GUNNER
"I like you too, but I was too afraid to tell you. I... I thought you just saw me as a kid or something."
She nervously says, looking at me from beneath her lashes. The vulnerability in her voice makes my chest ache.
"And here I was afraid you thought I'm too old for you."
I try to cheer her up, keeping my tone light even though my heart is hammering.
"No, no. It never even crossed my mind."
"Good. Mój skarb."
My treasure. The Polish endearment slips out naturally, something my grandmother used to say. It fits Cristy perfectly.
"Oh God!"
Cristy suddenly exclaims with a horrified look.
"Helena! How am I supposed to tell her?!"
She panics, while I laugh. Of course that's what she's worried about.
"Helena already knows."
Cristy's eyes widen even more at this.
"She's the one that told me to figure my feelings out before you came to the club. And I have. I can't keep running away. You have no idea how much it pained me to see you leave last year. But I couldn't possibly take your future away from you, so I never said anything. And after your family moved out, I was sure I would never see you again. That's why when Helena told me you're here, I made my decision. I want you, Cristy. More than anything."
I confess, slightly apprehensive. She has a lot to live for, she's just started her life, while I'm already thirty years old. A decade separates us, a lifetime of experience and mistakes.
"No wonder she called me stupid when I talked to her. She knew."
Cristy exclaims in shock, making me raise my brow at her. Helena called her stupid? What the hell?
"I guess I'll have to talk to Helena about name calling. I don't want my woman being called names."
I state seriously.
"Your... woman?"
She questions before a shy grin appears on her face.
"I like the sound of it."
She surprises me when she suddenly leans up and gives me a quick peck. The brief contact of her lips against mine sends fire through my veins.
I stay stunned for approximately three seconds before crushing her to my chest by her waist and claiming her lips with mine.
She's mine.
The kiss is everything I've imagined and more. She tastes like mint and something sweeter, something uniquely her. Her lips are soft, yielding, and when she makes a small sound in the back of her throat, I nearly lose control. But I keep it gentle, reverent. She deserves to be worshipped, not devoured.
We stay by the lake for few more hours, just talking between make out sessions, simply enjoying our time together. I learn about her classes, her fears about the future, her dreams of becoming a doctor. She learns about my childhood, the club, what it means to be President of the Iron Brotherhood.
I know that once the summer's over, Cristy will have to go back to college, but it doesn't hurt as much as it did last year, because I know she will be back. She's mine now. And I take care of what's mine.
I can't stop grinning the whole way to the clubhouse while Cristy leans her cheek against my back, with her arms wrapped tightly around my waist. The ride back feels different now. Everything feels different. The world has shifted on its axis and I'm finally standing on solid ground.
Once we arrive, we're greeted by amused Helena and Scooter, as they chill on the patio with Gun and Maggie, his Old Lady. Gun's been with Maggie for fifteen years, one of the few brothers who found his forever person and held on tight.
"By the looks on your faces I can tell everything went well."
Helena teases, making Cristy hide her face in my back, not getting off the bike. I can feel her embarrassment radiating through her body.
"By the look on your face, I can tell you expected this."
I tease back.
"Of course I did."
She smugly states, causing Scooter to laugh, while Gun and Maggie don't even try to hold their laughter.
"Now that everything's fine, we'll take our leave."
Helena gets up from Scooter's lap, going to her black Camaro. I wonder what she did with her Challenger. The girl changes cars like most people change shirts.
"Make sure to bring her home by midnight. I have not agreed to sleepovers yet."
She says playfully, making me snort at her bossiness.
"I mean it, Gunner. I don't want her out at night."
She adds, and I furrow my brows at the sudden seriousness. I'll have to ask Cristy about this. Something's not right. Helena wouldn't react this way without a reason. There's a darkness in her tone that sets off alarm bells.
"Don't I have a say in this?"
Cristy asks from beside me, snuggling into my side, making me put my arm around her. Helena just turns to her with a serious look, crossing her arms across her chest and arching her brow, challenging Cristy to defy her. I have to know what's going on.
"Okay, fine. What about my car then?"
Cristy gives in, gesturing at the silver Toyota Camry parked near the fence.
"I will drive it back to my house and Scooter will take my car. I'm sure Gunner will drop you off. Won't you, Gunner?"
Helena turns from Cristy to me with a hard look. There's steel in her eyes, a warning.
"You know I will. Why are you so angry about it?"
I'm confused. I respect Helena a lot, she's like a sister to me and I know that she does not mess around when it comes to people she cares about, so her acting this way is seriously concerning because it means something is wrong.
Helena sighs heavily and Scooter of course notices that she's distressed, so he wraps his arms around her and calms her down with few kisses to her head, whispering something into her ear. Cristy, on the other hand, looks at the ground as if it's the most interesting thing in the world.
They are hiding something. I wonder if Scooter knows.
"I'll explain everything. You don't have to worry."
Cristy quietly says, still not taking her eyes off the ground. There's shame in her posture, fear in her voice.
"Fine."
Helena sighs before coming up to my girl and stroking her hair gently.
"Just be careful, okay?"
She softly says, getting a nod from Cristy.
The girls hug each other and Helena whispers something into Cristy's ear then Cristy hands Helena her car keys and we watch as both Helena and Scooter drive away. The Camaro's engine roars, then fades into the distance, leaving us with whatever truth Cristy needs to tell me.
I take Cristy inside, tell the prospect to make us some food and bring it to my room then lead my girl there. My room is at the back of the compound, away from the main party area. Private. Safe. My sanctuary in this world of chaos and violence.
The walls are plain, the furniture minimal. A bed, a desk, a chair. Photos on the wall of my brothers, the club, the life I've built from nothing.
"What's this all about?"
I ask as soon as we enter and Cristy sighs heavily, with tears running down her cheeks.
The sight of her crying breaks something in me. Whatever it is, whatever she needs to tell me, we'll face it together.
I pull her close, letting her cry into my chest.