Ripper's Torment (18 page)

I love her. Protect her.

“I promised to protect her, and you fuck her. You
piece of shit.”

He heard her screaming at Lexie to let her go. His
brothers were looking at him in a mixture of disgust and sympathy. Ripper took
everything, and then the blows stopped as Judi threw
herself
over him.

“Get away, Judi,” he said, not wanting her to risk
herself
while Devil was gunning for him.

“No, I will not let him kill you.”

“Lex, get her out of the way while I end this piece of
shit. I trusted him with both of you, and now I’m going to get rid of him like
the fucking animal he is.” Devil’s anger radiated out toward him.

Collapsing in a heap, Ripper accepted everything he
gave.

“No, you’re not going to kill him. I love him.”

Finding the strength, Ripper got to his knees. His
jacket was in the bedroom, but he would give everything.

“I love her,” Ripper said, moving around her so he was
in front of Devil.

Another blow landed to his face, shoving him to the
floor.

“Stop it,” Judi said, screaming. “Stop hurting him.”

She was picked up out of the way by Pussy. Something
kicked in Ripper’s mind, and he got to his feet, grabbing Devil’s gun from his
pocket. “You put
her the
fuck down now.” He turned
back to Devil. “I love her. She means everything to me, and I will give up the
club to be with her. For her, I will leave, never to return. I will take every
beating and come back for more, but I will not give her up.”

“You’re fucking bluffing,” Devil said.

Handing Devil back the gun, Ripper reached out for
Judi, tugging her into his arms. “I’ve asked her to marry me.”

Judi lifted her hand up showing everyone the ring. “I
said yes. I love him. I don’t want anyone but him. Please, stop.” She was
openly sobbing. “I was the one who told him not to say anything. I love him and
will do everything to be with him. If you don’t want me around anymore I’ll
leave with him and be happy doing so.”

“
Prez
,” Curse said, gaining
his attention. “He covered up one of her kills. I believe him when he says he’s
in love with her. He’s not touched any of the sweet-butts and will not go near
any of the women.”

The tension could be cut with a knife. Ripper owed
Curse far more than he ever thought.

“You’re going to marry her?” Devil asked.

“Yes.”

“If she didn’t demand silence, you would have told me
what was going on?”

Ripper nodded, feeling the ache in his ribs. Devil
must have cracked some, they hurt that much. “I’m not ashamed to be with her at
all. She’s my world.”

They were silent for several minutes. “Then you get
married today,” Devil said, after much silence.

“What?” Judi asked. “We can’t get married today.”

“You’re getting married today, and that’s the end of
it.”

Ripper nodded. “I’ll marry her today.” He leaned down,
kissing her neck.

“You marry today, and everything can be finalized at a
later date with the paperwork.” Devil took the lead, walking down the stairs.
The men, except for Curse, followed behind him. When they were gone, Ripper slumped
against the wall, gasping at the pain.

“I’m so sorry,” Judi said, cupping his face.

“What do you have to be sorry about?” he asked,
holding onto her side.

“If I’d listened to you this wouldn’t have happened.
Shit, I’m so fucking sorry,” Judi said. “Please forgive me.”

“Nothing to
forgive, babe.
Devil was going to kick whoever decided to date you,
Judi. I’m just pleased I’m still fucking standing.” He coughed, groaning at the
sudden jolt of pain.

“You’re barely fucking standing at the moment,” Curse
said, handing him a jacket.

Coughing, he took the jacket and slowly slipped it on.

“I’ll give the doctor a call to bind those ribs up,”
Curse said, moving away.

“Thanks, man, for having my back.”

“I wouldn’t have helped you if I didn’t know you were
telling the truth.” Curse left.

Judi looked ready to burst into tears again. “You
don’t have to marry me if you don’t want to.”

Taking hold of her hand, he dropped a kiss to the ring
he’d given her.

“My only regret is you’re not going to get the white
wedding you deserve. I’d marry you in a fucking field so long as I got to stay
by your side.” He kept hold of her hand and used the wall to keep him on his
feet.

Downstairs, Devil had a minister waiting. The guy
looked petrified, but Ripper was not going to back away. He wasn’t lying, and
he’d prove it. He loved Judi and would give his life to be with her.

She held onto his shoulder, not letting go as they
made their way downstairs together. Judi’s hands kept him steady. Together,
they walked down toward the rest of the club. Standing in front of the minister,
Ripper spoke the words, and then Judi did, binding their lives together.

Once it was all over, he kissed her lips, and the room
cheered and threw their hands up in celebration.

When the minister was gone, Devil walked up to him
with Lexie beside him.

“I had every intention of killing you, Ripper,” he
said. “You make her sad or think of looking at another woman and you will find
yourself six feet under.”

“I’ve got everything I want right here,” Ripper said,
tugging Judi to his side.

“She’s still living in my house until college is
finished. You can look for a place to live, but you’re staying in the spare
bedroom and I will lock you in it. I don’t want any fucking in my house.”

Lexie slapped Devil on the arm. “Leave them alone.
This was their makeup wedding. I can’t believe you made them do this today. You
can see they’re in love.”

Ripper let Judi go for Lexie to hug her. Staring into
Devil’s eyes, he saw the nod outside. Kissing Judi’s temple he made his way
outside, trying to ignore the pain with every step he took.

In the outside surrounded by privacy, Ripper waited
for the blow that was likely to come. When Devil turned to face him, he was
shocked there was no gun pointed at him. “You protected Judi?”

“Yes. She was out one night, and one of her old
clients tried to pick her up. She shot him.”

“Where did you bury the body?”

Ripper gave him the location.

“I’m calling Jerry. He was looking for the man you
described, and he can handle it from here.” For several minutes Devil took care
of business leaving Ripper to wait.

He was married, or close to being married.

Smiling, he looked up at the shining sun. He was
married and in love.

“You love her, don’t you?”

“She’s my world.”

Devil nodded. “I see her as a daughter, and if this
was not what I think it is, then you’d be dead. I’ll give Judi everything. I
don’t care if we don’t have the same blood, but I know you’ll take care of her
and love her.”

“I will. I’ll take care of looking for a house. I
don’t want her living in the clubhouse.”

“Fuck, what has happened to us? We fucked everything
in sight, and now we’re all settling down. Just like The Skulls.” Devil shook
his head.

“What happened in Fort Wills?” Ripper asked.

“A lot of shit
that you don’t need to hear on your wedding day.
Tiny knows what he’s doing, and we’ve helped where we can. The rest of
the shit is up to them.” Devil slapped him on the back. “Take care of the
Princess.”

“I never meant to hurt you or the club,” Ripper said,
staring at the ground as Devil moved away. “I was tormented with my feelings,
and I fought them. Judi, she’s hard to ignore.”

“She’s in love with you, Ripper. Make it worth her
while to be with you.”

He watched Devil go wishing there was something else
he could say. Going inside the clubhouse, he went with the doctor to check over
his aches and pains. Judi stayed with him, clearly concerned for his wellbeing.

Holding onto her hand, he made a note to get her a
wedding band and also to get the appointment for the new ink on his chest.

“You’re insane,” Judi said, caressing his cheek.

“Baby, we’re together. I don’t care what you think.”
He kissed her temple feeling calm for the first time in his life.

****

Five months
later

Judi licked her lips as the honey drizzled down her
chin. She had dipped some strawberries into honey and was eating them while
waiting for Devil and Ripper to get back from the clubhouse. Gazing down at the
ring on her finger she got a buzz knowing she was properly married. The papers
were signed a month after they were married at the clubhouse. Once the papers
were done, they had another small ceremony at the clubhouse, this time a
planned one. She was allowed to wear her white dress even though she wasn’t in
the church.

Churches were overrated.

“You’re looking happy,” Lexie said, carrying her newborn
through to the kitchen. A couple of weeks ago Lexie had given birth to a
beautiful bouncing baby boy. Simon and Elizabeth
were loving
it, and Lexie looked happier than she ever had before.

“I am. Devil and Ripper will be back from the club any
minute now.”

“What’s with the
strawberries and honey?”
Lexie asked.

“I thought it would be healthier than double cream,
and the strawberries are too tart.” She offered one to Lexie who declined.

“No thanks.” There was a smile on her face that had
Judi suspicious.

“What are you hiding?” Judi asked.

“Nothing that
won’t be known in a few hours.”

For the last five months she and Ripper had to steal a
little time here and there together. If it wasn’t other members of the club
keeping an eye on them it was Devil or Lexie. They hadn’t slept together in
five months at Ripper’s request. The moment the ring went on her finger, Devil
accepted their relationship and backed off. The only problem Devil had
was
the living arrangements. He wouldn’t allow her to leave
his home until he was satisfied Ripper had a house ready for the pair of them.
She wasn’t allowed to stay at the club unless it was for parties.

Judi wasn’t going to argue, and she was more than
happy with the new arrangement. But she’d been so shocked when Ripper refused
to have sex with her. She was surprised he hadn’t exploded from all the times she
tried to get him to cave. Judi knew she couldn’t take much more. Ripper was not
supposed to be this nice but demand sex. Her body was on fire with need for his
cock. Ripper was allowed to stay at the house, and he stayed in her bedroom,
which surprised her with Devil’s daddy role still firmly in place. Judi was so
desperate for release she’d even asked Devil to have a word with him for Ripper
to give in.
Nothing.

College was nowhere near finished, but she’d done
plenty of reading in the last five months seeing as Ripper wouldn’t occupy her
time in the bedroom. He actually asked for her to read him some of her
assignments.

She thought Ripper’s sudden conservative behavior was
ridiculous. When she confronted him about it, he smiled, cupped her cheek, and
gave her the best kiss she’d ever experienced to shut her up. He was planning
something. She didn’t know what it was, but there were plenty of times she’d
walk into a room where he’d be talking with Devil showing him stuff on his
phone or from a file and that file would disappear when she started asking
questions.

“You’re keeping something away from me?” she asked.

“Honey, I promise you, you’ll love it,” said Lexie.

“I doubt it.” She muttered the words so Lexie wouldn’t
hear them.

An hour later Ripper walked inside the house going to
her and tugging her in his arms. “Hey, baby, I’ve missed you.” He deepened the
kiss. She moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck as he plunged his tongue
deep into her mouth.

“Enough,” Devil said. “My son is watching, and I don’t
want him getting any ideas while looking at you two.”

Laughing, she pulled away wishing she didn’t have to
let go at all. Ripper’s arms stayed around her as she continued to eat her
strawberries and honey.

Devil had kept an eye on her wanting to know if she
was pregnant. The very thought of being pregnant filled her with dread.

“Can we go?” Ripper asked.

“Sure, I’ll see you on Monday.”

Judi frowned, looking from Ripper to Devil.

“Pack a bag, honey. We’ve got a place to go. I told
you it was going to be special.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. Running up to her
room, she quickly threw items into a bag before going back downstairs.

Devil and Lexie saw them outside. Climbing on the back
of Ripper’s bike, she held on tightly. They were riding for a good twenty
minutes before he pulled up outside of a house. She watched him type in a code
into a security system, and the gates opened.