Chapter 24
Gunner
I rode to The Rusty Pelican with Brooklyn and for the first time since Afghanistan, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I had rescued Jenson’s sister and I knew that in some way, I had returned my debt to him. I wasn’t so sure about how the Bad Disciples or Axel would feel about bringing a Dragon Knight’s associate to the bar. Rescuing her along with the other girls was one thing, but bringing her into our holy lair was another.
I could sense that Brooklyn was nervous about it as well. When I stopped outside the bar, I helped her off the bike and we kissed again. A short and sweet kiss to help ease her nervousness.
“It’s going to be all right,” I said to her, stroking her hair. Brooklyn’s eyes were panicky and she looked tired.
“We’ve been rivals for so long. I’m not sure that they would appreciate you bringing me here,” she said, smoothening the top of her messy brown hair. It had come undone and her curls had begun to straighten. She was still the most beautiful creature I’d set my eyes on.
“I know this will be difficult for all of us, but I had to bring you here, you understand?” I said and she nodded her head.
“I want to thank all your friends personally, for everything they’ve done for me and the girls,” she said and I reached for her hand.
“Then let’s go inside,” I said and tugged at her hand. Brooklyn seemed to hesitate and when our gazes locked, I could sense that she needed more time.
“Hey, I’ll be right beside you the whole time. And if they don’t accept you, we’ll leave together,” I told her. She shook her head.
“No, I can’t do that to you. I know what family and loyalty mean. I don’t want you to get into trouble with them because of me,” she said, in a small weak voice and I reached for her face and pulled her to me again.
“You mean more to me than my loyalty to a MC Club,” I said and couldn’t believe I was actually saying those words. My father nor Bryce would have been shocked and disapproving of those words. But they weren’t in my position and they didn’t know Brooklyn! She had managed to change my life in just a few days.
She smiled at me weakly and then we walked towards the bar with our hands in each others.
We could hear everyone cheering and celebrating inside as I pushed open the door. It was a victorious day and we had managed to win the war without losing any of our guys. The music was loud, the room was smoky and everyone was drinking and congratulating each other. When Brooklyn and I entered, several heads turned to us, including Glock, Tank and the others. Axel was in the middle of chugging down a big glass of beer, which he emptied down his throat and then slowly placed on the bar counter.
The cheering and the voices died down the moment everyone realized that a Dragon Knight associate was amongst us. Axel had fixed his eyes on us too, a narrowed threatening gaze. Brooklyn wriggled her hand out of mine and I could sense how much more nervous she now was.
“Gunner,” Axel said, in a slow drawling voice and I clenched my jaw.
“Why have you brought her here?” Thor spoke up and I looked him straight in the eye.
“She wanted to thank you all for rescuing her and the other girls,” I said in a loud and clear voice.
The music had been turned low by someone and nobody was saying a word, waiting for Axel’s reaction.
“You are Brooklyn Jenson,” Axel said, turning his gaze to her now. Brooklyn gulped nervously and then stuck her nose up in the air, showing bravery. I knew that she was exhausted and also insecure in these surroundings.
“Adam Jenson’s daughter,” Axel continued and Brooklyn finally parted her lips to speak.
“Yes,” she replied, as proudly as she could.
“Your father would have been pissed if he knew that you were here. Amongst us,” Axel said, looking around him at his men.
“Axel, she was going to be used for prostitution by the Dragon Knights,” I interrupted him and he held up a hand to silence me.
“Do you know how your father felt about us?” Axel said to her and Brooklyn nodded her head.
“Yes, but he didn’t know what the Dragon Knights would do to me once he was dead,” she said, meeting Axel’s eyes.
They were glaring at each other and I was beginning to feel like this was a bad idea. I should never have brought her here.
“You’re a very brave girl. I hear that you put up a fight,” Axel said, in the same voice but his eyes had relaxed. Brooklyn gulped again and nodded her head.
“My father and brother made sure that I learned to stand up for myself,” she replied and Axel started walking towards her now. I stepped in closer to her, but he continued on his path.
They were facing off now, Brooklyn was glaring back at him.
“Your father and Gunner’s father used to be best friends,” he told her and Brooklyn snapped her head around to look at me. I could see the surprise in her eyes; the same shock I got when Axel had told me this earlier.
“And while we all disagreed with each other, I know for a fact that Adam Jenson would not have wanted his club to turn to this,” Axel said and then he smiled at Brooklyn. She was beginning to smile as well.
“Welcome to the Bad Disciples sweetheart. You have our protection,” he said and throwing his arms around Brooklyn, he dragged her into a warm fatherly hug. Everyone around us cheered loudly and I could breathe again.
***
I looked over across the room and saw Brooklyn standing in the middle of a circle of my friends. Glock, Tank, Hunter, Sniper and even Ethan were chatting with her, pouring her drinks. They all wanted to get as much inside information about the Dragon Knights as they could from her. Brooklyn looked relaxed. If she was exhausted, she wasn’t showing it. She was talking and laughing and exchanging high-fives with the boys and I was just relieved that she was safe.
“She’s a good girl,” I heard Axel’s voice behind me. I turned to look at him and then nodded my head.
“I had no idea who she was when I met her,” I said to him and he nodded his head and smiled.
“Yeah, we never really mixed with the Dragon Knights, but I’m sure Nicholas and Adam would have both been pleased to see their children together, looking out for each other,” Axel said, and hearing my father’s name was another reminder of my life. And how different it would be, now that I had Brooklyn in it.
“I hope you can forget about what happened in Afghanistan, son. You need to move on from that,” Axel said and we looked at each other, and I thought I saw concern in the older man’s eyes.
“I’m beginning to. I want to thank you for your support, Axel,” I said and held out a hand to him.
“You are an Alton and an important member of the Bad Disciples; of course, you have my support. And you have my blessing to be with Brooklyn Jenson,” he said and then shook my hand. I smiled at him, before turning and walking up to my group.
I noticed the way Brooklyn’s eyes lit up when she saw me, and I pushed past Sniper and Hunter to get to her. She wrapped her arms around me and rested her head on my chest. The others laughed and cheered.
“I was just telling Brooklyn how she needs to do something about your clothes,” Glock said with a laugh and she looked up at me adoringly.
“And I was telling him how I like what you wear,” she said and the others laughed.
“Glock once tried out for an Abercrombie and Fitch photoshoot,” I said and everyone burst out laughing, punching Glock playfully on his arm.
“That’s a lie. Don’t believe everything this guy tells you,” he said and Brooklyn and I locked eyes. I had a feeling she was going to believe everything I told her. We had built a kind of trust between us which would be very difficult to break.
Now that she was safely back in my arms, I knew that she was out of danger and I could see it in her eyes that she knew it too.