Chapter 43
CHAPTER
FORTY-THREE
LUKE
I caught him up on everything. He didn’t interrupt me. He only sat there and listened intently to everything I shared with him.
Rubbing the back of my head, I inhaled a deep breath. Finally putting this story to end, I was free to do whatever the hell I wanted and what I wanted was out of this life. The press had a fucking field day with the news of what supposedly went down.
The story was easy to sell, which would earn us a death sentence for all the souls I collected. Even without my help, Sloan would have had enough evidence to take him down. Seeing the photos of the injuries he caused made me sick to my stomach.
The amount of pain he inflicted would forever haunt her, but she wasn’t taking sleeping pills to pass out at night, and I owed that to her demons finally being laid to rest. I was trying to do the same, and my old man was my last stop.
We didn’t involve Sloan in any of the plan. To the world, no one knew she was Del Toro’s daughter, and she wanted to keep it that way. For the first few days, news reporters wouldn’t leave my house. They all wanted an interview with me about taking down Vicente Del Toro.
Eating up the fact I was Creed Jameson’s son.
Meeting his disappointed stare, I confessed, “For the first time in my life, I’m on the straight and narrow, and I wanted you to be the first person I told.”
“You’re a grown-ass man, Luke. There’s not much I can scold you for, but what I can tell ya is how much it woulda killed your mother and I if somethin’ were to happen to you. Please tell me you know that, right?”
“I never gave it too much thought. If I did, I would have left a long time ago.”
“You doin’ okay? I don’t want you watchin’ over your shoulder for the rest of your life.”
“I’m as safe as I’m gonna be.”
“Which is what?”
“Sloan’s brothers are runnin’ my territories now.”
“I see. Is this for the girl?”
“No.” I shook my head. “It’s for me. It’s time to move, and the more I think about it, the further I’m convinced I should have done it a long time ago.”
“Why would you want to involve yourself in that world? After everythin’ you know I went through with your mom?” He bowed his head for a second. “What did I do wrong?”
“I hate that my shitty decisions are makin’ you question your role in my life. If anythin’, I wanted to be just like you.”
He sighed deeply, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts. “I always knew you were gettin’ your hands dirty. I just didn’t think you’d go that far down the rabbit hole.”
“Just to be clear, the rabbit hole is about the only thing I didn’t involve myself in.”
He knew I meant trafficking.
“What am I goin’ to tell your mother? You know I can’t keep shit from her. You’ve put me in a tight spot.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that. I can’t change the past. I honestly don’t have many answers for you other than I got addicted to the thrill of it all. In my mind, I guess I thought I was legacy or some shit. It started off as one thing, and when I got away with it, it became another thing all on its own. I guess I got addicted to the lifestyle. It was never about the money although I do have a shit ton of it. I invested it wisely, and I’m set for life.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I feel like I’ve finally found what I’ve been missin’, and maybe that was the point of all this. To find her.”
“That’s one fucked-up love story.”
“Takes one to know one.”
He chuckled, aware I was right.
“She’s a pretty girl. She young enough to be your daughter?”
“Not unless I had her when I was sixteen.”
“Hmm…” he hummed. “I guess a younger woman is in our blood.”
“Touche.”
We had a bond that I didn’t want to give up. I was done with the illegal bullshit. Especially the bloodshed.
“What I’m tryin’ to say is that I may not have been born into that world, but it still felt like I had to be part of it. Now I know more than anythin’ that family is the most important thing.”
Meaning every last word.
SLOAN
“Oh my God!” I recognized Luke’s sister, Harley. “My brother finally brought a girl home, and she’s gorgeous.” She pulled me into a tight embrace.
His family had a way of making you feel so comfortable and loved. It was as if I stepped into an episode of Pleasantville . Everyone was beyond welcoming. No one made me feel like an outsider or a stranger. I felt like I’d known them my entire life.
Being around his loved ones made me realize how much I wish that my childhood would have been like this. I could have actually experienced the love of both my parents, who were still madly in love with each other like Luke’s mom and dad.
I watched the way he looked at her. It was the same way his son looked at me. It was crazy how much Luke and his father looked alike. They were the spitting image of one another. I definitely could tell they were father and son.
The longer I was around his family, the more I began to understand why Luke was so affectionate. I think I saw his mom give him at least fifteen hugs throughout the day. She was captivated by her son, and it was a beautiful thing to see. Their devotion was special, and I knew their dynamic was genuine.
I felt at ease as I was introduced to everyone. Trying to keep track of each of their names. However, my saving grace was that a lot of the men were wearing leather vests with their names already stitched on them. Along with the club’s name, End of the Road.
I laughed so hard when I read the back of a little girl’s vest, engraved with Property of my daddy .
“I love your heart sunglasses,” I said to Harley.
She cheekily smiled, only looking at her husband, Jackson, who was standing beside her. “They’re my Jackson blockers.”
He tugged her in for a kiss, and I smiled.
There had to be a story there…
His mom chimed in, “How’s it been with my son?”
My eyebrows rose. “Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one.”
“He’s always been his daddy’s son.”
I smiled again. “I’m starting to see that.”
“I could never for the life of me control that boy. He’s exactly like his father, and sometimes I feel like he might be worse.”
She knew more than she led on.
I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with everyone, shooting the shit, immediately feeling as if I was one of them. It was nice to feel like I was a part of their group and their family; I need that for my soul. Never having it to begin with.
“Sloan!” Skyler, his uncle Noah’s wife, shouted from her raft floating around the pool and a cocktail in hand. Shaking her free arm, she tried to get my attention.
“Keep bouncin’ those tits, and watch how fast I burn that bikini!” Noah hollered.
Everyone laughed, but Skyler didn’t pay her husband any mind. “Come play volleyball with us!” she invited.
“Okay! Give me a second!” Walking over to grab my tote I left beside one of the loungers, I went to the bathroom and changed into a white bikini, realizing at the last second it was kind of small.
“Shit…” I looked in the mirror.
My breasts were full on display, and my ass was barely covered.
“How did I not think about buying a new bikini for this?”
I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter since I already agreed to play. It would look weird if I backed out now. Putting all my items securely in my bag, I made my way to the same lounger to leave my stuff.
I scanned the pool area, immediately feeling men’s eyes on me. Especially the one who’d have something to say about it. Pretending I wasn’t fazed, I was about to stand to walk toward the pool, but Luke was suddenly in my face.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
His heady yet pissed-off expression quickly took residence on his face.
“Are you tryin’ to get me arrested?”
I shrugged, giving him a little turn. “Don’t you like it? I bought it for you,” I lied.
“This isn’t the time or place to be modelin’ it to me.”
I smiled, throwing my arms around his neck. “But I’m such a good girl.”
He spanked my ass, causing me to softly welp into his mouth.
“You’re makin’ me hard.” He bit my neck.
“Damn, girl!” Briggs, one of the other wives, whistled. “Your booty is nice!”
“Oh God, look at you! You look amazing!” And she did. She was covered in tattoos and had the brightest purple hair I’d ever seen.
I felt like we’d have a lot in common, and I was looking forward to getting to know her.
“You do, baby,” her husband, Austin, agreed, slapping her ass.
Like I said, affection was something that wasn’t lost on this family, and I loved that more than anything. Before Luke continued, I jumped in the pool, letting the refreshing water take me under before resurfacing, only to have water shot in my face.
“Luke!”
“Oh, come on, darlin’. You’re already wet!” he yelled with the water gun in his hand.
“Leave that girl alone!” his mom reprimanded from across the pool.
“Never!” he argued, lighting me up and making me laugh my ass off.
It was so nice to feel so carefree. I loved every second of that day. It was by far my favorite I’ve spent with him. Everyone started eating, sitting around on the picnic tables anywhere they could find a spot.
I threw on a pair of jean shorts I brought and walked into the house. His mom was mixing a salad bowl, and I asked her what I could do to help.
“You can hand me the pepper over there.”
I did.
“Are you having fun?”
“Yes, I’m having a blast. Thank you so much for inviting me. Your family… it’s… wow… it’s very special. You’re very lucky to have this much love around you. It’s inspiring.”
Her gaze shifted to me. “I know. There isn’t a day I take it for granted. My kids, my family, they’re everything to me. All I’ve ever wanted is for Luke to find a nice girl to settle down with. I’m glad he has someone who obviously makes him really happy. It’s the first time he’s ever brought a woman home to meet us.”
I jerked back. “Really?”
“Oh yeah. Luke has always been private with his life. Even as a kid. It was hard to know what he was thinking or feeling, but eventually, he’d figure it out on his own. It might take him some time, though he knows the road to home.”
“He speaks so highly of you. I’ve never heard someone talk about their parents like he does about you guys. He’s very proud to be your son.”
“I’m very proud to have him as mine.”
“I just want you to know that I…” I bowed my head for a second. I never expected her to call me out when she asked…“You love him don’t you?”