Chapter 69
JACK
Afew days after the arrests, Jessi came forward and told the full story.
Her bravery gave a few more girls the courage to tell theirs as well.
Austin and David have charges that are a mile long.
Their attorneys advised them both to take a plea deal.
David is going away for twenty-five years and Austin for fifteen.
I’m thankful Jessi no longer needs to be afraid of them.
But I know that she still worries about her dad.
He kicked Shannon out when she got home, and when he did, she tried to blame everything on Jessi.
It took Jeremy almost a month after Shannon moved out to extend an olive branch to Jessi.
Jessi hates the idea that Jeremy’s alone, so the two of them are trying to mend their broken relationship.
I hope they can, but I won’t let her fall into the responsibility of bearing the burden of everyone’s problems.
Today is the grand reopening of the shop and club.
Everyone in town pitched in to help get it back and running quickly.
But it’s been a mad dash to the finish. Still, it’s comforting to know we have everyone’s support.
Over the years, I’ve questioned some choices I’ve made while working at the club.
Sometimes you need to be the villain to protect the ones you love.
But I wouldn’t change my path for anything.
It all brought Jessi into my life, and for that I’m grateful.
Becky flew in for the event too, though I suspect she also wanted to see Kade, considering he’s with her today.
Turns out Kade might be more than a weekend fling for her after all.
I understand attraction doesn’t judge and love can smooth rough edges, but Kade is involved in some of the most violent shit with the club—shit that can bring danger to people close to him.
He has to end things with her if he wants my vote to patch him into the MC.
Jessi is running around the club, trying to make everything perfect. My heart stops when she looks at me and smiles. God. I never knew that I could love someone so much.
Through the window, I spot her dad wandering the parking lot, so I head out to him.
“Jessi invited me,” he says before I can get a word out.
“Listen,” I say, “if the situation was reversed, I’d want to punch me.
However, I love your daughter. I’d do anything to protect her and make her happy.
I’ll take care of her for as long as she’ll let me.
I want to ask her to marry me tonight. I know that it’s soon and she’s young, but she’s it for me.
I think and hope she feels the same. I’ll support her and give her anything she wants.
I want nothing more than for her to enjoy her twenties, however she chooses.
But still, I’d love if you could give me your blessing. It would mean the world to her. To us.”
Jeremy kicks the dirt a few times, his eyes unable to meet mine.
“I’m not happy, and I don’t love the idea.
It will take some time for me to come to terms with this, but I can recognize that you protected her when I was too busy, withdrawn, and distracted.
For that, I will always be in your debt.
You have already proven yourself capable of taking care of her, and I can see how happy she is with you.
I don’t want to lose her. If I make her choose, she will choose you.
If you will have me here, I would love to be a part of such an important moment in my daughter’s life. ”
“Thank you,” I say.
“Thanks for loving Jessi.” He shakes my hand before ducking inside.
I follow him, and my eyes instantly veer toward Jessi again.
Her gaze ping-pongs from me to her dad and then back to me.
I know her well enough to know she’s holding her breath with worry, so I give a thumbs-up.
Then I rush over to her, pick her up, and twirl her around.
She kisses me like we’re the only two in the room.
Well, no turning back now, I think as I set her down and stare into her beautiful face, memorizing every inch of it. Let’s hope she likes surprise proposals.