I reached out, touching her shoulder lightly. In retrospect, that probably wasn’t the smartest move to make, since there was no telling what her reaction might have been, but it seemed to bring her back to herself, or at least, snuffed out the murderous look in her eyes.
“It’s okay,” I said gently. “I’m okay.” Taking her free hand, I placed it over my baby bump where my son’s foot was currently kicking. “We’reokay.”
Holly’s body sagged, and she released the woman’s wrist. I realized then that Beetle and KD had been holding back the daughter and mother from coming forward. The useless employee was still standing there frozen in shock with her back to the wall.
The daughter started shouting about lawsuits while the granddaughter recorded the entire thing on her phone. No one seemed interested in calling for medical aid for the grandma.
“Yeah,” I said hurriedly to Holly and the Prospects. “We should go.Now!”
“What part of ‘protect her at all costs’ was unclear to you?”
In the parking lot overlooking the beach where I would soon be marrying the love of my life, Holly and I stood under a canopy as Aloiki ripped the Prospects a new asshole. I tried to explain that what had happened in the spa wasn’t their fault, nor was I hurt in any way.
In my silent opinion, Holly had overreacted. Injuring the woman’s wrist when simply stepping back from her would have sufficed, but I would never criticize Holly’s desire to protect me or my son. Maybe because I was used to it with Aloiki, but I lovedthat she’d gone to the extreme for me. And yes, I was very aware of how my two responses to the situation were the exact opposite of each other.
I never claimed to be sane.
After my order to leave the spa, Holly had casually walked over to my locker, broke the lock with her fuckinghand, and then grabbed all my belongings. She hadn’t gotten a massage, so she still had everything she walked in with on her. I didn’t know what Neo and Bacon were doing at the spa to clear things up, but as soon as we’d called Aloiki to explain what happened, he’d sent them. I did not want Holly getting arrested on my behalf.
KD and Beetlehadbeen there to protect us, but it wasn’t like they’d been with us when the incident happened. But there was no talking Aloiki out of punishing them. If it was any other day but our wedding day, I might have been able to convince him. But today, all I was able to do was keep him from killing them. I didn’t want them to lose their Prospect cuts over this either.
Aloiki was ready to burn the spa to the ground, too. I thought he was going to kiss Holly when we finally met back up with him. No matter how many times I told him I was fine, he wouldn’t believe it until Tommy checked me over. The club’s Medic was a former soldier with the SAS, the British Special Forces, and was the closest thing to a nurse or a doctor we had. I didn’t know all the details of Nishi’s death, but I was aware that he’d given her morphine to ease her passing. Aloiki had been the one to administer it, but Tommy had provided the drug and made the offer. I would forever be grateful to him for that.
Tommy now stood next to Holly and me, though he looked like he was craving popcorn for a good show. Others mingled around, too, trying not to appear too nosy as they set up chairs on the beach. Lucifer was the only one who was wearing a shirt. Everyone else was wearing just shorts. I also spotted other Royal Bastard members helping out, including Tick Tock from NewOrleans, Louisiana, Creed from Jacksonville, Florida, and Lynx from North Ontario, Canada. I’d met a good number of them over the past couple of days. They were dangerous men with eyes only for their women. I could relate.
At the moment, Aloiki had all five Prospects, Mouse, Barnacle, KD, Beetle, and Doodles, in front of him. Even though only Beetle and KD had ‘messed up’, the other Prospects were witnesses. Aloiki was a hard man, and he took no chances when it came to my safety.
“Mywahinehas begged for your lives,” Aloiki told them. He was pacing like he was barely holding onto his anger. Was it wrong of me that I hoped he took that angst out onmeinstead of the Prospects?
I bit my lip, just thinking of the possibilities.
As if sensing my arousal, Aloiki suddenly stopped and glanced over his shoulder at me. His eyes narrowed, but I also caught the amused twitch of his lips. Quickly, he sobered and rounded on the Prospects again. “Out of respect for mywahine’s wishes, I will not take your cuts. Know thatbothof you are walking the volcano’s edge.” To all the Prospects, he added, “And let this a lesson for all five of you. I do not give a flying fuck on a rooster’s tail what the circumstances are. We have two women, two children and will soon have a third, under our protection. No harm will come toanyof them while there is still breath in your bodies.”
“Yes, Paniolo,” they chorused together like soldiers.
“As for you two,” he pointed to KD and Beetle. “Strip down to your skivvies and cuts. For the rest of the day, any time one of our guests or a brother needs something, you are to kneel before them, hand them a paddle, and say ‘I have been a very bad Prospect. Please spank me before I do your bidding.’”
Both red faced, they nodded their understanding. I was about to ask, “What paddle?” when the twins came riding up. Theythrew their kickstands before dismounting. And in their hands were two spanking paddles with glittering pink rhinestones and a long strap on the end like it was a necklace instead of a wristlet. As one of the twins handed their paddle to Aloiki, I caught sight of the other side. Where in raised, bold letters was written:
BAD PROSPECT
Aloiki took both paddles as the Prospects started to strip to their underwear. He once again caught my eye. I knew in that moment thatheknew I would advocate for their lives, and he’d planned accordingly.
Chapter Five
Lu
Standingat the top of the beach, I closed my eyes and breathed in the sand and sea as the blowing of thepu, the conch shell horns, announced the start of theHo‘oma‘ema‘e, or the pre-vow ceremony. I know it was not an official instrument of the modern world, but it had always been one of my favorites.
Aloiki’s sister, Kalea, and his niece, Pualani, were the only blood relations in attendance. Since my parents refused to attend and his were dead, we didn’t have a lot of family to invite. But friends? We had an abundance of those. Between our club and the visiting club members, plus our local friends, we had close to a hundred guests. Aloiki wasn’t too thrilled about the fanfare, and I was very grateful he was putting up with it for me.
TheKai Ho‘oma‘ema‘ewas a cleansing ceremony, to wash away the bad and negative spirits and bring harmony to this day. More than that, it was centering, an announcement of love and peace. Many thoughtalohameant hello, which it can and does, but the purest translation of the word was “love”.
A hand touched my elbow just as the blows of thepudied down. I looked to my left to see Tangaloa standing beside me. I smiled, as tears welled in the corner of my eyes. I hadn’t seenhim since the day he walked out of the mansion two weeks ago. He didn’t lookgood, per se. The bags under his eyes were dark, and there was an unusual tension about him, but he was clean. His tattoos shone in the afternoon sunlight against his dark skin, accentuated by the white patterns on the blackpareohe wore.
The smile he offered me did not reach his dark eyes, but he still gave me a quick congratulatory hug. “Ho‘maika‘i ana,” he whispered in my ear.
“Mahalo.” I sniffled, trying to contain my tears. Aloiki would have never said anything, but I knew he wanted Tangaloa at his side while we got married. But as good as it was to see Tangaloa, it made Nishi’s absence even harder.
