Chapter Thirty-Three
Elle
Rebel loved me, wanted me, even more he needed me. I was never letting go. I wrapped my legs around him and abandoned all attempts of control, letting him possess me in every way. We connected, fused together perfectly.
I tensed and the familiar quake pushed me closer, took me higher, until I had no choice but to fall. The sweet release of my body was nothing compared to the way my soul soared. “I love you,” I chanted, his gaze locked with mine.
“Mine.” He grunted and drove into me hard and fast until he shuddered and came undone. Panting in my ear, he whispered, “I love you, baby, now and forever.”
My world was right again. I held tight to him not wanting to ever let him go, needing to feel this closeness between us again. Our relationship scared me, the future and his club frightened me more, but nothing would ever keep me from his side because not being with him wasn’t an option. I’d straighten out all my worries so our relationship was rock solid, one strong enough to last a lifetime.
I kissed his cheek and held him tighter. Was his touch sweeter because I knew how miserable I was without it? Maybe. Or maybe that was bullshit.
We spent the rest of the weekend at my place, and the only time we left my bed was for food. I’d read through the merger agreement twice and it looked solid. Monday, Rebel and I would start the process to bring our businesses together. The deal was more than fair and allowed both of us to grow faster together.
I rode to work Monday morning on the back of Rebel’s bike. It was a perfect way to start my morning. Alice didn’t even blink when Rebel accompanied me into my office.
“Alice, make five copies of this document, for your eyes only. Get Chet in here as soon as possible and schedule a meeting with our attorney today.” I gave her the merger document. Her eyes widened when she read the first paragraph, but she hustled away.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Alice buzzed again. “Chet’s here.”
“Send him in.” I glanced at Rebel and the nervousness in my stomach evaporated.
“We got this.” He smiled wide.
Chet walked in. “Who are you?” He frowned at Rebel. Disapproval clear on his face.
“Rebel, this is Chet, I want you to read this here, then we’ll all talk.” I handed him the merger paperwork and turned back to my computer. I was typing up a summary of the key points of the merger for when we were ready to share it with other members of the staff.
“You can’t be serious?” Chet looked over at me less than five minutes after he started reading. “We can’t do business with bikers.”
“Why not?” Rebel shot back.
“Elle, we need to talk in private.” Chet glanced from me to Rebel and back again.
“No, we don’t. Say what you think.” I had no idea what he was so worked up about.
“They’re bikers, a gang.” He emphasized the words. “Besides we’d be foolish to announce our strategy to the other side.”
“What other side?” I joined him and Rebel at my table. “This isn’t hostile, we aren’t negotiating. Of course, we’ll have our attorneys make sure that all the numbers are supported by their books, and complete all the other due diligence, but we aren’t bargaining.”
“Why not?” Chet gritted his teeth.
“If you read it, you’d see it’s very fair, and it accomplishes both our business goals.” I worked to keep the irritation out of my voice. Chet had barely made it through the first page and had an attitude.
“Just say it, Chet.” Rebel drew out each word.
“Do you know what his problem is?” I turned to Rebel.
Anger darkened his face.
“We’re not doing this.” Chet slid the agreement to me. “We aren’t taking dirty money because you want to grow too damn fast.”
“What did you say?” I turned to Chet. “Think carefully.”
“His vest says 1 percent, the definition of illegal. It’s obvious they’re using us to launder their dirty money. Surely you’re not so gullible.” Chet’s face turned red.
“Actually it denotes a lifestyle where the club is first, among other things.” Rebel gave Chet a cold smile.
“Chet, the lawyers will confirm the money is legitimate but I already know it is.” I was disappointed in my CFO’s prejudice, unfortunately I wasn’t surprised.
“Really? How is that?” Chet sneered.
“This is my husband. And he gave me his word the club is legal.”
Chet’s eyes bulged. “You married him?”
This was going from bad to worse. I didn’t want to go through a merger with a new CFO but that was looking more and more likely.
Disapproval lined Rebel’s face but he didn’t say anything. This was my situation to handle.
“I did and we’re merging our bail bonds businesses. Is that a problem for you?” I clasped my hands in front of me.
“I don’t know.” Chet deflated. “This is unexpected. You’ll be using our law firm?”
“Of course, both our firm and the Brotherhood’s firm will be executing the merger. Rebel and I will be implementing it. The question is whether you’ll be part of that team.” I gave him my full attention, hoping he saw how serious I was.
“I will, uh, whatever the law firm says is good by me.” Chet gulped. “I’m sorry to both of you for jumping to conclusions.” He met both my and Rebel’s gaze when he apologized.
“Glad to hear it.” I nodded to him. “I’ll send you a note with the time of our meeting with the attorneys.”
Chet stood up.
“You, Alice, Rebel and I know about this. Make sure it stays that way.” I dismissed him.
Once the door closed, Rebel appraised me, his eyebrow arching up. “Damn you’re hot.”
“You like a bossy woman?”
“I love you.” He kissed me. “But I don’t like that guy.”
“He didn’t like you either, we’ll see if he improves.”
Rebel glared at the closed door. “He doesn’t get a second shot. No one bad mouths my club.”
“I know and I agree, he is a word away from being fired.”
The meeting with the lawyers went much better than the one with Chet, or at least they had poker faces worthy of their large hourly rates. We would get a schedule for the merger next week, with a rough estimate of six weeks before we’d be ready to execute. Of course that was after Rebel negotiated from 16 weeks to six weeks, agreeing to pay the extra fees to expedite the process.
The next couple weeks passed quickly between merger tasks and splitting my time between Dallas and Ardmore. We stayed close to each other, not going more than a night apart before we figured out a way to be together again.
I’d called my dad and made plans to go to his place for dinner tomorrow night, the nervous tension grew inside me until I couldn’t stay still. I’d tried reading, watching TV and working, but nothing distracted me.
“You going to tell me the problem?” Rebel leaned against the doorway into the kitchen.
I had out all my plastic storage containers, reorganizing them. “Nothing big. I’m seeing my daddy tomorrow and it has me messed up inside.”
“That’s big.” Rebel strolled over to the counter, watching me match lids and restack my leftover containers.
I shrugged. “It’s time. Past time, actually.”
“You need to clear the air, see what’s left then.” He had that distant stare I sometimes saw.
I wondered if he was thinking about his own parents. They were fools to turn away from him, and I know it still bothered him.
I put the last of my bowls back and stood up with the few lost lids I’d found. Tossing them in the trash, I moved to Rebel and wrapped him in a tight hug.
“You want me to go with you?” He spoke low in my ear.
I’d scheduled it for Thursday night because he usually wasn’t here. I hadn’t wanted to pressure him to go, but now that he’d asked me, I wanted nothing more than for him to be by my side.
“You have business tomorrow in Barden.” I bit my lip.
“I can cancel that, baby. Do you want me to go?”
“Yeah, would you?”
He chuckled and squeezed me tight. “Anything for you, baby.”
* * *
We pulled into Daddy’s ranch house on the edge of Dallas, the same house where I’d grown up. My ulcers sent mini-volcanos of acid shooting pain through my stomach. Rebel parked his bike beside my dad’s truck. I slid off the bike and wiped my sweaty palms on my denim shorts.
He clasped my hand in his. “We got this.”
“Yeah.” While only three months had passed since Daddy issued the challenge, the distance between us was huge, or maybe just one hug away. I’d ridden the emotional roller coaster from hell all day, but right now it felt like I was on the biggest precipice of all. We walked up the short walk to the front door. Daddy threw open the door before I reached his front step.
“Sugar dumpling, it’s about damn time.” He threw his arms wide and I walked into them. He crushed me in his embrace and I was home. My father was a huge man, over six foot and built like a linebacker, well an old linebacker, but I loved hugging his big frame. He made me feel safe, loved.
I stepped back. “Daddy, I’m sorry.”
“Me too, honey, so damn sorry I caused you so much grief.” His blue eyes were sad. “Now no more apologies, introduce me to your man.” He nodded to Rebel.
“Daddy, this is my husband, Rebel, he’s part of the Jericho Brotherhood.”
“Nice to meet you, sir. Gus has told me stories about you.” Rebel held a hand out but Daddy just folded him into a back-slapping hug.
“Don’t believe a damn word that old coot says.” Daddy grinned wide at the two of us. “Come on out back. I’ve got the grill started and Doris is here.”
“What about Megan?”
“We divorced in April.” Daddy grunted. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
That’s all he’d ever said about any of the women who had left his life. In fact, I’d never heard him speak ill of any woman and very few men. He was more of an action kind of guy, a lot like my own man.
“So tell me, how’d you work it all out?” Daddy opened the screen door to his back deck. Doris sat with her feet up with a beer in her hand.
“Doris, I’m glad to see you.” We hugged. I hated how we’d left things after our last conversation.
“That was my fault, sir.” Rebel cleared his throat.
“Stop callin’ me sir, it’s Jack or Dad, pick your poison.” Daddy grasped Doris’s hand and brought it to his lips for a quick kiss.
“When? Are you two...?”
Doris cackled. “Since he isn’t my boss anymore, I asked the idiot out. He’s hopeless when it comes to women.”
I grinned wide.
“But not with you.” He winked at Doris.
“Spit it out, you were telling us why you’re here with Elle.” Doris crossed arms over her chest. “Last we spoke, Elle was pretty sure you weren’t the staying type.” She shot me her stink eye.
“About that, it’s complicated, but we’re working it out.” I folded my own arms across my chest. “The important thing is we love each other.”
“Now that’s the damn truth.” Daddy laughed. “Welcome to the family.” He handed Rebel a beer.
“We’re merging our companies,” I told Daddy.
“Don’t give two damns about that business. Should’ve retired years ago.” He gave Doris a knowing look and I honestly hoped he wouldn’t say more. There were lots of things a daughter shouldn’t know.
Doris and Daddy were too cute through dinner, and for once, I thought Daddy might have a woman who’d stick.
“When are you two tying the knot?” I dug into Doris’s chocolate cake.
“We’re not.” Doris frowned over at Daddy. “The fool man has asked me three times already.”
“Don’t be that way, Dee.” Daddy winked. “I’m working on her.”
“I told you if I want to be married, I’ll do the asking.” Doris snorted. “You are cursed.”
“That’s telling him.” I squeezed Rebel’s knee. “Not everyone can get married first and hope it works out.”
Rebel grinned at me. “I did.”
“Rebel, come play a game of horseshoes with me. Leave these women to clean up.”
Doris harrumphed. “Get out of here.”
The two guys barely made it down the deck steps before Doris turned her stare to me.
“Fine. I’ll tell you everything while we wash dishes. But I didn’t lie, he broke my heart, he just put it back together again.”