Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty
Four months later
“I hate my stomach,” Chloe said.
“It’s fine. I love it.” Alfie knelt in front of his very pregnant wife and pressed kisses all across her stomach before finally taking possession of her mouth. He’d much rather have her naked and showing her in so many different ways how he could fuck her, but he had to settle for what he could get, and a kiss on the lips was all he had. When they were home, he’d make love to her, and show her their baby wouldn’t get in the way of any fun time.
Their wedding had taken place a month ago when Lily finally got the casts removed from her legs. She’d been using crutches but was able to walk down the aisle as Chloe’s maid of honor. She didn’t have any other bridesmaids, and she refused to have any of the club whores.
She’d also asked Eagle to give her away, and his father had been so touched. Alfie smiled recalling how he had to go to the bathroom because he had something in his eye.
Ian and Riley had been his best men.
His bachelor party consisted of him texting Chloe while playing video games and drinking beer.
Of course, his bachelor party wouldn’t have been complete without earning his patch. He father had surprised him with his own leather cut, his road name, and his place within the club. Ian and Riley had also earned theirs, and it was a chance to put the past to bed, once and for all.
For Kurt, there had been video and fingerprint evidence to put him at the scene of the crime, and he went down for the murder of a young mother and child. Chloe had been heartbroken at seeing the news but pleased he’d been brought to justice.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here,” she said.
Six years exactly after the last fair, he’d brought her to this one. He hadn’t done it to be cruel, but he didn’t want her to be afraid of the fair.
With his leather cut on in pride of place, he put his arm across her shoulders, daring anyone to say anything.
If they wanted a fight, he’d gladly give them one, and he’d have the whole club at his back as well.
Unlike before, he wasn’t on his own now.
Neither was Chloe.
The club had both of their backs.
“You have got nothing to be ashamed of. This is our place just as much as it is theirs, and I’m not going to have you hiding.”
“Looking good,” Ian said, striding toward them. His own leather cut seemed to stand out. “You have got the sexy young couple thing, and Chloe, you do not look like a tank.”
“Wow, thank you, Ian. That’s what every single pregnant woman wants to hear, just how big they look.”
“What? I told you, you didn’t look that big. Hormones are assholes, aren’t they?” Ian winked at her. “Everything is in place.”
“What’s in place?” Chloe asked.
“Nothing.” They both spoke at the same time, and Alfie wanted to curse. Chloe wasn’t stupid. She could sense lies a mile away, and now, her suspicions would be right on point.
“If nothing’s going on, what is in place?”
“It’s a little something.”
He didn’t have to answer because Riley returned. “About five minutes.”
“What is going on?” Chloe asked.
“It’s nothing,” Riley said. “You look beautiful. Not like an elephant at all.”
Chloe’s hands went to her hips, and she turned toward him. “Do I need to kick your ass?”
“No. Well, it depends.”
“I don’t understand what is going on, and I’m kind of scared right now.”
“You’ve got no reason to be scared,” Alfie said. “You may like what I’ve got planned or you might hate it.”
As if on cue, the television screen went dark.
“No, this isn’t happening again, is it?” Chloe said.
She went to walk away, but he wasn’t about to allow her to do that.
The screen changed, and it showed him. He was frowning at the camera.
“Will you guys freaking stop?”
“Freaking?” Ian asked. “When did you start to say that?”
“This is going to be shown in front of a bunch of kids. I don’t want them to pick up bad language. I’m going to be a father in a matter of months. I’ve got to learn some respect.”
Alfie wanted to cringe at how he sounded.
“I don’t know if this fucking thing is recording,” Riley said.
“This was a totally lame ass idea if ever there was one,” Ian said.
“Will you two shut up?”
The editing went off again for a few seconds.
Chloe tried to pull out of his arms, but he wouldn’t let her go. There was more, and she needed to see it. He couldn’t just let her walk away.
Finally, the camera came on again, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
“If this is going the way I hope it is, we’re all at the fair. Riley and Ian are thinking how lame this is. My dad may want to kill me, and even Lily. Love you both. But the person who matters the most is Chloe. I’m hoping she doesn’t hate me after this, and well, she’s pregnant with my kid and has a ring on her finger, so I’m hoping this will help me keep her.” He took a breath. “Nearly six years ago now I think it was. Most of you were at the fair when another kind of video was played. A video that showed what a complete and total bastard I was. You see, I thought I knew Chloe. I thought she was a stuck-up little bitch that believed she was better than me, the club, than us. Taking those assumptions, I was going to hurt her in every single way imaginable. I intended to get close to her, and well, you all know the rest. For any newbies, the story has traveled, and I know it still gets talked about. Here’s the thing, Chloe wasn’t anything like I imagined.” He smiled. “She was … everything I didn’t even realize I’d been searching for. Being around her was like heaven. I know some of you are probably laughing, but the moment she laughed, or smiled, or even teased. The time she tried to flirt, I realized she didn’t have a clue what she was doing. Little by little, my plan, my revenge, it changed. I started to fall in love with this amazing woman, and I couldn’t let her go. Only, I didn’t know we were being filmed. To everyone watching this today, I want to tell you to leave my woman alone. Chloe is one of the most amazing, beautiful, kind women I’ve ever known. You all didn’t get the chance to see it, but I did, and what I saw, it was a wonderful thing.” He lifted up his hand. “I married her. I’m doing this because I know she feels what was seen was an embarrassment to her, but I can tell you, Chloe, you have nothing to be embarrassed over. I bullied you. Made your life hell, and in return, you gave me nothing but happiness. I’ve known hell, I’ve lived it, and it was when you left. I will spend the rest of my life loving you, taking care of you, and showing you what it means to be my woman. To Chloe Pace, you are my heart, my old lady, and my reason for living. Thank you for giving this asshole a chance.”