Page 119 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
I’d thought about it most of the night, the following day, and all of this night.Long drives in the dark were great for making plans.But shit for executing them.“I think I’ll run for mayor.”
Her face stretched into amused disbelief.“No way.You?”
“What?It’s not a hard job.Sit on your ass by the ice cream shop and wave.When they don’t wave back, whip a middle finger at their back, and put ‘em on John’s shit list.”
Kate snorted.But she thought about it.“I hate to admit it, but you’d be good at that.”
No shit.I was born torun things.
The closest I ever got was president of some backwater biker gang that was nothing but trouble.And was the best damn family a man could ask for.“I gotta call Hickey.Apologize.”
Kate’s expression fell.She reached out and tugged me close.“After.Right now, we’re going to go upstairs.Sleep, maybe more.But mostly?Pretend.Okay?”Her eyes filled with moisture.
“Baby, don’t cry.”
She swallowed.“You’re going to leave me again.”
Never.
Even thinking about it, I wondered if that was a lie.“I don’t want to.”
“You never did.But you had to.”
“I’m out.The only thing that I have to do now is be a good man for you.”
I didn’t mean it as a joke.
Kate sure thought it was funny, though.She wiped her eyes and couldn’t hold in her amusement.“You?Good?Please.”
Put that way, she had a point.“I can be bad.”I pointed my eyes to the ceiling and wiggled my eyebrow.
She scrunched up her face.“Can you be bad… and quiet?”
“Let’s find out.”
I let her lead me up the narrow steps, taking time to admire her ass.I was so focused on that I hit my head when I reached the top.
“Fuck.You never fixed this?”
“The roof?Yeah, on the outside.You just need to be shorter.”
“Funny.Don’t quit your day job.”I glanced at the door to my right.At some point in the past, Zoe plastered a poster on the outside surface, warning anyone who could read that there was hazardous waste inside.“Do you think she’s going to be okay?”
“I was going to ask you that,” Kate whispered.
That deserved an honest answer.“If she’s got my instinct and your resilience?Yeah.But we’ll be there for her.”If we could.It wasn’t easy for a biker with my reputation to survive on the outside.Someone would eventually decide I shouldn’t breathe.When that happened…
Fuck it.I’d kill them.I’d kill all of them.This life already had its hooks in me.I’d brave anything the Destroyers threw at me if I could just have my girls.
“I love you for that.”Kate kissed my cheek.It took me a bit to realize she wasn’t talking about my vow to kill my former club members, but because I’d offered to be there for Zoe.
I backed her into the room on the left, this time minding the rafters that threatened to take a piece of my skull.We’d done this dance before.Almost seventeen years ago.“I love you, too.Not just ‘cause of Zoe.You, Kate.I love you.”It felt so damn good to admit it finally.“I have loved you for…”Nineteen years, my inner voice said.Ever since I got snared by her clear, green eyes.
“Shh.”She put a finger over my mouth.Then replaced it with her lips.They tasted sweet.I’d never desired anything more than the sensation of Kate being the beautiful woman she was.From her bravery to her kindness, her dedication, and the compassion she displayed even in horrible moments.
“Whose idea was it to leave the compound?”I had to know.
She leaned back.“Mine.”
