Chapter 4
Bella
I wake up to pitch-blackness, having no clue where I am. I begin to panic from not recognizing my surroundings. Then I feel Gio’s arm tighten around me, and his hand in my hair. I’m laying half on top of him, and I begin to relax. Now that I really look, I can see the room looks familiar. Oh, yes, we’re in our new room, in our apartment, Jules’ old room.
“Gio, what time is it?” I coax, lifting up my head from his chest. Then I grab my aching head in my hands to stop the throbbing I have from crying and not eating today.
“Bella, you’re finally awake,” I hear Gigi say from the other side of Gio and everything comes crashing back to me.
I start to shake in Gio’s arms. “You’re safe, baby. You both are,” he coos calmly.
“It’s just after eight. Everyone’s out back eating. If you’re hungry, we can join them? The guys are barbecuing.”
Oh God, I can’t face them after the way I acted, not yet.
“Oh, Gio, I’m so sorry for the way I acted earlier. I didn’t mean to disrespect Romeo. I’ll apologize to him and the Club. I’m so embarrassed. Please, you have to forgive me,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest, crying.
He’s told me how things work in his Club. After what I did today, he will have to pay the consequences for my actions. Which means, he’ll have to endure a beating from Romeo and his brothers because of my blatant disrespect to one of them.
He lifts my chin and gazes into my eyes. “Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for or embarrassed about. You didn't do anything wrong, so therefor there is nothing to forgive.
“Romeo understands, and so does everyone else. He’s sorry for touching you while you were having a panic attack.
“It’s all fine, no harm, no foul, I promise you,” he says, placing a sweet kiss on my lips.
“I’m starving, can we please go out back now and eat with everyone,” Gigi asks as she sits up on our bed.
“You go ahead I need to talk to Bella, alone. We’ll be down in a few minutes. Stay with Blaze,” Gio orders her. She grunts but agrees. Before leaving us alone, she gives me a big hug.
Gio and I continue to peer at each other until we hear the front door slam shut.
“I’m going to tell you some things that are going on with the Club, but what I have to say, stays in this room. That means not one word or hint to Jules or mom, especially Gigi, baby,” he states firmly. I nod wanting him to give it all to me. I need to know what the hell I walked us into. I trust him to keep us safe, but I just need to know for my own sanity.
“I can’t tell you everything, but what I can tell you I will.
“First, it’s going to be a full house around the here for a while. I don’t know exactly how long, plan on a month at most probably,” he pauses for me to take in the first part.
I glare into his emerald green eyes, and I know he’s mad as hell about whatever is going on.
“The guys that tried to take you and Jules have brought a ton of bad shit into our state. They have kidnapped a dozen or more women from Orlando that we know about, to be sold. We have to stop them and make sure they don’t take any more women. The Macks have forced our hand and pushed us into a war with their Club. Which means we have to stay here, on lockdown in the Clubhouse with everyone until we remove that threat.” He pauses again for me to take that next part in. I understand what he means by fighting a war; my father and his men have fought their own wars in the past. During those times we stayed locked in our estate with the guards. They also lost some good men during that time.
I commend his Club for what they are doing to help those women and others. Those men were horrible and should never be allowed to touch any women.
I don’t know what else they are into, but if his Club thinks it’s bad, then I’m sure it is. I’ve learned that the men in Dragons Fury MC are all honorable and trustworthy men. I can see it in the eyes of the men that I have met. Daddy taught me how to tell at a young age. The eyes are the window to your soul, and if you look close enough, you can see good and evil. The men that touched us in that club had evil in their eyes.
The Dragons’ men have respect for women, even if they do sleep with anything with a pussy that is free to them. They still show them a certain level of respect, especially the ol’ ladies, and they place them on a pedestal.
“Gio, you have to promise me one thing, please,” I say, continuing without his agreement.
“Promise me you and the guys will be safe. I need to know you’ll always come home to Gigi and me. I can’t lose you too. It would kill me.” I’m worried for him and his brothers. Gio has become my rock and Gigi’s. We need him, we desperately need him to live in this messed up world. I can’t take care of her without him. She needs both of us.
“Nothing’s going to happen to me, baby. You’re never going to lose me if I can help it. I’ll always come home to you and Gigi. I promise. I have more to tell you. It’s about this morning with Gigi and mom,” he says, pausing before he continues with a worried look on his handsome face. I nod my head for him to convey to me.
“Anton’s men tracked down where mom lived, and they tried to follow them here to find you.
“His men ended up forcing mom off the road, to separate them from Romeo and Cotton. His men had a personal message for me that what freaked Gigi out. She knows he hurt you now, I’m not sure if she knows exactly how, because I haven’t asked her, yet. However, she definitely doesn’t want him near you.
“I had to call Ricco and let him in on everything, well the censored version. He wants to bury him now as much as I do. He’s going to support the Club and me in taking him out. He’s also on our team to find your brothers and Lorenzo.
“In the meantime, his men won’t be able to find you here, and I didn’t tell Ricco you girls were here with me. I did tell him, though, that you were in a safe and secure place. You’re safe here, and all my brothers will protect you girls with their lives.” Gio lays it all out for me, and I give him a nod, taking it all in and relaxing a little bit.
I know we’re all safe here. It just freaks me out to know that he came so close to finding us so soon. I remember Gio saying that after we were married, he would find me faster, I just never prepared myself for it to happen this fast.
I need to stay calm and strong, and I need to breathe. I do the exercises, my therapist taught me, to help stay calm. I tell myself this over and over again. I can sit back, and let the men handle everything else, just like I’ve done my whole life. I can do this. I’ve got this, right. Right, sure!
Fake it till you make it, remember.
“Tuesday, I have orders to leave for a couple of days. Mom will be staying here in the apartment with you and Gigi. Gator will keep an eye on all of you while I’m gone. He wants you to check in with him every day, and go to him if you need anything. He wants to make sure, you’re doing okay with everything, while I’m gone. This is an order from him, he cares a lot about you and Gigi.
“Ace, Blaze, and a few dozen of our brothers from all the Clubs will be accompanying me. We’ll be riding out around nine in the morning on Tuesday. I dread leaving you, but I have to take care of Club Business and end this war with the Macks,” he says reluctantly, and I can see the gloom in his now gray eyes.
I hate that he has to leave me too, but I get it. This is where I have to be strong for him and supportive. I will show him I can be the best wife and ol’ lady that he deserves.
Ha, ha, ol’ lady, not, but that’s how they roll here, so I’ll go with it.
I give him the biggest smile I can muster up. “You do what you have to do and come home to us. I’ll be here waiting, and I’ll do whatever I can to support you and the Club. I don’t want you to worry about me while you’re gone. I’ll be fine, I promise you I can handle all of this,” I say giving him a reassuring kiss on the lips. He, of course, gives me a look full of apprehension, but after our kiss, he relaxes, a little.
We stare into each other’s eyes for a few minutes. His anger dissipates as his eyes go from angry green, to neutral gray, then to bright ocean blue with desire.
He clears his throat and shakes his head to clear his naughty thoughts. I know that he just had them about me.
“Let’s go out back and eat, everyone is waiting for us. Later, when I get you alone, I’ll be making that pussy of yours raw, between tonight, tomorrow and tomorrow night. I’m going to need to be buried deep inside you every waking fuckin’ moment until I leave you. You’ll be feeling me for the couple of days when I’m gone, baby.” He winks at me, causing me to giggle, then helps me out of bed.
I will definitely be showing my man a proper send-off, two nights worth sounds good to me. I may even surprise him and try something new on him. I’ve wanted to taste him like he tasted me on our wedding night. He’ll have to guide me, of course, because I’ve only done it a couple of times, on a cucumber never on a man. I will definitely be giving it my all and see how it goes.
I feel lighter now and ready to face his Club. With Gio by my side, I can face anything.
Okay, so I’m acting with my positive attitude here. Fake it till you make it, right.
We head downstairs and the first person to see us is Gator. He comes rushing over to us with Sam at his side, and before he can say anything, I stop him with my hands up in the air. He stops less than a foot in front of us, and I gloom up at him.
“Gator, I’m so sorry for the way I acted this morning. I will apologize to Romeo, and if you would like, I will apologize to the whole Club. I never meant any disrespect, I swear,” I say low enough so only he can hear me, but no one else around us. I lower my eyes to the ground, ashamed of my actions. Gio squeezes my hand for support.
Then Gator comes closer and lifts my chin gently with his hand. We stare into each other’s eyes, and he gives me a great big smile like my father used to.
“There is nothing for you to apologize to me or this Club for, Sweetie. You were upset and with good reason. Romeo should have never put his hands on you because you’re Beast’s ol’ lady.
“You’re a strong woman, and I appreciate you saying that you want to do the right thing. I know you would never disrespect my men or my Club. We’re good and so is Beast.
“Now, how are you feeling, Sweetie?” he asks fretfully as he releases my chin. I give him a big smile in return.
This man has become somewhat of a father figure to me, even though he’s only 13 years older than I am. He’s always concerned and looks out for Gigi, Jules and me. He’s genuine, and I like that about him.
“Besides embarrassed about my breakdown this morning, I’m good. I hear you’ll be around while Gio’s away.”
“I will, and if you need anything, anything at all, you come to me. Maddox or I will be checking in on you periodically, but find me or call me if you need something. That’s an order, young lady,” Gator says sternly, we all laugh to lighten up the mood. I give him a big smile, and take his hand in mine squeezing it to reassure him how appreciative I am of him.
“Thank you, I will.” Then I let go of his hand.
“Let’s get you some food, Sweetie, you haven’t eaten all day,” Gator says. We follow him and Sam over to the grill. I grab a hamburger, not feeling that hungry. Gio fills his dish with steak, chicken breast, and corn on the cob before we head over to the table with Blaze, Gigi and Aunt Cindy.
Ace and Jules are still in his room, I was informed by Throttle, while we were at the grill.
The rest of the evening goes by without a hitch, thankfully. Aunt Cindy takes Gigi up to our apartment around nine when the party really starts to become X-rated. When all the club whores come out to play, literally, it’s time for the children to call it a night.
Gio and I decide to stay and hang out with his brothers a little longer. They have not brought up my episode this morning, thankfully, and have been very sweet and welcoming to me.
It’s going to take me time to get used to all their vulgar language, but I will. It’s not too bad because they don’t talk to me disrespectfully, it’s all just in general.
I’m just not used to hearing men say it as it is this way in front of the women. In my family, the men always censored themselves in front of us.
I like that these men don’t hold anything back, and are who they are. You see what you get with them, and I respect that.
Around ten Gio and I agree to call it a night. We want to spend as much time together alone as possible before we have to be apart for a few days.
Also, I want to try out a fantasy of mine on him, one I’ve had for a couple of years now.
I’m a bit nervous, but I know I’m in good hands with him. He’ll let me go at my speed and just guide me along.
We say Goodnight to everyone and return to our apartment. When we enter, the place is quiet, telling us that Gigi and Aunt Cindy are asleep for the night. We make our way to our new bedroom together for the first time hand and hand.