Page 53 of Strider's Misstep

Outside, I take a lung full of blissful fresh air.

“I offer you lunch,” Michael’s deep, cultured voice says. “In the best Italian restaurant in town.”

Strider hugs me into his side. “You’ll forgive us if we have to decline.”

Michael chuckles, reaches forward and takes my hand. “Bella, you know where to come if you ever get fed up with walking on the grey side.” He chuckles at the growl that comes out of Strider’s mouth.

Reclaiming my hand and placing it on the arm of my man, I tell the consigliere, “If I were ever inclined to swap grey, it wouldn’t be for black.”

Not suggesting he’s in any way offended, Michael laughs. He raises his chin toward Strider. “You’re a lucky fucking man. It’s just bad luck Barclay saw her first. If I’d seen this delightfultesoro, I’d have claimed her for myself. And, I’d never have left her to doubt for a moment that she was the most important thing in my world.”

“She is in mine,” Strider pronounces. “We might have a truce, Michael, but if you step one foot over the line, I’m going to burn your fuckin’ world down.”

Is it wrong that my panties grow wet at his declaration? Other women might swoon at the smartly dressed, well-put-together man, but me? I prefer my rough and very tough biker.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

STRIDER

I’m of two minds about our deal. I’m not sure how much Jasmine realises that if we hadn’t met the Mafia halfway, she wouldn’t have been mine. She’d either have been dead or promised to the devil, Michael.

Though he’d professed to despise the way Aster had treated her, I very much doubted he’d be kind. To his sort, women were objects to be played with.

I hadn’t been blind to the way he’d flirted with her that day we’d listened to the wills being read. Part of me had been proud she was someone to be coveted, but the main portion of me was screaming she was mine. I might have had my head up my ass, but I’d removed it in time. I can’t deny I felt relieved to see the back of Michael D’Angelo. I’d worried he wouldn’t just walk away, but after three months, I’ve started to think he isn’t just biding his time.

Part of me worries that I’ve played her, taken the opportunities offered because she was married into the mob. But if I, on behalf of the Soulz, hadn’t played my part, neither of us might be alive.

She already knows I’m no angel, yet has agreed to stay by my side. And after what she told me last night, I know exactly where to take her.

Hopping onto the back of my bike as if she’s been riding it all her life, she’s happy to go wherever I do without asking for an explanation. A true biker’s old lady, she looks great in her leathers and takes every opportunity to ride behind me. Maybe it’s all my years in the saddle, or perhaps I’ve just become accustomed to the idea that fate will hit when it’s your time. I’ve stopped worrying that I’m putting her in danger when she wraps those arms around me. Jasmine loves to ride.

Today I’m not going far, just to the mall, and to a jewellers I’ve often admired. She balks at the cost of the ring I know really suits her, but after a bit of persuasion, she agrees to wear the symbol that tells the citizen world she’s mine.

As the proprietor goes to ring the till up, she leans into me. “I don’t expect this just because I’m pregnant.”

I turn to face her. “Would it help if I tell you that this is the most right thing I’ve ever done in my life?” I hear footsteps returning and glare at the man, who takes the hint and disappears to give us space. Placing my hands on her arms, I try to explain. “Anna and I were childhood sweethearts. Prom queen and prom king, expected to be the fairy tale story and be together all of our lives. When we got married, I said vows I thought I meant until you, Jasmine. When I admitted to myself what I felt for you, when I let my feelings override my guilt for Anna’s condition, looking back, I realise I was just an actor playing a part in my first marriage. The depth of my feelings for you is so different, and part of that is how you complement me completely. Your dreams are mine, and mine yours. So I mean what I said. This feels one hundred percent right.”

Tears appear in her eyes. “I was worried about getting pregnant again so fast. Worried that that was the reason you asked me to marry you.”

Placing my hand on her stomach, I reassure her, “Junior here is the icing on the cake.” I pause, breathe in, then sigh out. “Fate and I haven’t always been friends, you know that. But maybe there’s balance, and with the downs, there are ups. This is the most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me in my life. I’ve been given a second chance. With you. With our child.”

A clearing of a throat reminds me where we are. The manager of the store is waiting, and from his hesitant expression, he’s not sure if I’m going to be getting engaged or not. Putting him out of his misery, I take out my wallet and extract my card.

He can’t take it and insert it into his machine fast enough, passing it over so I can put in my code before I change my mind. Jasmine vibrates at my side, and I know she’s giggling, realising, like me, that he’s making sure he gets his sale.

The velvet ring box goes into my pocket. I wanted her with me to choose it, but the official proposal and offering it to her will come later. Not that she knows what I’ve got planned.

As we go back to the bike, I warn her, “You’re three months pregnant, Jas. This is the last ride on my bike.”

There’s a pout on her lips when she puts on her helmet, but I know she understands. I won’t do anything to risk either her or the precious cargo she’s carrying. In true Jasmine style though, she has the last word. “Then I hope you only want one kid, as I like riding this bike far too much.”

I snort. One, ten, I’ll give her however many she wants. All I need is her in my life.

Since I brought her back to the clubhouse, life’s been so different, yet in many ways, just the same. Things slid back into place. The club girls stopped arguing. They and the prospects did the clean up of the clubhouse without complaining andalso learned how to cook halfway decent meals. The bar always runs smoothly and is never out of stock. Brothers’ differences are settled fast, with Jasmine’s quick wit and interjection of comments that settle fights down. She’s the perfect prez’s old lady.

While I hate comparing her to Anna, my life as a brother, let alone prez, would have been so much easier if she’d played her role in the club. I’d been a fool to think I could live two separate lives. Now I have a combined one, and I couldn’t be happier.

I’m going to miss her riding with me. She’s a natural and somehow seems to balance the bike. As I turn into the compound, regret sweeps over me, needing me to remind myself it will only be another six months before she delivers my baby, and once she’s recovered, will be able to ride once more.

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