Page 26 of Jackass

He turned to her and his eyes softened. He hadn’t known her long, but finding out he was her uncle changed something in him. “This isn’t about you.”

“This is about my family. It’s my fucking job to protect my family,” he cursed.

Grace stomped over and stood in front of King. Aside from Beck, she was the only woman I knew he couldn’t intimidate.

Placing her hands on her hips, Grace leaned forward.

“You need to learn when to butt out. Let Jack and Sam work this out without your interference.”

“Woman, you better back off.”

“Or what, King?” Grace demanded. “What are you gonna do? Yell at me? Squint your eyes at me? Ban me from the clubhouse?”It was clear she wasn’t backing down by the way her face was all up in King’s. “You don’t have as much power as you think you do. There isn’t a woman here that believes you will hurt them. So you can yell and curse all you want, big guy.”

Grace folded her arms over her chest, daring him to say differently.

I stood from the couch and tentatively walked closer to where King and Grace were standing.

“Look, I get it, ok. I know you and the sheriff missed out on so much. Beck missed out on having her dad and her uncle. I don’t know the reasons her mother kept you apart. I know my reasons, and they are valid. You don’t have to agree with them, but everything I’ve done has been for Charlie’s safety. That should be all you need to know.”

“Maybe if you told us what those reasons were, we could accept them,” King challenged.

A boldness came over me that I didn’t know I had. “You think because you’re the president, that entitles you to an explanation? It doesn’t. At least not before I’ve spoken to Jack.”

I stood my ground. It was easier to do here. Grace was right. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me physically.

Before King could respond, his phone rang in his pocket. He answered, never taking his eyes from my face.

“You know someone named Carrie? She’s at the gate, asking for Jack because she says you’re missing.” He raised an eyebrow in my direction.

“Shit. I forgot to call her last night and tell her what happened.”

“Let her in,” King said into his phone. “Win, go outside and bring the woman in here.”

“You got it, Prez.” I had met Win previously. His name was short for Winchester. Why these guys even gave out multiple syllable names was beyond me. They shortened almost all of them.

A few minutes later, Carrie came crashing through the door. She noticed me immediately and her worried face quicklyturned to anger.

“What the fuck, Sam?” Carrie scolded.

“I am so sorry, Carrie. I meant to call you last night, and I completely forgot.” I rushed to Carrie and took her hands in mine. “There is so much I need to tell you.”

Looking around, Carrie interrupted quietly, “Where’s Charlie?”

“She’s with Jack,” I mumbled.

“WHAT?” Carrie glared at me. “Sam, what were you thinking?”

King had heard enough.

He marched over to where I stood with Carrie.

“She was thinking that Jack had a right to have a relationship with his daughter. She was thinking it was finally time to tell Jack he was a father.”

“King,” I began.

“Samantha, what the fuck is going on?” King bellowed. “Who the hell is this woman?”

“King.” Beck stepped between King and me, and I was never more thankful for her than in that moment.

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