Page 96 of Sinful Skulls
“We don’t let anything evil live around this club.”
“Yeah, I understand,” I say, wondering if that includes me.
He tips my chin. “Let that shit go right now. You’re Brody’s old lady. You belong here.”
His gaze goes to the necklace around my neck. “Whatever guidance my mother gave to you today, please listen to it. Her advice always comes from the heart.”
I laugh. “Her advice was for me to talk to you.”
He smiles. “Really?”
“Really. She’s proud of you.”
Jackson looks away from me. “I don’t know if I could have done it without her. There was a time I wanted to take myself out, because I was terrified I’d grow up to be just like my biological father.” He turns to me with tears in his eyes. “You’re going to get through this, Daisy. Brody is the best fucking man I know. He’s strong enough to carry your ass through anything. I mean that. He’s the real deal.”
I follow him out the door and over to his truck.
“Is Elizabeth okay?” I ask as we pull out onto the road.
“She’s angry at herself. She wanted to protect you from all that fucked up shit, and she thinks she failed.”
“I don’t want her to feel that way, but I do wish she would have told me.”
“I hear you there. I’m lucky that I always knew I was adopted. I’ve received a lot of angel mail from my mom. When I was little, I got a letter for every birthday, but they’ve been less frequent since I became an adult. The last one my parents gave me was on my wedding day.”
“That’s nice she still writes to you.”
“She wrote them all before I was born. She passed away shortly after.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugs. “Her letters show up when I need them. I’ve always felt that she’s close. That she’s looking over me, you know?”
I nod, sighing. “I guess this is what I’ve always wanted. Just to know. Now I do.”
When we get to the warehouse, he pulls up to the front door to let me out. “If you ever want to talk, I’m just a phone call away,” he offers.
“You too. I’d love to hear more about your mother. Both of them.”
“You know, you and I, we’re the lucky ones. We have two moms who love us,” he says.
I feel terrible because Jackson has already lost one of his mothers and is about to lose the other. It gives me a unique perspective.
“When Elizabeth first saw Henry, she was truly terrified, but then she pulled herself together and took charge of the situation. If she hadn’t been there …”
Jackson grabs my hand. “But she was. That woman would die for you, Daisy. That kind of love is hard to come by in this world.” He nods toward the warehouse. “She’s not the only one I saw willing to cross the line for you.”
I glance that direction and find Brody waiting for me by the front door.
“Isheokay?” I ask Jackson.
“He is. I told you that fucker is solid.” He taps his forehead.
It makes me sigh because I know he is. I shouldn’t be worried. “Okay, then. Thank you for everything.”
I watch as he drives away, not able to face the man who’s standing behind me. Brody doesn’t budge from his position.
“I’ve got all the time in the world, baby.”
