Page 91 of Mine, Forever

“Ronni’s worried. She said the Brotherhood is after her.”

Aubrey’s eyebrows raised. “Of course, I forgot about their vendetta against her.”

“She thinks you can help her.”

“I have no contacts anymore,” he said. “But I do know someone who may be able to help you.”

“Who?”

“Your grandfather.”

“Ronni killed him.”

“No, your maternal grandfather. He’s one of the Brothers.”

“What?”

“Your mother was the daughter of the head guy in the Brotherhood after Ronni killed her father. A successor was appointed, and that was your mother’s dad. Why do you think John tried to control her so much? Why he killed her that night? She was planning to escape with you under the protection of the Brothers.”

“But why would they help me?”

“Because even though Robbie is one of the toughest Brothers out there, he’s a huge family man. He was gutted when his daughter died. Tried to get you back, but John’s claim on you was too big. If you sought him out, he’d probably be okay with the old debt.”

“How do I even find him?”

Aubrey sighed. “That’s always the hardest part. If I were out, I could probably do some things with old contacts, but as it stands, I have no idea. You could probably use your real name. He knows that.”

“I haven’t been that guy for a long time.”

“I know,” Aubrey said. “And you’re Jett Black in every way, shape, and form, but maybe to save Ronni, you need to be James again.”

“I don’t think I know how to be him.”

Aubrey leaned forward, the sound of his chains hitting the table with the movement. “James is inside you. The way you went after Ebony, the way you protected her… that’s James. He was always the sweetheart looking after others. Jett was someone who was born out of the hate his father gave him. The part of your soul that protected the good side.”

“James is dead.”

He had to be. James would have been killed by John if he knew even a tiny part of my goodness escaped through unscathed. That was why I became Jett. Well, that and the fact no one was scared of James.

“No, he isn’t, but even if you think he is, he may be the only way you can save Ronni’s life.”

He got up and bashed on the door to alert them he was done. I let him shuffle out of the room and away from view without another word. York moved to the door beckoning me to follow.

“Could I become James again to save my aunt’s life?”

York turned back to me which made me realize I’d voiced my thoughts.

“I think Ebony has made you realize you aren’t completely incapable of being James again. I mean, you’ll always be Jett, he is who you are now, but for maybe five minutes you could adapt to be James for the sake of what the cost of not being James could mean.”

York shut the door of the car on my face sealing the fact that I did need to dive into that role again. This was a dangerous business, even more dangerous than what I’d previously experienced. My father’s life was starting to make a hell of a lot of sense now. He was priming me to take over his business, which meant dealing with all these fucking pests. I had no idea he was messed up with the Brotherhood, though, a secret sect that no one thought existed anymore. They were almost like they were a fairytale you tell your criminals to keep them in line.

York started the car and drove us back to the city.

“York, take me to the cabin. And put the word out. James Lambert is back in town.”

“You got it, Boss.”

Chapter Thirteen

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