Page 87 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Apologies, again.Young ladies.”
“Ugh.That sounds worse.”Zoe took her empty bowl to the sink and rinsed it out.“Whoa, this place has a dishwasher?Mom, we can’t ever leave here.”
Another pang.“Your father is trying to make that happen.”Trying too hard if you asked me.
She zipped the drawings up in her bag and set it by the door.“Ready.”
Bear looked at the bags, then at us.“Why you bringing that shit?”
Zoe and I shared a sigh.I answered.“Because in the last month we’ve learned toalwayscarry our bug-out bags.”For Bear’s sake, I tacked on, “We can leave them here.”
He shook his head.“Nope, take ‘em with.Better to not need them than the other way around.It never hurts to be prepared.”
We weren’t the only ones with that thought.Gina met us at the lake house.
And it was more of a modern mansion than a house.It sprawled at the end of a long private driveway.Only the top story was in view as we pulled up in front of the massive four-car garage.
Even with that many bays, there were three trucks and an SUV crowding the circle.Bear pointed out one of the vehicles.
“That’s Kid’s.Looks like we have company.”
I didn’t know this person.Before he parked, I set a hand on his arm.“This company, are they safe?”
He scanned the cars.“Yup.No van.That means Boots isn’t here.That idiot isn’t fucking safe at all.Hopefully, Kid brought his wife with.That woman can cook.”For a man who didn’t smile much, the prospect of food lit him right up.It transformed him into a completely different person.
He grunted as he got out and carried both of our bags into the house.The entrance was designed to awe.No sooner than we cleared the hand-carved double doors, the house split right and left, leaving you staring at a glass-walled sculpture garden.Beyond that was the deck and the lake.It was beautiful.I couldn’t imagine walking into a home like this every day.
“Yo, fucker, what the hell took you so long?Jackson’s waiting for us.We’re getting company, so you gotta get to the club, pronto.”Sprout greeted Bear with a slap and grabbed one of the bags.“What’s with this?”
“Overnight bags,” Bear explained.“You know how these things get.”
Sprout groaned.“As long as it’s stays small.I want none of those dickheads from up north or fucking Pittsburgh here.”His eyes landed on Zoe and me.“Welcome to the mad house.You’re both getting fitted for handguns.Ma wants you on the range.”
“Guns?”Zoe sounded too excited.
“No.”
Sprout overruled me.“No can do, boss-lady.Jackson gave Ma the green light.So, suck it up.”
“Cool!”Zoe cheered, then tore off to find Gina.
No, it wasn’t.The swearing was bad enough, but teaching my baby how to kill things?Nothing good would come from that.
“It’ll be fun.”Sprout extended a hand.
I didn’t take it.“Didn’t you learn your lesson last night?”
“Hell no.”
Great.The madhouse was run by the inmates.
Chapter 25
The Clubhouse—Jackson
Bear arrived just in time to be at my side when Shock pulled up.He leaned in with an ominous whisper.“Your woman is pissed.”Then he plastered on his work face, leaving me hanging.
That was going to throw me off my game.And I’d need it based on the scowl on Shock’s face.
