RMCB 06.5_aBound Wedding

by Ryan Michele

  aBound Wedding

  Cooper & Bristyl

  Ryan Michele

  aBound Wedding © Ryan Michele 2019—Wicked Words Publishing, LLC

  All Rights Reserved. This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction in whole or in part, without express written permission from Ryan Michele.

  This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only. All sexually active characters portrayed in this book are eighteen years of age or older. Please do not buy if strong sexual situations, violence, explicit language and dark romance offends you.

  This is not meant to be an exact depiction of life in a motorcycle club, but rather a work of fiction meant to entertain.

  1st edition published: Originally written in 2019 in the Twisted Tales of Mayhem Anthology

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Keep Up to Date

  Other Books by Ryan Michele

  About the Author

  Thank you!

  1

  Bristyl

  The patio is covered with sparkling lights that hang in the sky illuminating the midnight evening. Salty air fills my nostrils, while memories of home flitter around my head. This smell is something you don’t notice if you live in Florida. Only now that I’m away, coming back is a breath of fresh air.

  Inhaling deep, I find myself smiling. For most, coming to the beach is a way to rejuvenate or, in my case, get married.

  Yes! Married.

  I have to pinch myself just to know this is real. All of it.

  In two days, I’ll be Mrs. Cooper Cruz, for better or worse, ‘til death do us part. Maybe we should skip the death part. It is too close to home to even think about.

  When I was younger, my dream was to get married on St. Pete beach, with the waves crashing back and forth and the sun behind us shining. We’d both be shoeless and wearing white, with flowers draped in my hair and people around who loved us unconditionally.

  Part of that dream is coming true. Cooper and I are getting married on St. Pete Beach, and I will have flowers in my hair. I’ll be the one in white, but my man—he’s not wearing white. Cooper is wearing black board shorts, but I couldn’t care less. As long as he’s there when I get to the end of the aisle, that’s all that matters. He could come naked and it wouldn’t matter to me. He’s all that matters.

  This moment is all that matters.

  A commitment to our love forever.

  Here’s where the part about the people around us comes into play. Back in my younger days, the world was roses, butterflies, rainbows and love was everywhere—at least in my little mind.

  Growing up sucked because learning the world isn’t like that crushes a girl’s dreams. Those innocent ones where everyone loves each other and nothing bothers them. That’s just not reality.

  It’s why I wanted to have a small wedding on the beach, so none of that negative energy would be around us on our day.

  Going through what I did with my family, it changed things. Not that I don’t love my brothers and my father, but things aren’t the same. We’re still working on a new normal and they, of course, are facing the changes that have happened both in our family and the Sinister Sons MC.

  Cooper agreed to a small low-key wedding, just us, but then things changed because the people around us weren’t negative. They were family.

  The wedding party went from around twelve to the entire club, no one wanting to miss the big day and a trip to the beach.

  I get it. Cooper’s the first of his generation to get hitched, and the Ravage MC is a tight-knit group. They brought on a whole different view of family for me, and I’m grateful for being a part of it. Everything about Ravage has given me hope and dreams again.

  It’s not like life surrounded by bikers is new to me. Ravage, though, they’re different from the Sons. My father’s club was his world, my brothers’ world. With Ravage, while yes I’m not involved in all things, I still get to have input with Cooper. He tells me what he can, and I accept what he can’t. I’m never left to feel alone or left out because Ravage is family. Even the things we don’t have all the details to, the women, we embrace each other. It’s a completely different feel from how I grew up.

  While all families have flaws, some are bigger than others, and I love mine. It’s taken me a while to get over some of the things that happened, but with time it’s better. Therefore, my father, brothers, and a few others from Sinister Sons MC are here too. The whole club isn’t here, and I’m okay with that. I’ll always love the Sons and, of course, my dad and brothers, but I’m Ravage now.

  Therefore, as I look around the large patio with the sparkling lights, our family and friends mingle around drinking and laughing around the fire pit, reclining on the chairs, it all clicks together. Soft music plays in the background, but still the waves of the ocean can be heard, and we can feel the breeze.

  Since we rented a huge chunk of the hotel, we’ve pretty much taken over everything, from the bars to the pools, to the beach. While before I thought having a small wedding was exactly what I wanted, seeing this—them here with us to celebrate is exactly how it should be.

  A strong arm comes around my shoulders, and without looking I know it’s Cooper. I’d know that arm anywhere. He has this smell about him that has never gone away, and it’s my home. Wherever he is, that is home.

  “Enjoyin’ the party?” he asks, kissing the top of my hair while we look out among our family.

  “Yeah.” I lace my arm around his back, putting my thumb in the waist of his shorts. There will never be a day that I won’t do this. There will never be a day when this man doesn’t hear and know how much I love him. There will never be a day when I don’t give it my all to make things work.

  Every relationship has its ups and downs, but for us, we’ll work on it until our last breaths.

  “You’re pissed?” He says it like a question, but it sounds more like a statement. Something that he thinks is true, but he’s wrong.

  Looking up at my man, his eyes are concerned, and I need to put him at ease, because I’m not angry at all. “I’m happy, Cooper. I get to marry you. I get to be yours forever. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

  He leans down and kisses my lips, but it’s too brief. “People, babe.”

  “Every one of those people are family. They want to be here. They want to celebrate with us.” I turn around viewing the crowd. “I love it that they’re here. I want them here.”

  It’s a beautiful sight, and I love being in Cooper’s arms, enjoying every minute of it. While I didn’t originally think this was me, it is, and I’m glad to have each person here.

  “Everyone wanted to get away for a few days. This is perfect.” His arms give me a squeeze. “You’re perfect, and I can’t fuckin’ wait to make you my wife.”

  He leans down and kisses me hard, deep, and wet. Everything around us ceases to exist. There are no sounds, no cheers, no catcalls of ‘get a room’—none of it. Because all I feel, all I see is my man. The one who will be by my side throughout this crazy life. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  2

  Leah<
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  Planning. Each item on the list needs to be checked off, and I scan the paper looking for more to scratch away.

  Bristyl is my best friend in this entire world, and her day has to be right. It has to be what she’s always wanted. She told me forever ago about getting married on the beach, and I knew she’d do it, because it’s Bristyl—she does everything she sets her mind to.

  When she told me it was going to be small, I laughed, full out barking. There is no small with this crew, ever. That is what I’ve learned since becoming part of Ravage. Since we’re so big, finding the right venue that fit what Bristyl wanted and all the people was a challenge, taking seven months to get it straight.

  During this process, though, I learned something about myself—I love to plan. Like it’s in my blood and fires me up. There are problems—I find the solutions. It’s this huge jigsaw puzzle to put together, and you have to find just the right piece to make it go off without a hitch.

  I love it. Really and truly love it.

  While I’m not sure how much planning there is to do in Sumner, Georgia, I’m going to find out.

  This is my thing. I just know it.

  For a while, I was so lost in my head there was no light, only black engulfing me. That all cleared and now this, it has brought so much light to me. No way I’m going to pass it up. One thing I’ve learned in my life is when you have something good, you hold onto it.

  If given an opportunity, one should run with it.

  I am.

  Maybe the girls would let me do their weddings. Austyn and Rylie are up next, and I’m sure that Emery isn’t too far behind. The gears in my head start turning and chugging while visions of colors and dresses parade through my head in a slideshow.

  Yes. Absolutely. This is happening.

  “Leah!” My mother bangs on my hotel room door. Yes, bangs. Not a light knock. Putting my list on the nightstand, I smile. Rolling out of the bed I hightail it to the door and open it. “There you are. Are you coming to brunch?”

  The bedside table bleeps red numbers at me. “We have forty-five minutes, Mom.”

  “I know, but you know your father. He’ll be late if we don’t get started now.”

  Happiness fills me, and I let it show. She’s not wrong. My parents were devastated when I was hurt. It has taken them a long time, but together, we got through the pain. I loved them so much. “Why don’t you get him started, and I’ll meet you down there.”

  She pauses a beat, and I know why. While she’s met everyone in the club, and they’ve all been super nice to her, there are two who freak her out a bit. Rhys and Deke, that is. Hell, who wouldn’t be scared of those two, but she has nothing to fear. They’d never hurt a hair on her head. That I’d put money on. After what happened to me, she is still a little jumpy at people. It’s hard as a person, much less a mother, to truly see and feel the impacts of what a dangerous man can do. Knowing and experiencing the true darkness and dangers in life makes it hard to trust again. I understand her trepidation, but I also know these men and this club. Nothing will happen while they surround me.

  “Go, talk, socialize … all that stuff you love to do. Bristyl wanted you two here, so go enjoy it.”

  My mother wraps her arms around me tightly. It takes me off guard, but I reciprocate quickly. She has a tendency to do this now and often. Ever since I was hurt, she sometimes just needs to feel me and know I’m alive and happy. I give her that, because I am and want her to be too.

  I’ve let that all go, and she needs to as well. But I don’t have a child. Therefore knowing what it’s like from her perspective isn’t in my knowledge base. I just don’t want her to live with it hanging over her. It was horrific. It happened. We can’t change that, but we can’t give it power over our future.

  “Love you, Mom.”

  “Love you.”

  I pull away, looking into her beautiful eyes that are like my own. “Go have fun. Promise me.”

  “I will. Now, don’t be working all the time. You give Green a good time here.”

  Green. God, I love that man. “Don’t worry. We’ll have plenty of time together.”

  After another hug, she’s gone.

  I can’t take the smile off my face. Going back to my work, the checklist is almost completely done with time to spare. Shutting up shop, I’m getting ready in the bathroom, when Green comes back into the room.

  “Hey. How was your guy thing?” I ask, waving my hand with the powder brush in it, little specks of white falling everywhere.

  He comes up behind me and wraps me up tight in his arms. Looking in the mirror at us, we’re perfect. His height, his eyes, his tats, his skin—all of it next to me. There is no better.

  “We’re gonna skip dinner,” he states, and my mouth falls open.

  “I can’t skip. I’m in charge of it.” The panic in my tone isn’t one to be hidden because I can’t. What if something goes wrong? What if the food isn’t on time? What if the linens aren’t the right color? What if they don’t serve the right wine? What if… Just what if, dammit!

  He turns me in his arms, and I tilt my chin up to get a better view. “It’s all handled. Just trust me.”

  On his last words, I relax and sigh. There is not a single person I trust more.

  “Always,” I whisper, and his eyes soften in that way he gets when he likes what I’ve said. It’s one of a million things I love about him.

  He leans down and brushes my lips. “Let’s go.”

  3

  Green

  Fuck me. Nerves are not my thing, but they’re here today because I’ve done something. I don’t know how Leah is going to react.

  She’s either going to be pissed at me or love it.

  Right now, I’m not sure which way she’s going to lean. While she’s been busy planning Bristyl and Coop’s wedding, I’ve been planning something of my own. Along with Bristyl, Coop, and Leah’s parents. Everyone has been involved, and I couldn’t be prouder.

  Shit’s not been easy. Leah and I don’t keep secrets, but this I did, for this—only this. Since I fucking love her either way, we’ll deal.

  Leah’s phone rings right on time. She scurries from the mirror to grab it, holding up one finger.

  “Yeah.” Her eyes flit to mine, but my expression stays stoic, not giving a damn thing away.

  “I can’t come to dinner. Green has something planned.” The tension in her voice is not lost on me. She wants to be there for her friend, but also for her man. She’ll be doing both.

  “I only brought that one top with the lace overlay and those white shorts you begged me to put in my bag, but they’re a bit tight.” Her eyes narrow, showing her insecurity. She has no reason to be insecure. She’s beautiful.

  “I can’t, Bristyl.” Her eyes plead with me, not wanting to have to choose between her best friend and her special day and me.

  I give her an out. “It’s good. We’ll meet her, and then we can go after we eat.”

  Relief flitters in her eyes as her body sags, and she finally breathes. “Yeah. We’ll be there, and I’ll wear the white. Why, though? That wasn’t on the list, Bristyl. We didn’t tell people there was a theme or a dress code.”

  My girl is smart, not letting that little tidbit go. Her brows narrow then release, and I’d love to hear what Bristyl is telling her.

  “Yeah, fine,” she concedes, and I stop myself from giving a fist bump to the air. “Give me fifteen.”

  She huffs, and a small smile plays on her lips. “Because once I put those shorts on, Green is going to want me, and while fifteen minutes is nothing—it’s something.”

  A chuckle rumbles deep in my chest. She’s so right about that, and restraining is going to be hell. But we need to be down there in the next few minutes for all of this to work.

  “Bye.” She clicks off the phone and tosses it to the bed, coming directly in my arms. “I’m sorry.”

  Kissing the tip of her nose, I squeeze. “It’s good, babe. Get whatever it is you need to get
on, and let’s get out of here.”

  “You’re not going to jump me?”

  My tongue roams my bottom lip. “Takin’ a lot not to. But today, I’m gonna resist. Don’t tempt the tiger.”

  She turns on a giddy laugh and heads to get dressed.

  Fuck, this is really happening.

  She gets dressed, and we head down to the large rec room that we’ve taken over. We had a company down here come and set up tables and chairs, giving us a space to eat that isn’t covered in sand.

  What Leah doesn’t know is it’s being transformed.

  When I brought it up to Bristyl months ago, she was so on board I was surprised she kept her mouth shut with all the excitement she had.

  “That’s funny. Why is there something blocking the windows?” Leah says, picking up the pace as we get to the door.

  Before she opens it, I pull her to a stop.

  “What the…” She pauses, looking at me as I grab her hand, the one with my ring on it.

  “Love you. Want you to be my wife.” There is no question, because it’s something I don’t question, and neither does she. She will be my wife one way or another, and since I’d already put a ring on it before, I know this will work. The ring is from my mother, at least one of the stones is. I had it remounted and enhanced, but I wanted my mom to be a part of this too.

  “Know that, babe.”

  I kiss her hard and swing open the door, taking a deep breath. “Good thing you love me.”

  Leah stops breathing, her motions frozen as she takes in the space around her. Bristyl went all out. The room is covered in snowflakes, white, and glitter. Yes. We’re in Florida, and we brought a winter wonderland to the beach. When the idea came up, I couldn’t get it out of my head. Sure, we could’ve went to Colorado where there’s actual snow, but I’m tired of waiting. I want her to be my wife.