by Megan Lowe
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s fine, Reed. It’s a normal bodily reaction.”
“I’ve never had to deal with this stuff before.”
I smile, and I catch a glimpse of his blush. “Well, you better get used to it. You’ll have to deal with it for another thirty or so years, and we’ll need to get familiar with it if we’re going to have those sons of ours.”
He nuzzles my neck. “I like the sound of that.”
“More practice?” I ask.
“Definitely more practice,” he says and for the rest of the night the only thoughts I have are of Reed and me and the love we share.
Chapter Thirty-Four
REED
“I need your help,” I say to Pop once Bria has left for class. With everything going on last week, I haven’t had an opportunity to broach this subject.
“If you’ve done something to upset that girl of yours again, I’d suggest you fix it right quick,” he replies.
“The opposite actually, but thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Pop looks up with a sly smile on his face. “The opposite, huh?”
I nod. “I want to ask Bria to marry me.”
“So you’ll be needing a ring then, I imagine.”
“Yeah, I wanna go shopping for one today but I’m not sure what I’m looking for or where to begin really.”
“And you figured my age and wisdom would come in handy.”
“May as well get some use out of it,” I joke.
“It’ll do more than that. Follow me.” He puts the paper he was reading down and leads me to his room. He goes straight to his bedside table, pulls out a small velvet box and hands it to me.
“It was your nan’s. Pa bought it, cost him his life savings, which probably wasn’t much but it was all he had.”
I open the box and find a ring with a plain gold band and a solitaire diamond. It’s a pretty decent size too.
“I gave it to your mother and now it’s yours to give Bria.”
“Shouldn’t Park have it?”
“Pa and I decided whoever was the first to settle down would have it. What you two have is real.”
I nod, still looking at the ring. As a child, I never paid much attention to the jewellery my mother wore and knowing this adorned not only her hand but also my nan’s... well, to say it holds a lot of sentimental value is an understatement.
“I know it’s not much or very flashy, but I’m sure if you wanted to have it remodelled Pa would have no objections.”
I shake my head. “It’s fine as it is. I don’t think Bria would want anything flashy and she’d kill me if she knew the history of this ring and I had it changed. It’s just... doesn’t it bother you? Growing up without a mother, raising us without one, you losing your wife?”
“Of course it bothers me.”
“How do you deal with it? How did you deal with it?”
“Worried the same thing will happen with you and Bria?”
“I can’t imagine my life without her, can’t imagine this family without her. What am I supposed to do if something happens to her? She’s already come under attack twice simply as collateral damage. What happens if Hunter realises she’s connected to both Roman and me? He’s already fixated on her because of me, but add all this Roman shit to the mix?”
“What are you going to do? Turn your back on her friend? On her? On us? You can’t protect her from everything, and she wouldn’t want you to. Bria knows what is going on with our family and Hunter. She knows what Roman will likely go through, and still she’s here. She’s a woman worthy of that ring. Your mother would’ve done the same given the choice. All you have to do is love her and be with her. Make a life for yourselves, give me some more grandchildren, and Chris some cousins. That’s all you have to do, Reed. All you can do. If you do it, then that’ll get you through the—touch wood—bad times. Don’t let this worry or sheer bad fucking luck ruin a good thing, because make no mistake, Bria is a good thing. A very good thing.”
I’m shocked. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard my pop talk for so long or so passionately.
“Geez, Pop, tell me what you really think.” We laugh.
He clips me across the back of the head. “You’re a smart-arse, aren’t ya?”
“I learned from the best.” I shoot him a cheesy grin.
“So what does this Roman do for Devil?” Pop asks, our moment clearly over.
“Apparently he’s a mechanical genius. Had to be something for Hunter to keep him round this long, and he’s not riding, so….”
“Must be one hell of a mechanic.”
I shrug.
“Always got room for one of those.”
“You want to take him on?”
Now it’s Pop’s turn to shrug. “Maybe after all this shit has blown over, we can take a look at the guy. Couldn’t hurt.”
“No, it couldn’t.”
“That girl of yours,” Pop says, smiling wryly, “she has a way with us, doesn’t she? Got us firmly in her corner and protecting her back.”
I smile. “You know I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“No, I know, but Bria, she just walked in and bam!” He snaps his fingers. “She’s one of us.”
I nod. “I know.”
Pop kisses his thumb and index finger and points to the sky.
“Yep.” I nod.
“Took them long enough,” he says with a grunt.
“Worth the wait though.”
“No doubt. I mean, Mase is great and him and Liam fit, but we have a responsibility to make sure there are plenty of Ryans long after I’m dead and gone.”
I chuckle and slap his shoulder as we walk into the diner. “Bria and I have talked about that. Are three enough for you?”
“You working on it already?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
Pop shoots me a smile. “Good. She’ll be a great mama, that one.”
“She’s a great everything.” My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Unknown: This is Rome. This is my new number, and only you, Bria and my parents have it.
Me: Good, I’m working out the details for Saturday. I’ll let you know. Find out anything?
Roman: Working on it. Will let you know. Thanks again.
We get to the diner and I go over to Pa.
“You ask that girl of yours to marry you yet?” he asks in greeting.
“Not yet, but soon.”
“Your pop give you the ring?”
“Yep.” I pat the pocket where it sits.
“You going to change it?”
“Bria would have my balls if I changed it.”
“She’s a good girl, that Bria.”
“Are you planning on staying here this weekend?” I ask.
“I was intending on it. Not as young as I used to be.”
“Ah, but still as sharp as ever,” I say and he chuckles. “Anyway, I’ve organised with Roman for him to go to the littles’ on Saturday. Think you’d be able to give him a hand? I’ve told him to come here to unload his stuff and then go to the garage to store his car and bike.”
“No problems.”
“Thanks, Pa.”
“You’re doing a good thing, Reed, both for this boy and your girl.”
“I’d do anything for Bria.”
He smiles. “We all would.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket again.
Roman: He’s planning next week, before the final race of the season. Got pics of his stockpile.
So now we know.
Chapter Thirty-Five
BRIA
As I drive away from the diner on my way to class, I decide to tell Grayson about Rome. I can’t keep this from her and she has a right to be there for him if she wants. I drop by our room before class but she’s already gone. It’s probably the best for her, that way she doesn’t miss a whole day of classes. I go to my own classes and then head back to wait for her.
I wake to the door closing and Grayson dumping her bac
kpack on the floor.
“Hey,” I say sleepily.
“Come back for a catnap?” she asks jokingly.
“Well, I have to admit it is convenient.” Although why I’m tired is beyond me. Maybe all this shit is stressing me out more than I thought.
“So how is your hunk of a man?”
“He’s good. Busy, but good.”
“How’s the PR stuff going?”
“It’s okay for now. The weekend is a different story but at the moment, I’ve got a handle on it.”
“You’ll have a handle on it on the weekend too.”
“Thanks.”
“So did you stop by just to crash or did you actually want to see me?”
“You know it’s not like that, Gray.”
“I know. I just miss my best friend.”
“I know, and I miss you too.” I pat the couch. “But I do have something to tell you.”
“Are you pregnant?” she asks accusingly.
“No! Well not yet anyway.” I blush hotly.
“Have you guys decided to start trying?” Her eyebrows shoot up.
“Not in so many words. I’m on the shot, as you know”—we’re shot buddies, getting them together—“but when this one’s up, I probably won’t be going back.”
“Holy shit.”
“I know, but that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What?” She crosses her arms and leans against the kitchen bench.
“Will you sit, please?”
“What is it, Bri? You’re freaking me out.”
“Fine,” I huff. “Rome’s getting out of Devil.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Come on, come sit down.” She falls onto the couch.
“His parents asked to see me when I went home, and told me he wants out. Reed and I met with him yesterday.”
“How is he? How did he look?”
“He’s fine, a bit anxious, but with what’s coming that’s understandable. He still looks like the old Rome, just a little more worn and weary.” Beside me, Grayson sniffs.
“Did he ask about me?” she probes in a small voice.
I bob my head. “He did.”
“What”—she swallows—“did he say?”
“Are you sure you want to hear this?” I ask.
“Yes and no. On one hand, I hate him and think he’s a bastard who can burn in hell, but on the other....”
“He’s the boy you fell in love with.”
“Yeah.” She shrugs one shoulder.
I take a deep breath. “He says he knows he fucked up. I think ‘beyond comprehension’ were his exact words. But he loves you and he never stopped.” At this, the dam breaks and she begins sobbing. I grab her and cradle her in my arms. After a while, her crying slows.
“Fuck,” she curses.
“I know.”
“After all this time?”
I answer with a shrug.
“You think he means it?” I can see the hope in her eyes.
“I hope he does. Reed thinks he does.”
“How would he know?”
“He says Rome looks the same way when he talks about you as Reed does with me.”
“Really?”
I take her hand and give it a squeeze, offering a small nod.
“So what now?” she asks.
“Reed’s helping him get out. Most of it will take place on Saturday while Hunter’s guys are at the track. Either Parker, Pa, or Jay, will help him get his stuff and move his car and bike.”
“Where’s he staying?”
“At Mav and Jax’s. They’re going to do some big air training and will be away for a bit. He’s storing his car and bike at Wheels’ garage.”
“Why are they helping him?”
“Because they’re good people.”
“No, I know that, but Hunter and Devil….”
“I know, but it’s okay. Rome explained some things and it’s all good.”
“What things?”
I exhale. I really didn’t want to go into all this, but she asked.
“Rome was at the diner the night of the fight, outside waiting for the two guys inside. When he saw me, he knew he had to end it so he smashed the windows.”
“That’s it?”
I shake my head. “No, there’s more.” My stomach rumbles. “Do we have any of those sweet potato chips? I’m starving.”
She gets up to get them. “So what else? Keep talking, lady.”
“Fine. Rome was the one who threw the explosives at the track.” Gray gasps and drops the chips.
“I know it sounds bad, but hear me out. Hunter had another guy who was going to do it during the warm-up. Both Christian and I were in there at that time and Reed and his family weren’t far away either. Rome managed to delay the guy and do it himself. He did it when he did because no one was around. It was only bad luck that Chris and I were heading back there.”
“Still, you can’t excuse that behaviour,” Grayson says, finally handing me the chips.
“No, but apparently Hunter is going after Wheels’ garage. Rome told us about the plan and is finding out as much as he can about it. Then he’s going to the police with Reed.”
“He is?”
I nod.
“So what now?”
“Whatever you want, it’s up to you. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to decide for yourself.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s up to you, sweetie.”
Hope and anxiety swirl in her eyes. I can only imagine how she's feeling. “Do you think it’s real?”
“I think so. Reed has threatened him that if he fucks up again, he’ll have to answer to him, so….”
Gray chuckles. “That guy…. You did good, Bria.”
“I know, and look, Rome knows he fucked up and that if you forgive him and he does it again, he deserves everything that will come to him, namely eight angry Ryans.”
“But they don’t even know me.”
“I get the feeling Jax wouldn’t mind rectifying that, but you’re my family so that makes you their family. It’s the same reason they’re helping Rome in the first place.”
She gives me a small smile and I know she’s scared. I take her hand again.
“You don’t have to jump in and pick up where you left off. You don’t even have to be together if you don’t want to. Take it slow, make him work for it, and make him earn it. A few gifts wouldn’t go astray either.” I wiggle my eyebrows, which gets me a smile and a watery laugh.
“I’m not going to tell you that you and Rome belong to each other because you know that, but whether you get back together or how fast you take it is all up to you. He’s waiting on you. The next move is yours, Gray, but if you do decide to reach out, you need to know getting out of Devil won’t be easy. Rome’s probably in danger. He might even get hurt, and you need to be prepared for that. They might even go after you.”
She offers me a tentative smile. “Okay.”
“Here’s his number. Only me, Reed, and his parents have it.” I write down the number he texted me earlier. She sits and stares at the piece of paper.
“You don’t have to do anything, you know. Rome doesn’t even know I’ve spoken to you about him.”
“I know, it’s okay.”
“Just take it slow, a few texts, maybe some coffee, somewhere out of the way. You know, that sort of stuff.”
“How long?”
“Until Hunter’s gone? I don’t know, but hopefully soon.”
“What will he do in the meantime?”
“Lie low. We don’t want Hunter to come after him or us, so that’s another reason I hope it’s all over soon.”
“Us?” she asks.
I shrug. “For all intents and purposes, I guess I’m a Ryan now, in everything but name.”
“Does that bother you?”
“That I’m a Ryan? Or in everything but name?”
“In everything but name.”
I sh
ake my head. “No. I know what Reed and I have and when he’s ready, we’ll take the next step. I mean, we haven’t even been together a month yet, so there’s no rush.” I grin.
She nods, still a little shell shocked by the whole conversation.
“There’s no rush for you and Rome either. Take your time. He hurt you and that’s a lot to overcome. Don’t hide from that. He needs to know how badly he fucked up.”
“Okay.” She inhales a large breath. “It’s just a lot, you know?”
“I know.”
“I just need… I don’t even know.” She gets up and starts pacing, pulling at her hair.
“How about we go over to the diner and get some dinner. I’m sure Jax will be happy to take your mind off things.”
She shakes her head. “I think I need to be alone.”
“No worries,” I say, getting up, “but if you need me, call me. No matter what the time, I’ll be here.”
She nods. “Thanks, Bri.”
I hug her. “You’re welcome. Just take your time, okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
As I close the door to our dorm, I hope with everything I have that’s the case.
Chapter Thirty-Six
REED
By the time Saturday rolls around everything is in place. I’ve been coordinating with the police on Roman’s behalf, passing all the information he’s given me to them. He’s told Devil he thinks he has food poisoning and can’t make it at all this weekend. Most of the guys left Friday, so he started moving his stuff with Pa’s help. Bria and I also left on Friday so she can stay on top of the flow of information. It seems everywhere she goes, she fits in straightaway. The journos we already have a relationship with like the fact she’s “tamed” me and the ones we don’t, she doesn’t take any shit from. She’s tough, efficient, to the point, and they know they can’t push her around. It has led to me being as hard as a rock all weekend, much to her amusement.
Saturday goes well. Liam is able to pull off second after touching with another rider, so a top-ten finish next week will secure him the championship. Bria handled the press well yet again and we got a lot more exposure than we ever have before, which is awesome.
The track’s four hours away from home, so I took her back to our hotel room and made love to her on every surface, as well as against the door and a couple of walls. It gets me hard just thinking about it. She’s currently sleeping as we drive back, and my mind drifts to the ring I’ve stashed in a box full of my old racing gear. As much as I want to wake her up right now and ask her, I also want it to be special and leave her in no doubt about how much I love and value her. So yeah, it’ll keep for now.
