Page 92 of Riding the Edge

Not only God but my people too.

Jack and Reina are my people.

Her husband may have created this family we are all part of but it’s my duty to keep it together.

“Tell me what you need, darlin’,” I rasp.

“I need to be able to close my eyes and not worry,” she cries. “I need to be able to give our son a bath without wondering if when I’m finished, I’ll find my husband dead in our bed. I need for him to stop talking about Junior. It sounds horrible but every time he mentions him, I cringe because I’m terrified he’s going to kill himself to be with him,” she pauses, taking a deep breath. “He talks to him, Wolf. He tells him they’re going to be reunited soon, and it is fucking killing me. I can’t lose him and yet, I can’t keep him either. I’ll never be able to keep him here. Every minute, every hour, every goddamn day—it’s all borrowed time. I’ll never be enough. There have always been three people in our relationship,” she whispers. “Me, him and her. In our story, the other woman is his maker and, she wins. She gets my husband and the sad part of it all, she won’t make him happy. She’ll destroy him.”

Closing the distance between us, I take her into my arms and hold her as she falls apart. I wish I could tell her she’s wrong, that he’ll recover, and she will win but there’s no sense in lying to the woman.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, pulling back “I shouldn’t have dumped that all on you.”

“We’re family, Reina,” I remind her. “You don’t have to do any of this alone and you shouldn’t either. Say the word, just say the word and we’ll be here.”

“I promised him I wouldn’t tell anyone,” she says shamefully. “He knows everyone doubts him,” she adds, lifting her eyes to mine. “He needs to step down, Wolf. I need him to step down.”

Looking away, I run my fingers through my hair.

“Whatever time he has left should be spent with me, Danny and Lacey. I mean, I think we deserve that much. We’ve played second to the club for a long time, it’s only fair we get his last days.”

“Darlin’ that’s something you need to discuss with your old man.”

“My old man won’t give up the gavel because you’re not there to take it.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, my eyes slice towards her and I stare at her as she confirms everything Pipe suspected.

“The gavel was never mine, Reina. Blackie is more than ready to lead. Now, Jack has voiced his concerns to me and has asked me to look out for Black—”

“Jack doesn’t know his daughter is pregnant,” she interjects. “Or that the man he’s trusted with his club has fallen off the wagon.”

Pipe hadn’t mentioned that Jack didn’t know about the baby and he only had surmised to Blackie being on a bender.

“Jack doesn’t know Lacey’s pregnant?”

“No,” she says, crossing her arms under her chest.

“And, what’s this shit about Blackie drinking again…did he not want the baby?”

“Oh, he wanted the baby,” she clarifies. “He didn’t realize the doctor would take Lacey off her meds. Now, he’s watching Jack spiral out of control, waiting for Lacey to do the same and worrying about how her mental illness is going to affect their unborn child. So, yeah, he’s drinking. I suppose we should be grateful he’s not using too but, give him the pressure of the club and he just might grab a needle too.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“I know you gave him your patch,” she adds, causing my jaw to tick with annoyance. I never pegged Jack to be the guy who told his wife everything. I wonder if loose lips are another side effect from his fucking medication.

“I also know you’re in a position, stuck between a rock and a hard place—”

“Reina—”

“Please, Wolf,” she begs. “If not for me, for him…for Danny. Help me make his last memories of his father good.”

Scratching the underside of my jaw, I stare into her pleading eyes and for the first time in my life, I entertain the idea of taking Jack’s place. If this would’ve happened months ago—weeks ago even—I would’ve stepped into the role without hesitation. Not for the power or the rank but for the sake of Jack’s family. For his wife and children, I would’ve made it easy for my brother to relinquish control and spend the remainder of his time making memories with the people he loved most in this world.

But, I’m not the same man I was weeks ago.

“Why don’t you take a break, darlin’?” I suggest, pulling my hand away from my face. “Get yourself a shower and take Danny out of the house for a little while. I’ll stay here with Jack.”

Studying me for a moment, she crosses her arms against her chest and shakes her head.

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