Chapter 21

 

 

 

Ace

 

I’ve had it with this asshole. I know he’s my girl’s family, but I can’t take any more of his bullshit. He wants my girl, and that is never going to happen. I finally have her, and she is staying with me, forever. She’s the only good thing I’ve allowed in my life since... Since I was a child and I’m not giving her up.

I growl having enough of this shit, it’s time to put him in his place and show him who the boss is in my house. He needs to understand who owns Jules, she may not have my property ink yet, but she’s mine, and I’m fuckin’ keeping her. She’s the only thing good in my life besides my Club and brothers.

He growls, and I go off half-cocked. I know Jules doesn’t want me to fight with him, and I told her I wouldn’t unless he provoked me, but that’s exactly what he is doing now.

“What the fuck is your problem, man, just spill it and be done with this shit already. Let’s just get this over with,” I snare out, facing Romeo. I tighten my hold around Jules’ waist possessively, on my lap.

“You’re my fucking problem, asshole. You couldn’t leave her alone and go play with your whores. She’s a good girl, and you’re tainting her with all the blood on your hands. She deserves better than the likes of you,” Romeo snares, like he hasn’t killed anyone. Please, this little shit has probably killed more than me.

I know she’s a good girl and I haven’t tainted her, not really. I would never do that to Jules, ever. I truly do love her and would never hurt her. That’s why I tried to stay away. I know I’m no good for her, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and our hearts want each other.

“Romeo, stop this right now!” Bella screams at him. He turns to her looking mad as all hell.

“No, I won’t stop, Bells, and you stay the fuck out of this. I know she’s your best friend, but he’s trash, and she could do better than him,” Romeo barks to his sister pissing me off. Bella may not be mine, but I’ve become protective of her, and I don’t like him talking to her this way. Brother or not, he needs to show her respect.

“Don’t you ever speak to my wife like that again. Brother or no brother, I will lay your ass out, man. You’re crossing a line here, man and I suggest you take a step back and check yourself,” Beast howls at him.

“Rom, you need to stop. Ace is a good man just like Gio. Are you calling my husband, who has been your friend for years, trash? I think not, so let it go. Now!” Bella yells at him. Before he can answer her, Jules jumps in and attacks him.

“Rom, you never really wanted me, you just like the idea of having me. So why are you treating my man like this? He’s good to me, and I’m in love with him. Stop acting like I was ever yours. I never was and never was going to be. We never had that type of relationship, and you know it! You should be happy for me, asshole!” Jules states and I growl again shocked at her words and mad as all hell. I don’t like my woman talking about another man this way.

I see the look on my brother, Beast, and Bella’s face, they’re as stunned as I am. They had no clue about any of this. I can’t believe even Bella didn’t know anything happened.

I could see he had a thing for my girl since he arrived here, but I had no clue they had a history. By the look on Bella’s face, she obviously didn’t know either. Like my brother, Beast, I’ve become good at reading Bella.

“That’s not true Jul, and you know it. You were the one who pushed me away, and now you’re with him,” Romeo says, pointing at me as we both growl at one another again.

“He’s not right for you and you know it. That’s why you haven’t gotten that property tatt like Bells. You wanna be claimed, I’ll fucking claim you like I wanted to do two years ago.” Hell to the fuck no, that is never going to happen, not even over my goddamn dead body.

“What the fuck do you think this is a fuckin’ Romeo and Juliet love story, man? This is real fuckin’ life! This Julietta is not in love with this Romeo. She’s in love with me, Ace and I am in love with her,” I declare, pointing at him.

I am seconds away from throttling his ass for good. The murderous look he gives me justifies my next move.

In one quick swoop, I place Jules on the couch and lunge at the asshat.

Romeo sees me coming at him the second I move Jules, so I don’t get the drop on him. But I do get a good right hook in, making contact with his smug face.

Now everyone is yelling, and my girl is pissed to shit at me, screaming at me to stop.

“That’s enough!” Beast shouts at us, and I ignore him, doing what is essential at this point

We go at each other, each getting a few good hits in. I let the asshole have all my pent-up aggression towards him. Since he got here, he’s had eyes for my girl, causing me to finally snap.

She’s mine, the only good thing I have in my life besides the Club, and I’m not going to give up on us that easily. I was a fool from the start when it came to Jules and let my pride get in the way, never again.

I failed one very special little girl, when I left her many years ago, in the hands of Satan’s Halos, literally, and I won’t be that stupid again. I was young, dumb, and an idiot and they forced my hand. (Satan’s Halos are one of the most notorious Motorcycle Club in all of the U.S., with nothing but soulless men in their mix.)

If I could go back in time and make things up to her, I would in a heartbeat. As it stands, if I could get her out of their grubby clutches, I would. The day will come when she calls needing me, and you can bet your ass, I will drop everything for her and be there in any way I can.

I’ll get into that shit storm soon.

Val and Beast get us separated after we tear into one another. Beast has my hands pinned behind my back, and Val has Romeo in the same position.

I’ve had my full with him if he steps back so will I. I think my fist said all they needed to on this matter, don’t you. He’s going to have a nice shiner on his left eye in the morning, and I think I dislocated his jaw. Sam can check him out in the morning, she’s busy with Gator for the night.

Jules gets up first and runs over to Romeo and Bella follows her. She’s burning my ass up again. What the fuck is she thinking, she should be running to her man, not that shithead.

Before Jules can say a word, I scream at her not able to control myself. “Is it true, is that why you wouldn’t get your property ink? You want this asshole!” I growl-roar loudly, piercing my own ears in the process.

Jules turns to face me, so fast it could cause us both whiplash. She gives me the evil eye look. Then just as fast as she turned to me, I see the change in her eyes, and I’m wrong, I overreacted, again. She’s been hiding something from me, though, and I’m sure as hell gonna find out what it is very fuckin’ soon.

“No, that’s not the fucking reason. Hunter, I love you with all my heart. Now, shut the fuck up you big goof and let me finish this so we can enjoy the rest of the night in peace.

“When I’m done, you and I can talk. In private, and I’ll give you all the goddamn answers you desire,” she barks, shocking the shit out of me, and everyone in the room with the way she just spoke to me. She’ll be getting a spanking for that later. For now, I’ll let it slide and let her have the last word here, this once.

I feel Beast let go of me in his shocked state. Apparently, he’s never heard her be so aggressive either. I take advantage of his shock and remove myself from his grip. I dart straight to Jules scooping her up needing her in my arms.

“You know how much I love you and how possessive I get when it comes to you. I’m sorry, sweet cheeks, for being an asshole,” I whisper in her ear. I place a passionate kiss on her lips, right in front of him and everyone. Not giving a shit, she’s mine forever.

She does love me with all her heart and wants to be with only me. I need to stop second-guessing and doubting her, me, us. I can feel her love, devotion, and strength through our kiss.

I place her back on her feet and give her chin lift towards Romeo to finish this shit. She turns to him, and I wrap my arms around her waist, leaning her back into my chest. She needs to handle this, and as much as I want to do this myself, I’ll stand aside and let her say her peace.

Val is still holding Romeo back with good reason. He looks like he wants to attack me again after our passionate display I just put on right in front of him.

Beast and Bella come up right next to us. I see him wrap his arms around Bella from behind drawing her close to him.

They all stand back and watch as Jules rips Romeo a new one. She pokes her tiny pointer finger into his chest, staring him down.

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told you two years ago when you tried to kiss me. You’re not in love with me; you liked the idea of us. You didn’t want anyone having me because I am like a sister to you and you wanted to protect me.

“We are family, not by blood, but family none the less.

“I love you Romeo, but I’m not in love with you nor am I physically attracted to you. I’ve known you my whole life and have only seen you as a brother, nothing more. You are my brother; for all intents and purposes, you always have been just like Gio, Val, Bash, and Lorenzo.

“You need to accept this; you can’t protect me for the rest of my life. You need to move on, fall in love, for real and protect her not me. I have a man to keep me safe,” she says, jabbing him in the chest hard.

“I am a claimed woman, by a man that I love more than anything in this world and you need to deal with it. Now, stop being an asshole and shake hands with my man and end this shit!”

He stares at her for a minute or so, registering her words.

“He’s really what you want for the rest of your life?”

“Yes, Rom, he’s more than I ever wanted and thought I would ever have. I want him for a lifetime and more,” she states to him making it clear her decision is final.

We all stay silent for a minute as he absorbs her words and feels her out.

“Fine, I give up. I’ll back off since it’s apparent this is what you truly want,” he says, and she nods. He sticks out his hand to shake. We call a truce, for good, hopefully.

“You better treat her right, or I will hunt your ass down, and they will never find your body,” Romeo says with a laugh to lighten the mood.

“I will treat her like my Queen every day of our lives. Promise,” I confirm.

Once the excitement of the night settles down, we return to our seats.

Jules and I will be having that conversation soon, along with that spanking she deserves, but for now, she needs this, her family.

The guys and I have another drink, while the girls drink juice. Beast stocked the bar with it for Bella when he found out she was pregnant, and Jules has been drinking it with her lately. Probably to show her some support since her best friend can’t drink alcohol.

I guess this is how family and siblings act. I never really had one, a real family, so I wouldn’t know. I’ll tell all about my life soon.

Family, that’s what we have all become. I not only have my brothers, but I also have all these guys now too. Definitely, not how I saw my life as a kid, this is better.

How long are we gonna be able to stay peaceful like this until the next fight breaks out, I wonder. Because that’s always how it was in my life, fight, fight, fight. No one ever had my back, until I was in the service, so this is still all new to me.