Page 14

Aries

Boone, Zoro, and Indy sit across from me at the booth nestled in the corner of the common area.

I glance around the busy room.

Kids, wives, husbands, and fellow members of Braveheart are scattered throughout, enjoying their evening.

My eyes narrow in on Taylor, who is sitting with Reagan and Tucker on a set of large bean bag chairs. Taylor is deeply focused on her computer when Tucker says something and her head tilts back in laughter. I can’t help but wish I was close enough to hear what elicited that beautiful sound.

Easy Aries. She’s not yours yet. You can’t get all crazed over her yet.

“Aries. You ready to talk, or would you rather keep staring at Taylor?”

Boone’s voice takes me out of the moment, and I glare at him.

Leaning back against the booth, he simply shrugs. “You’ve been in love with that damn girl for years. I knew the moment you came back you wouldn’t be able to hide it. And with her being in your bed every night, I see you are wasting no time in making sure she knows it.”

Scrubbing my hands down my face, I lean forward so just the people in the booth can hear. “That girl is the only thing keeping me from losing my shit and randomly popping off if a prospect looks at me sideways. She chases away the nightmares and if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be here. Now, I may be weak and not at my best, but if you don’t lower your voice in the next five seconds, I will take you to the ground and beat your ass in front of everyone in this room. ”

Zoro pops a pretzel in his mouth and smirks. “Mhmm. Kinky.”

Indy smacks his husband in the chest and shakes his head. Indy is definitely the most controlled and unbothered out of all the leaders of Braveheart. His husband is a bit of a wild card, but I suspect that’s why they get along so well.

We all bring very different skill sets and temperaments to the table. And right now, Boone’s sarcastic, albeit calm, demeanor is pissing me off.

Leaning back against the seat, I say, “You’re right, but now is not a good time. But I can promise you, when it is, I will make sure this entire clubhouse knows that girl is mine. And I’ll burn anyone that gets in the way of Taylor allowing herself to see what has been standing in front of her this entire time.”

“Aww. He’s so romantic. Playing the long game is so cute!” Turning to his husband, Zoro pats Indy’s chest. “Why didn’t you do that!?”

Indy rolls his eyes and lights a cigarette. “Because you couldn’t stay off my dick long enough for me to play the long game. One taste and you were a goner.”

We all chuckle and Zoro feigns shock for a moment before nodding his head in agreement and stealing Indy’s cigarette. “You got that right, baby.”

Indy leans over, placing a kiss on his husband’s cheek and once again my eyes wander to find Taylor.

I’ve been home for a week and every day that girl has been my saving grace. The nightmares that haunt me every night are quickly extinguished when I wake up with her in my arms.

I expected it to be a one-time thing. That she felt bad and wanted to do anything to help, but I’m proven wrong every time. Her beautiful body fits perfectly against mine and the second I feel her fingers in my hair or on my face, the nightmares disappear into the shadows of my mind.

I know they are just waiting for me to close my eyes once more and bring me back to that basement, but I don’t allow myself to focus on that.

I focus on the moments where her light green eyes stare into mine. The moment where all the pain of the last few months—hell, the last few years fade away and all that’s left is us, floating in a comfortable silence.

Taylor must sense me staring because her gaze meets mine from across the room and everything in my soul calls me to be in her arms.

I don’t know how I fought this for so long. Playing the long game to win Taylor’s heart has been the hardest and longest battle of my life. But I know the battle will soon end. Because the moment she laid next to me and held my damaged hand with such gentleness and ease, I saw that spark igniting in her.

Taylor tilts her head in confusion, and I wink, then flash her a smile. Her eyes roll, and she returns her attention back to her computer just as Boone catches my attention.

“Alright Ari. Go back to playing cat and mouse with Tay later. We need to talk.”

Sighing, I nod. I’ve been dreading this for days. The last thing I want to do right now is rehash all I’ve been trying to forget, but the inevitable is here. The masked man is still out there and if his threats are credible, he will make a move soon.

“I have no idea who took me. Whoever it was, was very careful and wore a mask with a voice disguiser. He always made sure that no matter how hard he kicked, punched, and screamed in my face that his mask and clothing covered every inch of his body. I tried for weeks to catch him off guard, but it was useless and with the enemies we make on a daily basis, it would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. Fucking pointless.”

Zoro, Indy, and Boone all nod, expressions of anger and annoyance written all over their faces.

Taking a deep breath, I push the anxiety rising in my chest away as I find the words to say the thing I know will send my best friend into a spiral.

“Every day he would come down, kick me around, then sit on a tiny stool and talk about the same three people.” Boone’s eyes go wide and he waits for me to continue. My gaze meets his and my voice softens. “You, Taylor, and Rayne.” My voice cracks at the mention of my little girl, but I push it away.

I will not break down. Not in front of everyone who is looking at me to be the strong leader they all know and love.

“I’m going to kill him.” Boone’s voice is low and calculated. His tattooed knuckles ball into fists and I allow him a moment to gather himself.

Boone loved Rayne just as much as I did, and when she disappeared, it almost killed both of us. As the years have passed, her memory is more of a moment of silence because the pain is too raw to allow ourselves to put into words.

Losing Rayne shaped me into the person I am today and is the very reason I founded Braveheart.

Now a threat looms over her distant memory and the two people I would lay my life down to protect.

Zoro breaks the silence and I’m grateful for the reprieve. “Were his threats ever specific? If we are going to war with a ghost, at least we know what we need to be focusing most of our attention on.”

Anger rises in me. Lowering my voice so only us three can hear, I say, “Yes. He threatened Taylor.” I tell them word for word what the asshole said and judging by the pissed off expressions on their faces, they feel the same way I do.

“Nothing is going to happen to her. Or anyone in this clubhouse. We will find this ghost, Ari. We let you down once, and I promise it will never happen again. Taylor is like a little sister to all of us and we protect our family. Especially one that will become the woman of this home.” Indy’s words hit me straight in the gut and I can do nothing but nod.

“Indy said it perfectly, brother. Relax and heal. You know you can talk to us anytime, but rest easy knowing you and Taylor are protected,” Zoro echoes.

Boone leans forward on his arms. “One heart, one purpose, one destiny. For the brave and the fallen.”

We all echo the Braveheart motto and look around the room.

“Alright, let’s find this fucker so we can get back to what we do best,” I say, ready to put this horrible nightmare behind me and focus on the girl covered in butterflies who unknowingly stole my heart the moment she stepped foot into the Clubhouse.