The club was planning something. A very dangerous something. All the members were at the house, gearing up with guns, knives and incredibly pissed off expressions. I gathered the clothes needed for my dad and walked up to Ripper who was sitting at the table, smoking. The man hadn't contacted me for the two days I was at the hospital, and hadn't even answered my calls or texts. To say I was angry was to put it mildly.

"What's going on?"

His gaze barely moved from the door. "Club business"

I bent down in front of him, forcing him to look at me. "What's going on?" My tone gave him no room to not answer. I was fuming and a little hurt that he couldn't even talk to me- so much for being his 'everything'.

Relationships were based on trust and communication- something he had been great at until now.

Ripper ran a hand through his hair roughly, flicking on some shades and throwing his cigarette in the ash tray. "We're going on a hit. One that makes sure none of the Reaper's Riders will ever fuck with us again"

"When were you going to tell me this? Were you?"

He stood and walked past me, jerking his head to all the members to get out. When they all left, Ripper turned to me. "I wasn't going to tell you. This is dangerous and I didn't want you worrying"

I scoffed, "And then coming back after a week with wounds and no contact with me would be better?"

"Yes! You've got to focus on your dad and not me"

I whacked him with the bag, eyes watering. " Do you think I could love you an not worry about you? I have never told a man that I loved him- so you're it for me. My intended first and last love. Don't tell me not to care, especially if you might not come back"

He stood still for a moment, processing my revelation. Then he grabbed my hand and pulled me to him, face so close I could kiss him.

"I love you Corin Kane and I will come back. But I have to go. Care about me sugar, but don't worry too much. I'll always come back if it's for you"

My eyes watered, tears spilling over before I could stop them. Ripper pulled me tight, mouth over mine in a mournful goodbye.

"I don't want you to go" I murmured, breaking the silence. Ripper kept his shades on and nodded, letting me go.

"Neither do I sugar"

I turned away from him and walked out the door, deciding to say goodbye to all the other members I knew. Deadeye and Beast were sitting on the steps, watching the club members all get ready.

I gave Deadeye a hug, smiling when he relaxed. "Come back okay pops?" Deadeye gave me a look, but nodded briskly. I turned to the idiot that was in love with my best friend. He just glared at me, as if it was my fault he wasn't with her.

"You better come back for Bianca. And when you do, you are going to grovel and beg for her forgiveness and one more chance- then you are going to treat her like the fucking queen she is. If you don't, I'll castrate you with a butter knife and shove your balls up your ass"

Beast went a little pale under his bronze skin. I shrugged, not knowing why I was throwing him this bone. "She's still in love with you. Don't take it for granted" Walking away, I grinned when I heard him call her and the relief in his voice when he breathed "Bianca." Swoon worthy if he wasn't an asshole.

My white haired prospect was sitting on his bike, a solemn expression on his face. Even my prospect had to go? I cleared my throat and opened my arms, waiting for him to notice me and give me a hug. He looked at me and grinned, leaping up and hugging me fiercely. It kind of felt like my son was going off to war.

"You better be fucking safe okay? I know about the whole club brother mind set, but don't be a fuckwit and try to save the day. Just- be safe"

Seamus squeezed me once- a bit hard, nearly popped my eyes out- and stepped back. "We've got your old man Cor. He'll make sure I'm alright." then he flexed both his arms, raising an arrogant brow. "Plus, I'm the prospect of mama bear. She'll whoop my ass if I come back hurt"

Mama bear? Ngaw. I pecked him on the head and gave him another quick hug before walking back to the door step, where Ripper was watching and waiting for me. Slater was right next to him, talking to him about something he was barely paying attention to. Slater sighed then looked to where Ripper was staring, rolling his eyes when he saw me.

"You've been making all these men soft Cor-Rin"

I shrugged, flipping my hair. "You're mistaken. I've been making all these men hard"

Slater guffawed, "damn straight lady" Ripper shut him up with a glance. Slater shrugged a shoulder then went past me, grinning. "Don't worry little lady, I'll be back too. Can't have Ripper not trying to rip my head off all the time aye?"

I chuckled, then turned back to my man. "We're leaving now."

I nodded, wringing my hands despite my efforts not to look nervous. I had to be strong- not just for Ripper, but for all of them. The President's daughter was someone they all looked up to, accepted or not.

"Be safe. Please be safe" Ripper nodded, then drew me in for another kiss, hard, rough but with an ending that promised another day. He drew back and trailed his hand across my face before walking to his bike, shouting to the men to get on their bikes.

Ripper gave me one last look, then sped off in a roar, followed by the hundreds of bikes that encapsulated the family I had built.

I watched them till the end of the road, then got in my car and drove to the hospital, trying to suppress the fear that remained in me.

They would be safe. They had to be.

_______

Slater's words about other clubs coming to see me echoed in my mind as Hugh lay in the hospital bed, asleep and unmoving. Now was not a good time- the president was no longer fighting for his life but was unable to act, and most of the club was gone.

All that remained was their women and children.

And Ripper had to come back.

"You alright there sweetheart?" A voice said, startling me out of my thoughts. Hugh had his eyes half open, but was still trying to sit up. I clicked my tongue and pulled the bed up behind him, fluffing his pillow and drawing the blankets up to his chin. He gave me a small smile, and I shook my head. "I'm alright? Seriously? You just got shot and you ask me if i'm alright?"

I shook my head again and exhaled, holding my hand up. "Sorry. That was rude. I'm fine"

"No, you're not. Ripper's gone with the club ain't he?"

He would know. Ripper was his left hand, the one he trusted with his life and with all the dirty work. For a while I had resented that fact, but Ripper seemed to enjoy his work. As bloody as it was. Plus, he pretty much got free reign everywhere and was trusted to 'protect' me, and who wouldn't find it hot that the warrior man of the club was your boyfriend?

"Yeah."

Dad's hand found mine, gripping it tightly. "He'll be back. Before he just came back because he had no other place to go. Now he has you and will be fighting tooth and nail to come back to you"

I fought the tears that arose, turning away from him. "I love him dad. I think I love him too much, when I know nothing about him other than the fact he loves me too"

Dad's hand squeezed mine. "When he turned up on my doorstep bloodied and bruised so badly I thought his face was going to be permanently purple, he showed me an iron- a will so tested and strained, the only thing he saw was survival at any means necessary. He lived like that for a long time Cor, only surviving and doing what the club needed for someone's whose skills were carved for dirty work. Just a soldier who did nothing but shoot.

And then you came. All fire, emotion and challenge, and he didn't know what to do with someone so unlike him. He loves you more than I think you understand Corin, and he would move the earth if he could for you. So believe me when I say, I could think of no other man more worthy for my daughter- than the one who sees her worth and more"

He brought my hand up to his cheek, nodding in nostalgia. "He's definitely a hard one to talk to about his past- but he'll do it. For you."

I leaned back and kept hold of dad's hand, sitting in the still quiet of the room. He'll come back. Dad will be well.

And our lives would go on.

___________