Page 18 of Prince of Darkness

“Maybe I don’t, but that’s for me to find out. You can’t always protect me. You have to let me experience things for myself.”

“He’s a criminal. I’d know, since I was the one who arrested him.”

I’m not shocked about the criminal thing. Jason told me how he ended up in the military. I am, however, a tiny bit surprised it was my dad who arrested him. I bet Jason already put that together. Is that why he told me about what happened or was he really trying to open up to me?

“Dad.” I put my hands on my hips. “That crap isn’t even on his record. He was a stupid kid. He did what he was supposed to. He served our country!” I shout the last part, my anger starting to get the better of me. I’ve seen the scars on Jason’s body that were left from his time in the service. He more than paid for what he did.

“You want me to tell you the things that club has been associated with over the years?” It’s not really a question because he doesn’t pause for an answer. He starts listing them. Most of them I already knew from overhearing him and my brothers talk about it. There has also been gossip around town. But I have to admit that there are a few things that surprise me.

“Stop.” I hold my hand up. “Are you telling me you know for a fact those things have to do with Jason? Don’t judge him by his father’s actions.”

“His father would be in prison if he hadn’t died, and that’s a fact. I’m sure Jason wouldn’t have been far behind if not for Archer Myers’s father and all that gold.”

“Because of who his father is?” I ask. He closes his eyes, dropping his head. I can’t believe my dad is saying this crap. He taught me to give everyone a chance. “Does that mean I might end up an addict? Take off and leave my family one day?” My dad's head snaps up.

“Sweetheart.”

“You want people judging me based on my mother’s actions?”

“Never.” He comes around the kitchen island and pulls me in for a hug. “I love you. I don’t want you getting hurt is all. You deserve a man that is going to treat you right.”

“Dad.” I drop my head back to look up at him. “I grew up with three of the best men in the world as examples. I’m not going to let some man treat me like shit when I know what’s out there.” His face softens.

“All right. I’ll lay off for now, but you’ll have to deal with your brothers on your own.” I groan, knowing they’ll be worse than Dad.

“Can you wait to tell them please? I’m still feeling this out myself,” I admit, still pissed Jason didn’t fight harder today.

“Deal.” He squeezes me in a tight hug. “I’m starving if you feel like making dinner.”

“I think I can do that,” I agree.

Then I’m going to give Jason a piece of my mind.

13

JASON

Iknow the second I step into the club that something is wrong. It’s a sixth sense I have. It might be from my time in the military or growing up around this place. I’m guessing it’s a mix of both. I make my way across the main area, not spotting anything unusual. Pink is already behind the bar, setting up for the night. A handful of members and a few prospects linger around the pool tables.

They grow quiet when they see me closing in on them. I debate if I should tell Arch to get his ass here, but I’m itching for a fight. The way shit went down with Olivia’s dad earlier has me on edge. This isn’t going to end well for these poor bastards because I already know what this is going to be about. I have ears all over this place.

The fact that any of them still think they can pull the wool over my eyes pisses me off more. These are the types of people I don’t want here. Not only are they not trustworthy, but they’re too stupid to be a part of this place. It’s almost laughable that they think this shit isn’t going to get back to me.

“Are you all gossiping like a bunch of schoolgirls, or did I call for church and forget?” I don't miss that everyone here, except for Marks and the prospects, are old members. They are the men who used to run with my father. They haven’t adjusted to the fact that times have changed, and I don’t only mean with me being in charge. This is a whole different world than the one they still try to live in. They’re trying to hold on to the past and I’m trying to bring the club in a different direction.

They all ran tight with my father back in the day. I’ve been hoping they’d fade out. They don’t much care for how I do things, and I don’t much care for their way of thinking. Truth be told, I’m not sure I want to do any of this shit anymore. Being in the military changed how I see the world and what loyalty really means. And once Olivia stepped into my life, it made me want so many things I hadn’t thought were in the cards for me.

“Having a few beers,” Wingman says before taking a pull from the bottle in his hand. His eyes won’t meet mine, which tells me all I need to know. I’m a bit surprised to see him. He hasn’t been around much.

I don’t need Marks to cut me a look that says Wingman is full of shit, but I respect it nonetheless. I know Wingman’s problem. His son is back in jail. The Hart brothers snapped him up the same night I tossed his ass out of here.

“If someone has something to say then say it. But know this. I’m not my father. I made that fucking clear when I took over.”

“No shit,” Wingman says. I don’t get the chance to make a grab for him because he’s on the other side of the pool table. It’s probably why he’s being so ballsy. I don’t need to, though. Marks grabs him by the back of the neck for me.

“Speak up when you talk to Pres.”

“It’s fine,” I tell Marks. He releases Wingman from his hold.

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