Ashton
Lou calls the kids and takes me on a tour of the compound. We start with her neighbors Rock and Lily. As soon as Lily answers the door, I am smitten forever. She is a petite woman with long black hair and mesmerizing green eyes. Her smile is shy but welcoming and her eyes sparkle with interest when she sees me.
Cassie runs up to her and grips her tightly. “Lily do you have any cupcakes?”
Lily laughs and lifts Cassie up and squeezes her tightly. “I always have some for my favorite guys. How about you introduce me to this lovely lady first?”
Cassie grins and says excitedly. “I have a new mommy. Isn’t she pretty, just like Cinderella?”
Lily laughs and winks at me. “She sure is, honey. I always knew you would get the mom you deserve one day.”
Cassie laughs. “My daddy told me that my special mommy was out there and now she’s here.”
Tears prick my eyes as I think of her growing up with Ryder, yearning for a mom of her own.
Jack shouts. “I want cake.”
Lou says in a hard voice.
“Nobody gets a cake without asking nicely. If you can’t say please, then you go without.”
Jack’s little face looks worried, and he says in the politest voice.
“Excuse me, Lily. Please, may I have a cake?”
We all grin and Lily smiles. “Well, as you’ve asked so nicely, of course, you can. Follow me.”
We head into their home and like Brewer and Lou’s it looks welcoming and very chic. It’s obvious there’s no shortage of money here because everything in their homes is modern and luxurious. The decor is tasteful and up to date and yet the houses make you feel comfortable and definitely aren’t show homes.
I smile at Lily who is looking at me with curiosity.
“You have a lovely home.”
She laughs. “Bonnie had a lot to do with it. What that girl doesn’t know about interior design isn’t worth knowing. She should be back from college soon. Who knows what ideas she will bring back with her today?”
Lou laughs. “Yes, if there’s a bare wall around she has designs on it. She really should start her design business, she would clean up.”
We sit at Lily’s table as the children run into the garden with their mouths full of cake.
As I sit with them I feel strangely at home. This is the oddest experience of my life and nothing like I thought it would be.
Lily looks at me curiously.
“This must be strange for you, Ashton. When Rock told me Ryder had claimed you as his old lady, I was shocked to say the least. I never thought I’d see the day. It must be a lot to deal with because he’s one hard guy to read.”
Once again, I feel the shiver run through me at the mention of his name. My husband - how good that sounds.
I smile. “Well, it’s certainly been a strange couple of days but everyone’s been so welcoming it’s made it a lot easier than I thought it would be. As for Cassie, I think I loved her on first sight. I just hope I’ll live up to her dream of the perfect mom.”
Lou looks thoughtful. “Don’t try too hard, honey. Cassie lives in the clouds most of the time and that ain’t real life. She needs a mom to bring her down to earth a little. Ryder gives her whatever she wants and isn’t the most practical man in the world when it comes to raising a kid. At least Cassie has us and her Aunt but all the good we do unravel as soon as she spends time with her father.”
I look interested. “Tell me about his sister. She didn’t look happy when I met her.”
Lily laughs. “She never does. She hates this life we lead. She’s a PA to a big shot in Washington and hates that her brother’s a biker. She’s heard the rumors about the Reapers and fears for her niece’s well-being. You would have thought she knew her brother well enough to trust him but they didn’t live together for most of their life. Their parents split and she went with her mom and Ryder his dad. As soon as he was old enough, he enlisted in the military and the rest is history.”
Lou nods. “It didn’t take long, and he became a SEAL. Most of the guys were also in the military and have seen things that would make a normal person run for the hills. They’ve adjusted their minds and think nothing of the job they do. Ryder though is harder than most. Brewer told me he was respected in the SEALS as the man who asked no questions and carried out the mission to the letter. He’s no different here. He runs the Reapers with military precision and if anyone gets out of line, they regret it. Nobody gets the better of Ryder because behind that fine appearance is a man with steel running through his veins. It will be interesting to see what effect you have on him because I’ve never seen him look at any woman the way he looks at you.”
I fall silent as I listen to her words. What sort of man have I married? The man they describe is nothing like the man who has taken me in and shown me nothing but kindness. I wonder if he’ll show his true colors when the interest wears off.
Lily smiles reassuringly. “You’ll have a good life here, Ashton. The guys are hard and crude but have strong morals. You’ll be safe and protected and will have everything you need.”
I look worried. “I’m not sure I can protect myself. I mean, Ryder told me he’ll teach me to fight, but that’s just not me. If one of those women want to take him, I’m not sure I can fight anyone. Surely, if he wants another, then that’s up to him and our marriage wouldn’t work.”
Lily laughs. “I think we should take you to meet these so-called warrior whores. They may put your mind at rest. Not everyone fights here, Ashton. It’s completely frowned upon. We need to get along as one unit because if the Reapers turn on each other chaos will follow. Don’t worry, everyone knows their place. If anyone steps out of line, then they suffer the consequences. The whores know that and don’t want to ruin the good thing they’ve got going.”
I shake my head. “I hate the fact they’re called whores though. It seems so disrespectful. Surely they hate it too.”
Lou grins at Lily. “Most of them were whores, Ashton. They lived on the streets controlled by guys who never had their best interests at heart. They were sold every day to unscrupulous men and most of them treated badly. Now they get their pick of the hottest men this side of Hell who treat them right. If they want they can leave but who would want to? I mean, those guys are gorgeous and care for the girls as if they are their own true loves. If they want to leave they can, they’re not prisoners. Take Kitty for example. She had a hard start in life and when Snake brought her here, she struggled to understand that she was free. It took a while for her to relax and we watched her blossom into a confident, sexy woman.”
I try to shake off the alarm hearing her name brings me. The look she gave me wasn’t friendly. That look told me that I had taken something of hers and she wasn’t happy about it in the slightest.
I have to ask the question though that’s burning my soul. “Was she Ryder’s girl?”
Lou laughs. “She wishes. Kitty adored Ryder, they all do. He may be a hard bastard but who wouldn’t want a piece of him? He uses the girls for one thing only and they lap it up. Kitty made sure the girls knew who was first in line. If she was around when he came calling, she came first. The other girls knew not to overstep the mark because she wasn’t afraid to make their lives hell where he was concerned.”
Lily grins. “It didn’t always work though. Sometimes he fancied a change, and she had no control over that. Ryder used to work his way through those whores like he was choosing a different outfit to wear.”
I feel my face fall and the two women share a look. Then Lily reaches out and grasps my hand. “That was in the past. When a Reaper takes an old lady, it’s for life. Ryder’s whoring days are over if he wants to keep you and you shouldn’t worry. He’s an honorable man who will keep to the code if it kills him. That’s why it’s such big news. It’s all anyone is talking about and I must say you are one very lucky lady.”
Lou laughs. “I bet he’s good. Just looking at him you know he would be. Come on, Ashton put us out of our misery and tell us all the gory details.”
I smile at the genuine curiosity in their eyes. I feel a delicious shiver of anticipation flood my underwear at the thought of what’s in store if I allowed it. Instead, I just smile secretively. “I’ll fill you in when the kids aren’t around.”
Lily laughs. “Yes, the walls have ears where those two are concerned. Anyway, let’s all meet up later and have a drink at the bar. We’ll introduce you to the whores and put your mind at rest.”
I look at her with a worried look. “I would love to but what about Cassie? I can’t leave her and Ryder may not like me going out.”
Lou smiles. “It’s ok we’ll ask Flo and Molli. Lily, the twins can come to ours and keep Jack company.”
I still feel worried at what Ryder will say and Lou notices and laughs softly.
“Listen, honey. Ryder will be fine about this. He probably can’t wait to show his pretty little wife off. The guys will be there and all we’re doing is getting to know one another. It’ll be fine.”
I smile gratefully. “It’s nice to know everyone's friendly. I must say, it was a bit intimidating coming here yesterday. It’s nothing like I thought it’d be.”
Lou laughs. “It’s certainly not normal, I’ll give you that. Maybe that’s why Ryder wants Cassie to go to a school where she knows nobody.”
I look at her with concern. “Won’t your children go there?”
Lily shakes her head. “No, our kids go to the one in town. Ryder has chosen one on the other side of town that’s fancier and where the rich kids go. Normally our kids are expected to mix in with the rest of the town and find their way on their own. Ryder wants the best start for his princess and knows as soon as they find out she lives with a bunch of hard, unruly bastards she wouldn’t be accepted. With you as her mom, however, he’s played a trump card. Looking like you do she’ll be accepted, and he hopes will learn how to be a lady. His plan is to give her an ivy league education and become a professional. He doesn’t want this life to shield her from the opportunities out there. The sky’s the limit for his princess and he’s chartering the flight to take her there.”
I fall silent. Of course, this is all about his daughter. He married me as a means to an end for her future. He’s using me as much as I am him for protection. It’s a business arrangement and nothing more. Then why is that causing such devastation to my heart?