffing at me, she rolls her eyes and looks to Reaper, who’s staring at her as if Aislinn’s the most incredible thing he’s ever seen. Something I wholeheartedly agree with.
“See what I have to put up with?” She complains, trying and failing to hide a grin behind her over exaggerated pout.
“Seems to me, you’ve found yourself a good man, and I for one couldn’t be happier you did,” Reaper replies, watching as Aislinn snuggles deeper into my body.
Shrugging nonchalantly, Aislinn quips,
“What can I say? He’s trainable, and I’m far too lazy to look elsewhere, so he’ll do.”
Digging my fingers into her ribs, I tickle her relentlessly until she cries out for mercy, and tears of laughter stream down her face.
“You’re a pain in the ass you know,” I grunt once she has herself under control.
“And you’re a bossy, overbearing, smart ass who drives me to drink, what of it?” She returns, negating the validity of her statement with a soft kiss on my lips.
“Shut it, Daisy, and talk to your dad. You two have a lot of catching up to do, and I’ve got business to attend.” Kissing both of her eyelids, I order, “Stay with your old man. I don’t want you out of his sight unless me or one of the boys are with you.”
“About that,” she grins evilly, making me question what the little vixen is thinking. She doesn’t keep me guessing for long, however. “I’m well aware what your position with the club entails, and honestly, it doesn’t bother me. All I ask is that when you put them out to pasture, you let me watch.”
“No fucking way,” Reaper barks, taking the words right out of my mouth.
There’s no way in hell I want my girl seeing what a sick, twisted bastard I can be when I’m working. She doesn’t need those images floating around inside her gorgeous head, tainting what she thinks and feels about me.
“Okey dokey then,” Aislinn chirps, sounding way too cheerful for my liking, which can only mean one thing. She’s up to something.
Shaking my head in disgust, a little disappointed she thinks I’ve forgotten her tricks, I groan,
“You’re going to cry aren’t you? You’re going to find some poor bastard who’s an easy mark, and turn on the tears to get what you want.”
“Who me?” Aislinn gasps in an attempt to appear shocked.
“Yes, you, you little deviant. You forget, I know you, Aislinn. You pulled that shit in eighth grade on Mr. Bryson when you didn’t want to run track. He nearly cried with you, you were that convincing,” I remind her.
“Well, he was a slave driver. And anyway, who actually wants to run around in a never ending circle? No one, unless you’re a sadist that is, and I most assuredly am not.” She huffs.
“Baby,” I prompt. “No. I’m not saying you can’t handle it, or you’re not entitled to be there when this goes down, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s not going to happen. And do me a favor, yeah? Try to control your evil impulses. My brothers don’t deserve your brand of adorable manipulation.”
Dejected, Aislinn crosses her arms over her chest and frowns at me before turning to face Reaper.
“So, I guess it’s just you and me for a while then. What should we do?” As if a light bulb goes on inside her cute little head, Aislinn jerks out of my arms excitedly, asking, “Do you know how to blow stuff up? I’m not stereotyping you or anything, what with you being a biker and all, I just really, really, really want to push the big red button and watch something explode,” she ends with a wistful sigh.
Little hellion, I muse.
Willing to do just about anything to bond with his daughter, Reaper asks,
“Pretty sure I know the answer, but have you got what I need back in the shed?”
Resigned to the fact my woman and her explosives expert father will probably have leveled half the compound by the time I get back, I groan in defeat.
“Yeah, room’s locked, though. I’ll give you the key, but you’re on your own explaining why there’s a crater size hole in the middle of Boss’ property.”
Reaper smirks at me, raising an eyebrow in question.
“You doubt me, and that shit hurts, Gage.”
“Um, just to say, I don’t mind breaking the news to the big man. I think in light of recent events he’ll take it easier on me than either of you,” Aislinn offers, not understanding his humor.
“No, darlin’,” Reaper chuckles. “If Boss had a choice, he’d be out there showing you himself, so that’s not what I meant.”
“Oh, okay then,” she frowns, with her brow puckering and lips pursed.
“I’ve got experience, sweetheart,” he tells her, still grinning like a loon. “My expertise lends itself to leveling buildings, not creating big ass holes in the ground, but if you want a show, I’m more than happy to put one on for you.”
Jumping up off my lap, Aislinn pauses long enough to kiss me quickly before tugging on Reaper’s hand.
“Come on, come on. This I have to see.” Spotting Meg sitting next to Jump at the bar, immersed in what appears to be a serious conversation, Aislinn yells, “Hey, Whorina, are you talking to me yet?”
Meg has been summarily dismissing any and all attempts by Aislinn to make up after their argument the other day. Seriously, that bitch holds a grudge better than any man I’ve ever come into contact with. But in saying that, I have a newfound respect for the woman, and not only because she makes my brother happy. Although on that point, I still don’t know why.
Jump’s laid back, the joker of the group, and Meg is anything but. Her attitude is caustic, her barbs are sharp, and her intelligence is off the charts, making her way out of my barely finished his GED friends’ league. Not to mention, Jump usually goes for women with more tits, more ass, and more hair; things Meg is sorely lacking.
She’s attractive in her own right with all that straight as a board black hair, almond shaped eyes, and perfect skin. Tiny with a fiery temper, hair trigger, and a mouth that puts sailors to shame, Meg oddly suits Jump. She needs someone to ground her and keep her in check, and Jump needs a challenge.
“Yes, my little whore-d’oeuvre of love, I am indeed ready to talk to you,” Meg retaliates.
I don’t know where she comes up with this shit, but I suppose that’s just part of her appeal. Smiling broadly at her, Aislinn’s eyes sparkle with mischief, causing my heart to clench in my chest. Seeing her smile, happy in spite of what she’s learned in the last half hour is more than I could have hoped for. Not that she’d be crying in a corner or throwing a tantrum or anything – Aislinn isn’t like that – but I had anticipated some resistance to spending time with the father she’s never known.
“I’m honored,” Aislinn replies, bowing in Meg’s direction. “Now hurry up, get your bony ass moving, my dad is going to show us how to wire explosives, and I don’t want to miss anything.”
“Hell, yes,” Meg screeches, launching herself off her stool. “That’s a fucking awesome skill to add to my bag of tricks. See,” she says, gesturing to Jump, “I told you to watch your back. If you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself the victim of an unfortunate accident. Oh, my bad,” Meg feigns sadness. “You won’t find shit and neither will your brothers, not even a body.”
Jump chuckles at her, slapping Meg soundly on the ass as she saunters past him.
“Bring it on, baby. I knew you were hot for me, and if you’re willing to put that much effort into getting my attention, that just proves it.”
Before Meg can formulate a new threat, Aislinn shouts,
“Enough with the disgusting display of what you two call foreplay. I have shit to blow up and little time to do it in. Now, hop to it.”
Watching his daughter walk away, Reaper looks at me in shock.
“She called me, dad.”
“Yeah, she did. Your daughter is the kindest, most forgiving woman I’ve ever met. Aislinn’s got a lot of love in her to give, and you’re a lucky son of a bitch because you’re on the receiving end of some of it,” I tell him honestly.
And it’s true. Aislinn may have honed a tough exterior to protect herself over the years, but deep down she’s never changed from the sweet, caring, sensitive girl I fell in love with.
It’ll take time, but when he sees it, when she turns her light on him full-force, Reaper won’t know what hit him. I just pray he treasures what she chooses to give him as the gift it is. However, knowing Reaper, he’s already well aware of what he has in the palm of his hand, and he’ll do everything in his power to protect it. With his life if needs be.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
~ Aislinn ~
“Sometimes my underwear matches, and it makes me feel like I really have my shit together.”
– Aislinn’s text to Avery
Okay, now you’re probably wondering why I didn’t freak the hell out when I found out Reaper is my dad. It was partially because Meg, Avery, Bella, and Blaine took care of that aspect for me, and a little to do with the fact I’m too worried about what’s happening with the two people who made my life a living hell.
There’s too much going on in my head to decipher everything I feel about what I’ve learned today. It was cluttered in there before, but this new information takes it to a whole new level of chaos.
Reaper took Meg and I out to the firing range and showed us what happens when you rig ten ounces of C4 to forty gallon drum and use a remote detonator to blow it sky high. And as cool as that was, it still didn’t distract my thoughts from straying to what Dex was doing in that moment.
“You know, I’m kinda jealous,” Meg mutters conversationally from the couch she collapsed into over an hour ago.
“Hmm, and why would you of all people be jealous. You’ve got the biggest ego of anyone I know, and have no qualms sharing it with the world,” I point out, rolling the empty glass in my hand between my palms.
“This is true, yet I still find myself wanting to be you right now.”
“Uh-huh,” I hum. “Well, be my guest. If you want to deal with a psychotic, alcoholic, drug abusing mother, a God willing soon-to-be ex-husband who scares the living crap out of you, a new relationship, and finding your long lost father, you’re more than welcome to be me.”
Meg rolls over to face me, propping her head up with her hand.
“Seriously, think about it. The life-destroying fuck nugget made a huge mistake contacting Reaper, putting himself directly in the firing line of some freakishly large, leather wearing sociopaths with a penchant for hardware of the bullet wielding variety. Nick the Dick did what he always does and underestimated the wrong man. Reaper isn’t stupid; he wasn’t going to take his word at face value, so what did Nick think would happen? As far as I’m concerned, if Dex and the boys don’t tear him limb from limb, they’ve failed in their mission.”
All good points, however, that doesn’t negate I don’t want him or my mother within a thousand miles of me.
“I don’t care anymore, Meg. I thought given the opportunity to exact revenge on them I would make it count. After everything they put me through, I should want to make them suffer the way they made me, but I can’t find it in me to work up enough emotion to give a shit. I’m done, Meg. Fucking done. All I want is them out of my life once and for all. However, the guys make that happen is A-okay with me. As long as it’s permanent and none of them get caught dumping the body in some far off remote location, that is.”
“I can understand that,” she nods with sympathetic eyes. “But hey, your dad is smokin’ hot, that’s something, at least.”
I roll my eyes at her, desperately hoping she doesn’t continue along this line of conversation because not only is it gross she’s checking out my father, but there’s an almost thirty-year age different. That has to be illega
l somewhere, doesn’t it?
Attempting to redirect her, I ask,
“So what’s going on with you and Jump? And don’t lie to me and say nothing because I know better. He’s panting after you like a dog in heat, so spill woman.”
Meg curls her lips, not in a smile but as if she’s tasted something awful.
“I fucked up,” she moans pitifully.
“Yes, you do that often,” I agree cheerfully, earning me the middle finger and a nasty scowl.
“Because this time, I didn’t learn from my mistake,” Meg admits, shocking me.
In all the time I’ve know her, Meg has been happy to throw caution to the wind and experience anything once. More often than not, she regrets it afterward but doesn’t let it get her down as long as she learned something from it. I admire her for that; for having the courage to try new things, regardless of the consequences.
Vengeance MC Box Set - Volume 2: Gage ~ Cash ~ Knight (Vengeance MC series Book 8) Page 17
