Page 37 of Jester

That’s my power. I might not be capable of driving down to Texas to shoot the bad guys and save people. I don’t have the tools to save my brother. Right now, I can’t even handle leaving my house.

However, I am capable of wrapping Overlord and my kids in comfort. I’m a good friend to Mabie, Lady Bug, and the rest of our little clique. As the morning wears on and I text Sister Sass to see if she survived her first night with Jester, I embrace my power and stop living in a world of what-ifs.

APEX

Cyril Tayback/Enforcer

The second I saw Giselle, I felt different. She awoke a needy part of me. My heart started beating in a new way. I was addicted immediately.

These days, I don’t get so weird about loving Giselle. But inside, I’m the same needy guy as that first day. I want nothing more than to keep her with me.

That’s why I’m so fucking scared as I think about the upcoming raid on the Texas estate. For over a year, I’ve been dying to ride to Primrose and burn it all down. Giselle could finally be free.

Ghost plans to do more than light the match. He and the others—his woman, Luca, and fellow Born Villains like Thorn, Rave, Riot, Dire, Vegas, Puppet, and Neon—are planning to save a bunch of Dolls.

Those women are like Giselle, born into a disgusting life where they’re brainwashed and battered until their sole existence is to please perverted men.

Giselle’s freedom means she’s more than a Doll now. She’s a wife, mom, and friend. Giselle has hobbies and plans for the future. She’s no longer anyone’s toy.

I watch her from my spot at the back door of our new home. I love this place so much, but not as much as I love Giselle and our girls.

Little Amelia drapes herself around the back of Giselle on the couch. When we took in the little girl, she was all fucked up from a shitty mom. I remember how dirty and haunted Amelia was when Giselle admitted she wanted to keep her. The shitty mom thinks her daughter is with CPS, but she found a new family and name with us.

Giselle was pregnant with Anna by the time we took in Amelia. Now, our family is complete with my three beauties and me.

Amelia notices me watching them. The two-year-old stops sucking at her thumb and waves at me. I wave back, making her smile. She loves me. I’m her daddy. We went to the park earlier today. She’s learning to play with the other kids.

Amelia’s brain isn’t right, and she needs stuff dumbed down, but she’s still a super cool, little girl. I can imagine her being normal one day. She just needs time to heal from the terrible two years she suffered through before Giselle wrapped her up in love.

In my wife’s arms, Anna sleeps. I still can’t believe I helped make such a tiny thing. I haven’t held my baby girl yet. My big hands are meant for violence. They often feel wrong against Giselle’s body and when I pick up Amelia. Eventually, I’ll hold Anna. I just need her to be a little bigger, so it’ll feel safer.

Safety is all I want for Giselle and the girls. Right now, in Texas, Ghost is preparing to attack the main threat to my woman’s security. My best friend fell in love not long after I met Giselle. Luca is a tough chick, but she isn’t bulletproof. If she dies, Ghost won’t survive. He’s like me. We never knew the good kind of love until we met our women.

I feel guilty over Ghost and Luca facing a threat to protect my family. I should have gone, too, but Luca insisted I was too emotional. I told her to fuck off before storming off. Mostly because she was right. No way could I keep my cool down in Texas.

But my friends are walking into danger tonight. If things go wrong and they don’t come back, how can I live with myself?

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