Chapter Two

ALIANA

“ALIANA JEAN-MARIE CARTER! Open this door right now!” My father’s voice, filled with anger, echoed through my bathroom door.

I’d bolted into my room after my glasses slipped off, not realizing Axyl had followed me. He’d seen me, seen my body in all its messed-up state. I’d locked myself in the bathroom.

“If you don’t open this door right now, I’m going to break it down, young lady!” I knew he meant it. He’d done it before, and I was currently sitting against that very door. So, I did what I do best: I avoided.

I turned on the shower, stripped off the rest of my clothes, and jumped in. The cold water didn’t even register—I just needed to get in.

I knew I wouldn’t make it out the window before my dad broke down the door. He’d have people waiting outside, knowing I’d try to escape that way to avoid this conversation.

Just as I got in the shower, the door came crashing down. My furious father, brother, and Axyl stormed in.

“Do you guys ~mind~?” I asked, peeking around the shower curtain. They all looked at me. My dad and brother instantly turned around, but Axyl just smirked and kept looking.

I felt my cheeks heat up. “Get out and stop looking at me that way!” My brother glanced at Axyl, shook his head, and left the room. What was that about?

I would have thought he’d drag Axyl out by his ear for looking at me while I was naked, but he just shook his head and walked out.

My dad followed my brother, but not before giving Axyl the same look Westyn did when he saw him still staring at me.

“I want you in that chapel as soon as you get done, Aliana. I know how you are and there’s no way you can escape from here without anyone knowing. Not this time.” My dad warned me before he left the room.

Axyl stayed put. That was how I’d escaped this life before. I’d left right after the party the club held for my high school graduation. They knew I was planning on leaving for school, but no one knew when I was going.

My mom and Reaper knew, but she’s my mom and he’s my best friend. I’d hopped on the first bus to South Carolina. It was a long trip from Indiana, but I’d done it all by myself.

Even though my mom and best friend knew about my plan, I didn’t want them any more involved than they already were.

I’d managed to get a Psychology degree and a business degree in the four years I was away. Then I met him, and my life went back to where it was before I left.

“Well, you can go too. I’m not going anywhere. Couldn’t leave even if I wanted to. Now leave the bathroom or if you’re going to stand guard, might as well do it from the shower ~with~ me.” I challenged him with a raised eyebrow.

I’m not sure where that came from, but it was out there now.

“Oh, baby girl, the first time I’m with you, I won’t be married, and you won’t be black and blue.” Axyl said before he left the room, leaving me speechless and my mouth hanging open.

Did he really just say that? What did I really expect though? I instigated it.

I finished my shower, took my time moisturizing, and put on my leggings and a tank top. They already knew, so why try to hide it any longer? I looked out the window and saw my dad had men standing there.

The same with my bedroom window. I opened the door to find Axyl leaning on my bed like he owned it. I looked right at Axyl and said, “I fucking hate you. You should have never told them. It wasn’t yours to tell.”

And then I walked down to the chapel after slipping on my fuzzy slippers. I considered just making a run for the door and getting in my car, but I wouldn’t get very far with Axyl following behind me.

He was close enough that I could feel his body heat on my back. I ignored it as best I could and continued my walk through the hallway.

“It may not have been my secret to tell, but you wouldn’t have talked. I did what I did for a reason. You can hate me, but we both know how you really feel about me and how I really feel about you.”

So, stop being a child and get this over with. We would have found out eventually and you know it.” He said before he walked around me down the hallway. I stopped long enough to gape after him.

How he felt about me? What the fuck did that even mean? Like a sister, I’d guess. Who knows? All I know is that this man has had my heart from the time I was old enough to have an interest in boys.

He was my first and I wish he would be my last, but he’s married now, and Lana is his ol’ lady. Plus, he has two children now.

I walked into the chapel and my brother and father were already waiting for me. I could see the fury in their eyes as they looked over my body.

Anger is better than the disappointment they’ll feel when they find out that the man who did this was none other than their biggest club rival’s son.

Axyl, Trigger, Griller, Ink, Snoopy, Reaper, Ghost, Doc, and the rest of the executive members, meaning all the fathers of the men running the show, came in behind me and shut the door, taking seats at the table.

I leaned against the door and stared down at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

“Well, would you like to tell me who the hell did this to you?” My brother asked me. “Why the ~fuck~ didn’t you tell anyone what was going on?”

I couldn’t tell them that Hannah knew, and mom knew a little bit about it, but I had begged and pleaded for that to stay between us. I wanted to handle this on my own. I thought I could.

That is until he decided to go all psycho on me and almost kill me.

I drew in a sharp breath, shooting Axyl a death stare. I couldn’t believe I’d left my door unlocked. This was all my fault. They knew because of me.

I wanted to blame Axyl, but that was just a way to avoid admitting my own stupidity over the past three years. “Aliana, quit glaring at Cannon and answer the question!” My dad’s voice echoed through the room.

How was I supposed to explain that I thought I’d fallen for the son of the rival club’s president? That the first year was wonderful, but the last two were a nightmare?

How could I tell them that I got these scars because I was protecting their secrets?

“ALIANA, NOW!” My dad’s shout yanked me out of my thoughts, making me jump. I’d never seen him this mad at me. Tears welled up in my eyes and I looked anywhere but at the men in the room.

They were all waiting for me to spill everything. I angrily wiped away the tears streaming down my face and looked up at the man who’d always protected me. I was his little girl. He couldn’t be that mad at me, could he?

“It all started three years ago. I was at a party after my first year of school and I met Alexander Harris.

“We dated for three years. The first year was great…” I began, but my brother’s angry outburst cut me off, making me look at him instantly.

“Wait, you’re saying you dated the Harris boy! The son of our rival’s president!” Westyn stood up abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor.

“Just let me finish.” I rolled my eyes, pleading with him. My sarcasm always seemed to get me into trouble.

“Westyn, don’t play dumb. Yes, I thought I fell in love with the rival’s son and it was the biggest mistake of my life. I didn’t know who he was until it was too late.

“Like I said, the first year was great. He was caring and loving, and then he just changed.” It was the truth. He was my everything and I was head over heels for him.

We had our future all planned out until he had to take over The Blue Moon, MC. He didn’t tell me anything about being involved with an MC until his club needed information about the BAMC.

I swallowed hard, staring at the floor as I continued my story. “He never mentioned being part of an MC until it was convenient for him.”

“After he took over for his dad, everything changed. That’s when I found out who he really was. The rivalry between our clubs got worse and by the time I realized who he was, I was already hooked.

“I was furious and tried to leave him. I didn’t want any part of the club life. I wanted to finish school and start my life, but he told me I had nothing to worry about until he wanted information about Broken Angels.

“I refused to give him any information and it just made him angry. It started with a slap here and there and it just got worse.

“I tried to escape for the last three years and he finally got tired of it and threw me in the cells.” Tears streamed down my face.

I pushed off the door I was leaning against and walked out of the chapel. I headed straight to the bar and grabbed a bottle of Jack before going back in.

Before I continued, I took a long swig of the alcohol, ignoring the burn as it slid down my throat. I didn’t look at the men around me. I didn’t want to see the disappointment and anger on their faces.

“That was my life for the past three years. They would beat me and ask for information about this club. When I wouldn’t tell them anything, they abused me even more. It wasn’t just Alexander, it was all of them.

“It wasn’t just beatings. No, they thought it would be more fun to rape me. Fast forward to a month ago. The day I managed to escape. They thought I was dead. I thought I was dead. I had stab wounds all over my body.

“Broken ribs, my face was a mess. They took me out to the pit where they have their clean-up crew come to get the bodies.

“They left and I found enough strength to run to the road. Someone took me to the hospital where I called my friend from college. She helped me heal enough to get around with minimal pain, and now I’m here.”

I took another long drink and was about to push off the door again.

“What did they want to know?” My brother asked, his voice calmer than before, but I could see the lingering hatred, the need for revenge, and the anger in his eyes. “Why didn’t you just tell them what they wanted to know?

“It would have been so much easier for you. You wouldn’t be like this today.”

“They wanted to know when you usually do your drops. They wanted to know about the members and when the best time to get you alone would be. They wanted to know about our mothers.

“They wanted to know about the other ol’ ladies. When the best time to grab them would be. I didn’t tell them because I’m not a snitch and I would have been dead anyway.

“I didn’t tell them because I didn’t want anyone to go through what I went through. Let’s face it, some women here would have sung like a canary. Did you want me to tell them how to get to the women?

“The best way to get at you guys was by going after those you care about most. I risked my life for the many. You guys are my family and always will be.”

“I may have thought I loved that man, but I will never betray my own.” I finished in a whisper.

“That bastard is going to pay for what they did.” My father seethed. It wasn’t a loud seething tone, no, this was his calm seething tone. The tone that would make even the strongest man break out in a cold sweat.

It’s what had made him a great president and an even better military man.

“Okay, so I overheard their plan before they tossed me out of the van. I know what they’re up to.

“I was about to spill the beans when Axyl’s woman, Lana, stormed into the room, hollering like a banshee. Why does everyone have to interrupt me when I’m talking?

“AXYL! STOP IGNORING ME,” Lana screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. “We haven’t finished our conversation.” She lowered her voice a bit for the last part.

Good thing I moved away from the door, or I would have been knocked flat. What a piece of work.

“The moment you laid hands on my kids, our conversation ended! Now get out of here and don’t come back! You’re not even supposed to be in the chapel,” Axyl retorted.

“I’m not going anywhere. If Aliana can be here, why can’t I? Just because she’s the ‘club princess’ doesn’t mean she gets special treatment,” Lana shot back. I was already buzzed, and Axyl was someone I’d always go to bat for.

She then turned her attention to me. “Why did you even come back? No one missed you. I must say, I love the new look. Black and blue suit you.” What’s her deal?

“You’re not staying, you nutcase!” I yelled back. “I’m the club princess, remember that. You’re just a man-stealing floozy.

You were an easy lay, and you trapped him by poking holes in the condoms to get pregnant. Now, you heard him. Get the ~hell~ out of my club!” I remembered when she first hooked up with Axyl.

She bragged to me at school about what she’d done. I didn’t think much of it then, assuming Axyl was smart enough to carry his own protection. I was wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, I adore Murdock, and the one time I met Danny, I fell for him just as hard as I did for his brother.

“Who do you think you are?” she challenged, stepping closer. “You’re just mad that I got the guy and poor little Ali didn’t get the man she was never good enough for. I’d never poke holes in his condoms.

He loved me enough to go bareback. Just leave and disappear again. No one wants you here. Everyone was happy when you left and never came back.” I snorted and rolled my eyes at her.

“You know exactly who I am, and if you know what’s good for you, you’d back off,” I warned, a smirk playing on my lips.

She was asking for a beating if she didn’t back down, and I was itching for a fight after everything I’d been through. I needed to vent my anger, and she was making it too easy.

“Aliana, stay out of it,” Axyl and Westyn said in unison. They knew how I could get when I was this riled up.

They’d seen it once before, and it didn’t end well for the other person. But she insulted me and turned this on me. So, no, I wasn’t going to stay out of it.

If she didn’t want a fight, she should have kept her mouth shut.

“No way. She’s about to learn her place. She dragged me into this when she started spewing nonsense,” I growled.

“Oh yeah? And what are you going to do?” Lana taunted. She had no idea what I was capable of. She’d never seen it, but she was about to. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I gave her a dark smile, and her face turned pale.

She wanted to know what I was going to do, and I was more than ready to show her. I pulled back my fist and swung it right at her nose, hearing the bone crunch. Blood splattered everywhere.

She crumpled to the floor, and I jumped on her, pounding her face, not giving her a chance to fight back.

Westyn pulled me off her, and Axyl rushed to Lana’s side. I was still fuming as my brother tried to restrain me. “Let. Me. Go. Westyn! She got what she deserved.”

“Enough! You could have killed her. We know how you get,” Axyl said.

“Why do you care what happens to her? You’re the one who kicked her out for what she did to your kids. I was just showing her what happens when she badmouths me.

She asked for it, and she got it,” I retorted, finally breaking free from Westyn and storming off to the common room, bottle in hand. I’d had enough for one day. “Leave me alone! I’m done!” I shouted.