Chapter XIV
~May 15, 2001, Charming Cathedral, 5:00pm~
Leaning into the turn the mausoleum came into full view; Mike honestly didn't think any dwelling could be more obnoxious than the opulent estate she had lived in when they first met in Laguna. He had been wrong the Charming Cathedral as Amelia like to call it was the gaudiest, coldest environment that he had been in to date. Matched the bitch that owned it perfectly.
Rolling the Black Harley up the driveway, he killed the engine an action he had done several times, but this time the silence weighed heavy on his heart. Mike recalled the day he traded his first bike in on the beauty he now straddled between his legs. He had known the bike was the one; the minute he laid eyes on her, in the same way he had known Amelia was the one. Laying his palm on the black metal before him, he stroked it as if he were touching his lover's cheek. Mike had always felt the bike gave a very intimate look to the interior of the man riding it.
While some enjoyed a lot of frilly shit adorning their ride, Mike liked the bold look. Big tires, solid black with a hint of chrome yeah that was his baby. The only frilly shit he enjoyed was the sexy lingerie that Amelia modeled for him. He inhaled deeply as the image of his other love the one he liked with frills entered his mind. Shifting on the seat, he pushed the image to the back of his mind storing it away for a moment as he thought of the days ahead. He would be storing the first lady to capture his heart in the garage of the Charming, Cathedral. It would be the first time he didn't have her with him and the longest he would ever go without riding. The thought seemed almost surreal to him just like not having the leather cut in his possession seemed surreal. Sure, he had grown accustom to not wearing the leather when he rode, but to not have it in his possession was a whole other ball game entirely. Mike knew as much as he loved Amelia he would miss the respect that the leather brought, and he would miss the brotherhood.
Patting her one last time before getting off the leather seat, Mike removed his helmet from his head working his fingers through his thick brown hair as he walked towards the grand estate. He hated wearing a God damned helmet it was too damn confining for his taste, Mike hated confinement of any kind. Walking up the enormous brick steps, he punched the access code into the key pad to gain entrance to the cathedral, the sound of his boots on the marble flooring reverberated through opulent entryway. The crystal chandelier that hung above his head caught the prisms of the afternoon sun the kaleidoscope of colors splayed over the shiny glossed bone colored paint of the walls like a rainbow. The chandelier creating the magnificent display had cost more than most people made in a couple of years of hard labor. Amelia's mother had managed to earn the extravagant object with what lay between her legs. He shook his head in disgust a scowl crossing his face as he removed his Ray ban wayfarers sitting them down on the small equally elaborate wood table just to the side of the winding staircase. Table probably cost her a blowjob, he thought smugly. Then he heard it gentle sound that sounded drifting from the upper level of the house, the sound twisted his heart.
"Fuck me." He muttered to himself as he climbed the steps three at a time to get to her.
Heading towards the master suite they were occupying he stopped as he realized the heart wrenching noise was coming from the opposite direction. Pivoting his body quickly Mike followed the sobs to the doorway that he assumed was Amelia' bedroom. A chill ran over his body as he reached out and pushed the door open. He could only stand frozen at the image of her laying on the pure white bedding her face buried in the pillow beneath her head. Mike knew it was wrong but he could feel his body wanting her. His desire extinguished and replaced with the bitter taste of bile rising in his throat as his eyes surveyed the room. The realization hit Mike that he was standing in the middle of a God damned shroud, the jealousy coursed through his veins as photos of Aiden and Amelia glared at him. The fuckin' A team. Motherfucker! His mind screamed in rage. Looking back over at the girl he loved sobbing uncontrollably, he knew without her ever muttering a word what the hell was going on. Mike could feel his hands clinching into tight fist as he fought the urge to get on his Harley and deal with the issue was man to man. The urge extinguished just as his arousal had been moments earlier as the sound of her sweet enchanting voice whispering his name lingered in the air.
"Baby." Mike snapped back to reality kneeling down beside her, slowly caressing her hair. "Baby, I am here please tell me what's wrong? His heart clenched tighter as the sobs only continued to bellow from her. Looking around at the pictures stuck to the mirror of the makeup vanity he felt ridiculous even asking the last question. Fucking pretty boy!
Amelia lifted her eyes and attempted to focus on Mike through the haziness of her tears. She had no concept how long she had laid on the bed crying or even how long he had been present to witness. The various shades of embarrassment began to flush over her as she reached up to wipe the puffy skin around her blue eyes. She wiggled her body close; his touch brought her a sense of security and serenity.
"Baby." Mike gently spoke her name all the rage began to vacate as his attention focused on her. "Was it the meeting with your mother?" He held out a little hope that he had jumped to conclusions about what had his girl sobbing.
He frowned thinking of the bitch that had given birth to the girl he loved so much the anger threatening to build once again. Mike recalled the one time meeting with the heartless cunt a word he didn't use freely when referring to any female.
"The meeting was horrible." Amelia buried her face further into the thick down pillow. The white pillowcase wet with her tears.
"So, it's the meeting that has you like this baby?" Mike felt uneasy as he asked each question feeling that the truth was going to somehow monumentally change their lives.
"Yes…" She sobbed holding her breath for a moment before exhaling. Amelia knew the opportunity to tell him everything was now, but she couldn't get the words to leave her mouth finally responding with two words he needed to hear in particular. The pillow beneath her however only heard the words and she did not attempt to repeat them.
"Amelia, baby just tell me what's going on please." Mike lifted her head from the pillow peering into to her blue eyes the look of hopelessness and despair scared him.
"I ran into Aiden Janowitz." She spit out without hesitation to prevent fear from holding her back, "He saw me leaving the lawyer's office, I told him to leave me alone, that I had another appointment." Amelia sobbed softly, "He followed me … he followed me and made a huge scene … Mike I…Mike we need to talk…we need to talk about … he … I…" Her voice quivered uncontrollably as the jumbled incomprehensible words left her mouth.
"What? Talk about what? Motherfucker!" Mike stood the rage consuming him, "Did he touch you Amelia? Did he try to … Motherfucker! I swear to God if he laid a hand on you I'll kill him!"
"Mike!" Amelia eyes grew wide with fear.
~2 Hours later~
Mike leaned his head against the closed bathroom door he felt like a complete asshole for the outburst. Amelia had been in the bathroom for what seemed an eternity refusing to open the door. He wanted to kick the damn thing down; he would have except for the fear that any more aggressiveness on his part might send her running, running right into the arms of Aiden Janowitz. His hand ran along the cold wood smooth to the touch. His heart pounded rapidly in his chest. Mike closed his eyes; fighting the rage still threatening to burst out of control he knew he had to keep it together, she couldn't see him out of control, ever.
"Baby, its ok we'll work this out, I shouldn't have said all that shit earlier, I don't want you to think I am losing it." Yeah right! I am going to lose it all right and pretty boy is going to pay for this shit! Mike thought to himself before continuing knowing he didn't regret the words he had spoken about killing Aiden he was completely in control of his faculties. "It's just the thought of anyone ever hurting you in any way, I just resort to what I know, what I do best. Baby, please open the door. Please." He didn't give a shit that he sounded like a pussy begging at the door he only knew he desperately needed her to open the door that separated them.
Mike waited, the silence on the other side of the door was excruciating but he waited. Finally, he heard it the click of the lock. Reaching out he opened the door cautiously his face growing in concern when he saw her. She looked like hell, with her red puffy eyes and pale drawn face, he could tell without her even speaking a word she was at her breaking point. Mike knew he needed to move with caution reaching out he pulled Amelia into his protective arms.
Amelia slumped her head in his chest the sobs still wrecking her body once again. She clung to him as if she were drowning and he was the life-preserver. To her at that moment he was exactly that she knew she desperately needed to talk to him and clear the air. The words however refused to come.
"Shh." He kissed her hair whispering softly, "Baby, I know you had feelings for him. I know he was your first love, but I know you love me." He tilted her head peering into her eyes that were a million miles away, "Amelia, I love you more than anything you are my life."
"I love you." She whispered back before brushing her lips gently against his.
Mike pulled her back into his arms hugging her tightly against him. Lowering his head in her hair once again, he breathed her into his senses.
~May 16, 2001, 2:06am~
Amelia lay on her side propped up on her elbow watching Mike sleep, his chest rising and falling in a perfect rhythm, the look on his face content, peaceful. All traces of anger that had earlier adorned his face now vanished. Chewing her bottom lip a habit Amelia hadn't practiced since she was a child an act she knew her former shrink would call regression. Regression definition reverting to a time or habit that was more comfortable often used as a coping mechanism when crisis strikes. Fuck if they weren't in the middle of a crisis Amelia didn't know what would qualify better.
She knew she should have just emptied her heart to Mike earlier but as she peered into his green eyes, she just couldn't. Looking beyond his sleeping body at the clock on the bedside table she watched as the digital number turned into a seven, 2:07am and she was still laying wide-awake. Amelia thought briefly about waking Mike but decided against it, she knew he would only sleep for a few more hours anyway. He rarely fell asleep before midnight, and usually didn't sleep past 5am so when he did sleep peacefully Amelia tried to let him slumber. Still in the darkness of the wee morning hours, the secrets she had kept from him pressed down on her chest like a heavy weight. The feeling of suffocation returned to her, Charming was suffocating and Aiden Janowitz was … Oh, my God what is he? The dreaded question brought even greater anxiety to her.
"Jesus Christ." She muttered slipping from the bed picking up the sheer pink robe laying at the foot letting the silk material fall over her naked body.
Looking back one last time at Mike before drifting from the bedroom into the hallway then down the winding staircase, Amelia stopped at the foot gazing into the large extravagant gold leaf framed mirror on the wall. Her mommy dearest had paid a fortune for it in Paris and had often stopped just as her daughter was now to peer into it vainly. The mirror on the wall however only confirmed to Amelia what she already knew she looked like shit. Her eyes puffy and swollen from hours of crying, traces of her mascara still streaked underneath the lower lashes. She reached up rubbing the black smudges away. Traveling the remaining distance down the last stairs, she turned towards the French doors leading out to the pool completely caught off guard by the figure illuminated in the moon light. Opening the door silently, she walked out onto the pool deck approaching the dark figure whose back was to her.
"What the hell are you doing here, Aiden?" Amelia didn't hesitate or wait for a response before firing another question at him. "How did you get in?" She walked in front of him her blue eyes demanding an answer.
"You act as if I have never sat around this pool before. You forget how often we sat around this pool, A. How often we made love right here?" He lit a cigarette inhaling deeply before continuing, "I have been here plenty of mornings, just like the morning you called me from France or wherever the fuck you were hiding. Remember that morning baby? I do, the sunrise was so full of promise that morning, and then before the sun was even high in the sky any hope the day might have brought was pissed away." Pausing for a moment, he looked around her at the horizon before fixing his eyes back on her. "I think about what would have happened if I had done things differently. Hadn't wasted time fucking around with that bitch classmate of yours. If the accident had never happened and I had made it to your house after our fight that day in the diner parking lot."
"Please don't start this again …" Amelia could only look at him with pleading eyes. The soft wind carried the smell of the smoke to her.
Aiden looked at her pale face immediately flicking the cigarette on the ground, and extinguishing it with his black boot. "Sorry."
"What do you want me to say?" Amelia closed her eyes for a moment.
"Do you know how many times I sat here wishing, praying, and aching for you?"
"I had no choice! What was I supposed to do let my Mommy Dearest send you to jail for rape?" Amelia rubbed her throbbing temples as she spoke.
"Fuck why not! I have been in my own personal prison of hell ever since you walked away from Charming Amelia!" Aiden challenged back. "Would have been better to do my time and walk out a free man with you waiting at the gate!"
"This is not entirely my fault your whore, your stop light whore caused a lot of this! You broke your promises to me Aiden, all of them." Amelia could feel the warm tears pooling under her lids.
"Yeah, and you promised you would stick by my side, and help me figure out us. We were the 'A Team' you promised to hang on no matter what until I could get us out of here. Fuck you weren't even 18 what was I supposed to do? You promised me no matter what! Do you remember Amelia? I do! I remember you telling me there was nothing I could do, or say that would change your feelings for me!" His words echoed around the pool area, and Amelia quickly looked up at the balcony to her Mommy Dearest bedroom that she was sharing with Mike she knew he was an extremely light sleeper.
~May 15, 2001, 11:05am~
"Amelia Jesus Christ." Aiden killed the engine of his bike quickly dropping the kickstand and discarding his helmet closing the distance between them.
"No." Amelia put up her hand stepping closer to the car putting her hand on the door.
"Amelia baby please don't leave." Aiden begged reaching out placing his hand over hers. He sucked in a quick breath as the familiar feel of her soft skin and the warmth coursed through his body like an electric current. Jesus Christ! Please don't let me fuck this up.
"Don't …Please … don't do that." Amelia stuttered taken aback by the feeling of his hand touching her own reminding her of things she simply wasn't ready to feel again.
~May 15, 2001, 11:15am~
"Jax." Opie called over the engine of their idling bikes that they had parked against the downtown curb to wait for Aiden. He could only point his finger in the direction that had his eyes wide with shock.
Jax looked over at Opie curiously before turning his head towards his pointing finger.
"Holy shit!" Jax killed the engine of his bike motioning for his brother to do the same.
"Aiden you don't understand!" Amelia cried out.
"Don't understand?" Aiden held her left hand the diamond sparkling mockingly at him. "Who is it Amelia? I am not losing you again! Whoever this bozo is that thinks he is going to marry, my girl can fuck off, HE CAN FUCK OFF OR DIE!"
"Stop! You're scaring me! You don't understand he's …" Amelia's entire body trembled as she attempted to explain.
"Aiden brother calm down." Jax looked from Aiden to Amelia noticing the large solitaire diamond on the hand Aiden held in his. "Darlin' listen he's just in shock that's all you know that he would never hurt you."
Opie stepped behind Aiden pulling him back from Amelia expending little effort. "Brother take a deep fuckin' breath.
"Problem here Ms. Tate isn't it?" The familiar voice asked from behind them.
Jax, Aiden and Opie turned their heads in unison as they stared at the new officer in town deputy David Hale.
~May 15, 2001, 12:08pm~
"Are you sure?" Amelia stared blankly at the picture on the wall.
"Yes." The woman stood before her with a look of kindness on her face. "If you can wait just a few minutes I'll find out if today will work or not. That is if you are sure."
"I am sure." Amelia responded flatly.
"You know there is no rush you might want to take a few days and get back to us before moving forward." The kind faced woman spoke the words gently.
"No, I am leaving the country in less than a week and need to get everything taken care of before then." Amelia continued to stare blankly ahead she wasn't sure how much worse the day could get first the meeting with mommy dearest followed by the brief meeting with Aiden, Jax, Opie and David Hale. Family reunion, she thought sarcastically. Now this shit! She let out a breath of air in exasperation.
~May 15, 2001, 2:00pm~
Aiden stood outside of the brick structure not sure what his current emotion was, rage, sorrow, disbelief. It taken him a good two hours to find her car after deputy dipshit had let the princely trio walk with a warning. Then of all places to find her, Motherfucker. Walking towards the entrance, he knew he was going have a little meet and greet with the fucker that was responsible for all the current shit going down. Reaching out he opened the door to enter and saw her immediately and their eyes locked intently on one another.
Amelia looked up from the receptionist desk at the sound of the door opening she knew she should be outraged that Aiden had followed her after the brief incident that had occurred earlier. She knew she should send him away; she looked in his dark brown eyes and realized she wasn't angry she was relieved to see him. Running over Amelia fell against his chest sobbing.
"Baby its ok. Don't cry please." Aiden wrapped his arms tightly around her closing his eyes making the decision at that moment he would die before he lost her again. "Come with me." He moved her gently towards the door.
~May 16, 2001, 2:18am~
"Please… Please lower your voice." She looked back at the bedroom balcony again, before returning her eyes to Aiden. "Christ, he wanted to come after you earlier." Amelia looked into his intense brown eyes; suddenly the need to sit down overwhelmed her. Slowly she pulled out a chair, and sat there for a few moments their eyes locked on one another.
"Wanted to come after me? Fucker is lucky I didn't march over here and put a bullet in his head!" Aiden shouted the last words the fury emitting from him.
"Please, Aid … please…" Amelia's blue eyes pleaded at him to quiet his voice she feared it might be too late glancing once more at the balcony grateful the room was still dark.
"He's a killer, A. You know that right? He was Sgt. At Arms in the Reno charter and wasn't even 21 years old. That doesn't happen unless you can walk the walk, or your fuckin' born into the life-like Opie, Jax and I." He paused her doubtful face glared back at him. "Come on baby they nicked name him the Savage in Reno not even you are that naïve. All that shit Tara told you about with the Mayans it was him."
Amelia could only sit stunned recalling the horrific murders that had taken place during the Mayan conflict when they were teenagers. She looked at the man before her remembering how his hands weren't exactly clean.
"He wasn't he only one with blood on his hands during that time." She replied sarcastically.
"True, but baby I thought you left me for a different kind of life. You ran from me and didn't even listen to what had happened." He lowered his head looking at her hand that hung limply at her side reaching out he cupped it in his own interlacing her fingers with his. "Fuck me, you ended up with a man with three times the blood on his hands." He whispered.
Amelia quickly retreated from his loving gesture, but not before the warmth of his hand aroused a feeling in her, she had only felt with one other man.
"I know exactly who he is. I don't care. I love him. What we had is over Aiden, just like this conversation is over." Amelia stood with every intention of heading back into the house immediately. She knew being around him was dangerous in more than one-way being with him earlier had confirmed that.
Aiden rose immediately reaching out grabbing her elbow stopping her abruptly. He held her for a moment with her back turned to him before gently turning her body to face him.
"It's not over, and you know it. You felt it earlier when I kissed you" His brown eyes searched hers, she didn't have to answer he could see the answer in her blues eyes, "Amelia, I know you did… I … I felt it when..." He paused for a moment. "Today, that feeling was real. Listen, I know my behavior was unacceptable earlier, but Christ, I wasn't expecting to see you on the streets of Charming. When I saw you all I could think was a second chance." Aiden looked at her his brown eyes now the ones pleading as he pulled her closer to her body. "When I followed you … A, after you left downtown, I just wasn't ready for all that to hit me at one time. God, as if seeing the ring on your finger wasn't enough,"
"Aiden, it's over. We have this whole future planned." Amelia shivered at the touch of his fingertips tightening around her arms.
"So, you told him?" He eyed her curiously.
"Told him what?" She replied her voice shaking as she attempted to wiggle out of his tight embrace. "Could you please let me go?" She felt his hold on her loosen, but his hands didn't release her.
"You didn't tell him did you?" Aiden looked deep into her eyes he knew the answer to his question as she shifted her eyes away nervously. The lack of an answer and nervousness filled him with joy. It told him there was still a chance. "If you really loved him, like you say, you would have told him." Aiden lifted her chin returning her gaze. "Amelia just leave with me now, leave with me tonight, we can disappear I'll walk away from the club, from it all." He looked at her a bit of desperation now in his eyes. "I'll be whatever you need me to be for you, but just leave with me now."
"No, I can't do that. I love him." She replied feeling ashamed that the words he had just spoken had a profound affect on her.
"Baby, I understand remember? We have had this conversation before. I have met your mother, I know. Come with me tonight. I don't give a shit. Truly I don't, but he might." Aiden looked up at the balcony, before returning his gaze to her blue eyes. "If you don't tell him the truth, if he finds out. A, his love may not be as unconditional as you think."
"Oh, and yours is?" Amelia spit at him. "Let me remind you again, you replaced me at the first stop light. You broke my fucking heart. He loves me. I love him. Nothing is ever going to change that."
Aiden looked into Amelia's eyes shaking his head refusing to believe the words she spoke. "He doesn't love you like I do. He's not built like that." He reached into his pocket pulling out a small piece of white paper placing it in her hand, brushing his lips on her forehead before stepping back. "My phone number, I'll be waiting."
Amelia watched him slowly walk towards the outside gate entrance of the pool area.
"I'm going to walk in and throw it in the trash, Aiden." She called after him her voice just a whisper traveling in the cool night breeze.
"Yeah, well my suggestion to you is keep it close." He looked up at the balcony once again. "Because when he finds out, after giving up the club for you…" He paused looking her in the eyes, a concerned expression overtaking his handsome features. "You are going to need to use that number, Amelia, and baby I'll be waiting for you. I'll wait forever if I have too." Slowly he walked towards the gate leaving her standing speechless.
"Wait..." She called out to him not even realizing the words had escaped her mouth.
Mike lay silently in the bed, the sheets beneath him twisted in knots, his eyes focused on the darkness. He could hear them talking outside on the pool deck. The ceiling fan above him spinning wildly, no more wildly than his thoughts at that time. No longer filled with rage, he exhaled deeply. Jesus Christ this isn't really happening. His attempt at denial failing him miserably.
He leaned forward slowly, throwing his legs over the side of the bed, as he grabbed his black jeans from the pile of discarded clothing on the floor. His thoughts gathered as he sat there with one leg raised before finally sliding it into the pant leg of the jeans. Standing slowly, he pulled the jeans up to his hips and zipped them. There at the end of the bed was the black t-shirt that Amelia liked to wear to bed. He held it in his hands, breathing her scent in deeply. Recalling how he had peeled it off her body and thrown it toward the foot of the bed just a few hours earlier. Closing his eyes, he thought about what was occurring out on the pool deck, and what obviously must have occurred between them earlier in the day. He realized the unspeakable was very likely and, he tasted her for what he realized could be the last time. Sliding open the drawer of the tall dresser that rested against the wall, he pushed Amelia's bras and panties to the side revealing the .45 that he had stashed in there earlier. He slipped it into the back of his jeans and made his way down the stairs to the front door.
Outside, the sounds of the night filled the air, the cool grass felt wet from the evening dew on the pads of his bare feet. Mike moved stealthy across the yard to the pool area. The voices now louder and clearer he listened intently. "You are going to need to use that number, Amelia." followed by "wait".
Mike stepped out of the darkness and into the light directly into Aiden's path. The gun flashed quickly...
"Yes wait Aiden... don't go so soon." He held the .45 firmly to his temple.
"See what he is Amelia, this is what happens to people who cross him he kills them!" Aiden shouted.
"Shut the fuck up, if I wanted you dead you'd be sprayed all over the deck." Mike pushed him back into the deck gate towards the table and chairs. "Sit down Aiden, you too Amelia."
Mike slipped the gun back into his waistband and plopped down into the oversized chair. Inhaling deeply making every attempt to contain the darkness and rage rising in him.
Aiden glared at Mike as he moved his hands through his curly brown hair pushing his leather cut back unnoticeably with his elbow as he lowered his arm. He could feel his handgun against his arm.
"We need to talk this out. You cannot have Amelia; she is going to be my wife. I can't kill you, and I won't let you kill me. So as you can see we're at a bit of an impasse here." Mike studied the look on Amelia's face, he wasn't sure she was his anymore. Only a few hours ago he was certain of it, but now it seemed a distant memory. Either way, he wasn't about to let the first nine pretty boy prince take her without a fight.
Mike sat staring into the set of dark brooding brown eyes. The thought of Aiden's arrogance thinking he could come in the middle of the night, talk to his woman in a raised fuckin' voice, bad mouthing him, the anger boiled inside of him and it was all he could do not to pull his gun back out and blow his head off. You piece of fucking shit! His eyes glared the unspoken words angrily. Mike knew if he did what his instincts wanted; it would never be the same for him and Amelia. He fought the sudden urge to jump up and grab Aiden by the throat. He closed his eyes, praying for strength to keep his rage silenced, sighing deeply he opened his green eyes and looked over at Amelia.
"Tell me the truth Amelia, what do you want?" He spoke the words a bit harsher than intended but he could fill his restraint slipping away with every moment that passed.
"What do you mean?" Amelia whispered the words looking from him to Aiden.
"I know, OK!" Mikes loud voice pierced through the darkness.
Startled at his tone Amelia could only sit staring at him for several minutes before mustering enough courage to speak. She had only heard him speak with such anger once, the night they had met on the beach. The night he had threatened to kill the men who had attacked her. Looking into his hurt green eyes, she realized he had found out. Amelia bowed her head in regret.
"Oh, my god how did you find out? I didn't mean for you to find out like this. I didn't mean for you to find out at all." She immediately looked over at Aiden her eyes glaring angrily at him. "This is your fault. You told Jax and Opie didn't you?" She looked back at Mike turning her anger towards him, "Why didn't you just tell me you knew earlier?"
"Amelia, I swear to God I didn't tell them. Fuck, I didn't even know you two were together until you told me earlier. The description he gave us all was a little off." Aiden looked at Amelia before looking at Mike with his own pent-up rage. Fucking brunette my ass! "What the exactly do you think you know anyway Fucko?"
"Motherfucker don't disrespect me anymore than you already have! You see that fuckin' ring on her left hand. Do you?" Mike glared with hatred his mouth salivated with the urge to kill the man in front of him in a slow and torturous manner, "That usually means keep your fuckin' grubby hands off of it!"
Aiden jumped up from the chair throwing it back, "Just like you kept your hands off of it fucker? You talk about disrespect. You sit across from me at the redwood table and you are with my girl?"
"Your girl?" Mike jumped up pushing both his palms against Aiden's chest with all his force knocking him down to the ground. "Motherfucker wake the FUCK UP! She hasn't been your girl for a very long time!
Aiden stood slowly a crooked smile on his face his brown eyes gleaming at the man before him, "Like it or not bother, "He pushed Mike back empowered by the adrenaline rushing through his body, "She's mine. I was the first guy she was ever with you sick demented fuck, and I'll be the last. SHE BELONGS TO ME!"
"I don't have time for this shit, Janowitz." Mike pulled his gun back out pointing at his head.
"NO!" Amelia shouted stepping in front of Aiden.
"Really smooth you asshole gonna shoot the girl you love so much." Aiden spit the words at him as he placed Amelia protectively behind him, "Now you move your crazy fucking ass to the side so we can pass or I swear to God one of us will die tonight."
Mike lowered the gun, "Amelia baby come to me. I won't hurt you know that. Please don't leave here with him." His voice raw with emotion.
Amelia attempted to step forward Aiden's arm halted her keeping her protectively behind her. "No." He spoke the singular word.
"Aiden please." Amelia shook her head at him.
"Come with me Amelia. I love you." Aiden brushed the hair that had fallen in her face. "He is dangerous baby please trust me. He is not the nice guy he pretends to be with you."
"Aiden I can't do that." Amelia replied weakly as a wave of nausea took over. "Oh god I am going to be sick." She placed her hand over her mouth before slumping forward spewing the contents of dinner all over the deck.
"Baby." Mike sat the gun down on the nearby table before rushing over to her momentarily putting aside his urge to kill the pretty boy standing beside her.
"A, baby." Aiden touched her gently on the back.
"Do you fuckin' mind." Mike pushed him to the side.
"Yeah I fuckin' do asshole." Aiden pushed back.
"Please stop! Please!" Amelia pleaded between heaves.
"Listen, Amelia." Mike kneeled down beside her. "I don't care that you two were together earlier, I don't care baby. I love you. It doesn't matter. I am not perfect Amelia but you know me and I would never hurt you."
"Is that what you think you stupid piece of shit?" Aiden brown eyes narrowed in anger.
"No, what I think you piece of shit is that you took advantage of her!" Mike shouted his patience finally snapping standing up slowly. "You are going to pay Janowitz."
'"Fine man to man now no guns just you and me good old-fashioned beat the fuck out of one another kinda thing!" Aiden challenged him.
"STOP!" Amelia reached up grabbing Mikes arm. "Nothing happened that's not what you over heard us talking about… I'm pregnant and I didn't want you to find out. I'm pregnant."
"What?" Mikes head snapped back looking down at her just as Aiden's fist made contact with his abdomen.
Mike stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching as his predecessor Aiden Janowitz moved around finding items as if he owned the God damned place. For the first time since they had arrived Mike was suddenly aware it wasn't just her room that Janowitz territory but the entire place. Now everywhere he looked all he could envision was them together intimately. He watched as Aiden approached Amelia who was sitting on the black granite topped island with a cool washcloth for her face. All he could think of was the similar counter top in the Laguna Cathedral where she had once lived, and the things they had done. He wondered what might have occurred on the granite-topped island of the Charming Cathedral. Looking at Aiden in front of her between her legs with only a silk bathrobe separating them made him not only furious but jealous a well. There was no denying it.
"Do you mind?" Mike stepped up pushing Aiden out-of-the-way as if he were a nothing. "As a matter of fact I think you have overstayed you're welcome. I need to talk to Amelia and you won't be here for that. You know the house now get the fuck out!"
"Listen Fucko I am not leaving her here for you to push her into something she doesn't want." Aiden glared harshly the color red clouding his vision. His mouth water to finish the fight they had begun out on the patio deck.
"Push her into something … What the fuck kind of person do you think I am?" Mike snarled back.
"I think you're a fuckin' savage just like they nick named you in Reno. I think you are a heartless motherfucker with little regard for anyone but yourself." Aiden spit the words his face red with fury as he spoke. "You could have told me you were together…all those times you sat across from me at the reaper table. All those times you were going back and bedding my girl. Now you finally bring her to town engaged and knocked up." His jaw clenched as he spoke the last words he could feel his teeth grinding against each other.
"Aiden please we decided together not to tell you we were together." Amelia whispered the words fighting the tears that threatened to spill over. Jesus I am a crybaby!
"Let me explain a few things so you are clear on the history, we have been together for almost 2 years, I didn't throw her in my bed 2 hours after meeting her, I spent months getting to know her, and she has had that ring on her finger for most of our relationship. I didn't knock her up as you so eloquently put it. Frankly I don't even feel the need to explain myself to you at all Aiden get the hell out of this house!" Mike tapped on the .45 stuffed in the waist of his jeans under the black t-shirt.
"You M…" Aiden straighten his stance approaching Mike again.
"Aiden stop! Please. This is my fault not Mikes; I didn't want you to know I was back OK. The other situation is my fault also." Amelia looked down unable to finish. God what a mess! How could I be so careless?
"Amelia baby none of that matters now just tell him. Just tell him. He deserves to know the truth. Tell him where you were earlier." Aiden implored.
"Tell me what? Amelia?" Mike looked from Aiden a pained expression crossing his face he turned back to Amelia whose eyes were fixated on the marble flooring. "Baby you can tell me anything." He gently reached out raising her gaze to him. Anything he mouthed the last word.
Amelia inhaled deeply trying to steady her voice. "I love you Mike." Amelia paused she could feel Aiden's anger radiating through the enormous room at the words she had spoken.
"I love you baby. Everything is going to work out fine. We will start a new life away from the club just you me and the baby." A large smile broke across Mikes face his hand reaching out touching her cheek gently before moving down her silk robe resting on her abdomen. "It's a perfect way to start our new life."
"Mike," Amelia placed her own delicate hand on top removing his hand from her belly. "No." She spoke the single solitary word.
"No?" Mike grimaced at her choice of word and removal of his hand.
Bringing her hands to her face Amelia began to sob again uncontrollably cursing herself for her rollercoaster of emotions. She felt more unbalanced than she had in a very long time.
~May 15, 2001, 2:45pm~
He laid on top of her resting much of his weight on his elbows as his hands cupped her face and she peered up at him with her blue eyes. Aiden knew he was a bastard for bringing her back to his place after leaving the abortion clinic. He had told her they could talk about what was going on and that had been his intention at first. Find out about what was going on, who this man was and why she was at the clinic alone. Sitting close to her on the couch they had made love on years ago had brought back many memories the floodgates opened and it overwhelmed him with the need to be inside her. His lips found hers and when they touched all the years of being apart washed away and he felt that familiar fevered frenzy overtake his senses.
"Aiden we shouldn't do this." Amelia broke her lips away making a feeble protest, the words no sooner out of her mouth before their lips met again. She felt like a traitor as her body responded to his every caress.
"I love you Amelia. Just be with me. Just be with me and we will figure everything else out." Aiden began to unbutton her loose-fitting blouse each button revealing her golden tanned skin.
"Please … this isn't right … I am engaged to be married … and pregnant." Amelia continued her weak protest between Aiden's kisses.
Aiden broke the kiss lifting his weight from her just enough to take her left hand in his, placing his fingers over the engagement ring he slipped it off her finger tossing it on the coffee table.
"Problem solved and Amelia the other issue isn't going to sway me sorry." Aiden returned his lips to hers.
"His names Mike …" Amelia breathed the name out between kisses that were quickly turning deep and passionate.
"I don't give a shit what his name is you belong to me and as soon as we are done here I am going to explain it to him in words he will comprehend don't worry." Aiden lowered his lips to the nape of her neck he could feel her body squirm underneath him he knew from memory it drove her insane.
Amelia could feel the rough stubble of on Aiden's face brush against her neck along with his lips and she knew she was dangerously close to giving in.
"His names Mike Calhoun and he rides Nomad … He rides Nomad for Sons of Anarchy." She blurted out.
Aiden broke away staring intently into her eyes as if he were expecting it all to be a sick joke. He raised up to a sitting position all his weight falling limply on the back cushion of the couch as he stared up at the ceiling. He raised his hand to his chin running it along the hair of his short beard. The dread he had felt that day in the SAMREN clubhouse when he saw Mike with the girl who looked like Amelia from behind came rushing back. All the memories came rushing back over him like a tidal wave his instincts had been right. He should have left Reno put her on the back of his bike and left Charming and taken his chances.
"Damn it!" Aiden screamed.
~May 16, 2001, 3:00am~
"She doesn't want to have the baby. Amelia has never wanted to have a kid she was at the fuckin' clinic right outside of town when I followed her earlier today." Mikes eyes shifted to Aiden he felt as if he had been slapped in the face.
"Amelia is that true?" Mike making every attempt to conceal his stunned and hurt expression.
"Yeah that's right she was alone trying to figure out what to do." Aiden paused looking over at Amelia who he knew was emotionally drained. He had taken her back to his place to talk and yes he had tried to make love to her he knew it was a bastard move her being engaged and pregnant. She had made her getaway while he was still sitting back on the couch stunned over the revelation she was with a fellow brother. Well former brother really, he thought sarcastically recalling how he had laid the leather down on the reaper table earlier that day. Worked fine for Aiden would make it easier to push him to the side not being an active brother. "Consider this wedding on hold until further notice! You aren't leaving here with her until all this shit gets sorted."
"I have grown tired of your bullshit pretty boy now GET THE FUCK OUT!" Mike screamed so loud the sound of his ricocheted off the walls of the kitchen.
"I'll leave but we have unfinished business you and I." Aiden countered back his glare harsh and full of more hate than he thought humanly possible for another person.
"We sure do and I look forward to it." Mike nodded his nostrils flaring in anger.
"Amelia I am just a phone call away baby and I'll stop by a little later. Get some rest." Aiden pushed past Mike walking up to her placing a gentle kiss on her forehead before strutting arrogantly out of the room.
"Do you feel better baby?" Mike held his arms protectively around Amelia as she lay with her back pressed up against his chest in the large oversized tub.
"Yes." She mumbled the words grateful that the waves of nausea had finally subsided. After Aiden had left, she had gotten sick all over her pick bathrobe and the marble flooring of the kitchen. While Mike had cleaned up, she had spent another hour with her head in the bathroom toilet. He had found her there filled the tub, stripped her down and placed her in the warm water before joining her. Being pregnant sucks worse than the worst hangover she thought as the soothing warm water engulfed her.
Amelia turned nuzzling her head into his chest.
Mike brushed back the wet strands of blonde hair that covered her face before kissing her head. He knew he was treading into waters he had no knowledge of how to handle appropriately. Mike frowned he hadn't felt so unable to deal since the night they had met on the beach, before Amelia he really hadn't had much experience with a functional relationship. His specialty had been dealing with porn stars, croweaters and lunatic bitches he frowned slightly at the last thought.
The thought of having a baby excited him but it also scared the fuck out of him. Not because he wasn't with the woman in his arms for the long haul but because he simply didn't have the parental foundation to know how to raise a child. I am a fucking outlaw for Christ sakes not Ward Cleaver. Mike lowered his lips to Amelia's forehead he kissing her once again gently knowing it was the same for her. Shes a trust fund baby that sleeps until noon and calls her mother, mommy dearest. Jesus fuckin' Christ! Mike closed his eyes for a moment then the smile broke across his lips, he could make it work, he knew he could balance it. He pulled Amelia closer to him, Mike knew his biggest challenge wasn't being a good dad it was going to be convincing Amelia to have the baby. His second biggest challenge was going to be keeping Aiden at bay long enough to do that. Mike knew if he could overcome the biggest challenge it would rid him of the second issue forever.
"About the baby, I know you don't want to become your mother Amelia, but you're not her, you never could be. You love she collects. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I'll be there for whatever you decide. I really think we can balance this especially now with me out of the club." He felt her arms stretched around him as he finished the words a sense of relief washing over him.
"I don't want to talk about this now." The words vibrated against his chest.
Mike kissed her softly on the forehead, brushing the hair and tears from her cheeks. "I love you Amelia," the words never meaning more than they did at that moment.