Her Crazy Life: Sons of Lost Souls MC Novella 3.5 Page 6

  I walk over to JJ and Leo and they quieten when they see me getting closer to them.

  “What are you two plotting?”

  “JJ was just telling me how much he missed me,” Leo smirks.

  “Really? In that case, you’ll be happy to hear we’re all going for a family meal in town tonight, if you two behave yourselves, I’ll let you sit next to each other.”

  They both snort and JJ whips his arm around my waist. He pulls me against him and presses his lips to my temple.

  “How was breakfast with Lana?” he asks.

  “It was alright, apart from we didn’t eat, and the waitress ran us out of the café. She’s telling Cas about it now,” I shrug.

  “What the fuck?”

  Both JJ and Leo’s shoulders broaden, and their chins raise. They’re not happy.

  “Mom wouldn’t let anyone run her out of anywhere,” Leo grunts.

  “You weren’t there,” I tell him. “It was weird.”

  Leo frowns deeply and leaves us to join his parents. I watch the three of them together, Luca must still be in bed because I can’t see his moody ass anywhere. I could go over there and have an input into the conversation, for once, we’d all be on the same page. Yet, I stay with JJ and swallow the thought. I’ll see how dinner goes before I start to relax around them.

  “I’m going to have another shower,” I sigh, pulling away from my husband.

  I head upstairs and find our door unlocked, which I silently throw a thank you around because I forgot my key earlier and close the door behind me once I’m inside.

  I come to an abrupt stop. Something is different in the room. It takes a long minute to work out what is weird to me, and then I realise JJ has made the bed.

  JJ has never made the bed. I’ve seen memes on social media that mock men for chores, like, what have they done and so on and I never really got them. Until now.

  JJ making the bed has me wondering what he has been up to while I was in town, or even worse, what does he plan to do in the near future?

  I’m not the tidiest of old ladies around here, but I know every pile of clothes and stashes of laundry, clean or dirty. I’m organised at being disorganised. JJ knew what he was taking on when he married me so I never bothered to keep up pretences with him. But as I walk around our little bubble of a room that has been our haven for the last four months, the carpet is bare of our laundry piles and the carpet looks as though it has been vacuumed. I slowly push open the bathroom door, not wanting to see it has been tidied as well, because then I will know something truly bad has happened or is about to.

  I breathe a sigh of relief when I find it as I left it this morning and turn on the shower.

  “You looked like you were getting on well with Lana when you got back.”

  I jump around, and JJ is lying on our bed, I’ve been so far away with my thoughts I didn’t hear him come in.

  “Why aren’t you down in the bar?”

  “Because you said you were having a shower,” he chuckles, waggling his eyebrows.

  I cross the room and climb on the bed and sit on my knees beside him.

  “Would you say Alannah is a good liar?” I ask him, and he turns serious.

  “I reckon she could be, why do you ask?”

  “When we got to town I asked her if she was really fine having me around, she said she was, and I believed her. But when we were in the café and she was having it out with the waitress, she said some things that I know weren’t true and yet she spoke like she was telling no lies.”

  “What she says to outsiders for the club is mostly bullshit, she can make them think we’re a bunch of angels that never do nothing wrong. But, if she tells you something, she’ll never lie. She doesn’t have to. Even if she didn’t want you around, Cas does, and she would never go against him. Alannah wouldn’t lie for your sake.”

  “No, I don’t suppose she would.”

  I lay down and stare at the ceiling. I never noticed how badly it needs painting over before. The paint is chipping around the light and it’s dull and dingy.

  “I understand this is huge for you, but you can’t keep letting those dark thoughts take over. Alannah isn’t the type to tell you one thing and be another. Her and Cas coming here for you is the real deal. I wouldn’t lie to you, Harps. If I thought they would hurt you, I wouldn’t let them near you. I promise you that.”

  He rolls off the bed and pulls his hoodie over his head, it drops to the tidy floor and then he’s unbuckling his belt.

  “Oh yeah, what’s with you tidying up?”

  “I just packed our things, it’s only a matter of time before Cas orders me back and I wanted to be ready, plus I was bored while you were gone.”

  His boxer briefs follow his jeans and he whips his socks off and struts into the bathroom. Scooting off the bed, I quickly undress and step into the bathroom as he steps under the shower.

  “I take it you’re joining me,” I chuckle, moving under the spray and edging him out of the way.

  Winding his arms around me, there’s something about being wet and skin on skin that makes me feel even more intimate with him.

  “There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” he whispers and dips under the water.

  When he says things like that, the world disappears around us and I agree with him.

  Cas

  The flames entrance me and I breathe in time with one flame flickering lazily and the heat keeps my anger at boiling point.

  I may not have the physical strength but I sure as shit have the emotional strength to not forget this situation I’m learning about up in this backward ass town. How dare my wife not be able to go for breakfast because of who she is visiting in town. The rage consuming me isn’t going anywhere and it isn’t dwindling like one of the logs at the back of the fire.

  Gabe sits up the bar, giving me too much space with my own thoughts and if it wasn’t for Alannah walking over and blocking my view of him, I’d be raging off the fucking charts.

  Dinner cannot come fast enough tonight. I want to meet this Jacob, and by god, I hope he shows up.

  Lana pulls out a chair and sits opposite me, careful to keep her back to everyone.

  “It doesn’t feel right here,” she says quietly.

  “I know.”

  I don’t have to say anything else, we know what each other means. Luca comes down the stairs holding Rayna, and I don’t need to guess where her parents are. He lays her in her pram and takes her outside. He’s good with her and I’m glad he has some light in his dark life, because for the life of me I can’t work out with the little shit’s problem is.

  “How are things going with Harper? After this morning, she has stuck to JJ like glue.”

  I’m pissed that this Jacob guy is calling shots over us, but I’m extremely pissed it cut into Harper’s time getting to know my wife.

  I was serious when I told her we’d stay here for as long as we need to sort our shit out, time isn’t a barrier we will face.

  Christ, I could do with a cigarette. Most of the time, it doesn’t bother me giving up the white sticks of death, but when I’m this stressed, I don’t know what to do with myself. I’d usually smoke, and I’d smoke a lot.

  Drumming my fingers on the table, I count in rounds of four and close my eyes. “Cas?”

  Opening my eyes again, tiredness fights me, but I’ll always be stronger, until my last drawn out breath. Hopefully.

  “I asked how things are going between you and Harper?”

  “Good, I think. She cuts straight through the bullshit. She’s got walls, though, and they’re higher than mine ever were.”

  “That bad?”

  “Understandable,” I shrug. “She’s a cool girl, but I’m not sure where we stand. We need more time, I can get to the truth about the goings on around here too.”

  “We’re here for Harper, whatever this business is with Gabe, it can wait.”

  Can it though? Can it wait when my blood is on constant boil that we’re being tak
en too lightly? I’m real fucking glad I came here for Harper, I’m finding all sorts out that I should have been privy to a long time ago.

  “Come on, Cas. You’re wearing your feelings for all to see, everyone’s walking around thinking you’re one second from pulling your gun out or something.”

  “Good.”

  “Tell me more about Harper.”

  “She’s sad, babe. Real fuckin’ sad. JJ is the only one she trusts, and I think he’s the only one she’s ever trusted.”

  “She is like you.”

  Nodding, I go to reach for a pack of smokes when I remember they’re not there and I don’t smoke anymore.

  “She doesn’t think it would be worth getting to know me in case I die.”

  “She said that?” my wife snaps, not amused.

  Chuckling softly, I say, “Babe, don’t. It’s her way of keeping me back so she doesn’t get hurt. I get it with her, I really do.”

  “Like I told you before we left home, I’m staying back and I’m going to try with you. From what I’ve seen of her anyway, she’s seems like a good girl.”

  “She’s from me, of course she’s cool,” I snort, and she rolls her eyes.

  Baby steps all the way, all I have to remember is not to leap when it comes to Gabe and this chapter.

  Harper

  I’m strangely excited for dinner. My first family meal with a dad. I mean, I ate Christmas dinner at the club last year with Cas, but I was at the other end of the table and I had no clue who he really was. JJ was my main focus in those days and I didn’t see anything or anyone else when all I wanted was him.

  I had an epiphany while I was in the shower after JJ had finished trying to distract me from going back to Willows Peak.

  As it stands, the entire Jackson family wants to get to know me. All I’ve wanted and wished for was a dad, and now he’s around and I have this extended new family through him, I’m not going to fight it anymore. I do want a dad, and I want brothers. I can have it all.

  I made a real effort for dinner, I put my hair up nice and I applied makeup for the first time in months. I even choose a dress to wear with the thickest pair of tights I could borrow from Bella.

  JJ liked what he saw when I walked down to meet everyone to leave and under Gabe’s frown, we left for dinner.

  Alannah booked a table at a nice place without saying who we were or where we were staying.

  Cas asked me, Luca and India with the baby to go in first, Luca doesn’t wear any patches or leather and he’s young, so no one will automatically think we are with the club. Cas wants to see the difference in reactions when they follow us in after we’re seated.

  And that brings us to now, Cas walks in with his arm around Alannah, his chin high as if he isn’t suffering and JJ and Leo walk in behind them. The place goes quiet and I really hope the folk of Mercy don’t ruin my night or I might just start a fight myself.

  They don’t wait to be seated and walk over to our table. JJ pulls out the chair beside me, Leo sits next to India and Alannah takes the chair in between Luca and Cas. Diners watch our every move and it’s like they’ve never seen outsiders before.

  “This place is weird, no one is saying a fucking word,” Luca grunts, leaning over the table to take Rayna from India as she won’t settle.

  A girl, who looks sixteen or so, eyes Luca holding his niece and softens, obviously liking what she sees.

  Luca, oblivious, cradles Rayna to his chest and rubs her back and she soon quietens.

  “For someone who hates the world, you sure are good with her,” Leo smirks.

  “I don’t hate the world, prick.”

  “Hey, don’t cuss while you’re holding the baby,” India scolds him, and he rolls his eyes.

  “It won’t be long before she knows her daddy is a prick,” he retaliates.

  “You’re lucky you’re holding my kid, or I’d be around this table and throwing you out the window,” Leo throws back at him.

  Luca snorts. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “I swear, if you two start fighting I’ll kill you both,” Alannah pipes in and I smile.

  Here I was thinking they were perfect. They’re just as fucked up as me and Lily.

  “Welcome to the family,” Cas grunts, watching me closely.

  JJ pulls his chair closer to mine and rests his arm on the back of my chair. He looks around, and calls out, “What have we got to do to order around here?”

  I hope it’s not like the café this morning, that would be humiliating because Cas won’t back down like Alannah did and he has his sons and JJ here to back him up. I’ve seen JJ’s temper flare before and Leo isn’t a walk in the park either when he’s in a mood, violence doesn’t bother him, that much was evident when he let the brothers beat him so he could be with my cousin. Then there is Luca, who last night punch a guy double his size down onto his ass. Cas wouldn’t even have to get up and join in, the guys would be able to take this restaurant on and win.

  The main door opens and the place, if it was possible, grows quieter. Cas ever so subtly does some eye thing with Leo and JJ, and Alannah sits a little straighter. Her old lady skills are on point. She knows her husband inside and out, and even knows what he’s saying when he’s not saying anything at all.

  An older guy with his wife walks straight towards us, and I can already guess this is Jacob. They’re both dressed smartly, this must be their date night or they’re making a point because he somehow knew we’d be here.

  Cas makes out he hasn’t seen him and clicks his fingers for a waiter.

  The old guy comes to a stop beside me and JJ, directly opposite Cas and tips his head like in one of those old movies.

  “I was informed Gabe has had some visitors, although it wasn’t him who informed me.”

  His voice is smooth and musical as he speaks, and he couldn’t be any more patronizing if he tried.

  Everyone waits for Cas to speak next, but he sits there staring at the man like he’s lost his way landing at our table.

  “And you are?” he finally says.

  “Jacob Peirce.”

  I wait for him to add I run this town, but it never comes. I must be the only one who is finding this awkward. JJ sits relaxed beside me, Luca is pulling funny faces at Rayna and making her chuckle, which is weird in this setting, and Leo and India sit so close they might as well be on each other’s lap.

  Meanwhile, Jacob stands like an unwanted friend at the school lunch table in the cafeteria, and I should know about that, I was the unwanted friend.

  I sit back in my chair and hold my hands on my lap.

  “I have no clue what that name means around here, but me and my family are here for dinner before we travel home.”

  “You’re leaving town?”

  His voice pitches a little higher with genuine surprise and JJ hears it too and snorts.

  “We will be in the morning, yes. Why? Are you going to escort us out of town personally?”

  “No-no,” he smiles. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your visit and please, tell Gabe we have much to talk about. Enjoy your dinner.”

  The couple move on and Cas watches his every step until he’s sat at the table by the window.

  “Can we please order?” Leo throws out, looking for a waiter.

  Now we have Jacob’s approval, I suppose that’s what it was, a young boy comes over and hands out menus.

  How we’re supposed to eat with this atmosphere I don’t know, but the guys are comfortable barking out what they want. The waiter looks at me and I order the chicken and hand back the menu.

  Luca passes Rayna to Alannah and she gladly takes her granddaughter. Alannah doesn’t look old enough to be a grandmother. The way she is with the baby, gentle and doting, is the way I imagine she was with Leo and Luca when they were little. Her love for them is genuine and as a kid I would’ve latched onto her for sure.

  “I hope the food is better than the service,” Leo grunts and the waiter shrinks into himself.

  I
almost feel sorry for him, almost.

  “The girls definitely are,” Luca smirks at the girl across the restaurant.

  The waiter finds his backbone, he steps in his line of sight and blocks Luca’s view of the girl. It’s almost cute, almost. Everything about this waiter is just…almost.

  “I’ll have the spaghetti special please.”

  The waiter snaps out of his stare off with Luca and averts his attention to India. He does a double take until Leo full out glares at him.

  He collects our menus and skitters off to the kitchen.

  “I can’t wait to go home,” Leo says.

  “It’s not so bad if you steer clear of town,” JJ says, speaking up.

  “I’m not so sure,” Cas disagrees.

  His eyes drift over to Jacob and I can’t help but sneak a look too. Jacob’s gaze is locked on our table and he doesn’t look away when we catch him.

  Throughout dinner, Cas watches him like a hawk and Jacob keeps a close eye on us. Leo and Luca continue to pick fights and then laugh them off. JJ is content to eat everything in sight and join in everyone’s conversations, completely at ease around the Jacksons.

  All previous nerves and reservations I had are now vanishing so fast, I can’t remember owning them.

  I could get used to the drama of family dinners, it surely beats countless dinners in silence because Lily was sleeping off a boyfriend or because I was alone.

  JJ hands me his hoodie before he climbs on in front of me and I slip his warmth over my shoulders.

  It’s chillier now than when we arrived. Luca heads off first and then Leo brings his bike to life and JJ follows suit. India cuddles against Leo’s back as they pull off, and JJ pulls out moments later.

  Alannah, Cas and the baby drive behind us in their SUV and like all other nights around here, it’s quiet on the roads.