Page 14 of Jordan

My son emerged last. God forbid he wore something other than his fucking leather jacket and grease and oil stained boots. As far as appearances were concerned, we weren’t that similar. He had his mother’s deep blue eyes, though he got his height from me, only an inch shorter than my six-foot-two-inch frame. His blond hair was long, past his chin now. He had it loose and raked his fingers through it as his eyes met mine. At least he’d shaved.

Jordan took his coat off and draped it over the nearest piece of furniture as another fuck you to me, considering there was a closet near the elevator. He was consistent in his hatred of one of the people who gave him life. “It smells good in here,” he said.

“By the looks of the meal Vail prepared, it will be enjoyable,” I stated.

“So, you haven’t killed him yet?”

I sighed. “Honestly, why would I harm Vail? He’s done nothing wrong.”

Dexen brought his hand up to scratch along my son’s scalp. “Easy, Jordan. We’re here for dinner, not a fight.”

Jordan visibly relaxed at the attention Dexen gave him, but the fire remained in his eyes. “You sent me a check for my birthday. You couldn’t even be bothered to fill the card out yourself.”

“Everyone can use more money.”

He stepped forward, out of Dexen’s grasp. “I don’t need money. I thought we were getting better. After everything that happened, us trying to talk more, I expected you to at least fill out the damn card.”

“My apologies. You’re right.”

Jordan gaped like a fish. “Did you really just apologize to me?”

Greer leaned forward to lift Jordan’s chin to close his mouth. “Take it for the win it is, JJ.”

A throat cleared behind me. I turned to see Vail. “Dinner’s ready.”

“Thank you,” I told him. “Let’s sit down. You can continue gawking at me while we eat, Jordan.”

“If you hug me before we leave, I’m calling your doctor to check on you.”

I raised an eyebrow. Hugging wasn’t in my repertoire.

“Damn, Vail,” Greer said as he sat down. “This looks phenomenal.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right back with the wine. I found a perfect pairing for the meal in Jordan’s collection.”

My son’s head swung my way. “Since when do you have a wine collection?”

“I have hobbies.”

“Trafficking guns and drugs doesn’t count as a hobby.”

I was about to reply when my phone began ringing in my pocket. Reaching in, I pulled it out to look at the screen and saw Barry’s name on it. “Excuse me for a moment.” Standing from the table, I went into the living room, putting a bit of space between me and my guests. “What?” I growled.

“Sorry to bother you, but Leeland just pulled up.”

“Excuse me?”

“I couldn’t believe it either. He’s out front, making a fucking show of his arrival. There are four SUVs with him, all parked along the curb. Holy fuck, is that a… gift basket? It is.”

“Jesus Christ. Go down there and get rid of him. I don’t have time for his fucking games. If he shows up here unannounced again, I’ll put a bullet in his head.” I ended the call, irritated that he would drive up to my building. And what the fuck was he doing with a gift basket? I didn’t give a shit what he brought me unless it was the guns I’d ordered.

“Still threatening lives, I see,” my son said from where he stood near me. I didn’t hear him follow me into the room.

“I have to handle my business. That’s not always done with daisies and a scented fucking candle.”

“You just can’t resist, can you? Not everything has to end with you pointing a gun at someone.”

I stepped closer to him. He may be my son, but I demanded respect in my home. “If it wasn’t for me having said gun, you wouldn’t be standing where you are. You don’t know how many times I’ve killed or had someone else do the killing to keep you alive.”

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