Craving Rose (The Aces' Sons)

by Nicole Jacquelyn

  “Can’t trust a meth head,” I said flatly.

  “No shit.”

  “All a’this,” I said, thumping my chest lightly, “because he wanted his patch back?”

  “Hell of a way to get it,” Grease mumbled. “Pay you back for beatin’ his ass and come out smellin’ like daisies.”

  I shook my head, staring blankly at the wall. We’d been through hell because some dumb fuck couldn’t take his punishment like a man and move the fuck on.

  “You took care of it?” I finally asked.

  “It’s done.”

  We both looked toward the hall as the shower shut off. A couple minutes later, the bathroom door opened.

  “I better get goin’,” Grease said.

  I got to my feet and accepted the handshake and back thumping hug he offered.

  “Almost forgot,” he said as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small envelope, handing it to me. “Glad you’re on the mend.”

  “Thanks,” I said, holding eye contact.

  “’Course,” he said, moving toward the door. “Wasn’t a hardship.”

  Once he was gone, I opened the envelope. Inside, loose and gruesome, were ten whole fingernails. I glanced at my bandaged fingers, the tips still so fucking sensitive that they ached when the air touched them. Then I hobbled back outside.

  I tossed the envelope in the fire pit and pulled out my lighter, smiling as I lit the edge.

  “Why are you out here?” Rose asked poking her head out the door. She smiled happily. “And what are you grinning about?”

  “Just happy to be home,” I replied.

  That night, Rose slept naked, as she’d promised, pressed against my side like she couldn’t get close enough, even in her sleep. I stared at the ceiling in the living room, enjoying the feeling of her breath tickling my neck. I never could have predicted how our lives would change when I’d tossed her in that pool all those months ago.

  I was one lucky motherfucker.

  Epilogue

  Rose

  “I killed someone,” my mom said, startling me so bad that I dropped the knife in my hand.

  “You what?” I asked, whipping my head up to look at her.

  I’d gone to my parents to help my mom with Mack’s birthday dinner since our house was too small to hold everyone comfortably, but I suddenly wished that I’d just had it at the clubhouse.

  “I did,” she said. She glanced up at my face and shrugged as she went back to what she was doing. “It was before you were born.”

  “Jesus,” I muttered. “Who?”

  “Your dad’s brother,” she said, her hands going still as she looked back up.

  “You killed Dad’s brother? I didn’t even know he had a brother.”

  “They weren’t raised together,” she said. “Not that it mattered, Asa still considered him a brother.”

  “What happened?” I asked cautiously, unsure whether I even wanted to know.

  “He showed up when it was just me and Will,” she said. “Strung out on God knows what. Roughed me up a little.”

  “Roughed you up a little?” I said incredulously, my hand tightening on the knife.

  “Beat the shit out of me, would’ve done worse.” She crossed her arms and leaned her elbows on the table. “He was one of the men that killed my parents.”

  “Holy shit,” I breathed. Why hadn’t I ever heard this story before?

  “It was terrifying,” she said. “And I don’t like to talk about it.”

  “Why are you?” I asked.

  “Because,” she replied, her eyes searching my face, “I wanted you to know.”

  “I’m okay,” I said, holding her gaze.

  “When you’re protecting someone you love,” she continued, “your man or your child, there’s nothing you won’t do.”

  “I know,” I said.

  “There’s no shame in that.”

  “I’m not ashamed, Mom,” I said firmly. I set the knife carefully on the table and cleared my throat. “I watched him torture Mack for days. I’d do the exact same thing again. I wish I could do it again.”

  Mom gave me a sad smile. “You’re going to feel it,” she said, raising her hand to stop me when I opened my mouth to speak. “Maybe not now, maybe not for years, but eventually, it’ll start wearing at you. Come to me, okay? Or your dad. Or Mack. Just… don’t try to keep it to yourself. That never works. It’ll only make it worse.”

  “Okay,” I said, a lump in my throat. I knew from the gravity in her voice that she was speaking from experience, and I hated it. My mom was one of the sweetest, most caring people I’d ever met. I couldn’t imagine her killing anyone.

  We were quiet for a while as I continued cutting potatoes and she diced pickles.

  “So,” I said finally, trying to keep my voice even. “How’d you do it?”

  A startled laugh left her mouth. “You’re a terrible daughter,” she said, grinning. She paused. “I shot him with your Aunt Farrah’s gun.”

  “Thatta girl,” I said. “I mean, I prefer garden tools, but you do you.”

  My mom’s laughter filled the kitchen and I felt my shoulders relax.

  An hour later, just as people were supposed to start showing up, we heard my dad’s piece of shit pickup pull into the front yard.

  “Dad’s home,” I said, just as he walked in the front door.

  “Sugar?” my dad called.

  “I’m right here,” Mom replied, coming out of the pantry.

  “My leathers in the closet upstairs?”

  “No, I hung them in the downstairs closet,” she replied, following him as he spun on his heel. “What’s going on, Asa?”

  “Gotta meet your brother,” he said as he reached into the closet.

  “They’re on the way home?” mom asked.

  “Yeah,” dad said, pausing. “Boys are ridin’ down to meet ’em.”

  “Meet them where?”

  “As far south as we can,” he said darkly. “Escortin’ ’em home.”

  “Oh, shit,” my mom murmured.

  “Should be fine,” dad assured her. “Just a precaution.”

  “Are they bringing CeeCee?”

  “Yep.”

  “What aren’t you telling me?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Tellin’ you what I can, Calliope,” he replied, reaching out to brush her cheek with his thumb. Then he went back to pulling his leathers out of the closet. “Can you get me some coffee for the road?”

  “Yes,” she said, turning back toward the kitchen.

  “In that thermos that keeps shit hot for a long ass time,” he called out.

  “I know how to pack you coffee for the road, Asa,” Mom shot back.

  As my dad rushed through the house getting his crap together, people started arriving. Molly looked at me worriedly as Reb brought her tablet into the living room and plopped down on the couch.

  “Do you know what’s happening?” she asked. “The weather is complete shit. They’re going into snow, for God’s sake.”

  “They know what they’re doing,” I replied, watching the door. I understood her fear. I was so thankful that Mack wasn’t riding yet, though I’d never tell him that. He was going to be pissed that he couldn’t go with them.

  “We’re here,” Lily said, ushering Gray in from the rain. “Leo and Dragon are going to meet you guys at the restaurant right off the highway.”

  “Smart fuckers,” Tommy said, coming inside behind her with Hawk on his heels. “I shoulda thought of that.”

  “Grab some dinner,” my mom said. “You, too, Will. Eat before you go.”

  “Doubt we have time, Ma,” Will said as my dad jogged down the stairs. “Just waiting on the old man.”

  “Let’s go,” my dad said, confirming Will’s words. He strode toward my mom and kissed her long and hard, his hands on her ass. I wrinkled my nose in disgust. So gross.

  Just as he pulled away, Mack strode in the front door, his parents and Kara r
ight behind him.

  “You got this?” my dad asked.

  “Yup,” Mack replied. They did a weird man-handshake. “Go take care of shit. Happy trails.”

  “Where are you going?” Kara asked my dad.

  “Just takin’ care of some business, sweetheart,” he replied. “Keep an eye on Callie ’til I get back?”

  “Sure.” Kara smiled over at my mom.

  “We’ll keep her company,” Lou said, wrapping her arm around Kara’s shoulders.

  “Appreciate it,” my dad said with a nod.

  My brothers kissed their women before following my dad out of the house, and those of us left behind just sort of stared at each other.

  “Leave it to my sister to ruin Mack’s birthday party,” Lily said dryly. “Fucking figures.”

  I couldn’t stop the laugh that fell out of my mouth.

  “Come on,” my mom said, still staring at the door my dad had gone through. She shook her head and smiled at me, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Let’s eat.”

  “They’ll be alright,” Mack said in my ear as he walked me back into the kitchen. “Don’t worry.”

  I hadn’t been worried, but I sure as hell was now.

  Acknowledgements

  To my girls and my boy – you three are the reason I exist. I’m so freaking proud of you guys, I could burst. I love you.

  Mom and Dad – Thanks for letting me crash at your place. I promise to return the favor when you guys need someone to organize your medicine and make sure your favorite shows are recorded on the television. I love you guys.

  Nikki – we did it again. Thanks for always having my back and always being ready to help me buff these books until they shine.

  Letitia – you knocked it out of the park with this cover. Thank you so much!

  Donna – I’ll thank you for every single book, because without you, there would be no Aces series… at least not that anyone had actually read.

  Marisa – thank you for everything you do.

  Readers and Bloggers – Thank you for all of your support and patience. I know you’ve been waiting a long time for this book. I’m so excited that I finally get to share it with you.