Jayden (Aces MC Series Book 4.5)

by Aimee-Louise Foster

  "So when did that happen?" Justice asked stepping closer before he bent down in front of me to observe my leg a little closer.

  "A couple of months now, I've been in rehab getting used to this fucking thing." I lifted my leg forward and Justice caught it to examine the limb further.

  "Can we stop looking at him like he's in a fucking freak show?" CJ bellowed as he handed me his sweatshirt so I could cover myself over at least.

  I turned to CJ, "I'm fine mate, honestly." I pulled the sweatshirt over my head and adjusted it, it swamped me but I was pleased to not be so exposed.

  "He's my fucking godson CJ, give it a rest." Justice stood and stepped back to stand with Duke.

  "I take it this is the reason you're back and that your dad doesn't know?" Duke folded his arms across his chest and looked at me expectantly.

  I nodded my head, "Yeah but I wanted to tell everyone when I was ready not in these circumstances."

  "Well Nemo, it's all out in the open now. The chicks are gonna dig that shit, a war hero and all." I rolled my eyes as Recon stepped closer and tapped the dog with his boot slightly, "I told you to get this shit cleared up." He sneered at Lyric.

  Lyric stood and went toe to toe with Recon, "That's enough you two. You may be Sergeant at arms but I'm the President so stand down and give the bloke a minute to fucking grieve." Recon winked at Lyric before he turned on his heels and strutted towards the clubhouse. "And you," he pointed at Lyric. "I told you that bringing that fucking dog here was a bad move. You've got five minutes and I want that shit gone, Ramsey will give you a hand."

  I glanced at Ramsey to see him swallow hard, why did these blokes put up with this shit? I was used to taking orders but never to clean up a fucking dead dog!

  "So Jay let's get you in and cleaned up." Justice wrapped his arm around my shoulders and turned me in the direction of the clubhouse.

  "Hold up a minute Jay, why have you really come back here? Are you looking to join us coz like I said before I'd happily sponsor you." I turned slowly taking in his words trying to bide myself some time before I answered.

  "I'm happy to be a hang around and help you and the club out if needed and I really appreciate your offer Duke, it means a lot but I need to recover first before I commit to anything."

  He nodded his head, "I understand, I just wanted to ask the question again."

  "Ask what question?" I recognised that voice and I groaned as I turned to meet my dad's gaze before it travelled from my face and down my body. "Why haven't you got any...oh my fucking god what's happened Jay?" I opened my mouth to speak but was interrupted. "You've lost a leg...you've fucking lost a leg!"

  I glanced down at my prosthetic limb and faked a shocked expression as if it was the first time I had seen it. "Oh my god you're right dad." I stated covering my mouth, "I don't know how that happened?" I heard the sniggering beside me and turned slightly to see CJ shaking his head humorously which made me smile.

  "Don't be flippant with me Jayden, this is a fucking shock!" Dad shook his head as he tried to take everything in. I knew I was being horrible but he grated on me at times, why did he always make a fuss, I was a grown up and it was just embarrassing. I wasn't needy, I wasn't asking for sympathy, damn I didn't even want them to know and I wouldn't have told them if that fucking dog hadn't of thought my leg was a nice juicy bone.

  "Can we do this some other time Dad, I'm near enough naked, I've got dog's brains all over me and all I want to do is go and take a shower."

  "No, I want to do this now!"

  "Well I don't."

  "What's wrong with all of my fucking kids? Why won't any of you talk to me?" he screamed after me.

  "We're adults, you've just gotta let us grow up dad." Hound went to surge forward but I noticed Duke place his hand across dad's chest stopping him from making matters worse.

  I strolled across the yard towards the clubhouse and heard someone follow close behind, I just hoped it wasn't my dad ready for round two.

  "You crack me up."

  CJ sat beside me at the bar, "I'm glad I amuse someone." I needed to take a shower but I wanted to have a stiff drink first to calm my nerves. I beckoned Buster over, "Bottle of Jack and two glasses." He scurried away getting what I asked for but I saw CJ out of the corner of my eye shake his head before holding up one finger. I forgot he wasn't drinking, it was nearing his fight and he was abstaining from many things including alcohol.

  "So what's your plan for the rest of the day? I mean apart from washing dead dog off your skin." He chuckled at his own words and took the bottle of water from Buster.

  I shook my head in amusement, CJ had a way of pulling me out of a bad mood with his humour. "I've nothing planned as such." I wanted to make an appointment to see Sam again, it had been a while and I was missing her surprisingly. I knew I was just another punter to her and she would've seen god knows how many men between now and our last encounter but she had a way of making me feel special, and I needed that at the moment.

  "Well I've got another job booked for this evening if you're interested?"

  "Involving what?"

  "The Brown boys are targeting some of our protected establishments, demanding they pay them money to be left alone. Now I don't know if they're fucking stupid for not asking if these businesses are linked to any security firms or if they're looking to start a row with the Jones', either way we can't let them get away with it."

  "So what do you propose we do?"

  "They go to Crown's bookmakers every Thursday, they've been demanding thirty percent of their weekly takings."

  I let out a low whistle, "No business can survive doing that."

  "Exactly, we charge a flat rate and offer the businesses protection."

  "So why has one of the businesses you protect been paying another firm money?" I asked confused.

  "Because the first week they pretended to be us, the second week they increased the percentage from ten to thirty and they're going back there this evening to collect."

  "You haven't answered the question though, why?"

  "The old man was scared and confused. He didn't want to question us through fear of us upping our fee. It wasn't until Fallon visited the business to do her monthly check that the old man broke down and told her everything."

  "Poor sod."

  "So are you gonna help out?"

  "Sure," I answered nodding my head. How could anyone be so fucking cruel?

  "That's great. We go suited, have you got a suit?"

  I nodded my head, "It's at my parent's house but yes I have one."

  "Yeah, good luck with that. It may be easier to go and purchase a new one."

  I sniggered, "I'll make you right there."

  "I'll be leaving at 7.00pm." I nodded my head as I took a swig of my drink and let out a heavy sigh as I felt the burn in my chest.

  "Right I can't stand your smell any longer." CJ rose from his chair. "I'll see you back at the house later." I patted him on the arm as he passed me before he left the building.

  "I won't be needing anymore of that." I pushed the bottle of Jack and my empty glass across the bar towards Buster. I saw his eyes dart behind me indicating someone had caught his attention, and I turned to see who it was.

  "What the fuck are you doing here?" I asked standing from my chair.

  Tia looked at my attire and slowly her expression became one of horror. "Have I come at a bad time?"

  "Any time you came would be a bad time coz I have nothing to say to you."

  "Please don't be like that, I've explained at least a hundred times why I made the decision I did."

  "And every time you explained the reason you left me it had reference to how you were feeling. Not once did you consider how I was feeling." I threw my glass across the clubhouse and it shattered against the wall. "You were the love of my life, we were getting fucking married but as soon as this happened you kicked me to the curb like I didn't mean a fucking thing to you." I pointed to my prosthetic leg but she simply ignored m
y comment and placed her hands on her hips. I shook my head, "When did you become so cold hearted?"

  "You know I have a plan, goals that I want to achieve and that doesn't fit in with those plans. Yes I loved you Jay, I suppose I always will a little but I left you to set you free. You can find a nice girl who will..." she waved her arm around as if looking for the words. "Care for you, bathe you, wipe your behind, whatever you need doing. I'm not that kind of girl Jay, you know that."

  I tried to control the rage that built inside me, how dare this bitch stand here and insult me. I stepped forward and grabbed her around the neck pushing her back until she was against the wall, "I've lost a limb, I'm not a paraplegic you fucking whore."

  She opened her mouth gasping for air and I squeezed harder feeling the hatred for her mount inside me.

  "Jay, let her go mate." I could hear the voice faintly in the background but I was too consumed in what I was doing to see who was talking to me. I squeezed harder and this time noticed the colouring change on her face.

  "Jay that's enough!" I glanced to my left to see Justice and Duke watching the scene play out in front of them, I didn't know who'd asked me to stop but I knew that I'd already taken it too far. I slowly let go and watched as Tia coughed and spluttered trying to get oxygen into her lungs, and the scene in the toilets at the pub played in my head. What the fuck had happened to me? I wasn't a monster but I'd allowed these two cunts to rile me.

  "Have I missed the party?" Paige had now entered the clubhouse and was making her way towards us. "What's that cunt doing here?" she spat glaring at Tia.

  I'd told Paige how Tia had broken our engagement off once she'd found out the extent of my injuries and she was livid but I never thought they would ever meet face to face. Justice placed his hand on Paige's arm stopping her from surging forward and doing further damage to Tia, I think her first experience of the clubhouse was enough.

  Tia held her neck with both hands and rubbed it still wheezing as she tried to control her breathing.

  She looked around at the group, "You're a bunch of fucking Hillbillies, every last one of you." She slowly pushed past me and I laughed at her audacity, she was still running her mouth despite nearly being strangled.

  "Oh and just so you know, I'm engaged." She held up her hand so I could see the rock on her finger. "I needed a real man and Boyd happily stepped up to the plate."

  Crack! Tia fell back and skidded across the floor screaming in agony. Duke, Justice and myself all turned in the direction of Paige in shock as she rubbed her forehead.

  "Where did you learn to head butt?" Justice chuckled.

  "Amy taught me but she made it look so much easier. FUCK my head hurts!" Paige stomped over to Tia who was rolling around the floor in agony and grabbed her by the hair, "Let's see if Boyd likes you with a body part missing, I think I'll start with your tits." Paige pulled her along the floor by her hair and out into the yard.

  "What?...Get off me...You can't do this!...Jay help me!" I couldn't hear what else she was screaming as Paige pulled her further into the yard.

  "Your sisters a little nuts, I take it she was only joking?" Justice asked hesitantly.

  I shrugged, "Who knows with Paige, she's like Jackal and Hyde these days."

  "I'll go and keep an eye, make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." Duke folded his arms across his chest and strolled outside.

  "So how do you feel about that?" I turned to Justice as he looked at me sympathetically.

  "About what? You mean that crazy bitch?" Justice nodded his head. "Good riddance, I'm just pleased I saw her true colours before we got married."

  Justice nodded his head understanding what I'd just said, "As long as you're okay. And Jayden..."

  "Yeah?"

  "Go and take a fucking shower boy you stink!" I sniggered as I turned and headed in the direction of the bathroom, maybe it wasn't so bad here after all.

  "So what's the plan of action CJ?" I asked sitting in the driver's seat outside the betting shop.

  CJ looked up and down the street before returning his attention to me, "We sit in there and pretend to be punters, and once they ask for the money we sort them out."

  "Okay, I'll take your lead on this."

  "Let's go." CJ exited the car and fastened his jacket, I followed him making sure that I locked the car in the process. It was Eli's car that I'd borrowed for the evening and I didn't want anything to happen to it, as he was one scary mother fucker.

  We sat in front of the screens, there were various greyhound races on tonight and we needed to look the part and try to blend in although we were suited.

  "You can have a flutter if you want Jay," CJ said as he grabbed a ticket and pencil.

  "I wouldn't have a fucking clue of where to start to be honest, I've only ever bet on the Grand National."

  "Well that's the next race, they're the runners, pick one." CJ held the list in front of me so that I could read the names.

  I glanced over them briefly and in trap number five, there was a dog named Sammy's Home. I sniggered which earned me an unreadable expression form CJ. "I'm putting some money on trap five," I stated pulling out a £10 note from my wallet.

  CJ looked at the form guide and frowned, "That's the least in form dog out of the six on offer."

  "I liked the name!"

  "Did you also lose your dick in that accident? You're talking like a bird."

  The bell chimed indicating that someone had entered the building. We both turned to see two blokes stroll through the bookies and head towards the counter. CJ took my ticket, proceeded towards them, and stood in line calmly observing the situation.

  "Is Arnold around?" the bloke in the leather jacket asked placing his hands in his jean pockets and swaying back and forth on his heels.

  "He is, hold on one minute," the young woman scurried to the back room to get the old man.

  "This is gonna be like taking candy from a baby," the bloke in the leather jacket said to his friend who sniggered at his comment.

  Fucking pricks, this was Arnold's livelihood. He was an elderly man and his daughter had been helping out as much as she could but this wasn't her thing. I'd asked CJ for the back story on this place before we came, to gain an understanding of the businesses they were protecting and services they were offering.

  The security firm offered a variety of different options and each of the boys were responsible for a particular division, and Fallon held it all together running the office. The problem was that they'd grown too big too quickly, they had taken their eye off the ball in certain areas allowing pricks like these to try and muscle in on their territory. Hopefully with the help of CJ and myself it would allow them to regain the reigns but they may need to draft in more men if things got too heavy.

  I watched as Finn slowly made his way into the room and over to the two blokes at the counter.

  "Is there a problem boys?" he asked placing both hands on the wooden surface taking a casual stance.

  I noticed the two men glance at each other before they returned their attention back to Finn.

  "No problem, we're after Arnold," the second man stated casually.

  "I'm afraid Arnold's busy and asked me to sort out any further dealings with you."

  The man in the leather jacket stood tall, "What the fucks it gotta do with you?"

  I heard the bell chime again and turned to see Eli with a smirk on his face. I stood making my presence known and saw the panic on both bloke's faces, although give them their dues they still fronted it up.

  "I think it's time you were going!" Eli held open the door and directed his statement to the few punters scattered around the bookies unsure as to what was going on. They quickly grabbed their belongings and scarpered out the door without even looking back. Eli closed the door behind them and turned the sign to closed, before casually leaning on the door.

  "Now boys, the first time you took the piss and came into this establishment pretending to be part of my firm, I let it go because I thought y
ou may have had a bump on the head or lost your marbles. However, the second time you walked through that door you really took the piss, not only because you asked for more money from poor old Arnold but also because you disrespected my firm again. So here we are again, and now this is the third time that you've been here and I'm still finding it hard to work out if you're fucking brave or fucking stupid?" I noticed the bloke in the leather jacket remove his hands from his pockets and clench his fists as he knew what was about to happen.

  "So you've left me in a bit of a predicament because I have to explain to my brothers why I've allowed a bitch like yourself come in here and take the piss. Now have you got anything to say?"

  "Not to you, you cunt. Do you know what firm we belong to?"

  Finn sniggered, "Do you think that bothers me? You need to remember that you've stepped on our patch and I'll give you a little something to take home with ya."

  Finn lunged over the counter and grabbed the man's arm, pulling it straight to reveal his hand. In quick succession, Eli had surged across the room and grabbed the other man from behind. CJ wrestled with the bloke Finn had hold of as he stabbed a blade forcefully into his hand. The blade went through his palm and stuck his hand to the wooden counter, I hadn't had many dealings with Finn but his calm exterior made him come across a little psychotic.

  The bloke screamed in pain and I watched in wonder at the altercation. It didn't shock me, I'd seen enough violence to last me a life time from being around the club and being in the army but it was the way these brothers worked well together like they could read each other's thoughts. I felt like a spare prick at an orgy but I knew CJ wanted me there for numbers and he knew if I needed to, I'd join in.