Custom Love by Chantal Fernando

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Temper steps into the living room, and all of us turn to look at him.

“Where’s Trade?” I quickly ask.

“He’s a mess, but Chains is alive. They are all in the gym; Chains can’t go anywhere.”

Trade steps in behind Temper, and he is a mess. His knuckles are busted, and there’s blood on his hands. “Are you okay?” I ask, rushing over to him and touching his face.

He closes his eyes and just feels the soothing touch of my fingers. In this moment it feels like it’s just the two of us. I silently let him know that I’m here for him. And I press a kiss against his cheek.

He then opens his eyes and nods. “I’m fine. And I won’t be going to prison, so don’t worry. He’s alive.”

“That’s good to know.”

“Come with me, there’s something I need you to hear,” he says, leading me toward their gym. Crow is at the door with Saint and Renny, and they all nod at me as I pass them.

“What is it?” I ask.

When I step inside, I see Chains sitting there on the ground, back against the wall. His face is all swollen up, and he looks broken inside and out. Aries, Diesel and Atlas surround him.

“Tell Nadia what you just told all of us,” Trade demands.

Chains lifts his face and looks right at me, with his lifeless brown eyes. I almost feel bad for him, but then I remember what he’s done.

“I killed Ariel,” he murmurs.

“I know,” I reply.

“What else?” Trade presses.

“After I killed her, I drove to Damon’s house. I needed him to help me; I didn’t know what to do. He was selling drugs for me, so I knew he would do whatever I asked,” he admits, ducking his face. “I didn’t want to kill her, but she saw me, and no matter what she said I knew she was going to tell Temper. I didn’t think, it wasn’t planned. It just happened.”

There’s no emotion in his tone.

He might say he didn’t mean to, but I don’t think he lost any sleep over it either. He clearly kept her phone as some kind of trophy—why else would he keep it charged and right next to his bed?

“What did Damon do?” I ask, needing to know.

“He told me to drive it into the lake. He helped me try to set it up so it looked like she just maybe went off-road and into the water.”

So Damon was involved in Ariel’s death. He may not have killed her, but he knew who did. That explains why he wanted me to walk away from the case.

“He never snitched on you.”

“I know,” Chains says, with his eyes still closed. “I told him if he did, I would kill his mom and Taylor.” He starts to cough.

Taylor. I forgot about her. “Taylor loved you. How did you get involved with her?”

“When Damon took the fall for me, I told him I’d look out for both of them. I would give money to his mother. For a while I just looked out for Taylor, but she caught me watching her a few times, so we started to date.”

I have so many questions, I don’t know where to start. “Did you kill her?”

He takes a deep breath. “After you came around, she started asking questions. She just knew too much. And after you questioned her, she tried to use that against me. I don’t know who the fuck she thought she was trying to blackmail. I threw the rock at your window, Nadia, hoping you would back off and just leave things how they were. I wish you had. Taylor was unfortunate, but she should have known her place.” Chains opens his eyes and for a very brief moment, I see regret.

“Why did you go down this path? Give up your life?” I ask with genuine curiosity. Betraying his brothers, killing innocent people.

Chains lets out a fake laugh. “What life? I have nothing. Yeah, I’m a member of the MC, but what else do I have?”

I really don’t know Chains that well, but I almost feel sorry for him. Almost being the key word. “Will you tell the police this?” I glance over to Trade, gauging his reaction.

Chains looks to Temper, who is standing by the door, before giving a slight nod.

I need this confession on tape, just to prove... I don’t quite know. Nobody is innocent in this. But Ariel deserves for everyone to know the truth.

As if reading my mind, Temper says, “We recorded him admitting to all of this. Before Trade beat the shit out of him.”

I nod and walk toward Temper with Trade following me. “What’s going to happen to him?” I ask quietly.

“Call your cop,” Temper says. “Tell him about his confession, and that he can come here now.”

Feeling surprised that the MC is just going to hand Chains over to the police, and that they trust them, I say, “Are you guys all friends with cops now?”

“It was necessary in this case. And Trade says you trust him.”

“I do.”

“Then let’s get it done,” Temper says before turning to leave.

We leave the gym and head into the living room. Trade pulls me against his body. “If it wasn’t for you and my kids, I’d be committing a heinous crime right now.”

“I know. I’m happy that you didn’t. We need you.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I reply, bringing his knuckles to my lips and kissing them.

“You said you needed time to think,” he admits, expression blank.

“I’m here for you, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are.”

I kiss his cheek. “I can’t wait until all of this is over and done with. I feel so drained.”

“Me too.”

“I have to go and pick up the kids,” I tell everyone when I get back to the kitchen.

“I’ll come with you,” Izzy says, standing up and grabbing her keys and bag from the table. “I have Mila’s car seat, too.”

“Perfect. Especially considering I’ve never actually done a school pickup before,” I admit.

Izzy laughs weakly. “Better get used to it then. I’ll show you the ropes.”

We both get in her car and I call Decker on the way.

“Remember you said you trust me and my instincts?” I say when he answers.

“Yeah...”

“Head to the Knights of Fury MC clubhouse. I’m sure you know where it is. One of the members is going to confess to the murder of Ariel and Taylor. He’ll also detail Damon’s involvement.”

“And the MC is fine with this? With the cops coming to them?” he asks, and I can hear in his voice he’s trying to catch up with everything I just told him.

“Yeah, they’re waiting for you.”

“Nadia, you are...a force. I’ll let you know what happens.”

We get to the school, and Izzy shows me where all of the kids’ classes are, and where she waits for them at Mila’s class.

“Watch out for the school moms, they are a whole different breed,” she says under her breath, and women walk by us, giving us odd looks. Maybe they know that we are dating bikers?

“Who knew?”

“They’re great kids, aren’t they? So resilient. They’ve all been through so much, but they are still kind and respectful and don’t give us too much of a hard time. Even Alia, who can be a little diva.”

“They are amazing kids,” I agree, looking at Mila’s classroom, waiting for her to appear. “I was so nervous at the start, because I haven’t spent much time with any kids except Quinn, but they make it easy.”

We greet Alia, AJ and India outside Mila’s class. Mila runs out, pink bag on her back, smiling widely when she sees me. Instead of running to Izzy, she comes straight to me and jumps in my arms.

“Nadia! You’re here at my school!” she says excitedly.

“Yes, I am. How was your day?” I ask.

“Good.”

I look over and see Izzy watching us, emotion in her eyes. “Do I get a hello, Mila? Or is Auntie Izzy forgotten about now?”

Mila giggles and reaches her arms out to Izzy. “Hi, Auntie Izzy!”

“Hello, beautiful girl.”

India and AJ each give me a hug next, while Alia stands back, but she smiles when I look at her. “Where’s Dad?” she asks.

“At work,” Izzy lies. “We are all having dinner at your house.”

The kids all cheer.

The fearsome foursome. I love watching all four of them together. India plays her role of big sister as she looks in each of their backpacks, making sure they have everything. Alia bends to tie AJ’s shoe, giggling and looking up at him as he says something.

I get a text message from Decker after we get to Trade’s house.

Picked up Chains. They played me the recording, and Chains said it was true.

What are you going to do about Damon?I type back.

Let the truth come out, and let the lawyers battle it out.

I believe Chains when he said Damon helped him. Whether he was forced to help him doesn’t matter. He should’ve told me the truth.

And Chains. He deserves all of this and more. Who knows what else he has done that we don’t know about? He’s obviously capable of so much evil, and so much deception. I will never understand how he could go to work every day and look Trade in the eye, and pretend to be his friend.

He is the worst kind of human.

When Trade comes home, we toast to Ariel. “May she be at peace, looking over at us and smiling,” Trade says, and we clink glasses.

When we’re in bed, Trade holds me so tight, like he’s scared I’m going to disappear.

“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell him, even though I know that’s not a promise I can make.

It’s not a promise anyone can make, but I sure as hell am going to try.

Right here is where I want to be.