Chapter Thirteen
Jinx
V AULT PULLED EVERYONE into the conference room to let them know he was sending Hope to one of the cabins that’s going to be used as a safehouse. She doesn’t feel safe and he refuses to keep her where she’s afraid. I already talked to him, Valor, my dad, and Killer before we even enter the conference room. Hope isn’t going anywhere without me at her side. I don’t give a fuck how much time we’re gone or anything else. If she’s in a cabin somewhere no one can find her, Hope will be able to relax and continue healing the way she needs to. I’m going to make sure she gets plenty of rest and doesn’t push herself for any reason. I did talk to Dr. Smythe about her getting in the lake and it helping ease the aches and pains in her body from the stabbing and surgery. He is allowing her to get in the water because there’s a filtration system in place to remove the bacteria and other shit. Plus, there is a pool on the property that we can go in instead. Either way, I plan on getting her in the water so we can make sure her muscles don’t tense up and she’s able to remain relaxed. Hope loves the water and always has.
“You all know why we’re here. Hope will be released at some point and we’re gonna make sure she’s somewhere she feels safe without havin’ to look over her shoulder. Becker is fuckin’ stalkin’ her and no one can tell me any fuckin’ different. He shows up wherever she is and just watches her like a fuckin’ asshole. We’re gonna send her to the cabin a few hours from here. It’s in the middle of nowhere and in none of our names. A friend of the club has the property listed under her name and that’s how it will remain. So, I need volunteers to go with Hope, Jinx, and Bronx to the cabin. Know now that I have no clue how long you’ll be gone and we’ll make adjustments here for work and all the other shit,” Vault states, looking around the room as we all remain in our seats and I lock eyes with Bronx across the room.
Bronx accepted becoming a Prospect for the club and in the few weeks since he got his cut, none of us have had a single problem with him. He’s the oldest of our Prospects at twenty-one and the rest of the guys look up to him. They watch his lead and make sure they’re doing everything they have to for us. Bronx anticipates our needs and steps up when he sees someone not moving as fast on a job we’ve assigned them. The guy is all over the damn place and still works full-time at Phantom Auto. I wish I had some of his damn energy.
“I’m goin’. Failed Hope once and I’m not gonna do it again,” Raptor states as he looks directly at me with remorse and guilt filling his eyes.
Hope already told him this wasn’t his fault, but Raptor can’t let go of it. He’s shouldering all of the blame and we’ve all tried to talk to him but he won’t listen. Raptor is going to feel like shit until he believes he’s made up for whatever damage was done to Hope. I know that because it’s what he’s done in the past. Devil knocks into him with his shoulder before whispering something only Raptor can hear. Instead of answering back, I watch as my brother’s best friend steps away from him and ignores whatever was said. Not something you’d usually see happen between my brother and his best friend.
“Okay. Raptor, I’ll take over the store while you’re gone because Chrome can step up at the garage. Who else?” Vault asks, looking around the room as Ghost stands up and makes his way over to me.
“Not lettin’ the VP go without me. I’ll be there with him while Devil remains with you,” he states, remaining behind my seat as if I’m already in danger.
“I’m gonna go too,” Court speaks up from where he’s sitting next to Valor.
“You know I’m not lettin’ my cousin out of my sight. Killer can stay here and know that I’ll be with Jinx to protect Hope from anyone who thinks they can get too close. Dad can keep workin’ on what we’ve been doin’ here and I can take my stuff with me to work while we’re at the cabin. Maybe bring an extra guy with us for when I can’t guard outside,” King says, sitting up in his seat taller as he takes his eyes from the tablet in front of him.
“I can send Deegan with you guys. He’s been doin’ really good and I want to see what he’s like when he’s away from the clubhouse for an extended period of time,” Vault says, looking around the room again until his eyes land on Deegan standing against the wall behind Killer. “You’ve done good on the short runs you’ve been on so far. Now I want to see how you’ll do over longer periods of time. You’ll all be tested like this at one point or another. Right now, it’s Deegan’s turn.”
“I’m gonna go too,” Red speaks up, shocking the hell out of me because I wasn’t expecting him to go with us.
Red is one of the Nomads who chose to stay in Pine View when the rest of them left to meet back up with the Nomad chapter. His reason is that he’s getting too old not to have a stable place to live while always riding from one destination to another. Plus, he fell in love with the small city of Pine View and Vault was happy to keep him on when the others left. I’ve not really sat down and talked to him, but from what I have seen of the man has shown how loyal and protective he is. Red will jump in front of a bullet with no hesitation or questions asked instead of letting someone get hurt when he’s around. He’ll give a person his last dollar and the shirt off his back just because they need it. I’m actually happy he’s going to the cabin with us so I can get to know him more.
“Okay. I think that makes enough of you guys goin’. If for any reason one of you needs to come back to the city, call me and I’ll send up a replacement. We’ll keep workin’ with the Wild Kings to take care of business here and make sure Becker and this hitman are found. At this point, I’d rather gut Becker than turn his family and him over to the authorities. He’s taken so much from Hope and it needs to end. Now, he’s pushin’ her outta her home and away from family because he’s a selfish prick who can’t stand to be told no by a woman. Fuckin’ asshole!” Vault states, his voice hard and cold as he looks around the room and glares at us all.
No, Vault isn’t mad at us. He’s pissed about the situation and wants it to end so Hope can come home and be with her family. I’m done letting pricks like him take what they want and think nothing will be done about that shit.
“Becker is mine!” Killer states, his voice barely more than a growl as he stares Vault down with a purely evil look on his face. “The only one who will fuckin’ get his hands on Becker besides me is Jinx. You all know he’s gonna claim my girl as his ol’ lady and therefore it gives him more right to Becker than me. Jinx, I’m not gonna take away you gettin’ your pound of flesh from him, but I’m gonna be right there with you when it happens.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way. I need to get back to Hope. I’ve been gone too long,” I say, getting out of my chair as Ghost steps aside to give me room. “If anythin’ else is discussed let me know.”
Devil and our dad follow me out to the hallway and stop me a few feet from the door. Turning to face them, I realize I’m gonna need a bag packed to go to the cabin and that will take me away from Hope for way too long.
“Can you guys pack me a bag of clothes and shit to take to the cabin? I really don’t wanna leave Hope for the length of time it will take to do that shit,” I ask them as my dad looks at me with a smile on his face.
“You’re all fuckin’ in with her already and she still hasn’t let you explain shit to her,” my dad says, his voice letting me know he’s proud of me despite not being able to say the words.
“I am. She’s bein’ stalked, was shot, and we don’t know how much time any of us have on Earth. So, I’m not gonna waste any more time when it comes to her and where I want our relationship to go. Hope is mine and no one will take her from me,” I state, looking between my brother and dad.
“Are you sure you really wanna tie yourself to one piece of ass for the rest of your life?” my brother questions me and it takes everything to not punch him in the fucking face talking about Hope like that.
“First of all, don’t you ever talk about Hope like that again. We grew up with her and she’s been with us every fuckin’ day. I don’t give a fuck if she didn’t grow up in the club, Devil. You don’t fuckin’ talk about women like that. No wonder you can’t get a girl of your own. You’re such a fuckin’ asshole. Secondly, I’ve never had sex before so I have no problem with Hope bein’ the only woman I fuck for my entire life. I will give her every fuckin’ piece of me and know that she’ll do the same in return. I love her and have fallen in love with her slowly over the last several years. If you can’t see what an amazin’ woman she is and how huge her heart is, then you need to go see a fuckin’ doctor, Devil,” I state, anger coursing through me with the thought of him talking shit about my girl or even thinking those kinds of things about any woman he comes into contact with.
“I know she is, Jinx. Just makin’ sure that you’re really in this for the right reasons and not because you feel some kind of way about her almost dyin’ a few weeks ago. We all know you’ve had the biggest crush on her forever. If you weren’t in this for the right reasons, I wasn’t gonna let you go any further with her. I love you and you’ll always be my brother, but Hope is one of the best girls I’ve ever met in my life and I’d be lucky if I can ever find a woman who is half as great as she is. All of us would. I’m glad to see that you’re truly in love with Hope,” Devil says, shocking the hell out of me because I’m beginning to see there’s more to my brother than what I originally thought there would be.
Taking a deep breath to force the anger away, I look at my brother as our dad starts laughing at the two of us.
“You two will never change,” he says, laughter filling his voice as I start to walk away from the two of them. “And I wouldn’t ever want you to. Love you boys and I’ll always be here for both of you.”
Walking to the door of Hope’s room, I don’t hesitate to open it and walk in. Gwen and Kim are sitting with her and they’re all laughing. Hope is holding a pillow against her stomach and I can see the pain in her eyes as she looks over at me.
“What kind of party are you girls havin’ in here?” I ask, walking up and pressing a kiss against the top of Hope’s head as Kim and Gwen watch me closely.
“We’re just talking about how stupid guys are,” Kim says, laughing some more. “You all take your sweet ass time figuring out what you want and then still don’t do anything about it until the absolute last possible second. I think you know something about that, Jinx.”
“You’re right, I do. I’ve been a fuckin’ idiot and I will apologize and make up for it every day for the rest of our lives,” I tell them as I walk to the end of Hope’s bed and lean against the wall under the TV.
“Good. You better treat my niece better than a damn queen or you won’t have to worry about Killer and the boys taking your ass out. Gwen and I will be worse than anything you’ve ever heard. We take ‘mama bear’ to the extreme when you fuck with our girls. Got that, Jinx?” Kim asks me and I’m not gonna lie, she scares me sometimes. Honestly, I think my balls just shriveled up and disappeared.
“Not gonna treat her as anythin’ less than that, Kim. You got nothin’ to worry about when it comes to me,” I say, trying to adjust my stance while protecting my balls as the girls all start laughing their asses off once more.
I’m glad to see Hope laughing again. Even if it’s at my expense. At that exact moment, Killer and Fox walk in the room with King trailing along behind them.
“What’s goin’ on in here?” Killer asks as he looks between the four of us with confusion filling his face.
“Well, I think Jinx is gonna go through puberty again,” Gwen says as they all start laughing once more. “Kim just scared the shit out of him and now he’s protecting his lower area.”
The guys laugh as I lean deeper into the wall and fold my arms over my chest.
“I can see that happenin’. Been scared that much a time or two in my life when my mom’s not happy,” King says, standing next to me as he looks at his mom with nothing but love in his eyes. “Love you, Mom. But you really gotta stop scarin’ the hell out of the guys. We know you’re a badass, but Jinx isn’t gonna hurt Hope.”
“Just making sure my niece is treated well by him. It’s been years in the making and if Jinx can’t stand up to an old woman like me, then he doesn’t deserve Hope,” Kim says, completely unphased in her words or the way she’s glaring at me.
“Baby, you gotta stop this shit. He’s already gotta deal with Killer and his attitude when it comes to the girls. Jinx doesn’t need you addin’ to that shit before anythin’ has really happened between the two of them,” Fox says as he pulls his wife out of her chair and sits down before pulling her onto his lap and holding her close as he nuzzles his face into her neck.
“Killer isn’t gonna do shit to him if Hope doesn’t want him to,” Kim grumbles as she looks at her brother-in-law who is picking his wife up and putting her in his lap.
“Why do you say that?” Killer asks, his voice a low growl as he looks over Gwen’s shoulder at Kim.
It’s always entertaining to watch these four together. Kim is unpredictable and harsh, Killer is silent and deadly for the most part, Gwen is shy and reserved, while Fox is usually lost in his own head. Get all four of them together and sparks usually fly because Kim is always goading Killer and he takes the bait every single time. Gwen and Fox are like the rest of us and just sit back to watch the entertainment.
“Because it’s the truth. There are only three people in this world who can stop you from doing anything. Two of them are in this room. Faith is back at the clubhouse getting her sister’s bag ready to go. If Hope tells you to leave Jinx alone and let them fumble their own way through a relationship, that’s what you’re gonna do because your girls always get what they want,” Kim says as the rest of us nod in agreement with her.
“Aunt Kim isn’t wrong, Dad. We all know all we have to do is give you some puppy dog eyes, add in a few tears, and you won’t do whatever it is you’re hellbent on doing. I’ve used it over the years and I know Mom has too. Faith hasn’t used it as much, but she has when she’s really wanted something. You give in every single time and don’t even realize what we’ve done,” Hope says, laughter filling her voice as Killer’s jaw drops in shock and he thinks back over the years to when his girls have wanted something.
“Son-of-a-bitch!” he finally explodes as Gwen wraps her arms tighter around his neck and starts laughing harder with the rest of us. “You’ve all fucked up now, though. Now I know what you’re doin’ so it won’t work.”
“Yeah, it will,” Kim states while trying to stop laughing. “You can’t help yourself, Killer. These three girls will always come first with you and now that you’re actually letting them go to live their lives, you’ll fall for it even harder than before.”
“Motherfucker!” he mumbles while hiding his face in Gwen’s neck.
For the rest of the day, we all hang out in Hope’s room. Faith comes in around lunch time with some food from Shy and the rest of the ol’ ladies. Hope eats it faster than anything else she’s eaten since waking up. I can’t blame her because the food here is decent, but it’s nothing compared to the food the ol’ ladies make. Hope hasn’t had any of it until today. Dr. Smythe is starting to lift the soft food mandate he put on her diet a few days ago when she woke up. He wants her to start eating more foods that will add on some of the weight she lost while in a coma. Today, the ol’ ladies made her favorites. She’s got macaroni and cheese that’s homemade, a chocolate shake, and biscuits that Annabell makes from scratch. For dinner she’s getting Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Hope’s mouth is already watering with the thought of another favorite meal.
I remain against the wall most of the day and just watch Hope as she interacts with everyone. Her smile lights up the dim hospital room and her laughter is soft and melodic when she isn’t trying to force it down to keep from hurting herself. When she looks at her parents, it’s with nothing less than pure love. I love that she’s so open and free with them no matter who’s around. All day I remain against the wall until everyone leaves for the night and I can finally move over next to the bed. As Hope falls asleep, I lace our fingers together and rest my head by our linked hands after pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand.
“I’ve got you, Sweet Girl. I’ll keep the demons away while you sleep,” I whisper to her as sleep finally pulls her under and she sighs.