by Kayley Shaye
“Wait, hold on,” I said. I grabbed one of the crutches and hobbled over to him. I quickly passed him, opened the door, and had about a dozen guns pointed at my head. “All of you shut up and go sit the hell down. He’s not doing anything!”
“He’s not welcome here,” Ryder warned as he was trying to push through the door.
I felt Jesse behind me a moment later, and I knew Ryder was looking at him. “It’s about her dad, man. I’ll be out of here as soon as I tell her.” Jesse’s voice was quiet and filled with something that I had never heard out of him. Pity, maybe, and it scared the hell out of me.
Ryder took his hand off the door and spoke authoritatively again, “You’ve got five minutes or I’m coming in there.”
I shut the door back and slowly turned to Jesse. I placed my hand on his chest. “What about my dad, Jesse? You’re scaring me.”
“Didn’t mean to.” Jesse looked down at me. Pity was definitely there, and it caused my heartbeat to spike. “He’s dead, Sage. Your dad is dead.”
“What?” I asked, then gripped his shirt. “No he’s not! He’s at home!”
Jesse ran his fingers through my hair. “He was murdered in front of the house.”
I jerked backwards away from him and almost fell before his hand wrapped around my arm and caught me.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until I started having trouble breathing. “He can’t be dead. My mom would have called me!” I sobbed.
Jesse sat me on the bed and I pathetically cried. I was looking for answers or explanations. “I just found out about it from a couple of the guys.”
My head snapped up, and I looked at him. “How did they find out before I did?”
“I was wondering the same thing,” Jesse admitted as he took my hand. “I guess the news is all over town now.”
More tears escaped my eyes and fell down my cheeks. I hadn’t even seen him since I walked out weeks ago. Hadn’t talked to him either besides a quick, one-line text from both of them saying that they accepted my apology, but it didn’t mean that they had forgiven me for what I’d done and said to them. That was the last I’d heard from them.
“Who would want to kill my dad?” I openly asked. It was more to myself than to Jesse. It didn’t feel real.
“I don’t know.”
I grabbed my crutches and let go of Jesse’s hand. “I have to go see my mom. I have to figure out what happened, Jesse, because I have a feeling that this is a warning to me. They could be after my mom next. I can’t let that happen.”
Jesse stood up, nodding. “I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, not in the mood to argue back.
“Sweetheart?”
I turned and looked over my shoulder. I was surprised by his sweet tone of voice, which was another thing that I hadn’t really experienced out of him. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” He stepped up behind me.
“Thanks, Jesse. I appreciate it.”
He nodded and pulled the door open for me. I walked out carefully, not at all surprised to see everyone sitting around and staring like hawks.
“What did you do to her?” Ryder shouted. “Why is she crying?”
I rolled my eyes. It was starting to get annoying. “Put the gun down like I told you, or I’ll spill your little secret to everyone.” I faked confidence, but inside, I just wanted to cry.
“What secret?” Damien’s eyebrows raised.
“Shut up!” said Ryder as he tossed the gun to the couch. “What the hell did you do to her, man?”
“I didn’t do anything,” Jesse explained, slamming the door behind us.
“Enough!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “My dad is dead, and I have to go. I have to figure out why this happened.” The room went silent at that except for my sniffling.
“I’m going to drive her to her parents’ house,” Jesse said to Liam who had just walked up. “I’ll bring her home alive. Don’t have to worry about that.”
“She’s not going with you.” Ryder’s tone was softer than before and not so harsh. His eyes were on me.
“Yes, I am. I need him there with me. He won’t do anything.” I walked up to Ryder and looked right into his eyes. Lowering my voice, I told him, “You know that.”
Ryder was thinking hard about it, and I could see it. Finally, he sighed and pulled his pistol from his back pocket. “You take this since you don’t have yours on you,” he said. “You be careful. This could be a setup.”
“What do you mean? He won’t do that,” I whispered as I grasped the gun.
“I didn’t say he will,” Ryder glanced behind me, “but that doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Someone might be trying to lure you over, so they can put a bullet in your head.”
I gulped and wiped my eyes. “I get it. I’ll be careful. Promise.”
Ryder nodded. “I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. I took a step back and looked at Jesse. “Let’s go.”
“You’re not seriously going to allow this, are you?” Damien broke in.
“Just for today. This is important,” Ryder shot back, and Damien slammed his hand on the table.
Jesse headed for the door. He was just as tired of the bullshit as I was, but Ryder stopped us again. “You better take care of her, Jesse, or your man Steve will be six feet under by morning.”
Jesse whipped around, the grip on his gun tightening. “You know better than to mess around with my boys.”
“If something happens to her, you’re dead and so is Steve,” threatened Ryder.
“I’ve heard that before, but you’ve never actually gone through with it,” Jesse replied, looking smug. “Wonder why that is, brother?”
When I realized that Ryder was heading straight for Jesse, I decided it was best to get the hell out of there. I used all my strength to push Jesse out the door, all while trying to keep my balance.
“Don’t fight with him, please. I just need to see my mom,” I practically begged him.
I saw his muscles relax and he nodded. “You’re just lucky a pretty crippled girl is pushing me out the door, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone so willingly.”
I cracked a small smile and said, “Oh I’m sure.”
Getting into his car, I couldn’t help but wonder how he had gotten into the clubhouse without getting shot in the first place.
“Do you remember where I used to live?” I asked as Jesse got in.
“Yeah, I remember.”
“Okay.” I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.
It still hadn’t completely sunk in; the fact that my dad was dead, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye. Hell, the last time I saw him I was yelling at him. So for that, I felt like a terrible person and wanted nothing more than to see him again just one last time. Wasn’t that what everyone wanted? To see their deceased loved ones again even if just for one moment.
Chapter Nineteen
My heart was pounding as we neared my parents’ house, the house I grew up in and ditched just weeks prior. I recalled when my dad and I would play in the sprinklers when I was little. He’d chase me around. I’d laugh and run so hard, I would collapse from exhaustion within an hour’s time. Those were the days when the only thing I worried about was what color of crayon I was going to use. Those were the days when my dad and I had a great relationship until I went and messed it up. I was great at that; screwing things up was my specialty, wasn’t it?
I felt the car pull to a stop and realized then that we were in front of the house. Police surrounded the area, and I expected no less.
I turned and looked at Jesse who was staring right back at me. He was waiting for me to speak. “Will you come with me?”
“Yeah.” Jesse nodded and killed the engine. “Leave your cut in here though,” he said as he removed his own leather cut.
“Why?” I asked, removing it.
“Don’t want the police getting on our asses even more than they’re about
to.”
“Oh, yeah, of course,” I muttered.
We headed up towards the house in the darkness that was lit partly by police lights. It meant a lot to me that Jesse was coming with me. We usually didn’t screw around with police no matter what was going on, but he was doing this for me. He was pushing aside the fact that he may or may not be walking into a death trap, a death trap by cops.
“You can’t be here, ma’am.” I heard from ahead of me. My eyes widened when I saw who it was—the cop Jesse knocked out when I got myself shot.
“My dad was murdered. I’m sure as hell allowed here.”
I didn’t miss it when he reached towards his gun when he finally realized who we were. “You two again.”
“Yep,” Jesse replied, eyeing the gun. “Remember what I said last time?”
“Yeah . . . y-yep. I remember,” he stuttered.
“Good. Don’t want to blow up the police station,” Jesse replied.
“We aren’t looking for trouble. I just need to see my mom,” I interrupted before it got out of hand.
“Mrs. Griffin?” He began to relax.
“Yeah, that’s her . . . Where is she?” I asked.
“Inside,” the officer answered. “Try not to shoot any of my men, alright?”
“Can’t make any promises,” Jesse said sarcastically before we walked towards the door, or at least he did. I just hobbled along on my crutches like I had been doing a lot lately. I could already hear my mom sobbing from the living room when we stepped inside. It completely crushed me. I felt the tears starting to swell in my eyes again.
Jesse stood in front of me and gently wiped the tears from my eyes with his thumb. “I’ll stay here. Go talk to her.”
I nodded and squeezed his arm a little before I headed into the living room.
“Mom,” I whispered as I walked towards the couch. Two cops with notepads turned around and stared at me.
“Sage,” her voice cracked, and it caused her to cry even harder. As soon as I sat down, I wrapped my arms around her tightly and we both cried like babies. Who could blame us? Mom had lost her husband, and I had lost my dad. He was the center of the family, the one who held us together when I was growing up.
“Give us a moment, please?” I looked at the officers.
They nodded and stepped back. “I’m sorry for your loss. Let us know when you’re ready. We have more things to discuss.” They directed it at Mom.
“What happened, Mom?” I asked.
“Your dad was out getting the mail and then I heard gunshots.” She pathetically dropped her hands into her lap. “I went out there and found him on the lawn.”
I leaned back on the couch. None of it made sense. Sure, my dad was a pretty well-known guy around town, but as far as I knew, everyone liked him.
“Did he have a fight with anyone recently?” I asked.
“No,” she said and shook her head. “No one is angry with him. None that I’m aware of.”
“How long did it take you to get outside?”
“Why are you asking so many questions? It doesn’t matter now! He’s dead!” she shouted.
“Mom, calm down.” I took her hand. “This might have something to do with the club. I need to know what you did or didn’t see, so maybe I can figure this out.”
“What do you mean it might have something to do with the club?” She yanked her hand back. “Did one of those no-good tattooed criminals kill my husband?”
I ran my hands over my face to calm myself. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Can you just calm down and answer the question?”
“Calm down? You want me to calm down when your father is dead? Thanks to your friends!” she yelled so loud I swear the windows rattled. “Not to mention you haven’t been here in weeks, and now you show up like you’re concerned?”
“Is there a problem here?” An officer poked his head through the door.
“No, we’re fine,” I replied and stared at my mom until she sat back down. She was completely losing it.
The officer reluctantly left again.
“Mom, my club wouldn’t have done this. As for someone else’s club, who knows. But I need you to answer the question, please. And just for the record, I’m more than concerned.”
She stared at me but finally seemed to be calming down a little. “It didn’t take me long to get out there. He was already dead though.” She started crying again.
“Did you see anything?” I leaned over with my elbows resting on my knees.
“I saw a black van speeding down the road, but that was it,” she admitted.
A black van? Why did that sound so familiar?
“No, it can’t be . . . ,” I whispered under my breath.
“What did you say?” Mom asked.
“I said that’s weird,” I lied.
There was only one person I knew who owned a black van. I had seen it many, many times, and it always meant trouble. It was Jesse’s van.
But he wouldn’t do that. He wouldn’t kill my father, right?
Chapter Twenty
I felt shattered. I didn’t want to believe that Jesse’s van, from what I understood, had been seen speeding away from the house moments after my dad had been shot. That was the only way it could be. I didn’t know anyone else with a black van, let alone someone with the motive to kill someone. Let’s face it, no stranger was going to shoot a man in his lawn unless he had a damn good reason for it. The only reason I could come up with was that Jesse had been playing me the whole time despite what I felt inside. I got comfortable and let my guard down. Maybe, just maybe, Ryder had been right all along.
“Mom, I’m going to talk to the police,” I lied and I stood up. “Will you be okay by yourself?”
“No, but I’ll have to be,” she replied.
“Okay,” my voice dropped and I turned towards the kitchen.
“Sage?”
“Yeah?” I turned back around and looked at her. She looked broken, like she didn’t know what to do anymore and I can’t blame her.
“What happened to your leg?” she asked.
“Long story. You don’t want to know, trust me.” I glanced down at it.
“You’re right. I don’t.”
I sighed and walked into the kitchen to find Jesse leaning against the counter. He was watching the cops outside. My blood boiled just at the sight of him. It had been a while since that happened.
He must’ve sensed my presence because he turned around and started walking towards me, but I cut him off and stepped back. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Jesse stopped in his tracks. “What’s wrong?”
“Like you don’t know!”
“I think I’m missing something here.” Jesse’s hand dropped to his side. “Why don’t you tell me what I’ve done wrong, so I can fix it?”
“Don’t act all innocent,” I said as tears began to stream down my face again. I wiped them away quickly. I stopped crying then, at least for that moment. I wasn’t going to be weak in front of him.
“I don’t know what you’re on about, Sage,” Jesse said, taking a step towards me. I stepped back in return.
“I trusted you. I really did, Jesse.”
“I didn’t do anything. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jesse frowned.
“She saw a black van!” I yelled. “My mom saw a black van. Your van!”
Realization or something of that matter crossed his face. “It could’ve been someone else’s van.”
“I’m sure it was,” I said sarcastically. “I trusted you. I really trusted you. I should’ve listened to Ryder. He told me to stay away, but I didn’t. This is just another thing I have to add to my mistakes list!” God, it was getting long.
“I promise you I didn’t do it, sweetheart. But I think I know who might have.”
“I’m not your sweetheart,” I spat. His eyes narrowed. I could tell it hurt him. But that was okay, he hurt me too. “Oh, so who did it? A ghost?”
Befo
re I could do anything, he grabbed my arm and pushed me to the wall. “I wouldn’t hurt you like that. We’ve been over this one to too many times,” he said slowly, just inches from my lips. I hate to say that it was making my heart beat faster than usual.
“W-what are you trying to say?”
Steve was all he said.
I ripped out of his grasp and walked around to the other side of the counter. “What? Steve doesn’t know where I lived.”
“Yes he did,” Jesse replied. He was looking guilty for what was probably the first time in his life.
Then I realized something. “Jesse, who was in the car the night you came over to my house?”
“Steve,” he gulped.
“Goddammit!” I slammed my hand down on the counter with force. Now everything made sense.
“That’s how your guys got the news before I did.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I guess so. I should’ve known he wouldn’t give up on going after you.”
“I shouldn’t have pissed him off.” I shut my eyes. Dad had taken the bullet that was meant for me.
“I’ll take care of Steve. He knew better.” I felt Jesse’s warm hand on my back, and I couldn’t believe how understanding and sweet he was being after I treated him like dirt. I tended to do that a lot.
I nodded and opened my eyes again. “Let’s get out of here, okay? I can’t be here anymore.”
“Then let’s go.”
I stepped into the living room and told my mom I’d call her and come over the next day to see how she was coping before Jesse and I walked back out to his car. And thank God, we dodged being questioned by cops.
I had wanted to stay with mom that night so she wouldn’t be alone, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stay in that quiet, empty house, listening to her cry all night. That would tear me up even more than I already did and would make me feel worse.
“Do you think you can take me to a hotel for the night?” I asked once we were on the road. “I can’t go back to the clubhouse tonight. I just need some time away from everyone.”
Jesse looked at me out of the corner of his eye like he was questioning my sanity. Honestly, I was too. “Yeah, there’s one about five minutes from here.”
