Page 52 of Jackson

“Xander made a statement,” I tell her, and her eyes widen.

She knows he lived, but we haven’t told her a great deal about what happened after that.

“What did he say?” she whispers, chewing on her bottom lip.

“He told them that Hound took you, that he stabbed Xander and got away. Him makin’ a statement is exactly what we need. Even if you go back to prison, we’ll get you out. We’ll make sure you don’t spend your life behind bars. But I am doin’ everythin’ I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. We just got to be thorough.”

She exhales. “That does make me feel a little better, I guess.”

“Got friends in high places, baby,” I say to her, tucking a strand of hair away from her face. “I promise you this will be over soon.”

She nods.

She trusts me, she knows by now that there are people the club deals with that she doesn’t know about and she doesn’t need to know about. All she needs to know is that we will always protect her, no matter the cost.

We’re goin’ to take Gerard down, and when we do, we’re takin’ Hound down with him.

Those two fuckers are going to wish they didn’t mess with my club.

But mostly, they’re going to wish they didn’t mess with my woman.

19 – Serenity

“Do you think this will work?” Ciara asks as we come to a stop outside the café that Gerard’s sister works at.

So far, the plan is going well.

We made sure I was visible for a bit out in front of the club before I got into the car with Ciara and left. If Hound has eyes on us, he’ll know that we’re alone and he’ll hopefully take the chance to follow us and see what we’re doing. If not, then this is all for nothing.

If I know Hound, though, then I can almost guarantee he has eyes everywhere.

He’s too smart not to.

“I hope so,” I say to Ciara as we both stare at the café.

“Just make sure you stay in the car, yeah? I’ll have my phone on call in my pocket, so you can hear the conversation on Jackson’s phone.”

I nod, holding up Jackson’s phone. Ciara dials it, and I answer, then she puts it in her pocket and gets out of the truck. I can hear her footsteps as she walks inside the café and then approaches the counter. That’s where she begins talking to Gerard’s sister. At first, it’s hard to hear, because of the hustle and bustle inside, but when his sister pulls her aside, it becomes clear.

“I know what your brother did,” Ciara is saying. “I know he murdered people and set my friend up. I have proof, and the club is going to bring him down. I am giving you the chance to help us, to see what he truly is.”

“You and your club need to leave me alone. I don’t want anything to do with this. My brother is innocent. If you keep coming around, I’ll contact the police.”

“Contact them, then. That’s no threat to us. I’m not in here trying to upset you, but your brother is killing people. He is taking lives. And he is getting away with it.”

“My brother is innocent, and if you and your little friends don’t leave, I’m going to file a report.”

“As I said, that is no threat to us. We are going to find your brother, and we are going to make him tell the truth. It’s up to you if you help us or not.”

“I’m not helping you,” she barks. “Now leave my café, right now.”

“Okay,” Ciara exhales. “Can’t say I didn’t try.”

The phone hangs up, and I have to assume that is the end of the conversation. I put the phone down and wait for her to return. I’m off in my own world, keeping low but looking out the window at the cars going by. The door opens, and I turn to ask Ciara how it went but it isn’t Ciara that gets in.

It’s Hound.

This isn’t how this is meant to go.

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