Page 69 of From the Ashes
“I did, they’re all really nice, and I think I should start learning sign languages. I didn’t know you guys were all fluent.” She seems relaxed, yet all I want to do is tell her that there’s no pressure; the folks here are glad to meet her. Actually, as I stare at her for a longer time than I would deem acceptable, I realize I’ve never been more proud to hold someone’s hand in mine.
LANA
“I had everyone take an online course so Rose’s would never feel left out,” Ares grunts roughly, and I’m starting to understand that beneath this bear-like behaviour, there’s a big heart hiding somewhere. I mean, his wife is literally the analogy of a firework, so he must be a teddy bear in the other areas of his life.
“I’ll try to do the same to catch up,” I say, hoping that I made a good impression, the memories of meeting Ben’s boss still crowding my brain, and how this evening had ended up with me laid on the kitchen floor with a bloody nose. As if he knew what I was thinking about, Ares stares at me deeply, which makes me fidgety. Is he a mind reader or what?
“You need anything, or any help,” he pauses, “you call us”. His voice is rich and serious, “You’re one of us now, the whole club’s got your back. Remember that,” he states, then a little storm appears next to him, clutching his black sleeve shirt, Mia’s boa dropping feathers on Ares’s leather boot. My lips part asI nod. Does he know about my situation? But then I remind myself, he’s the boss of a motorcycle gang that owns the whole region. He knows everything he wants about everyone around him. For some strange reason, I trust him. And if I were to call the club, I actually think they would come and help me. A strange sense of belonging blooms in my chest, and I look around at the other women I haven’t met yet, chatting and laughing with other men in the living room. Nobody’s crying, yelling, or fighting. They all feel safe. And I do too.
“How’s my little tornado?” he mutters just for her, but I hear it nonetheless.
“All good, hubby. I was about to borrow Lana,” she says, winking at me. “Oh, and guys, we’d like to go out next week for a girl’s night.” Mia claps her hands enthusiastically. I wonder why she informs Carter, but then I remember that he’s the one guarding her everyday when she goes out so it’s a part of his job to know that. He did also tell me about a certain Ash, but I haven’t met him yet.
“Out?” grunts Ares, furrowing his brows.
“Yes, out in the big dark scary world.” Mia chuckles before rolling her eyes. “I made a pact with Kia and Erin to get Rose and Lana on the dancefloor until their feet hurt, and I’m not breaking that promise.”
“You wanna go dancing?” Carter asks me in a lower tone, his body fully turning to me, and I notice from the corner of my eyes Ares towering over his much shorter wife, who is joining her hands and pleading her case. They are negotiating, and that’s actually adorable because I wasn’t expecting this man to turn into mush for his wife. She’s got him wrapped around her little glittery fingers.
“Um…yes, actually. I’d like that. The girls are really nice, and it’s been ages.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Carter pulls me a step away toward a bookshelf while Ares and Mia are still deep in conversation.
“That I wanted to dance?”
“I would’ve taken you.”
“Um…” I glance around, making sure no one’s listening. “Ben never let me dance. So I just stopped thinking I could.” Carter’s jaw tightens. I reach up and touch it, instinctively.
“I’ll take you, with Ash and a few others, just to be safe. And then you’ll dance until your feet hurt. I don’t know how long that takes, but when it does, I’ll carry you to the car,” he says, voice cold as ice, and suddenly I’m melting.
“You’re blushing,” he adds, angling his head.
“After what you told me, how could I not?” I whisper, teeth grazing my lip.
“Lana…” His eyes drop to my mouth like a starved man.
“Yes?”
“You gotta stop biting your lip like that.”
“Why?” I blink up innocently at him.
“You know why.” I smile, slow and dangerous, shaking my head as heat curls low in my stomach and spreads like wildfire.
“Go with the girls,” he commands me roughly, running his hand on his face. I nod, but then he laces his hand in mine. “I’m the luckiest guy on earth.” Then, he drops a soft kiss on my forehead, and I melt at the touch. “I’ve never been more proud of holding someone else’s hand.”
He’s not Ben.
He’s not embarrassed by me.
He’s proud to be with me.
My heart speeds up under my ribcage and I know that if we were alone, I’d kiss him way longer so he’d know how much his words heal my heart. We turn to Mia and Ares hand in hand and she claps, “I won! We are going to have such a fun night!” Areslooks at her with a smug smile, like he can’t believe he married this woman.
“Let’s go,” she says, grabbing my hand, and I follow her until we reach the other girls back in the kitchen, but this time in the little breakfast nook by a bay window. I’m glad I’m with them, because those guys out there seem nice, but it’s still very new to me, and I’m already a bit overwhelmed by all the new faces.
“Alright, enough men’s talk. Who wants to play poker?” Erin grins at me with a pack of cards in her hand.
