Chapter 29

Ailee


“ Now for the second announcement. This one is personal. Most of you have seen or know my wonderful husband Tank. He has been by my side through many ups and downs. He even helped bring our adorable son into the world. He is my rock. My everything. So Tank, my love, I have a surprise for you.” Lilly says. I swear I have to wipe tears from my eyes because of her speech. “ Tank, you have given me a wonderful family so I’m hoping you will like my surprise. You see I confirmed it this morning, we are adding to our family.” Lilly says, holding her hand on her stomach. We all look over at Tank to see his reaction. He looks at Lilly for a second. I’m starting to think he won’t react at all but then I see his eyes get big and he jumps up “ Holy shit. You're pregnant?” he yells out for the whole bar to hear. Lilly just laughs as she walks off the stage towards us. “ Yes, Tank you are going to be a daddy again.” Tank meets her half way, picks her up and swings a giggling Lilly around.
He sets her down and even from where I’m sitting I can see the tears in his eyes. “ Just when I think I could love you anymore you give me this gift. Thank you.” Tank slams his lips down on Lilly’s for a passionate kiss. When they break apart, Tank leads Lilly over to our table for a round of congratulations. The band and Lug come over as well. Lug lifts me up, sits down placing me in his lap not caring who is looking. “ Fellas, come over here. I want you to meet my girl.” Lug says. He introduces us to Dez,Connor, Neil, Rick and Steve. We all shake hands and compliment them on their performance.
We all sit and chat for a few before they have to go back on stage.Before they leave Lug wraps his arms around me and whispers in my ear. “ Are you going to stay for the rest of the show?” I turn so I can look at him “ That depends. Are you going to take me home cowboy?” I whisper as seductively as I can without anyone hearing. He kisses my forehead “ Right now if you want me to.” I smile and give him a quick kiss “ Go. I’ll be waiting for you. I need you in my bed tonight.” Lug lifts up and places me back in my chair “ Little lady, you can have me anyway you want me.” he says with his thick southern accent before going back to the band. This night has been good and it is about to get so much better.
Lug Nut
The past three months have been both the best and worst of my life. I have spent every minute with Ailee that I can. I’m in her bed every night. Sometimes we enjoy each other's bodies all night long. And man does my girl have a body.It is like every curve and groove were made just for me. Sometimes we would just cuddle up and talk about anything and everything. We would watch mindless tv. All that mattered was that I was by her side. That is some of the better. I’ll give you more later. I want to get the worst out of the way. I have been to every doctor's appointment and chemo session Ailee has had. I have learned how to keep my emotions off my face during these sessions. I don't want Ailee to see how much they bother me. It shouldn’t bother me. It is AIlee that has toxins pumped into her. It is Ailee that vomits after every session, not me. But it hurts to watch her go through all of that and not be able to do anything to help.

Sure I can help her with her meds or hold her hair back. I can help her in the shower when she is too weak to stand. But I can’t take the pain away or even better I can’t take the cancer away. As much as I would give my left nut to do so. And you know what. Through all of this you know what my girl did? She never stopped smiling or laughing with Callen, Finn and me. She never stopped Merigold and the others from coming by. She never stopped working. Ailee was kind and polite to every medical professional she encountered. She never once complained or whined about it being unfair. When her hair fell out in my hand, do you know what she said? Ailee apologized and said “ Don’t worry. It is thick enough to not show for now. And it will always grow back when all this chemo is over.” I was prepared to comfort her and here she is comforting me.

And what really pisses me off is Ace hasn’t once checked on Ailee. We have had no word on if he is going to donate his marrow to her. This is his fucking daughter for cry out loud. And he is doing nothing to help when he has the power to do so. And when I see him at the club most of the time he is drunk. I used to respect the man but he has shown me how pathetic he is. He is a good brother but a lousy father. And I’m not the only one feeling this way. I see several of my brothers look at Ace with shame and disgust.

I have been with Ailee enough that I have met the infamous Cormac O’Sullivan several times. The first time I have to tell you I was scared shitless. The man has a reputation for being ruthless and a stone cold killer. He is not someone you want to cross. Well unless you want to die a slow painful death that is. And my first impression to him wasn’t a good one. You see Ailee had been working hard for hours and it was taking a toll on her but Callen couldn't get her to stop long enough to get some rest. When I came over, he told me the problem and I set out to help. I walked over to Ailee, took the paperwork from her, picked her up and slung her over my shoulder. I was walking back to the bedroom with a giggling Ailee on my shoulder when Cormac walked in. I was sure I was a dead man. “ What the feck is going on here?” he yells. I feel Aille put her hands on my back to lift herself up. “ Hi, grandda.” she says. “ Lug put me down for a sec.”

I carefully put her on her feet and she turned to Cormac. “ Grandda, I want to introduce you to Travis, oor as the club knows him, Lug Nut. Travis meet my grandda, Cormac O’Sullivan'' I hold my hand out to him trying to salvage this meeting “ It is an honor to meet you sir.” He looks at my hand but doesn made a move to take it. I slowly pull my hand back and try not to sweat. He looks me up and down, sizing me up. “ You the lad who has been taking up with my Ailee?” “ Yes sir. I have been spending time with Ailee.” I answered. “ And you think you are worthy of her?” he asks. For the first time since I have known her, Ailee whines “ Grandda.” “ It’s ok honey. I will answer. Your grandfather just wants to make sure I’m the right man for you. I can respect that.” I told her.

“ Aye.” She grabs my hand and drags us back to the couch. We sit down with Ailee so close she is almost on my lap. I would like to put her there but I’m going to be respectful. I turn to Cormac “ To answer your question sir. No, I’m not worthy of Ailee. No one is. But I’m going to try my hardest to be the man she deserves.” Cormac nods “ And you know about her condition?” he asks. Ailee huffs “ Grandda.” I grab her hand and squeeze letting her know it is ok.” I am aware of it sir.” I told him. “ And it doesn’t bother you?” he asks. I want to scream at him but I hold it.This are the things Ace should be asking to make sure I’m a good fit for Ailee. “ Of course it bothers me. But I won’t let it stop me from having Ailee in my life no matter how long we have with each other. I also believe she is a fighter and will come out of this on the other side. And I want to be by her side when she does. Sir, whether you believe it or not. I care about Ailee very much. I believe she feels the same way about me. And the cancer or her last name don’t define who she is at her heart. And that is what I care about the most.”

Cormac looks at Ailee “ And you care for this young man?” Aille smiles and leans her head on my shoulder “ Aye, I do. He has been by my side even when things are awful and hasn’t left yet. Grandda he makes me happy.” Cormac leans forward in his chair and looks at me. “ Can you keep that smile on her face?” I look at Ailee’s smile and how it makes her eyes shine. I don’t bother looking back at Cormac I just smile down at Ailee. “ Every chance I get.” Cormac clears his throat, making Ailee and me turn back to him. “ I have to be honest. I have Callen and Finn reporting to me on you, Travis. And I have done a background check on you to make sure you are good enough for my princess. And you are right you aren’t good enough. But the answers you gave and the smile on my Ailee’s face are enough for me to give you my blessing. For now that is. Just don’t make me regret it.” “ You have my word, you won’t.” I told him. Ailee gets and hugs Cormac. “ Thank you grandda.” He pulls back and smiles at her “ For you, you know I would do anything. Including letting this young lad in your life.”

And that is when I saw a side of Cormac O’Sullivan I’m sure very few people see. I saw him go from killer to teddy bear with just one smile from his granddaughter. We sat and chatted for a while as I explained why Ailee was over my shoulder. When he discovered Ailee needed some rest and that was how I got her to do it he gave me permission to carry her anytime I saw fit. I also discovered that the club and his organization have a lot in common as far as the way they are run. And we have some of the same principles. Like our hatred of sex slavery. The only thing different is that the O’Sullivan’s have been doing something about it when they encounter it. Our club hasn’t encountered it in our town thanks to our stars.