Page 496 of The Tempted

“How’s that?”

“Guess you didn’t listen to your messages yet,” I grunted, remembering the calls I placed to him before the mayhem and after the needle. Funny how his daughter was my mayhem and not the gangster who shot me up. “Gold came by the clubhouse unannounced,” I said, shaking my head, dismissing Lacey from my mind before turning and looking him in the eye.

Fucked up.

So fucked up.

“Gotta tell you man, you should probably wife that one,” I said seriously, as I blew out a ring of smoke. I actually meant what I was saying to him. I think it would do him some good to have a genuine person in his corner, someone that accepted him as he was and didn’t try to change him. Someone who loved him despite his mind. Someone who could learn to love even that part of him.

“She was there when Gold came by?” he asked, sounding irate. “Why the hell was she still there?”

Oh, that’s right. This asshole wanted me to take his girlfriend car shopping while he took a trip to crazyville. And me? I fucking agreed to it. I also agreed to make things right with Lacey if she came by.

Fucking idiot.

“What part ofunannounceddidn’t you comprehend?” I hissed. “It's fine, Jimmy thinks she’s just a club whore.”

It was probably best not to tell him I forced her on her knees and made her appear to be giving me head. Wow. Each memory was worse than the last.

“She didn’t ask questions, just did as I told her—but she saw some shit,” I added, looking out into the street and for the first time I tried to put myself in Jack’s shoes. I wondered what ran through his head when he stared at the same street where his son laid as he took his last breath. It made me wonder why the fuck he didn’t sell this house and move the fuck away.

But then the answer came to me.

He kept the house for the same reason he left the holes in the walls, to remind him of who he was before he got help and when he’s tempted not to take his meds all he has to do is come here…it’s all the push he needs to do the right thing.

“What kind of shit?” he asked, pulling me away from his thoughts.

“Gold didn’t like I was the man delivering the product, said he didn’t trust me. As an act of good faith, he forced me to sample the H,” I admitted, running my fingers through my hair. “Wifey saw me with a needle in my arm and didn’t run away, she just ran right to you.”

I turned over my arm and flicked my skin and the bruise that marked it.

“No sweat, just once, didn’t even leave much of a mark,” I lied, leaving out the second hit I took after I sent his daughter away crying.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you deal with that prick by yourself,” he responded. “I’m making a mess of things, letting everything with Jimmy get the best of me for months now.”

“It’ll all be over soon,” I said.

“Even so, doesn’t make it okay,” he replied, cupping my shoulder. “You good?”

I had to look away from him, from the concern and guilt reflected in his eyes.

“I’m good,” I replied, clearing my throat. “Be better when these motherfuckers are off the streets.” I pulled down the sunglasses, masking my eyes as I turned back to him. “We will get them, right? We’re going to make Gold and the G-Man pay aren’t we?” I selfishly asked, needing his assurance, deserving nothing.

I needed to know we would end this nightmare. I needed to know G-Man could be stopped and finally pay for all the lives his drugs ruined and robbed. Mine. Christine’s. Those kids and all the faceless strangers we fed throughout Cain’s leadership.

“Yeah, brother, we are,” he swore.

The front door opened and Reina stormed out.

“If you’re taking me then let’s go…now,” she ordered.

Jack and I both stood at the sound of her voice. I started down the stairs as he climbed them and met her at the landing.

“Keys,” I called, waiting as she dug into her purse and threw them at me. I gave them a minute to say their goodbyes or whatever the fuck they were doing before Jack turned to me.

“Meet you back at the clubhouse,” he said, as I climbed into the truck and gave him a two-finger salute before closing my door. Reina slid into the passenger seat beside me, remaining silent as she stared at Jack through the windshield.

“Where to?” I asked, as I backed out of the driveway and turned onto the street.

“Take me to church,” she whispered.

Fucking, hell.

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