Christ on a stick—I had no idea this was a full nudity strip club until I looked around and noticed the nude dancers in metal cages around the stage gyrating to the music.
Brianna slapped her ass for an older gentleman in the front row before she bent over and did a full on split. The men hooted and hollered as one hundred dollar bills rained on the stage.
I enjoyed my the club soda a waitress sat in front of me until the song came to an end and the DJ announced, “Give it up for Scarlet, one of our premiere and most requested dancers! Now, you know you can get an exclusive lap dance from this gorgeous filly from the Green Isle for only one thousand dollars. Up next, why don’t you fine gentlemen give it up for Raven!”
A gorgeous exotic looking woman approached the stage in barely-there, sheer white baby doll top, a matching thong, and a pair of clear six-inch heels. She stepped onto the stage as Brianna slipped her thong back on and walked down the stairs into the general audience. Her breasts jiggled as she flirted with patrons before she made her way over to me.
“Sorry about that. Let’s go.”
I stood quickly and followed her through a dimly lit hallway where she said “Hello” to what had to be her “regulars” and promised them lap dances before the night was through.
We finally made it to the dressing room, a brightly lit area where various dancers were getting ready and Brianna slid on a black sheer nightie that barely reached the top of her toned thighs. A young hostess walked in and handed her a white envelope full of cash, and she set it down at her station before she turned her full attention on me.
“A bit overdressed, aren’t you?” She looked me up and down with penetrating steel gray eyes before I looked down at my conservative beige suit.
“I was in court today and then I had to dash off to my office.” I sat down on a seat not far from hers and realized it was Raven’s station.
Korn’s “Love & Meth” could clearly be heard through the closed door though it was low enough we could talk without shouting.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I began before I faced her again. “Surely there is a better way than…this.”
“There is and you’re gonna do me a huge favor after I do something for you that can end this shit storm of a case. I’m goin’ to give you something that will guarantee you the happily ever after you want with my ex-old man,” she stated casually before she crossed her legs.
“What’s that?” I wondered out loud.
My heart beat fiercely in my chest, and all I could think about was this whole case and how it could finally be over. If that happened, I would be the happiest woman in the world. My whole life could return back to normal; Cillian and I would have a real chance to raise a family and he could ascend to Club President.
“Well, you know I’m hookin’ on the side, right? I mean, I gotta make a livin’ and I’m not gettin’ any younger. I got good genes and I don’t look twenty-eight but God knows I feel every minute of my age.” She sighed before she grabbed a Marlboro Silver from a pack on her dresser and lit it. “I got maybe two more years in this business and the money here is good but I need the kind of money that can set me up for life and we know there is only one man that can do that for me.”
I smiled though it lacked mirth. She wanted me to set up a meeting with my dad. Brianna wanted to work for Raymond Jackson because his girls made top dollar and everyone knew they could become millionaires by the time they retired.
“You want to work for my father, and become one of his call girls?” I laughed out loud before I shook my head. “This is just…too much irony to handle in one night.”
“Why not?” She shrugged her shoulders and dragged on her cigarette. “I like to fuck and as soon as Cillian dispatches of me, he’s not goin’ to give me one red cent because he’ll have custody of the kids. No judge would ever choose me over him—not with the drug charges and the stints at Rehab. I know what I am and that’s a whore, Gisela. I could never be you and I wasn’t gonna kid myself into thinkin’ even if I tried, he’d love me. It’s impossible to give love when you don’t have it in your heart.”
I crossed my arms against my chest and nodded. “Fine. You’re a bit…older…than my dad usually likes his girls to be but you look young so like you said, that’s a plus.”
Brianna smiled before she opened her oversized Coach purse and pulled out a USB adaptor and palmed it into my hand.
“What’s this?”
“It’s Cillian’s ‘Get out of jail free card,’ Gisela. I fucked the prosecutor and the DA. They’re regulars of mine, and they don’t know about my affiliations with the Club. It’s the reason why I went back to my real hair color and wear this Dermablend cover crème shit over my tats. They have no idea I was ever married to Cillian Cox. If what’s on that USB adaptor gets out, their careers are ruined,” she explained before she dragged from her cigarette.
“It’s not that easy. The Feds are involved and they wouldn’t want to just get the case thrown out because of a political scandal involving the DA—”
“You sure about that? Riley was small fry and had no real tangible information about the Club. Cillian didn’t kill Riley, and they know the whole case is circumstantial evidence. Besides, the Feds have an informant in the Club. They can eventually bring Lucifer’s Saints to their knees anyway. Naomi is DEA, Gisela. She already confessed to Ronan and Dizzy so they know and she’s gone over to the dark side, figuratively speaking that is. She’s feeding the Feds what the Club wants them to know but she won’t betray the Club—she did somethin’ stupid like fall in love with that bastard she’s fuckin’. All’s fair in love and war, right?”
Now it was all starting to come together and I knew Brianna was right. Riley was murdered but if a scandal came out, they’d rather have the case thrown out of court. They already had a mole and she could find out much more information than Riley ever could.
“You would have never betrayed the Club.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Course not. My kids are there and the man I once adored with all my heart is there. I loved Cillian…though you might find that hard to believe. I still do but we weren’t ever gonna make it. Not as long as you’re still alive and breathin’. I knew that and now, I just wanna live me life. I’ve got enough money to get to Vegas and the charter Club there can provide me with protection. However, if I am workin’ for your da, I won’t need it.” Brianna stubbed out her cigarette.
“You would do this for Cillian? Even after he’s hurt and betrayed you?”
“Yeah, I would. I can’t stand the bastard but I don’t think I can deprive him of being with his kids and the two wee ones you’re expectin’.”
My heart felt like it stopped in my chest though I knew it still beat the same.
“How did you know?”
Brianna raised one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows. “Call it a woman’s intuition.”
“I’m still in my first trimester and I haven’t told Cillian yet.”
“Then don’t until you reach your second trimester. He loves you. You love him. Save him from this…death sentence. We both know he is a lot of things but he didn’t murder Riley. I don’t think he should have to spend the rest of his life in prison for something he didn’t do.”
I nodded my head and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Thank me when your da decides to take me on as one of his girls.”
I glanced at her and for the first time saw the vulnerability in her eyes. She wasn’t a bad person but hadn’t always made the wisest decisions. She was human and had make mistakes like we all did but I wanted to help her. I would do everything in my power to make sure my father offered her a job.
I stood at the same time she did.
“I hope Cillian finds it in his heart to forgive you.”
Brianna shrugged again. “I hope I can find the strength in me own heart to forgive him. Two way street, Gisela, and it goes both ways. You should know that better than anyone.”
I smile
d before I turned and walked out of the dressing room and made my way out of Essential Assets.
The street lights were bright and although I felt like I was being watched, I made it to my Porsche Cayenne and climbed in before I immediately locked the doors. My mind was hyperaware but at the same time I couldn’t believe this awful case was about to come to an end.
Our nightmare would finally be over.
Epilogue
Three Months Later
Cillian
Cillian buried himself as deep as he could inside Gisela’s warm body and she moaned out loud while he slowly eased in and out of her depths. He would never get tired of fucking this woman.
She was on her hands and knees, he was behind her. He kissed her back and neck as he fucked her with deep thrusts before he would slow down and make love to her like she was the most precious being in the world.
It was so easy for her to get off nowadays because she was pregnant and perpetually horny. He’d never had this much fun and his libido definitely got off on all the work outs they were doing.
Always the gentleman when it came to his fiancée, he allowed her to come first before her kegel muscles trapped him in a vice of heat and juices that flooded her pussy and he fell over the edge in a rush of pleasure.
Cillian was still hard when he withdrew from her body and grabbed the hand towel he placed on the bedside table. He cleaned her up, and then himself before she lay down and he spooned her as he rubbed her growing belly.
She was pregnant with his babies—fucking twins! How the hell did he get so lucky? Now that their life was pretty much normal due to a mistrial, he could finally allow himself true happiness. The Federal government hee’d and hawed before they decided not to retry his case, and they were both relieved when they received the news.
Of course, Carson City was a mess; they’d elected a new District Attorney and lead Prosecutor after the former two had been caught up in a scandal that had rocked the airways from Lake Tahoe to Las Vegas, Reno to Boulder City. No one could believe a sex tape of the two men who were respectable, wealthy and family men, would be dumb enough to fuck the same hooker.
Unfortunately, the woman in question was never discovered and her identity remained a secret. She’d worn a blonde wig and never had her face captured by the carefully placed hidden camera.
Gisela wouldn’t tell him where she’d gotten the evidence from and he didn’t ask. All he knew was as soon as his case had been dismissed, his wife had disappeared off to Las Vegas but not before she signed the divorce paperwork.
She didn’t show up to Court and didn’t fight the custody issue either.
Soon, Cillian would have four mouths to feed though Gisela insisted on continuing her practice of law. However, she’d made a joke if she had to defend him again, she’d cut his balls off, and he believed her too.
Their life was just beginning and although they still had turbulent fights followed by mind-blowing make-up sex, he knew they’d get to that place one day.
They were still re-discovering one another and there was so much time for them to grow as a couple.
Young love was easy but as adults, they actually had to deal with their problems, and together, they were an unstoppable team.
Life was good, and as soon as Dizzy handed over the gavel, it would be even better.
His father had promised him he would be made President shortly after Gisela became his old lady and they settled into married life.
Within two years, Cillian Cox would be the President of Lucifer’s Saints and the vast criminal empire would belong to him and his brothers.
The old generation was almost on their way out and when they were gone, he would run the Club his way.
Gisela
“So, how are my grandbabies treatin’ you?”
I sat beside Bronaugh and smiled as I patted my growing belly that was becoming quite the issue though I watched my diet and had maintained a healthy weight gain.
I was pretty much all stomach and nothing else but that didn’t mean I wasn’t miserable.
It was the annual Christmas party and everyone was drunk and stoned at the Clubhouse.
The place had so much more significance for me now because I’d been through a lockdown.
That night I thought someone was following me after Brianna gave me the evidence that would eventually dismiss Cillian’s case, the home of Dizzy and Bronaugh was attacked by the White Knights. Trey Lennon had gone missing in Northern Ireland and I had to spend the better part of two weeks with Trista Lennon-Carter, his high-strung sister, and her rock star husband, Lennon “Linx” Carter.
It was fun times.
Lots of bloodshed, full out war with the White Knights, and a couple of brand new Lucifer Saints’ members. Trey had eventually come back to Birch Tree though his girlfriend was dead, and Kyra had managed to come by whenever she could.
No one was all that surprised when she and Cricket ended their relationship, and she and Trey Lennon became close. I kind of always knew it would work out that way since she’d always carried a torch for the guy, even if she would only admit it to me while she was drunk.
The two of them sat in a private corner talking while she caressed his scalp. They were taking it “slow” because she was tired of being on the market and wanted a real relationship. Kyra wanted to be married before her thirty-first birthday.
I looked over at Bronaugh, stopped reminiscing, and smiled. “Not too bad. I just hope my body is in useable condition after my two tenants vacate.”
She lit a cigarette and blew the smoke away from my direction. “You’ll be fine, love. Cillian adores you and he’s gonna love you whether you’re one hundred and twenty pounds or two hundred pounds—”
“—that may be true but I don’t plan to test the theory. I have invested way too much money in my wardrobe to buy another because I allowed myself to become a blimp.”
We both laughed together and she clutched my hand while her other held her lit cigarette.
“Just think…all of this is gonna be yours and they’re goin’ to look to you because you’re his old lady. Dizzy and I worked really hard to let this all go to ruin. Promise me you won’t let that happen. Keep Cillian strong and be a great mother to his children and a wonderful old lady. He won’t do to you what his father did to me. I can promise you that.”
“I will,” I said quietly before I smiled again. “I’ve got an excellent teacher to show me the ropes.”
Bronaugh’s eyes shined with unshed tears. “Why thank you. I look forward to teachin’ you all the ins and outs too. Plus, you’ll be better than me—you’re an attorney so you know how to skirt the law a lot easier than I ever did.”
I nodded my head knowingly. “True.”
Cillian strolled over after he, Dizzy, Sean, and Brendan left chapel. He had a sly smile on his face that spoke of nothing but trouble but I understood why. Whatever Club business was discussed must have ended in his favor and he would want to wear me out again tonight, which, was fine by me.
“Ma, I was wonderin’ if you would mind if I took me wife?”
“Not at all, son. Go on youse two!”
Cillian helped me up and we walked together until we settled outside. It was cold, and the whole compound and surrounding areas looked like a winter wonderland. It’d snowed and we were expecting a very white Christmas in the form of a winter blizzard.
“Babe, I know it’s freezin’ out here but I had to ask my da for something…first we had to clear it with your da though.”
“What are you talkin’ about? We’re already engaged and in case you didn’t realize it, we’re both adults. My parents can’t decide who I can and can’t marry.”
“No, they can’t… but your father’s permission meant the world to me and it also means that you can wear this.”
I looked down and gasped as I saw my mother’s engagement ring and Bronaugh’s engagement ring welded together. It fit perfectly on my not yet swollen fingers.
“
I love it but I didn’t need this ring to symbolize our love, Cillian. I know how much I mean to you. I’ve known since we were fifteen year olds playing house. Of course now that we can make it legitimate, it means the world to me but I would be just as happy living with you. It’s a piece of paper from the State—that’s it.” I kissed his lips gently and he embraced me though he was careful with my growing belly.
“I know. It was never about you. Remember how you said I’d fucked up and wanted to blame everyone except myself for my mistakes? It was true. It took me almost losing you and this Club being in lockdown for me to realize that I would have to stand up and own up to what I’d done.”
“I know, baby—”
“I’m not finished.” He sighed as our breath could clearly be seen in the chilly air. “I know Brianna helped you and you in turn, helped her. I wouldn’t have ever wished for it to be true but…you were willing to do what it took to save me and so was she…in her own way. I have to love and respect that about my kids’ mother, even if it’s you who has always owned my heart.”
“The same way you’ve always owned mine.”
We clasped hands and though it was freezing, the warmth from one another kept us standing there. Our lives had finally come full circle and we were only just beginning the next chapter.
“I love you, Cillian ‘Killer’ Cox.”
“I love you too, Gisela ‘Butterscotch’ Jackson.”
“Do you think it’s possible for dreams to come true?”
Cillian pulled me closer into his warm embrace. “Yes and no. We’ll never have a normal life and you’ll always be more than just my old lady. You’ll be my confidante and best friend. You’ll share all the Club secrets and keep them close to your heart. Your life won’t ever not be in a state of flux. It’s the way of the life. The MC way. The Lucifer’s Saints’ way.”
“Can you finally say that you love the Club? My dad always used to tell me that if a woman loves her man—truly loves him with all her heart—then she had to learn to deal with the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. The same goes for you too, my love. This Club will never be perfect but it’s the only one you’ve got, and I know if I love you then I have to love your family and the Club…then again, so do you too.”
A Ride or Die Kind of Love Page 37
