Page 24 of Sugar and Skulls

I don’t know what the fuck that social worker was thinking leaving her with her aunt. She is no better than her sister. And then there’s the fact that Jimmy was living there. Jesse would be better off on her own. But, all that’s over. She’s with me now. Well not with me with me. That girl is as stubborn as I am. When she refused to ride on my bike it crushed me. That hurt worse than any punch or bullet I’ve ever taken.

This was not how I envisioned our reunion. I imagined picking her up and taking her out to dinner at a nice restaurant and showing her how a man should treat her. Not threating to murder a man right before her eyes.

What hurts the most is that I missed the first seventeen years of her life. I should have been there to protect her, and I wasn’t. I have no one to blame but myself. Anyhow, I’m not going to let regret hold me back from making things right with her.

That’s the only reason I agreed when Dan suggested she stay at his place for tonight. He promised to not let her out of his sight. I’m not sure if anyone can keep her from running off. She’s a slippery one. Hell, she even slipped past Dirk. Speaking of Dirk that fucker is acting strange. And, just what in the fuck was up with the wink she threw Raffe?

First thing I’m doing when we get back to the warehouse is warning all those mother fuckers no funny business with my daughter. I’ll flat out kill anyone who touches her. Period. End of Story.

I slam the door open to the warehouse and raise my hands above my head. “All right all you dick wads. Let’s get one thing straight…” Every. Damn. One of them. Looks at the ground. Jesus, do they all feel guilty for looking at my girl?

What the hell am I going to do? She is too damn pretty. Just like her mama. I’ve got one thing going for me though…Jesse also has a brain.

Chapter Eleven

Jesse

???

Relief washes over me when Dan turns off before the freeway, all the other bikes continuing towards it. He’s taking me to his house. Thank god. I need a fat minute before I face my dad again. He is one intense motherfucker.

However, once we are inside and it’s just the two of us I realize it might have been better to hang with the crowd. He points to the couch, heads into the kitchen before coming back out with two sodas. He cracks one open and hands it to me.

“Start from when the social worker picked you up from the shop.” He sits down beside me and kicks his booted feet up on the coffee table.

I take a drink as my eyes drift around his place. I was here last night but I was a little out of it. It’s nice. Clean and simple. Eventually my eyes land on him. “Let’s just say I’ve been busy.”

He runs his hand through his beard. “I saw the state you were in.”

“I’m good. Really. Nothing a little soap and water couldn’t wash away,” I tell him.

His phone rings. Saved by the bell. He points to me as he gets up to leave the room. “Don’t you fucking dare move,” he orders.

Nice try, big boy. I need to meet up with my guys. Get everyone on the same page. I’m not selling Jimmy’s crap in my county.

What will I do with the stuff he gives me? Well I have a plan for that. I can do this. I can. I pull my phone out of my pocket as I head out the door. I’ll send a message to the guys. A voice stalls my fingers over the send button.

“You just don’t give up do you?”

Strong arms wrap around me, hauling me off my feet. I juggle to keep my phone from falling to the ground as he tosses me over his shoulder. He unceremoniously dumps me on the floor in the middle of Dan’s living room.

Big Dan comes out due to all the commotion. “Jesse,” he bellows.

My eyes go the white paper bag in tattoo man’s hand. He notices me eyeing it and hides it behind his back.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Dan asks.

“Um, to get some fresh air. I didn’t realize I was a prisoner here.” I jump to my feet.

“Where did you find her, Dirk?”

“Just stepping off the porch,” Dirk answers nervously.

Dirk. Alright I can work with that. Dirk the jerk. Dirk the….

“Jesse. Sit down,” Dan grabs hold of my arm gently and guides me back to the couch. “We are not finished.”

“Well, I got what you needed.” Dirk shoves the white paper bag in Dan’s chest and rushes out the door.

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