Page 54 of Jacked and Jaded

Calliope took a seat and settled the plate on her lap. She broke off a piece and handed it to Ryker. Keegan and Reagan also sat on the bench with their cake between them. Everyone except for Race and Bellamy all took a seat in the grass and enjoyed theirs. He watched Calliope as she’d pull a piece off for her and then she’d do it for Ryker. She offered Jackson a bite, but he shook his head, enjoying watching her and her son devour it.

“Want some?” Bellamy asked, holding the plate toward Race. Normally, Race wasn’t much of a sweets man, but for some reason, Jackson watched as Race reached out and pulled a piece off.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. You can have as much as you want. I can’t eat it all.” Bellamy wobbled the plate. Luckily, Race had quick reflexes and caught it before she could lose it completely.

“How about I hold it and you take what you want so it doesn’t end up on the ground?” Race invited.

Was the Sons of Redemption MC prez smitten with the young Bellamy? Interesting.

Jackson and Trick took the kids on a couple more rides and called it quits for the night. Ryker was getting tired whether he wanted to admit it or not. Everyone decided it was time to go. The brothers without children were all going to go back to the clubhouse and see what they could get into.

“Where are you parked, Bellamy?” It was dark and he really didn’t want her walking alone to her car.

“That way.” She pointed in the opposite direction he had parked.

“Oh. We parked that way,” Calliope told her. “Why don’t you come with us and we can drop you at your car, that way you can follow us to Jackson’s and not get lost?”

“No need. My bike is right around the corner. I’ll take her to her car and make sure she gets to your house,” Race volunteered.

Jackson shared a look with his prez and smirked. The sly dog was going to put the moves on Calliope’s best friend.

“Sounds good. We’ll meet you there, Bellamy.”

Jackson watched as Race took Bellamy by the elbow and steered her in the direction of his bike. He wasn’t worried about her making it to his house safe and sound, he was just concerned his prez might do something to piss her off and make things awkward between them if she moved here.

“Come on, baby. Let’s go home so little man here can go to bed.” He held Ryker in his arms, rubbing one hand over his back. The kid was passed out, his head resting on his shoulder, breathing softly against his neck. He was like a wet noodle in his arms. Calliope slipped her hand through his other arm and held on as they walked to his truck. He couldn’t stop the smile that broke across his face if he wanted to. Tonight had been a lot of fun. Spending quality time with Ryker and Calliope had been amazing. He couldn’t wait to do something like this again.

It was about fucking time.Clint had been sitting on Bellamy’s house for the last two days. He’d had to call out sick so he could find out where Calliope was and planned to go get her. He knew that bitch Bellamy knew exactly where Calliope was and he was going to let her lead him right to his treacherous girlfriend. He’d been serious when he told Calliope they were over when he said they were over and as far as he was concerned, they were not over.

He’d tried calling Calliope’s cell phone what felt like a million times, but in all actuality was more like a dozen. They all went straight to voicemail so he’d been forced to leave voicemails. When that didn’t get him anywhere, he tried texting. Still no response. He’d even made the three-hour drive once to see if he could catch her at her mom’s house and there hadn’t been anyone home. He’d pulled down the block and walked to the house. He knocked on the front door. When there was no answer, he walked around back and peeked through the windows. He didn’t see any signs that anyone had been there in a while. Where could she have gone? It infuriated him that she thought she could cut him out of her life so easily and he was going to show her just how wrong she’d been.

He sat in a rental car a few houses down from the uncooperative store owner, watching her load a suitcase into her trunk. He knew if he set her business on fire, she’d eventually break down and make a move. He’d bet his life she was going to go running to Calliope. He waited for her to pull out and head his way. He ducked down in the seat and let her pass. As soon as she went by, he made a U-turn and fell in behind her. He followed her through the outskirts of Boulder and watched as she signaled to take the ramp to get on the highway. He knew it! Calliope was somewhere in Redemption.

The drive sucked. He hated driving through small towns and country lanes. Give him the big city any day of the week.

“What’s this?” Bellamy didn’t take the turn to Calliope’s mom’s house. It looked like she was taking an exit that led to downtown. Things got even more confusing when she parked on a side, residential street and got out and started walking. He quickly found someplace to park, not far from her car, jumped out and followed behind her. She was heading toward bright lights and loudcarnivalmusic? What the hell? Clint hated carnivals.

He stuck to the shadows and watched in disbelief as Bellamy walked right up to Calliope and gave her a hug. She didn’t look any worse for wear to him, other than the cast on her left arm. The bruising and swelling he’d witnessed at the hospital was completely gone, as if it never existed. She said he’d beaten her and landed her in the hospital. He didn’t believe it then and he didn’t believe it now. Sure, he’d been known to not be himself when he snorted coke, but he’d never hurt her that badly. He usually just tried to teach her a lesson. Like, he was in charge and she should obey him in all things. If she didn’t disobey, she wouldn’t get punished. Was it really that hard to understand?

“You have got to be shitting me. She thinks she’s going to leave me for him? Not in this fucking lifetime.” Clint couldn’t believe his eyes. Calliope was standing with that biker who’d threatened him at the hospital. Jackson. What kind of name was that? It was the name of a low-life biker, that’s what. He couldn’t keep his teeth from grinding as he watched the smooth wayJacksonwrapped his arm around her waist. Or the way she looked up at him like he was her whole world. “Oh, hell no.” That was not going to happen. That bastard wasn’t going to have a happily ever after with his Calliope.

He followed behind them, always sure to keep people and space between them as they walked. He was shocked to see he had a child when the man settled him on top of his shoulders. The kid looked just like him. He couldn’t be more than three years old. “Seriously?” They met up with another biker with a little girl on his shoulders. She was dressed in one of those princess costumes. It looked like he had a son standing next to him, too.

He followed at a leisurely pace. Calliope and Bellamy had their heads together, talking about something. Who knew what? They turned around suddenly and he panicked, thinking they might see him. He shouldn’t have worried because Calliope only had eyes for Jackson.

He ducked behind a food truck and watched the biker buy some tickets, then get in line for some kiddie ride. He eased his way closer to the ride and ended up standing directly across from where Calliope and Bellamy ended up. He stood behind a couple watching their kids go round and round in cars on a track of some sort. Once that ride was over they all moved over to the swings. The biker with two kids peeled off with his son to go ride something else.

He watched the ride start up. This time he felt a little bolder. He watched all the children spin around on the swings, spinning farther and farther out. He half expected every kid on the ride to vomit, sending it spraying out into the crowd. His eyes drilled a hole in Jackson’s forehead. If only he had a gun and could end him now. Logically, he knew that wasn’t possible considering they were in a very public place and he’d more than likely take out a couple of kids in their swings in the process.

He stood stone still as Jackson’s eyes passed right over him. Fuck. That was close. He took the opportunity to walk away and disappear into the dark shadows once more. He couldn’t believe he’d gotten that lucky. He’d almost blown his chance to follow Calliope until he found the perfect moment to grab her out from under his nose. Wouldn’t that be a kick to the biker’s ego?

It felt like forever before everyone decided to call it quits. Thank God. He was getting hungry and thirsty. He’d been too afraid to grab something there. Jackson might have spotted him and the game would’ve been over before it started. Shit! Bellamy was going one way and Calliope the other. His car was near Bellamy’s. Damn it. He was going to have to follow Bellamy and hoped she ended up at Calliope’s and not a hotel.

Son of a bitch! She was getting on the back of some biker’s motorcycle and pointing in the direction of where she parked her car. He took off at a jog, hoping that the thick traffic would slow their ability to get there fast. He’d just made it to his car and gotten in, when the biker pulled up next to her car. They talked for a minute before she got in and pulled out, following the biker. Was he leading her to Calliope’s or his house to fuck? Damn it. He was holding his breath and praying that he was leading her to Calliope.

They drove for about fifteen minutes when they pulled up to a stop at the curb in front of house with all the lights on. He stopped a few houses down and watched. Yes! Calliope came to the door and waited on the porch for Bellamy. The biker waved and drove off as Bellamy pulled her suitcase from her trunk. “Bingo!”

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