Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
JACK
I toss the rag onto the floor and step back from my bike.
She is shining in the sun, looking fucking sexy as hell. Most brothers have a prospect to clean their bikes, but I am super fussy when it comes to mine. I hate anyone else touching her.
We were always taught to use the prospects for shitty things around the club, because they have to learn how the club works. Pres has to see if they are loyal and will not piss and moan about what they are asked to do.
We have had some whiny ass bitches over the years, but we have also had men who proved their worth of being a Rugged Skull. Some have moved on, but I am thinking that our two new prospects will stick around.
I know that Lilith has a connection to Logan.
“Jack. Come and eat.” My mom’s voice carries through the yard.
“Coming.”
I wave to some of the Ol’ Ladies who are sitting around talking. I step close to Tree who is holding my new nephew, and I lean down to kiss her cheek before kissing his head, inhaling his new baby smell.
“I hope you ladies are behaving.” I grin at them.
Kady mock gasps like I actually offended her.
“I do not like that you are insinuating that we do not know how to behave ourselves.”
I arch a brow at her, and she winks at me.
“I know what you are all like, making plans, being cunning around your invisible cauldron.”
“Cheeky fucker,” she calls after me.
Pushing through the door into the kitchen, I see my mom packing up Tupperware boxes full of leftovers. She always makes me take some home for me and Dom, even though she is the one who taught me how to cook, saying that Dom was my responsibility and I had to learn to cook him home-cooked meals and not just buy him chicken nuggets and fries for every meal.
“That plate is yours.” She points to a plate that is piled high with creamy mac and cheese, sliced up chicken fillet, and a side salad. “I am boxing the leftovers up for anyone who might feel snacky after.”
“Sounds good, Mom. I know Lil will be starving when she comes home,” I say, then dig in.
“Things good with you two?” Mom asks me, and I nod.
“Yeah. She loves Dom, and he her. They click, ya know.” I stuff more food into my mouth.
My mom is leaning against the kitchen counter, looking at me like she is assessing me, looking for what I have no clue. Who the fuck knows when it comes to Risky. She is the best mom ever, and I know that I am biased but fuck me, we won’t talk about all the shit Royal and me got away with when we were younger because of her.
“I think she is good for you. Lilith was always quiet and shy when she came to visit but I saw how she looked at you, baby. It was like you hung the moon for her. Lilith Cullen needs romance in her life, not always the rough biker you were brought up with. Date her, sweet talk her, and keep her happy. If you know what I mean.” She winks at me.
“Jesus, Mom.” She laughs, but it sounds more like a cackle.
I finish up eating, taking a drink of the bottled water my mom placed next to my plate, and my phone rings.
Seeing my neighbor’s name flash, I answer it.
“Denise, is everything okay?”
“Oh, Jack, I have already called 911, and they are on their way. Some kids pulled up outside your house on bicycles and started shooting at the house. It was only after they stopped and left, did I notice that they were shooting paintballs at your home. Some of your windows have been smashed, Jack. Oh, it is such a mess,” she explains.
“Fuck.” My blood boils. “I am on my way, Denise.” I hang up, my mom sensing something has happened.
“What’s happened? Is Dom okay? Lilith?” My heart fucking soars hearing her concern for Lilith.
I step to her, kissing the top of her head.
“Some kids shot at the house with paintballs. Windows are broken, and it is a fucking mess. I have to go.”
“It is the ex, isn’t it?” Mom asks.
“Yeah,” I confirm.
There is no point keeping shit from her; after all these years of her being with my dad, he keeps very little from her unless it puts her in danger.
“If that fucker hurts my grandson and the future mother of my other grandchildren, I will cut his balls off with my bluntest knife and feed them to him.”
My balls disappear up into my body at her threat, even if it is toward another man.
“Jesus, Mom. I am going to check out my house and see if Lilith is ready to close up. Maybe I can take her on a date.” I wink.
“Take some of the boys with you and let me know. Me and your father will keep Dom for the night.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I leave her in the kitchen, marching through the main room.
I see some of the guys and call out to them.
“Need back up. Some little cunts just shot paintballs at my house.”
“Same MO as the shit that happened to Lil’s place,” Travis states as we walk outside.
Finan, Travis, and Lennox follow me.
“Yeah.”
We mount up and ride to my house. I do not live far from the club; my parents wanted me as close as possible but far enough away so that me and Dom could take a break from the club life. Dom, like me and the guys, breathes for the club but I want him to experience being a kid outside of the club life also.
When the time comes, he will be given an option to prospect, or not. Back in the day, Lash’s and Sweets’ kids decided to not prospect and they all have great careers. Lash transferred to another club to be close to his kids, Sweets was missing them too much, then the grandkids started arriving.
Police are already at my house when we arrive. I shut off my bike and climb off, walking over to Cal and his deputies.
“Fuck, Jack. Sorry, brother. All of the front windows have been shot out. The forensic guys have picked up some of the paintballs and they have fucking metal pellets in them. If you were home, with Dom and Lilith, you guys would have been hurt.”
“Any idea of who the little shits were?” I hear Travis ask as I step close to my house.
My heart seizes in my chest and my blood runs cold when I see, right there on the wall, Dom’s name written using the paintballs.
“Fucking hell, brother.” Finan steps to me. “Breathe, Jack. Dom is safe; he is at the club. Everyone will be watching him. He is safe.”
“Jack, I have my guys canvasing to see if anyone has doorbell cameras or some security cameras. Yours were shot down. Where are Dom and Lilith?”
“Dom is at the club. Lilith is at work; I have two prospects on her.” Cal nods.
“You think this is linked to her ex?”
“Yeah,” I reply to Cal’s question. “But he has gone too fucking far this time. It was bad enough coming for my girl, but now targeting my son. He just signed his death sentence.” My fists clench at my sides as I growl the words.
“Best not be saying shit like that when I am in uniform, Jack,” Cal states, looking around and making sure that only my brothers are close by.
He may wear this uniform, but he is a part of the club now that he got claimed by Maverick and their woman, Darcy. They were made for each other; I love their dynamic. He may be the law, but he is also a Rugged Skull, and he will protect his family when called upon.
“Fucker will meet his end, Cal. He came after my woman and kid. No one hurts what’s mine.”
His eyes hold mine firmly; he knows that I am protective of what is mine. I may be one of the quieter ones of the club, but I am a fucking beast when I need to be. Do not fucking cross me, especially when it comes to my son.
“I have called the guy Pres uses to patch shit up. He is bringing some sheets of wood to board the windows up until they can get fixed. Doubt the insurance will cover this, brother,” Lennox explains, and I nod to him in appreciation.
“I need to see inside, Cal. Am I clear to do that?”
“Not yet. They will collect some evidence from inside of the property to add to what they already have. We need to build a case here, Jack. This prick cannot get away with tormenting a woman over the fact that she left him, after she caught him sticking his dick in her cousin. His ego must be the size of the Grand Canyon.”
“Oh, he is one cocky son of a cunt,” Lennox pipes up. “Maverick looked into his family, and apparently, they are just as bad as he is. Fuck, so is Lilith’s family, except her father.”
“Rich people think they can do what they want, fuck the consequences,” Travis adds.
I sigh and look back to my house. It looks like it has been left empty for years, with all the paint and broken shit everywhere. This was my sanctuary, with my son, and they just fucked with that. These kids may be paid off by this cunt cop, but they had a choice to say no.
“I need to get to Lilith. Make sure she is okay.” No sooner do I say that, my phone rings.
My stomach knots, seeing that it is Logan, the prospect, on my girl.
“Logan, speak to me.”
“We are heading to the clubhouse now. The fucker managed to corner Lilith at the back of her shop. Fuck, I am sorry, Jack.”
My blood turns to lava at hearing that cunt got his hands on Lilith, even with two people watching over her.
“Get there fast, for fuck’s sake. I will meet you there,” I snap, then hang up. “Fuck me, this day gets better and fucking better,” I growl.
Arching my back, my face pointing toward the sky, I let out a roar, letting all the tension leave my body in one cry. My lungs scream for oxygen as I keep letting the noise escape from within me. It is like a demon is being expelled from me, but I need it, it feels fucking good.
“Shit, this is bad,” I hear Travis murmur.
“What do you mean?” Cal inquires.
“When Jack bellows like that it means that he has been keeping shit locked up. People think that he is quiet and sweet and all that jazz, but this motherfucker can be a beast when he needs to be, and by the looks of it, the beast may be coming out to play,” Finan explains.
“It doesn’t happen often but when it does, he is on a mission.”
I come out of my rage and look to the men who stand around me.
“That cunt cop got to Lilith at Wicked Sugar. The prospects are taking her to the club, and we are meeting them there.” I march away after I finish explaining, then mount my bike but before I fire her up, I look to Cal, who is slowly walking toward me.
“Once I find him, the world will be one dirty cop down, and a better place for it.”
Cal nods. “I hear you, Jack. Now go to your girl. Have Mav keep me posted.”
The roar of our bikes fills the air as we head back to the club after one more look at my destroyed house. I have the money to repair everything, not giving a flying fuck about whether the insurance will pay out or not.
Being a Rugged Skull has its perks, but being a Rugged Hunter is even better on the bank.
When we arrive at the club, the gate slides open, letting us pass and we slide our bikes into the correct formation before turning off the engines. My blood pumps readily through my veins in anticipation of seeing Lilith. Did that fucker hurt her? Did he mark her creamy skin?
He will pay for this shit. No cop is safe when you hurt a Rugged Skull.
Storming through the doors, I catch sight of my girl, and she is crying, her body curled against my mother.
My mother says something to her and she lifts her head. Her gaze connects with mine, and in a flash, she is across the room and in my arms.
My heart is beating so fucking fast, I am surprised it is still locked in my chest. Holding Lilith to me, my body relaxes some. Her scent hits my senses and I moan, happy that she is okay and with me.
“Jack,” my father calls my name, and I lift my head to look at him when he steps to us.
“Prospect, tell us what the fuck happened and how the hell the bastard was able to get close to her.”
“Jodie is on her way,” I hear Opal say.
“Why is Jodie coming?” I pull back, looking down at my girl. “Baby, are you hurt?”
She nods her head, her gaze dropping to the floor.
“I want to say this first. Logan is not to blame, neither of the prospects are.” Growls fill the room, and I look over her head, seeing Sarge glaring down at both men in question.
“We will see, baby.”