Razor

T WO MONTHS LATER, my cast was finally off, my physical therapy was down to every other week, and Waverly and I were more in love than ever. In fact, it was her night to cook, so I headed to her place, knocking on her door, frowning when I got no response. She said she’d be home early, so I tried again. Still no response.

Glancing around the hallway, I saw nothing that raised any suspicion, but before I used the key she’d given me and let myself in, I leaned toward her doorbell camera. “I’m comin’ in.” I unlocked her door and walked inside. “Fizzy?” I called out. No response .

Locking the door behind me, I dropped my duffel on the floor, set the case of beer I’d brought on her island, and shrugged off my cut, laying it over the chair in her living room, then headed down the hall.

That’s when I heard the faint sound of crying.

“Waverly?”

More crying. It was coming from the bathroom, so I opened the door slowly, and that’s when I saw her.

She was in the tub, her knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around her legs, and she was sobbing. I don’t think she’d even heard me walk in.

“Baby?”

She continued to cry, so I kicked off my boots, and moved further into the bathroom.

“Hey,” I said, sitting on the edge of the tub, and she turned her tear-soaked face up to me. “What’s goin’ on?”

“I got a call from the DA in Colorado. Damon’s in the wind.”

“What do you mean, ‘he’s in the wind’?”

“He escaped custody.”

“Shit,” I hissed, standing before stepping into the water.

“What are you doing?” she squeaked.

“Slide forward, baby.”

“Gio, you’re fully dressed.”

“I’m aware,” I said, as I sat behind her and pulled her up against my chest.

“You hate wet socks.” She craned her head. “And jeans.”

“My baby’s in a crisis, so I’m gonna deal,” I retorted, kissing her temple. “Tell me what this asshat of a DA said.”

“He just said he went in for a follow up after his appendectomy and there was a mix-up or something, and Damon escaped,” Waverly bit out on a sob. “They had him, Razor. They let him go.”

Mix up, my ass.

Of course, I kept that thought to myself.

“You ready to let me handle this now?”

“The way Snarl handled it?” she rasped.

We had come to learn Snarl had been the one to emasculate Boneyard and leave him to rot. No one but Sundance, Lennon, Hatch, Snarl’s brother, Rocky, and now me and Waverly knew that to be the case, but Waverly had taken the news surprisingly well.

“No, baby, the way I’m gonna handle it.”

She craned her head again. “What does that mean?”

“What’d we talk about you askin’ questions you don’t actually want answers to?”

She let out a quiet sniff. “I just put your body back together. I don’t want you broken again.”

“Is that all you’re worried about?”

“That and you doing something that gets you sent to prison.”

I kissed her shoulder. “Well, neither of those are things you need to worry about, so you gonna let me handle it now?”

She sat up on her knees and faced me. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Biting her lip, she met my eyes, then sighed. “Handle it, Gio. ”

I shook my head. “Gio ain’t handlin’ shit, baby. This is all Razor.”

She nodded. “Handle it, Razor.”

“You got it.”

She leaned in and kissed me. “Now, how about you strip out of those wet clothes so I can dry them. I’ve got chili in the crock pot. You want cornbread?”

I frowned. “What kind of question is that?”

She put her fingers and thumb together and waved her hand in the air like a bona-fide Italian. “The kind of question I’m asking my full-blooded Italian man who doesn’t typically eat down home, southern cookin’.”

“We need to change that narrative, baby,” I said.

“Oh, yeah?”

I nodded. “If you’re cookin’ it, it could be shit pie, and I’ll eat it.”

She grinned. “That’s high praise coming from someone with a mother like yours.”

“I’m aware,” I said.

And she was right about that. My mom cooked like her life depended on it, and if I still lived at home, I’d probably weigh a metric ton.

Kissing me quickly, Waverly stood, reaching for a towel and stepping out of the tub. I followed, only, I stripped out of my wet clothing while she dressed.

“Throw everything in the washer, honey,” Waverly called out from the kitchen. “There’s a robe in my closet you can borrow. Unless you want to walk around buck naked.”

I chuckled as I pulled open the accordion doors that housed her washer and dryer. “You got shit you want washed?”

She suddenly appeared at the mouth of the hallway holding a rubber spatula. “Are you offering to do my laundry?”

“Yeah.” I frowned. “Is that a problem?”

“If I didn’t have to get these muffins in the oven, I’d kneel before you and suck you off right here and now.”

I chuckled. “In a few minutes, I’ll be walkin’ around buck naked, so you’ll have easy access.”

“My darks are in the hamper in my closet next to that robe I mentioned.”

With a sassy swish of her hips, she walked back to the kitchen, and I dropped in a load of laundry before joining her.

“Smells amazing,” I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her neck. “Can I help?”

“You can open that bottle of wine,” she said, turning to face me, raising her head for a kiss.

I grinned, covering her mouth with mine, sliding my hands to her ass and squeezing.

“We should really talk about you leaving some things here,” she said. “I’ll clean out a drawer.”

“Are you askin’ me to move in with you, Fizzy?”

“Well, no. It’s too soon for that. But if you want to keep a change or two of clothes here, I think that makes sense.” She bit her lip. “I like the idea of more sleepovers.”

“Me too.” I kissed the side of her mouth and pulled away, grabbing the wine opener.

“Any updates on the Spiders?” she asked as she stirred the chili, then put the lid back on the crock pot.

“I don’t know everything, honestly. I’m just a soldier,” I said. “But we’re not locked down, so that’s a positive.”

“Are you worried?”

“In so much that Warlock’s certifiably crazy? Yeah. But right now, you’re here and not at Hatch and Maisie’s, so if he’s comfortable with that, then we’re safe.” I nodded to her necklace. Every old lady, brother, sister, and child of the club, wore some kind of jewelry that had a tracker on it. She had chosen a necklace. I wore a ring. If she was in danger, she could press the button, and it would notify me and all of the officers in the club her exact location. “Do not take that off.”

She ran her fingers over it. “I won’t.”

“Mom wants us over for Sunday dinner.”

Waverly let out a quiet gasp.

“What’s wrong?”

“Your mom wants to do a proper family dinner?”

“Honey, I can’t tell if that’s freaking you out or not.”

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a proper family dinner?”

“Are you crying?”

“No,” she lied, tears forming in her eyes.

I dropped the wine opener and wrapped my arms around her. “Baby, talk to me.”

“Everyone’s gone,” she breathed out, sliding her hands around my neck. “And I’ve come to terms with that. I have Lennon and I’m good. Well, I was, anyway. But then you came along and opened up my world again and sometimes I’m so scared I’m going to lose you, it overwhelms me. And I love your mom and your sisters, so I worry—”

“Let’s get married.”

“What?” she squeaked.

“Marry me,” I said, this time as more of a demand.

“It’s too soon.”

“Who says?” I countered.

She met my eyes. “We’ve been together for less than a year, Gio.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Do you want a big wedding?”

“Actually, it’s been less than six months.”

“Mom’s gonna want to go all out, but if you want something small, we can elope.”

“Technically, it’s been less than four.”

“I just need to know what kind of ring you want.”

“Are you even hearing me?” she snapped.

“Yeah, I’m hearing you,” I said. “Are you hearing me?”

“Gio, we don’t know each other enough to get married.”

“Then we’ll get to know each other better livin’ together.”

She let out a quiet huff. “It’s irresponsible.”

“Why?”

“Because we should protect our money. Do a prenup.”

“Then we’ll do a prenup.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I don’t have a whole lot to protect. Just a little inheritance from my parents and grandparents. But I do own this outright.”

“Okay, so you should decide if you want to keep this and live in it for a period of time or rent it out and buy something together.”

“I don’t have the money to keep this and buy something.”

“I do.”

“You do?”

“Baby, I got over two million in the bank, not to mention, I own a place in Beaverton that I rent out. I make over forty-grand a month with the club, so we can keep both, rent them out and buy something together.”

Her eyes widened. “Then why do you live in a crappy apartment in the worst part of town?”

“Because it’s one of the places the club owns, so it’s free. It’s close to Hatch’s shop, close to the club, and I don’t need much. I’m either crashing there or at the compound, so it made sense to rent it out and have someone else pay my mortgage. It means I save pretty much everything I make.”

“Then, we will definitely need a prenup, because you have way more than I have.”

“You can have it all, I don’t give a fuck.”

“Gio.” Her hands slid through my hair at the nape of my neck. “I’m not marrying you for your money.”

I grinned. “But you are marrying me.”

“I see what you just did there, big man.”

I chuckled. “Right, change of plans. We’re gonna eat real quick, then we’re gonna head down to Rondan’s and buy you a ring.”

“Rondan’s?”

“He’s the go-to jeweler for the club. ”

She glanced at the clock on the stove. “Honey, it’s almost six.”

“I don’t think they close until nine, I’ll call him.”

“Wait,” she said, pulling away from me. “Are we really doing this?”

“Yeah, we’re really doing this.” I took her hand. “Do you love me?”

“With all of my heart and vagina.”

I laughed. “Then let’s get married. We’ll start with the engagement and see how you feel.”

“Are you sure?” she rasped.

“Baby, you’ve lost everyone, I lost my dad, when you find your soulmate, you don’t waste time asking if you’re sure. You fuckin’ take life by the balls and ride it until you suck the marrow out of the bone.”

“That was a lot of metaphors there,” she said with a chuckle.

I slid my phone out and grinned. “Is the chili ready?”

“It will be in thirty minutes.”

“Turn it off. Let’s go get that ring now.”

In the end, we chose a three-carat, cushion cut halo diamond set in rose gold, that looked perfect on her, despite her protests about buying such a large diamond.

She was worth it.

* * *

Waverly

Sunday afternoon, I was back in my closet having yet another crisis of faith, so to speak .

“Fizzy?”

“In here!” I called.

He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out what to wear.”

“I thought you were going to wear those jeans and that sweater with the slouchy shoulder.”

I sighed. “I changed my mind, because if your mom makes anything with red sauce, it’ll end up on that sweater, which is cream, and I’ll freak the hell out.”

“Why would you freak the fuck out?”

“Because,” I hissed.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Your mom is gorgeous. Your sisters are gorgeous .” I threw my hands in the air, my breasts bouncing with the motion, considering I was standing there in only my panties. “I’m, well, I’m me.”

He let out a quiet growl, pushing away from the doorframe. “You’re you?”

“What are you doing?”

Without warning, his shoulder was pushing into my middle, and I was flying over his shoulder as his arms wrapped around me and his hand squeezed the globe of my butt.

“Gio!” I squeaked.

He dropped me onto the bed, tearing off my panties, and placing my legs over his shoulders. My breath hitched as he buried his face between my legs and inhaled.

“Oh, god,” I breathed out as I grabbed the duvet and arched my back .

His hands gripped my thighs and squeezed before spreading me wider and then I felt his tongue. Slow at first. Teasing. Tormenting. He lapped at me again, then thrust his tongue inside before sucking on my clit. I couldn’t catch my breath, but when he added a finger, I stopped breathing altogether.

“Gio,” I panted out as he added a second finger, and I arched into his mouth.

His tongue circled my clit, then he sucked again, before I lost his mouth altogether. I raised my head to give him a piece of my mind, but my admonishment died on my lips to see him naked, his cock hard, and his knee hitting the mattress.

Then he was inside of me.

Sweet relief.

He slid in slowly at first, then he drove in... hard, so hard, I felt like I might come apart. I arched into him again, weaving my hands in his hair, and holding on tight, as he slid a hand between us, his fingers pressing against my clit.

I squeezed his scalp. “Gio, baby, I can’t wait.”

“Hold it,” he growled, burying himself deeper.

I did my best, I really did, but the man’s cock was magic. Or possessed or I don’t know, maybe it was just him, but I cried out his name as my pussy contracted around him.

“Fuck,” he hissed, his cock pulsing inside of me as his head dropped to my neck and he kissed my pulse.

“Okay, fine, I’ll marry you,” I sassed, raising my hand and studying my ring.

Again .

Of course, I’d already said yes a thousand times since he’d asked me two days ago.

He laughed, his body shaking, still connected with mine.

I grinned, kissing his jaw and squeezing him tight as he rolled us onto our sides. “Are you done being ridiculous?”

“I don’t even remember what I was supposedly being ridiculous about.”

“Correct answer, fiancée.” He kissed me gently before pulling out of me. “Stay put.”

He headed into the bathroom, and I heard the faucet turn on and off, then he returned to me and helped me clean up.

“We’re going to be late,” I warned as he kissed me again.

Gio sighed. “Then stop distracting me.”

“Oh my god,” I admonished, rushing back into my closet to find fresh underwear. “You’re the worst. ”

We made it out of the house with less than five minutes to spare and arrived at his mother’s a few minutes later than I would have liked.

“I hate being late,” I grumbled as we walked up to the front door.

“We’re not late,” Gio assured as he pushed the front door open and bellowed, “We’re here!”

Frankie came rushing into the foyer, sliding to a stop in front of us with a squeal. “You’re late!”

I glared at Gio as he laughed, pulling his sister in for a hug. “We’re not late.”

She pulled away then hugged me. “You’re on time, so you’re late.”

And that’s when I did it. Just chucked him as hard as I could... right under the bus. “I tried to tell him, but the man just won’t listen.”

“You wanna go there, Fizzy?” Gio challenged.

“I made pies,” I said, hoping he’d drop it. “Apple, cherry, and marionberry.”

“It’s the reason we were late,” Gio said. “Her pies. They had to... ah... cool.”

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Love you.”

Frankie rolled her eyes. “Well, whatever this is, if it ended with pie, I don’t care.”

“Oh, it ended with pie,” Gio retorted, and I smacked his arm.

“Ew, gross, Giovanni Pastrami. Way too much information.” Frankie let out a groan as she turned on her heel and walked away.

“Ignore him,” I ordered, following her down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Gio set our bags on the island and once we’d greeted everyone I noticed my man’s face change.

“What the fuck’s he doin’ here?”

“Calm down,” Bianca warned.

“You need to start talkin’,” Gio demanded, glaring at a rather good-looking blond man standing by the refrigerator.

“Good to see you too, man.”

“I’m not your ‘man,’ asshole,” Gio hissed. “What the fuck are you doin’ here?”

“I invited him,” Bianca said. “Well, I invited him in after he showed up unannounced. ”

“Didn’t ask you, Binkie.”

I bit my lip as I watched the two men square off. Gio in all his biker glory and the other man, in black slacks and a button up the polar opposite of my man.

“I asked you a goddamn question, Kyle .”

Kyle smirked. “Yeah, I heard you. And Bianca answered. Which part didn’t you understand?”

“The part where, six years ago, I told you if I saw your face again, I’d rearrange it.”

Before he could say anything, Camilla walked in and froze. “Bianca?”

“Mamma, I can explain.”

“You can explain why the man who dare hit my daughter is standing in my kitchen?”

I gasped. “You hit Bianca?”

“He came to apologize,” Bianca rushed to say.

“You are not that stupid,” Gio hissed, continuing to stare Kyle down.

“Don’t call me stupid!” Bianca snapped.

“I’m here for a reason,” Kyle said. “A very good reason.”

“Just let him explain why he’s here,” Bianca begged.

“Binkie,” Gio growled.

“Give him five minutes.”

Gio crossed his arms. “You have two.”

“I’d like to speak to Bianca alone,” Kyle said.

“You’re an even dumber dumb fuck if you think you’re doing anything with my sister alone,” he said.

Bianca sighed. “We can talk in the den,” she countered. “Follow me.”

Gio followed, as did the rest of us... much like children following the Pied Piper, right on his heels.

Bianca closed the door with a thwap, and Gio pulled out his phone, staring at the screen for what seemed like forever.

I jumped a little when he shoved the door open and bit out, “Time’s up, asshole.”

“Gio,” Bianca snapped.

“Get the fuck out of my mother’s house,” he ordered.

Kyle strolled out like he didn’t have a care in the world. That was until Camilla faced him.

“I don’t care if Bianca invited you in. You are never welcome in my home, carogna . And if you try anything like this again, I will let my son improve your face. Capisce?”

He took a deep breath and nodded, saying nothing as he fled out the door.

“Douche,” Angelica hissed.

“Fucking coward,” Frankie added, rushing after him and locking the door.

Azzura didn’t say anything to Kyle. She often didn’t say much, really. Just quietly observed things in her sweet way. “Are you okay, Binkie?”

Bianca shook her head and handed their mother a manilla envelope.

“What’s this, Tesoro?”

“His aunt died,” she said.

“Betty?” Angelica asked. “The one you took care of?”

“Bianca took care of Kyle’s aunt during her last days when she worked for the facility in Portland,” Gio explained .

“She left me a house.”

“What?” Frankie squeaked, rushing to read over Camilla’s shoulder.

“Why didn’t she leave Kyle the house... or his brother?” Angelica asked.

“She hated Kyle,” Bianca said. “She said he was an entitled prick. And as far as his brother, I don’t know.”

“Is this for real?” Frankie asked. “You should have a lawyer look at it.”

“I can have Mack go through it,” I offered.

“That’d be great, Gio,” Bianca said. “I don’t really know what to do with all of this.”

“Well, you’re staying away from Kyle for a start, right?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Um, yes. Absolutely.”

“I’m starving,” Frankie declared. “Can we please eat?”

Camilla handed Gio the paperwork and the drama was forgotten, at least until the women saw my ring. Then congratulations were in order, and lots of female squeals filled the room as I had the chance to show off my ring.

The rest of the evening was everything I’d ever dreamed of, reveling in the love of sisters I’d never had and the love of a mother I’d lost long ago.