Piston (Iron Reapers MC #2)

Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

PISTON

I wake up with Jenny curled against me, her hair tickling my nose. Damn, how'd I get so lucky? Just a few months of her living here and everything feels calmer, more settled. My days have a rhythm now - no more aimless drifting from one fight or bike rally to the next. With Jenny, I've got something real to come home to.

Rolling over, I watch her sleeping peacefully, a slight smile on her lips. My stomach twists into knots as I psych myself up for what I'm about to ask her.

"Morning, sleepyhead," I murmur as her eyes flutter open.

She smiles up at me. "Hey you. What's on your mind? You look nervous."

I take a deep breath. It's now or never.

"Jen, these past couple of months with you staying with me have been better than I ever imagined. You've brought so much light into my life. I don't want it to end. Move in with me, officially. We can make this our home together."

My heart pounds in my ears as I wait for her response. Please say yes. I need this, need her, more than I've ever needed anything.

Slowly, her smile widens into a radiant grin. "Yes! Of course yes, you big softy!" She throws her arms around my neck, peppering my face with kisses.

Relief floods through me as I pull her close, burying my face in her hair. She said yes. My girl is staying right here with me, where she belongs. In this moment, everything slides into place. My future is clear, and it's full of Jenny - her laugh, her smile, her warmth beside me every damn day. I'm the luckiest bastard alive.

"I love you, Jen. So damn much," I whisper against her skin.

She pulls back to look at me, eyes shining with happy tears. "I love you too, Piston. Here's to our new life together."

Our lips meet in a deep, passionate kiss, sealing our commitment. This is really happening. My woman, in our home, our life, from this day forward. I'll do whatever it takes to keep her happy and safe, always. She's my everything now.

"Oi, save the smooching for later, lovebirds!" Tank's booming voice interrupts our moment. "We got work to do."

I flip him the finger, but he's right. My brothers from the Iron Reapers are all here, ready to help move Jenny's stuff in. Time to make this official.

"Alright, let's do this," I say, reluctantly untangling myself from Jenny's embrace. "Sooner we get her moved in, sooner we can christen the bed, yeah?" I throw her a wink.

She swats my arm, giggling. "Behave! I don't want your bros knowing all our business."

"Too late for that, darlin'," Ripper chimes in with a smirk. "You two ain't exactly subtle."

Laughter erupts from the guys as they start hauling boxes inside. The next few hours pass in a blur of good-natured ribbing, grunts of exertion, and the occasional dropped F-bomb. My brothers giving me shit is their way of showing love. They're happy for us, I can tell.

"Damn, girl, you got a lot of crap," Dagger huffs, setting down another box. "This is like playing Tetris."

"You're just mad I'm beating your high score," Jenny retorts playfully, wedging her box in.

"Ohhhh!" the guys hoot. "She got you there, Dags!"

"Whatever, I'm still the Tetris king. Just wait till we add Piston's junk to the mix."

I survey the cramped space, boxes piled high. He's not wrong. My apartment was barely big enough for me, let alone adding Jenny's stuff too.

An idea starts percolating. Maybe it's time for an upgrade. Give my girl the home she deserves, with room to grow... especially if I've knocked her up already. My heart races at the thought. I'm ready to build a family with her, a real future. She's it for me.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Jenny asks, slipping her hand in mine. "You've got that Look."

I lace our fingers together, squeezing gently. "Just thinkin' maybe we should start house hunting. Get a place that's ours, with space for us to really make a life together. 'Specially if we end up addin' a little one to the mix soon," I add with a meaningful glance at her belly.

Her eyes widen, then soften with understanding. "You really mean that? You'd want to start a family with me?"

"Damn straight I do, baby. You're my forever girl. I'm done waitin' for what I want, and that's you, a home, a family, all of it. Whatdya say?"

She launches herself into my arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, yes, a million times yes! I want all of that with you too. Let's do it, let's build our life together."

As I hold her close, my whole world shifts and settles. This is what I've been searching for all along. My ride or die, my future, my family. In this moment, I've never been more certain of anything.

Come what may, we'll face it together, in the home we make. She's my home now, and I'll move heaven and earth to protect our happiness. That's a vow.

With the decision made, we waste no time putting things in motion. Most of Jenny's stuff ends up in storage while we hunt for our perfect place. It's a new beginning, a fresh start, and the excitement is palpable.

"I've been thinking," Jenny says one evening, curled up beside me on the couch. "I want to make a change too. Focus on my passion."

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh yeah? What's that?"

She takes a deep breath, her eyes shining with determination. "I'm going to quit bartending and do hairstyling full-time. It's what I love, what I'm really good at. I think it's time to go all-in."

Pride swells in my chest. "Hell yeah, baby. You'll be the best damn stylist in town. I've seen how happy it makes you. If that's your dream, I'm behind you one hundred percent."

The smile she gives me could light up the whole damn city. "Thank you, Piston. Your support means everything to me. I feel like I can take on the world with you by my side."

I pull her closer, dropping a kiss on top of her head. "Damn straight. We're a team, ride or die. You've got this, and I've got you."

As the days turn into weeks, I watch Jenny come alive with purpose. She hands in her notice at the bar and throws herself into building her clientele at the salon. The joy radiating from her is contagious, and I find myself falling even harder.

"You're a natural, babe," I tell her one night as she practices a new technique on my own shaggy mop. "Those lucky bastards won't know what hit 'em when you get your hands on their hair."

She laughs, the sound like music to my ears. "You're biased, but I'll take the compliment. I just want to make people feel good about themselves, you know?"

I nod, catching her eye in the mirror. "I do know. It's one of the million things I love about you. Your big, beautiful heart."

The blush that stains her cheeks is adorable as she swats at my shoulder. "Sweet talker. But I love you too, so I guess we're even."

As I sit there, watching her work her magic, I'm struck by the overwhelming sense of rightness. This is our life now, our future unfolding day by day. And whatever challenges come our way, I know we'll face them head-on, together.

She's my forever, and I'm hers. Two halves of a whole, riding towards our destiny side by side. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

The clubhouse is thick with tension as I stride into church, my boots echoing against the worn wooden floorboards. Mason and Dagger are already waiting, their faces grim and eyes hard as flint. I take my seat at the table, the weight of their stares heavy on my shoulders.

"What's this about?" I ask, cutting straight to the chase. "I got your message, and it sounded urgent."

Mason leans forward, his hands clasped tight. "We got word from our contacts in the Viper's Crew. They're out for blood, brother. Your blood."

My gut clenches, a cold dread seeping into my bones. "What the hell did I do to piss them off?"

"It's not just you," Dagger chimes in, his voice low and serious. "They're targeting anyone close to you too. Trying to hit you where it hurts."

An icy fist clamps around my heart as realization dawns. "Jenny," I breathe, fear and rage battling for dominance inside me. "They're going after Jenny."

Mason nods, his expression grim. "And anyone else they think matters to you. Family, friends, the whole damn club if they can manage it."

I'm on my feet before I even realize I've moved, pacing like a caged animal. My mind races with the implications, the danger that now looms over everything I hold dear. Over the woman who means more to me than my own life.

"We gotta put a stop to this," I growl, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "I won't let those bastards hurt Jenny or anyone else."

Dagger stands, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "We're with you, brother. The club takes care of its own. We'll do whatever it takes to keep your girl safe."

I nod, grateful for their support even as the weight of responsibility settles heavily on my shoulders. I'm the reason Jenny's in danger, the reason my brothers might have to put their lives on the line. The thought sickens me, but I know I can't let it show. Not now, when I need to be strong for her, for all of us.

Mason rises to his feet, his presence commanding as always. "We'll increase security at the clubhouse and put a tail on Jenny 24/7. I'll reach out to our allies, see if they've heard anything else."

I force myself to take a deep breath, to focus on the plan of action instead of the fear clawing at my insides. "I'll talk to Jenny, make sure she's aware of the situation. She's not gonna like it, but her safety comes first."

"Damn straight," Dagger agrees, his expression fierce. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect our own. Those Viper bastards won't know what hit 'em if they come after your girl."

I nod, drawing strength from their resolve even as my mind whirls with worst-case scenarios. I can't lose Jenny, can't bear the thought of any harm coming to her because of me. My need to protect her wars with the knowledge that she's a force to be reckoned with in her own right, that she won't take kindly to being sidelined.

But none of that matters now. All that matters is keeping her safe, no matter the cost. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means putting my own life on the line. Because when it comes to Jenny, there's nothing I won't do to ensure her safety and happiness.

She's my everything, and I'll be damned if I let anyone take her away from me. Not the Vipers, not anyone. And with my brothers at my back, I know we'll find a way to make this right. No matter how ugly things get.

I head back to the apartment, my mind already racing with plans to keep Jenny safe. As I walk through the door, I see her curled up on the couch, a book in her lap. She looks up at me, her smile fading as she takes in the grim set of my jaw.

"What's wrong, Piston?" she asks, setting the book aside and rising to her feet.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "We need to talk, babe. It's about what happened to me a few months ago. There are men who are after me. Me and anyone I care about."

"What?" she gasps, her fingers tightening around mine. "But why? What did you do?"

"It's a long story," I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "But the point is, we need to take precautions. And that means putting you on lockdown until this blows over."

Her brows furrow, a spark of defiance flaring in her eyes. "Lockdown? What the hell does that mean?"

"It means you stay here, in the apartment, until we've dealt with the threat. No going out, no visitors, nothing. Just you and me, riding this out together."

She pulls her hands from mine, crossing her arms over her chest. "You can't be serious, Piston. I have a life, a job. I can't just put everything on hold because of some stupid biker war."

I feel my frustration rising, my need to protect her clashing with her fierce independence. "This isn't a game, Jenny. These guys, they're dangerous. They won't hesitate to use you to get to me. And I can't...I won't let that happen."

She softens slightly at the raw emotion in my voice, but I can still see the stubborn set of her jaw. "I get that you're worried, Piston. But you can't just lock me away like some damsel in distress. I'm a grown woman, and I can take care of myself."

"I know you can," I assure her, pulling her into my arms. "But this isn't about you being weak. It's about me doing everything in my power to keep you safe. Because if anything happened to you, I...I don't know what I'd do."

She sighs, her arms coming up to wrap around my waist. "I don't like this, Piston. But I understand why you're doing it. Just...promise me it won't be for long, okay?"

"I promise," I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "We'll figure this out, babe. Together."

The first few days of lockdown are a test of both our patience. Jenny paces the apartment like a caged tiger, her restlessness growing with each passing hour. I do my best to keep her occupied, bringing home puzzles and books and anything else I can think of to help pass the time.

But as the days stretch into a week, I can see the toll it's taking on her. She snaps at me over little things, her temper fraying at the edges. I try to be understanding, to give her space when she needs it, but the constant tension is wearing on us both.

I know she's frustrated, feeling trapped and helpless. And part of me hates myself for putting her through this, for bringing this danger into her life. But I also know that I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat, if it meant keeping her safe.

Because at the end of the day, that's all that matters. Jenny's safety, her happiness, her future. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect that, even if it means locking her away from the world for a little while longer.

The tension finally boils over one evening, when Jenny's had enough of being cooped up. "I can't do this anymore, Piston!" she shouts, her face flushed with anger. "I feel like I'm suffocating in here."

"You think I like this any better?" I shoot back, my own frustration rising to the surface. "You think I enjoy keeping you prisoner in our own damn home?"

"Then why are you doing it?" she demands, her eyes flashing. "Why can't you just trust me to take care of myself?"

"Because it's not just about you, Jenny!" I explode, slamming my fist against the wall. "These people, they'll use you to get to me. They'll hurt you, or worse, just to send a message."

She flinches at my outburst, but stands her ground. "So what, you're just going to keep me locked up forever? That's not a life, Piston. That's not the life I want."

I drag a hand down my face, the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. "I'm trying to protect you, Jenny. Why can't you see that?"

"I do see it," she says, her voice softening. "But you can't protect me from everything. And I won't let you sacrifice our relationship, our future, just for the sake of my safety."

I stare at her, my heart torn in two. I know she's right, but the thought of losing her, of something happening to her because of me... it's more than I can bear.

"I need some air," I mutter, grabbing my keys and heading for the door.

"Piston, wait-" Jenny calls after me, but I'm already gone, the door slamming shut behind me.

I sit on my bike, my head in my hands, trying to make sense of the chaos in my mind. I love Jenny more than anything in this world, but I also have a duty to the club, to my brothers. And right now, those two things feel like they're pulling me in opposite directions.

I take a deep breath, the cool night air clearing my head. I know I can't leave things like this, with so much left unsaid between us.

I head back inside, bracing myself for round two. But when I open the door, the apartment is empty, no sign of Jenny anywhere.

Panic rises in my throat as I search the rooms, calling her name. But she's gone, and all that's left is a note on the kitchen counter.

"I'm sorry, Piston. I love you, but I can't live like this. I need some time to think. Please don't come after me."

I crumple the note in my fist, my heart shattering into a million pieces. I want to go after her, to beg her to come back, to promise her that I'll find a way to make this work.

But I know I can't. Because as much as it kills me, I have to respect her choice. I have to trust that she knows what's best for herself, even if it means letting her go.

I sit down heavily on the couch, my head in my hands, the weight of my choices crushing down on me. I've pushed away the one person who matters most to me, all in the name of keeping her safe.

But at what cost? And is it a price I'm willing to pay?