Page 73 of Condemned Soul

“You trust her, don’t ya?”

“Yeah, I do, but you?—”

“We’re movin’ on, Riley, what he did can’t hurt us anymore and it shouldn’t hurt her either.”

I watch the smile tug on her lips as I take her hand in mine and kiss her knuckles.

“What’s gotten into you?” she asks, narrowing her eyes and trying to read me

“I guess I just figured life’s too short for holdin’ grudges. Neither of our parents are still with us, Sylvia’s the closest thing the kids have to a grandmother.” I kiss my girl on the cheek.

“Wait… Amee too?” Now she really looks shocked.

“I told ya from the start, darlin’, there will never be no differences between the kids.”

“I wish you knew how much I love you,” she tells me, reachin’ up on her toes so she can kiss me.

“I got a pretty good idea.” I think back to how she looked when she took my cock this morning, something in the way that she looks at me whenever I’m inside her never makes me question it.

“Have fun at the drop-in.” I kiss her one last time before I open the door and head back into the kitchen where Sylvia is already at work mixing up more pancakes for the kids.

“Now, you both be good for Grandma.” I ruffle Gabriel's hair and lean down to my little girl’s high chair to put a kiss on her head. I look across at Sylvia, who’s wearing a huge beam and mouths a ‘thank you’ before I pick up the paperwork I need and fling my cut over my shoulder.

* * *

“So, it’s all in order?” Jimmer checks, not even bothering to read the paperwork before he signs it.

“All the businesses are bein’ transferred into Jessie’s name, the compound too,” I assure him.

“And my personal assets?” He looks at me once he’s finished.

“I checked your will and it’s all goin’ to Ella, though there is somethin’ we need to add. Vex transferred the ownership of his cabin to you a few months ago, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember.” He looks a little distant and I wonder if he’s thinking about the last time he visited the stubborn, old bastard who lives up on the hills and refuses any help. I know he’s spoken to his son, Raze, about taking over our Long Beach charter and he still hasn’t given his answer. Soon, Prez is gonna have to start thinking of some other options.

“About that.” Prez stretches out his neck. “I’m gonna ask ya to do somethin’ that may seem a little crazy.” He leans forward across the table.

“Everythin’ you're askin’ me to do here is crazy.” I take the opportunity to give him my opinion on the situation. I get what he’s doing, I appreciate it, but it should have been a club decision.

“I need ya to have Maddy do her fake ID trick for a woman, mid-thirties, and put that cabin in whatever name she chooses. Then when all this shit blows over, you hand all that information to Kathrine Consuela and tell her it’s hers if she needs it. Write that down and get it done,” he tells me pointing to the notebook I got open in front of me and almost looking embarrassed by his request.

“Wait, that's the agent that put you in here?” I check I’m hearing him right.

“Yeah, and she’s put a whole lot on the line to ensure this goes down the way I want it. I want her to have some security.” I don’t argue with him, just nod my head and agree to get it done.

“You know each person that's come in here has given me their thoughts on what I’m doin’. You're a man whose opinion I’ve always valued. I’d like to know what you’re thinkin’.” He surprises me when he asks.

“Are my thoughts gonna change your mind?” I ask, hearing the tiny bit of hope that comes out in my voice.

“No, but it might just ease it.” He laughs at me.

“I think what you're doin’ is stupid. I think it’s sad and unfair, but it’s selfless, it’s brave and it’s typical of ya.” I put on a smile for the oldest friend I have left.

“It ain’t completely selfless,” Prez admits with a real sad look on his face.

“Look, Prez, we’re far too fuckin’ old for bullshit so I ain’t gonna pretend that I’m gonna get the opportunity to say this to ya again.”

Prez nods his head like he respects my honesty. He knows, as well as I do, that he’s a dead man walking the minute he gets put inside a real prison.

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