Ruin and Rise(18)

He was in his main office within seconds, removing the shards of glass with a pair of tweezers. Once he finished cleaning out the wounds, he bandaged his hand up. Sitting back, Zeke rubbed at his eyes. He was getting too old for this shit.

Just when he thought he was finally going to get some peace, his cell phone started ringing again.

“Fuck!” He growled out the word, answering his phone. “Zeke!”

“We’ve got a new shipment of girls for you to come and look at. They want to work for you, and you said you want to approve all new girls.”

Cursing, Zeke rested his head on the desk. Zeke didn’t deal in trafficking women, he fucking hated it. However, he knew some women wanted to work their bodies for an income, and that is where he came in. “Fine, I’m coming.”

The last thing he wanted to deal with was a new shipment of women who wanted to fuck for a living. He didn’t know why he did what he did, but he was the best at it. Rubbing at his eyes, Zeke took a deep breath before climbing out of his office chair.



Daniella finished putting the sauce over the chicken as Shakes entered their home. She paused, running her hands down her dress as he took in the romantic setting.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Well, I thought we should celebrate,” she said.

He leaned against the doorframe and smiled at her. “What about?”

“There’s a whole list of things really.” She’d never done anything like this, and after he’d left to go see Demon, she’d wanted to do something special for him. “Zeke’s not going to kill you, which I think is amazing. We’re going to have a baby.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “Then there’s you and the club.”

“I told you last night, baby, there’s no me and the club. I’ll always be there if they need me, but I’m not going to be with them.”

“I know what you said.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. Her heart was pounding. “I don’t want you to make the decision because of me. I love you, Shakes. You’ve given up so much for me. I don’t want to be responsible for taking the club away from you.” Dani had taken the time to think long and hard. She didn’t want them to resent or hate each other in the future because of what had happened now. If he wanted to be part of the club, then she’d support him, just like she’d support him in anything.

He entered the kitchen, and stepped right up close to her, cupping her face between his large hands. “Dani,” he said, sighing.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.” He pressed his forehead against hers, and she melted. Shakes’ warmth surrounded her, and she felt protected and safe. “I told Demon that as much as I loved the club, I wouldn’t be going back to it. I’m not going to go back, and I’m not going to regret what I’ve done either.”

“You love the club.”

“I love you more. When I was with the Soldiers, I was only existing. You’ve given me a reason to love and to live the rest of my life.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “When I look at my blacked out ink, I think about the fact my life started again.”

She smiled, pressing a kiss to the inside of his wrist. “I don’t want you to regret anything with me.”

“Baby, the only thing I’d ever regret is losing you.” He pressed another kiss to her lips before sinking down before her. “Now, I think your daddy and your grandpa have come to a decision, and we’re not going to try to kill each other yet.” He started to talk to her stomach, and Dani couldn’t help but laugh at him.

“You’re being silly,” she said.

“Do you mind? I’m trying to have a conversation with our bump.”

She left him to it, listening in.

“Now, if you’re going to be a boy, I’ll be really happy. I can teach you how to throw a ball, and all the crazy shit that a father is supposed to teach his son. I’ll even get you pornos for under you bed when you’re a teenager, without your mother knowing, of course. Never ever use your sock for fun, buddy. That’s just gross.”

Daniella scrunched up her nose, laughing.

“However, if you’re a girl, I’m going to need you to be extra good. You’ll be grounded until you’re forty, and I’ll even get your grandfather to hire a man to kill any guy who even looks at you as if you’re sexy.” He glanced up at her. “If you’re anything like your mother, you’re going to be one good looking woman.”

Dani’s cheeks heated. He always looked at her as if she was the only woman in his world.