I couldn’t help but feel totally disgusted with the whole thing, drugs in a primary school shouldn’t be happening for Christ’s sake. It was a big enough problem in town with adults but to see it in schools with kids under twelve, I was suddenly thankful not to be a parent.
“Okay, well let’s keep on top of this boys. You should talk to your kids and make them aware that it is very important for them to tell you straightaway anything they see or hear that may be suspicious, but not to do anything other than that.” Pausing I looked directly at Deck. “That goes double for Shiloh. I can imagine her making a citizen’s arrest or something equally stupid.”
“And speaking of stupid, I really can’t believe I am going to say this but— it might be a good idea if you ask her if Darth has seen anything.” Just the fact that I suggested my niece ask her ghost for help boggled my mind. Most cops frowned upon seeking the assistance of clairvoyants and the likes.
My boss would pull my badge if he heard me now.
“That’s not as stupid as you think brother,” Steel said coming to my rescue. “The big prick never leaves her when she is away from the compound. She is open about talking to him, but she rarely tells us what they say to each other. Maybe he has already mentioned something to her and she is a bit hesitant to tell us.”
“Will you have a chat with her Jason?” Deck asked me. “She is sensitive where Darth is concerned and I admit so am I. It’s been more than five years since we lost him, but I still have a hard time knowing he is still protecting her and that she can see him and talk to him.”
I groaned inwardly. Talking about Darth wasn’t my favourite activity either, but Deck didn’t make a habit of asking me for favours nor did he often show weakness, ever.
Choosing not to give him shit, I simply nodded at him. There were times for brother to brother ribbing and then there weren’t.
We had a big problem going by what I was told just now. Drugs around a school and the safety of our kids. Not to mention the small interrogation that was going to take place with my hellion niece.
Hopefully her body guard is going to be busy doing whatever ghosts do and won’t be there to get inside my head.
A man could hope.
“It’s frog shit Uncle Jason, Zander cheated,” Shiloh griped for the umpteenth time since getting in the car after leaving the gym.
Deck thought it a good idea she and Zander come with me, that way I could get the story of what was happening at the school from them because only those two had been approached directly.
“I didn’t cheat spunky, I got you in the choke hold fair and square,” Zander piped up from the backseat. Muffling a choke of laughter, I chose to ignore Shiloh’s colourful use of the English language and Zander’s surprising pet name for his lifelong buddy.
“Don’t come that shit with me Zander Apollo Stephens. You know as well as I do you had my hair twisted in your fist. You are lucky I didn’t punch you in the—”
“Enough!” I shouted. The loudness with which I yelled made the kids jump in their seats in shock.
“Shiloh stop swearing for Christ’s sake. Your mother is going to send you to an all girl’s school otherwise. And another thing young lady, you will not now or ever touch a man’s… junk. That part is off-limits to you until your father says you can date, and even then, I may not allow it,” I said sternly, looking at her with heated eyes before returning my attention to the road. “Now, I want to talk to you two about that older kid who approached you at school about drugs. What can you remember about his appearance?” I asked moving the conversation along to where I was more comfortable. Shiloh had a lot of her dad in her and had developed many of Charlotte’s personality quirks which was only natural because she raised her. However, Zoe’s stubbornness presided in her daughter also, and if I didn’t get her attention somewhere else, poor Zander and I were going to be in for a bloody long tongue-lashing.
Thankfully, young Zander knew Shiloh like I knew Zoe and jumped at the chance to redirect the conversation.
“He goes to the high school where Axe’s wife teaches tennis. A big kid with sloppy clothes and smelly hair,” Zander offered. “He didn’t tell us his name, but on his backpack, I saw the name Calvin written on it in black texta.”
So much like his father, I mused to myself.
“He also had three earrings in one ear,” Shiloh added, losing the huffy look and replacing it with a serious, thoughtful one. I looked in the review mirror when I heard Zander snap his fingers.
“Yeah and the other ear had one of those stretch doodads. I remember thinking how stupid he looked,” Zander told me. Fuck, this kid was well beyond his young years.
“Okay, great, this is very good kids. On Monday I will pick you up from school and take you to the station, do you think you could describe his face to a composite artist?”
“Sure,” they both said at the same time.
“This is very brave of both of you. I know being the kids of MC members sometimes puts you in difficult positions at school. But the way you both handled it is very admirable.” I praised them.
“When I’m president, I will make sure I handle things exactly the same way Vinnie does,” Shiloh announced, her head bobbing up and down, her expression deadly serious.
“Yeah, and when I take over from my dad, I’m gonna make sure there is a visual presence at the school at all times, so our kids feel just as safe as we do,” Zander stated, fixing his eyes on Shiloh sitting in the front seat.
Holy Shit, this kid is definitely like his old man. Visual presence? Our kids? Look out Squirt, I think you have an admirer.
“O—okay that will do it for now. How about we get back to the compound and see what Stella has cooked up for you?” Redirecting the conversation yet again. It looked like Deck and Creed had some karma heading their way in the future. Was I going to tell them, give them a heads up? Fuck no.
Where would the fun be in that.
I was chuckling at the mental image of Deck going postal when he discovered an older Shiloh in a relationship with Zander when we arrived at the compound. Then my mind drifted to the problem of what was going on at the school whilst the children and I made our way to the main door, with the reliable descriptions by the kids I didn’t see any need to mention Darth.
I didn’t see my brothers gathered just inside the door until I literally bumped into the wall of their backs.
“What the bloody hell— ”
“Take a look at this,” Mannix told me, snickering in amusement. Peering over his and Steel’s shoulders I gaped in utter astonishment.
“Fuck me swinging.”
Shiloh and Zander squeezed past my legs and starting laughing their arses off at the sight of their mothers and aunts playing what could only be described as some fucked up version of strip twister.
“Avert your fucking eyes from my wife’s arse right now,” Booth growled at Squid and Seb who were sitting at the bar pissing themselves laughing.
“Kids, I think you better head to the playground with Gabe, Cole, Chase and the twins for a quick minute. You shouldn’t see this,” Creed told the children, hurriedly pushing them back out the door, signalling for the two idiots at the bar to come over and take Shiloh and Zander.
“Where are the little ones?” Steel asked Seb, referring to Dane, Chase, Bastian and Annie, when he got closer.
“Bed. They are fine, we have been checking on them every twenty minutes or so.” He assured everyone, as he made his way to follow Shiloh and Zander. “Chase has had his bottle,” he said hurriedly to Creed who nodded absently too busy staring at his wife who was dressed only in a pair of maternity pants and a red satin bra. Her swollen belly jiggling with her giggles. Memphis might be blind, but she never let that stop her from joining in with any of the fun or trouble the flock created.
“Left foot yellow Kelsey,” Mia called out from her perch on the couch, the spinner in her hand.
“Why the hell is Mia half-dressed if she is in charge of the spinn
er,” I asked, doing my best not to notice the way her ample breasts were spilling over the cups of her bra, or that only a pair of pink lace boy shorts was covering her lower half.
“I don’t know but fuck me she is spectacular pregnant,” Steel answered in a hushed voice, hungry with desire for the woman who healed him.
“Hell’s bells Jay, Kelsey is a little hottie,” my brother said, goading me. I knew it was all in fun, Deck wasn’t interested in anyone other than his sweet wife, and Kelsey was like a little sister to him. However, that didn’t stop the powerful urge to gouge his eyes out with my pocket knife. He wasn’t wrong though, Kelsey stood in the middle of the mat, or rather she was on her hands and knees, one leg thrust out giving me and everyone else a delectable view of her panty covered arse.
Thank god she isn’t wearing her sexy G-string.
“Charlie has a nice rack herself, Decker,” I taunted him back, getting exactly the response I expected. Speaking about his wife’s tits and using the name only he was allowed to granted me a punch in the ribs.
“Rainn is looking a little wobbly,” Mannix noticed when his wife slipped on the slippery plastic taking Charlotte down with her. Their giggles were loud and obviously alcohol driven, judging by the scattered wine bottles around the room.
“Time to wrap this fuckery up fellas. Everyone grab your woman and shut up the place for the evening,” Booth ordered. “Squid, go bring the older kids inside, we will order them pizza for dinner,” Booth declared to Squid, who hadn’t followed Seb outside because he was still busy laughing at the scene in front of us.
All of us stalked to the middle of the room where the girls were, each of us trying in vain not to look at anyone that wasn’t our own, which was bloody difficult seeing as though all of them only wore a bra on top. My woman, Steel’s and Mannix’s the only ones with just their knickers covering their lower bodies.
“Come on Beauty, time for bed my love,” Steel crooned to Mia, taking the spinner off her and tossing it to the couch beside her. “Thank god you are pregnant and can’t drink,” he muttered, swinging her carefully up into his arms.
“I still had lots of fun Stud, and I took my clothes off, see?” she said thrusting her chest upwards, making her breasts move seductively. Averting my eyes, I walked to Kelsey.
“Hey there Mermaid, having fun?” Bending at the waist, I looked down to meet the glassy green eyes of my woman.
“Oh, Jason I am, I really am,” she gushed rather drunkenly.
“Phew, I smell you have been into the beer,” I laughed waving my hand in front of my nose, then pulled her up so I could get a grip on her to swing her up into my arms.
“Come on Zoe, time to go home.”
Instantly, Kelsey stiffened in my hold and backed away from me, her face ashen.
“What’s wrong Kels?”
“Nothing, I think I need to go to the toilet, excuse me,” she mumbled, hastily picking up the pieces of clothing she’d taken off and hurried to the hallway that led to the visitor’s bathrooms.
Watching her retreat with concern, I looked over at Charlotte, her eyes narrowed at me.
“What was that all about?”
Shaking her head at me, Charlotte wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck.
“Nothing, too much to drink I think,” she answered not looking at me, but at Deck. Giving me a curt nod, he lifted her up into his arms, laying her head on his chest she blocked me out.
“What?” I said to the room at large, not understanding for the life of me what just happened to make the atmosphere in the room turn icy.
Booth stepped forward, Stella in his arms bridal style and shook his head at me.
“You called her Zoe, fuckwit,” my Pres informed me, having no issue with letting me know my fuck up, Charlotte obviously was trying to spare me.
Stunned, I stood there staring at the empty doorway Kelsey disappeared through and cursed a blue streak.
“Oh hell,” I moaned, dropping my face to my hands.
“Way to make a girl feel special mate,” Steel admonished me as he passed with Mia.
Watching my brothers take off to their private rooms, I stood frozen to the spot.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. How could I do such a stupid thing.
“Jason it was an honest slip. I get it man, even if they don’t.” Creed joined me, Memphis back in her top and holding onto Creed’s hand.
“Zoe died, you didn’t break-up with her. Now if Steel called Mia by her sister’s name, that would be a major fuck up. You were married to Zoe, when she died you both were still very much in love, it isn’t an uncommon mistake,” Creed said, trying his best to make my stupid slip of the tongue not a careless cruel intentional thing.
“Creed is right, Kelsey is hurt and understandably so. She will forgive you, I am sure she knows how much Zoe meant to you and probably still does.” Memphis whispered to Creed, he grunted something then guided her hand to mine. “Just don’t do it again. I know how she is feeling right now, living with a man that is in love with a ghost isn’t exactly confidence building. Give her some space then talk with her, believe me when I say she will be feeling pretty raw right now.” Memphis squeezed my hand then looked up at her husband.
“Come on Apollo, let’s help Squid and Seb get the kids inside and fed.”
Pressing a kiss to her temple, Creed smiled softly at his wife then turned his attention to me.
“I loved Lila more than anything once upon a time. Then Memphis happened, and that was when I found out what real soul-deep, perfect love was. Even when I thought I didn’t want it, my angel showed me what I felt for Lila wasn’t a tenth what I feel for her. I’m not insulting what I had with Lila, that was real and will always be special to me.” Again, he smiled down at his wife who smiled prettily back at him, not a sign of jealousy or envy on her beautiful face.
“But I would never give up what I have now, Memphis gave me a second chance at life, happiness and above all, love.”
With that, Creed led his wife past me. His gentleness and how he treated her really sweet. The same way I was when Zoe was alive, and was with Kelsey, or so I thought.
Deep down I was holding myself back, unless we were in bed. Kelsey just had to touch me and I went up in flames. My body was the one thing I could hand over to her without a qualm, of that there was no question.
To call her my deceased wife’s name was unforgivable, but I hoped liked hell she would.
Sinking down to the nearest chair I waited for Kelsey to come back to me.
Meaning that in more ways than one.
Chapter 14
KELSEY
My whole body shook with wracking sobs.
Hiding in the bathroom was not the most mature thing to do, but who could blame me right now. A stabbing pain ached in my chest, the torrent of tears not stopping any time soon.
Jason’s Freudian slip was innocent enough and considering the name he called me I really could understand. That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt because it did, but I did believe it wasn’t intended in malice.
What I wished was it didn’t happen in front of the members and their wives. I caught the pitying looks from Charlotte and Memphis, Rainn and Stella hopefully too drunk to hear it. I also heard the growls from Booth and Deck directed at Jason and that didn’t make me happy either. I suppose most women would lose their heads hearing that, but sadly, I knew where I was as far as Jason’s heart was concerned.
He cared, I knew that. He liked me a lot, I was important to him, that I had no doubt of what so ever. I was competing with an impossible opponent, someone who did no wrong and was still deeply in love with Jason when she died.
I was treading in water I had no idea of the depth, no experience being in, the position where a man lost the love of his life and only wanted to move on under his terms, his rules. Rules was a bit harsh, Jason laid all his cards on the table. He told me love wasn’t possible, children… well I had the same term forced upon me so I was good with that condition.
Being negative in a relationship didn’t deem a good outcome and I was trying to be positive so that Jason would see me in a different light with time. Little setbacks like tonight’s embarrassing incident was not encouraging however.
“Neither is you being nearly naked,” I whispered, hiccupping.
“Kels?” Jason’s called out softly on the other side of the door. His voice sounding apologetic, nothing like the day he shouted the day I locked him out of my room.
Swiping at my cheeks, I shook my head at the train wreck reflection.
Argh, not a good look Kels.
“Hey,” I croaked, clearing the lump in my throat I tried again. “I won’t be long Jason, just give me a minute okay.”
“Sweetheart, I am so sorry.”
Closing my eyes, I sighed sadly.
“I know you are honey. I just need a few then we can go home,” I assured him. I wasn’t about pulling the guilt card to earn points, so making him feel worse than he already sounded didn’t appeal to me. My heart was hurting, pure and simple. All I had to do was get in the right head space, learn that Zoe was always going to be a part of him, and in some way a part of our relationship. That realisation didn’t suit me, but I needed Jason in my life, which meant sacrifices were required if I was to keep him.
Tantrums were a waste of time, and they definitely weren’t me. Nor was giving out ultimatums or turning into a demanding shrew. Jason was his own person just as I was, we had lives of our own, jobs and responsibilities. Combining the two and all the personal memories was going to be a commitment I was more than willing to make. Jason wasn’t the only one with baggage, I had memories too. Some bad, some horrible, but none of them included a dead spouse that was the love of my life.
Grimacing at my dilemma, I contemplated my options.
Long haul, or nothing at all Kels. Two choices to pick from.
Turning on the tap, I cupped my hands and splashed some water on my face, cleaned away my tears and the last of my mascara. Looking like a raccoon when I opened the door to face Jason was not appealing, grabbing some paper towel from the wall mounted dispenser I patted my face dry.
Love Heals (The Love Duet Book 2) Page 12
