Claiming Menace (Ruthless Sinners MC 5)

“No problem. I’m glad I was able to help out.”

“I guess we’ll go grab our things and be on our way.”

“Good deal. I have some work to tend to, so I’ll be heading out too.” Billy started towards his office as he said, “Have a safe trip home, and tell Viper I’ll be looking forward to hearing from him soon.”

“Will do.”

Jared and I walked into the bedroom to gather our things, and by the time we came back out, both Kiersten and Billy were gone. Jared walked over to the kitchen to grab his laptop, but a strange expression crossed his face when he reached the table. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I just thought...” His brows furrowed as he opened his laptop and studied the screen. He muttered something under his breath, then quickly closed it and said, “It’s nothing. Let’s get out of here.”

Moments later, he and I were in the SUV and headed back to Nashville. I was both anxious and excited as I thought about getting back to the life I’d started there. When I first began working at Stilettos with Marlowe and the other girls, I never dreamed it would be long-term. I was just hoping to make some money and run, but now I was honestly considering a future there—not necessarily at Stilettos but somewhere in Nashville. I’d gone to college and earned my degree. I wanted the ability to use it, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever have the chance to do so. That thought had me turning to Jared and asking, “So, what name will I be using when we get back?”

“What happened at Billy’s is considered club business. The brothers are the only ones who know what’s really going on with you. As far as everyone else is concerned, you’re Aubrey Cash, and we just took a trip together.”

“Oh.”

“Is there a problem with keeping that alias?”

“No, it’s not that.” After all Jared and his brothers had done, I felt bad even mentioning anything. “I was just hoping I might be able to get a real job, not that working at Stilettos with you isn’t a real job, it’s just—”

“You want more.”

“I know that makes me sound selfish, but yeah, I kind of do.” I shrugged. “I worked hard for my degree, and it just doesn’t seem fair that I can’t use it.”

“Who says you can’t?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, like you said, you earned the degree. It’s only right that you should be able to put it to use.” He glanced over at me, then said, “Wouldn’t take much to have it added to Aubrey Cash’s background.”

“You could do that?”

“Absolutely. I could give Aubrey a real identity, and it would be a hell of a lot better than the one she has now.”

“Like how real?”

“As real as you want her to be.”

“That would be amazing.” While I was pleased that Jared could bring Aubrey to life and give her name real meaning, it saddened me to think I’d never use the name Parker again. “I guess it’s time for us to put all things Parker behind us.”

“Not all things.” He smiled over at me. “You’re still you. You’re just going by a new name. That’s all.”

“So, you won’t have a problem calling me Aubrey again?”

“It’ll take some getting used to, but I’m sure I can manage.”

I looked at Jared with complete wonder in my eyes. I simply couldn’t believe that he’d not only saved me from Rossi and his men, but he was also giving me a chance at a new life. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

“Hate to break it to ya, babe, but I’m the lucky one.”

I had no idea how he could believe that, especially after all I’d put him through, but I could tell by the tone of his voice that he truly believed he was the lucky one. My heart swelled at the thought. There was no doubt about it, I was falling in love with this man, and it scared me. I’d lost everyone who’d ever mattered to me, and for almost two years, I lived in the shadow of death and the fear of losing my own life. I hadn’t thought about the possibility of having something more, but because of Jared, I had a real chance of having that, and I wanted it. I wanted it with him, but I didn’t want to rush anything. Without having to worry about Rossi, I finally had time, and I didn’t want to waste it by rushing anything unnecessarily, including my relationship with Jared.

“You know, Marlowe’s lease is going to be up at the end of next month, so I should probably start looking for a place of my own.”

“Why would you do that?”

“’Cause I need a place to live.”

“You have one... My place.”

“Umm, as tempting as that may be, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” The second he turned to look at me, I knew he didn’t like my response, so I quickly added, “At least not yet.”