Page 10 of Bound by Destiny
“Yeah. It’s just so unexpected that he included me in the mix. I just don’t even know how I’ll ever repay him.”
Jacks chuckles. “Only way Ryker wants to get paid back is by pussy, and it ain’t yours.” He releases my hand and stands up, stretching his back. A slight sliver of his shirt goes up revealing rigid skin. His body is phenomenal. I shake my head, pulling me out of those thoughts. I’m not supposed to be thinking of Jacks in that way. Hell, he’s what, nine years older than me?Dumbass, look at Austyn.
“Get dressed. I’ll take you to breakfast then you can drop me off at the clubhouse to get my bike.” Excitement fills me at getting to spend a little more time with him.
Looks like I gained a new friend after last night’s drunk fest.
Syrup dripsfrom my bacon onto my plate as I sweep it into my mouth. Sweet and salty is the best combination ever. It’s one of the main reasons I order French toast, just to get this experience.
Opening my eyes, Jacks is staring at me from across the table. Instantly, I bring my napkin to my face, making sure the sticky goodness isn’t plastered to my chin and lips. Embarrassment caresses me momentarily.
“What?” I finally ask, breaking the silence.
“Do you remember what I said to you last night?” I rack my brain from the blur that was last night. Micah and the woman… tequila… more tequila… Jacks. Nodding, I reach for my soda taking a drink.
“Meant it. You’re a grown ass woman, and I don’t ever want to see you like I did last night. No man, who is a man would do that to a woman. Remember that.”
Breaking eye contact, I let that humiliation roll over my skin. He’s right about some of it. I did feel like I wanted to murder Micah, and that’s not a good response to have. “You’re right.”
“Damn straight.” His finger comes to my chin lifting it. “Look at me, Em.” I comply. “You’re a beautiful woman who can do and have anyone or anything she wants. If that’s him, then you give him hell.”
“What if it’s not?” Because I don’t believe it is him anymore. Sure, no one knows that but me, but all the little girl dreams I had of me and Micah are gone.
He releases my chin. “Then it’s not, and you’ll figure out your road when the time comes.”
“Are you always this wise?”
He chuckles. “Nah. Just on important stuff.”
“But you’re always so quiet, standing in the shadows not garnering any attention.” That always perplexed me because lord knows Cooper, Deke, and Ryker for sure aren’t subdued one little bit. I would catch Jacks hanging back instead of clamoring up to the fire pit outside. Or when he was in the clubhouse, sitting at the table there in conversation, but really not saying a lot. Yes, I watched him and observed, I’ll admit to that.
He shrugs. “It’s not like that. If there’s something that needs my attention, I give it. If it doesn’t, I don’t.”
“And I needed your attention.”
He lifts the coffee to his smiling lips. “More than you want to admit.”
He’s just teasing me right now, that much is clear. My father is the Vice President of the club, and I’ve always been seen as the little girl everyone protects. It sucks, but it is what it is. That’s all he’s doing right now is taking care of his brother’s kid. I get it. I appreciate it. I’m also not going to be reading something into nothing.
Jacks has never given me any impression that we are more than friends, and he never will. It was stupid of my thoughts to go there for a brief moment in the first place. Sometimes remembering we are friends is hard when he looks at me like he is right now. Like I’m important to him, which isn’t possible except where the club protection comes into play.
Everything is all wound up in my head ever since the day with JK. Pulling my head out of my ass would be a good thing right about now. There is no need for any thoughts to fuck me up any more than I already am. He’s being a nice guy, and lord knows we need more of them in this world.
“I know that Coop and Green go way back with you, but why’d you decide to join Ravage?”
His fork stops mid-air, and he looks at me questioningly. Shit. I stepped over the damn line. I thought with all the talking about my business that we had a bit of a connection even as friends. But dammit, I pushed when I know better not to when it comes to the club.
“Never mind.” The words come out quickly as I shovel more food into my mouth. Sometimes I’m a serious idiot.
“Nah, it’s a valid question, Emery. You saw me—I was at the club for all of Coop’s functions, and I saw the connection that everyone had. There was always this calmness around the guys, but also at the turn of a hat, they would be fearless, ruthless.” He gives a soft smile obviously remembering something and it’s on the tip of my tongue to ask, but luckily I don’t have to because he continues.
“You know Coop, Green, and I went to school together. Well, in high school we got into some shit. We always got into something. We found out a teacher was fucking one of the football players, and she was married with kids I mind you. We decided to out her on her front lawn in bleach. We wrote: “young dick” then in spray paint wrote everything on her driveway.” He laughs at the fond memory. There’s even a twinkle in his eye.
“Guess you were a bit of a bad boy, huh?”
“Wasn’t always. In grade school, these asshole kids picked on me something fierce. I hid it for the most part, until one day I couldn’t. Coop and Green had my back, but there were more of them than us.”
He rubs his hand over his face. “Coop must’ve told his dad what was goin’ on. For a week, the Ravage MC followed us to school making it a point for the assholes who were picking on me to see them. They left us all alone after that. It was then I really knew that Ravage was where I’d end up, but I wouldn’t realize that was the turning point until later in life.”
