Chapter 1

Ailee

As my driver Finn is pulling through the gates of the Reckless Renegades compound, following my security detail, I can't get my hands to stop shaking on my lap. Normally I am calm and collected at all times. I have been referred to as an ice queen. Today is different. I am about to meet the man that is my father. This meeting is a matter of life or death. Mine. I need his help and I'm just hoping all the stories Ma told me about him are true and he is willing to help me. I don’t want nor expect a relationship with him. He made his choice years ago. I don’t need him in my life now. This is just a business transaction. Nothing more.

My trusted bodyguard and friend Callen reaches over and grabs my hands to steady them. " It will be fine Princess. If this doesn't work we will find another way. Relax. You know the stress isn't good for you." I take a deep calming breath. Callen is right. We always find a way. O’Sullivans don’t stop until we get what we want. We don’t know the meaning of giving up. We are ruthless.

We pull up to what seems to be a warehouse that they have converted into a clubhouse. The car in front of us parks first then us. My detail, which consists of four heavily armed men, gets out first securing the area for me. When we get the all-clear my driver Finn gets out and opens the passenger side door. Callen gets out first as is protocol. When he deems it safe he holds his hand out for me to take. I step out and look around. I realize we are horribly out of place here. For starters, we are surrounded by motorcycles and we drive in a black, armored Escalades with blacked-out windows. Next, every male I see is dressed in jeans, tee-shirts, and leather jackets. The women are dressed and I use the term loosely in what looks like barely-there skirts and bras. My detail is dressed in black tactical pants, and shirts and has kevlar vests on. They have a green band around one arm and have rifles strapped over their shoulders. Callen is dressed in a black suit,black shirt, no tie, and a black jacket. His gun holders are visible over each shoulder. My driver is dressed the same. Both are fully armed. We all have vests on mine just happen to be under my clothes. We never go anywhere unless they are. It is another protocol. Only the best protection for me.

I have on a pair of emerald dress pants, a matching jacket with a cream button blouse, and low nude heels. Business attire that I always wear when I go to a meeting.With an extra accessory. On my belt at my side is a gun holster. I wear very little make-up and my eyes are protected with my aviator sunglasses. My bright fire red hair pulled up in a high ponytail. My back is straight and my head is held high. Giving off a don’t fuck with me aura. I know we are being stared at but I don't care. I’m sure they are wondering who the hell we are. They can wonder all they want. I’m not here for them or to answer their questions.

I have a business to conduct and no one will stand in my way. I follow my team and go up the ramp to the front door with Callen at my elbow and my driver at my back. The door opens as we approach and a large man comes out. He is six feet tall and built like an American football player. He has a leather jacket like everyone else that reads prospect. I'm not sure what prospect means but I can tell from his stance he is an underling and no one of importance to me. He is just blocking me from my goal.

" Help you miss?" he asks, brazenly looking up and down, stopping at my chest. Yes, I have very large breasts that even my vest can’t hide and his eyes are glued to them despite the fact they are completely covered. Callen growls but the guy never moves. Brave one I'll give him that. " Ay! My eyes are up here." Pointing up. " I have business with Matthew Ripley." " No one here by that name here sweet cheeks. But maybe I can help you?" he smirks. I cross my arms over my chest " Ay ye can by taking me to Ace. Now!" I say with my ice queen tone. The smirk leaves his face " Wait here." and he disappears into the clubhouse. I want to laugh at his sudden change.

We wait outside and I look around. I see a few guys looking at me curiously. Probably wondering what I’m doing here. Finn and Callen have their hands on their pistols at their side ready if they need to be. My team stands close ready for anything they think may be a threat. This is not my world and I don’t want any issues but my guards and I won’t back down if there are. I’m the last person these people want to mess with unless they have a death wish.

Ace

I'm sitting at the bar enjoying a beer and talking to the brothers. The prospect we had covering the door comes in and comes straight to me. " Ace there is bitch at the door with some serious muscle saying they have business with you." I don't have business with anyone let alone some bitch. " Send them away," I say. He turns to leave but something stops him. " She asked for Matthew Ripley first," he says. Now that gets my brother's attention. Not many people know my full name and the few that do never use it. " Wait. Send them in and set them in a booth." I get up and go to the very back of the bar so I can see them come in but they can't see me. I want to get a good look at what I'm dealing with.

What I see is not what I expect.The first thing I see is four guys with AK47’s strapped over their shoulders looking around. One turns to the door and nods. Next comes in a guy in a suit with two hand guns in holsters at his side. Then the bitch in question is a young woman I'm guessing about twenty five, twenty seven tops. She dressed conservatively with nothing hanging out like the bunnies around here. Another guy follows her and I see he is strapped as well. The prospect wasn’t kidding when he said she had some serious muscle. I look over at my brothers and I can see they are thinking the same thing I am. Who the hell is she? And what is with the armed entourage. The prospect takes them to a booth on the side of the bar. The woman sits prim and proper at the edge facing me while the guys in suits stand beside her.One guard is by the door, they rest stand to the side and back but not far from the girl. I stand there and just watch her trying to get some idea of why she might be here. But her body language gives nothing away.

I know every eye in here is on me as I make my way to the booth. I stand in front of her on the other side of the booth. " You think you got business with me." I say. She smirks, " That depends. Are you Matthew Ripley? Known to this club as Ace '' she says with a thick irish accent. " Who wants to know?" I growl out. She doesn't seem fazed but my tone. "I have a business proposal for you.” “ Who says I’m interested?” I ask. “ Mr. Ripley, I’m prepared to offer you a lot of money if you like to sit down and hear my offer.” she says. I’m curious as to what she has to say. “ If you want to do business with the club you have to go through our President.” I told her. She leans back in the booth. I can see my reflection in her sunglasses so I know she is looking at me. Why is she still wearing them?

“ Mr. Ripley, I have no business with the club. Just you. And it is personal.” she says. I laugh “ Lady, I don’t know who you are but we don’t have any personal business.” I smirk. “ You may not know me. But the O’Sullivan’s know all about you.” she says with an icy demeanor. She shows no emotion whatsoever but I swear the temperature in the room drops a few degrees. But I won’t let it show. “ Is that so?” Trying to keep my cool. Something about the lady is setting me on edge but I’m not sure if it is good or bad. I do feel the need to listen to her. “ It is.” she says. Then one of her goons hands her a tablet and she lists everything she knows about me. My birthdate, address, phone number. Things you can find out easily. No big deal. The next thing she tells me is my bank account numbers, my investments,the number of businesses I am part of and how much they grossed last year. She knows when I went to basic training. And my dishonorable discharge because I beat the shit out of my commanding office for harassing a woman even after being told to leave her alone. She knew when I started the club with Raider. She knew my parents' names and when they died. She even knew my childhood dog’s name. She had information on every member of the club including ol’e ladies and bunnies.

She lays the tablet on the table. “ Shall I go on or are you ready to listen?” I have heard enough to know this isn’t some game. I nod. “ Mr. Ripley, we have someone in our organization that needs your help. We are prepared to offer you five thousand dollars up front.” She slides a check across the table as proof. “ And fifty thousand dollars when the task is complete.” That is a lot of money. Not that I need it but I’m curious. That had all this information they clearly had resources. Why do they need my help? And just me. “ I’m not saying I'm interested . What do you need me to do?” I ask. “ We need some of your bone marrow.” She says as calmly as if she was talking about the weather. “ What?” They want bone marrow. What the fuck?