Chapter Seven.
Magic
“Jody spoke to a girl?” I asked.
“Sounded like a teenager.” Diesel nodded.
“And Oskar and Lars had been in a fight? Are they all her kids?” I demanded. Which two were mine? Had Jody given birth to our twins, or had something happened? Whose was the other child? Too many questions and not enough answers.
“How did she look? All mom’d up?” I said with a smirk. I expected the answer to be yes, but Onyx indicated no.
“Magic, hate to say this, but Jody aged well. She’s beautiful, and considering she’s a mother of three kids, she looked after her figure. One wouldn’t guess she has children.”
I sent Onyx a dirty glance. “Jody has no right looking hot if she’s a mom.”
Alice whacked me over the head, and I glowered as she snapped. “A parent can’t be desirable?”
I took heed of Alice’s tone. “You’re my adopted daughter. You’re never sexy to me. Don’t even consider knocking her up!” I snarled at Diesel, who laughed.
“Dude, we’ve got kids,” he taunted, and I reached out and smacked Diesel around the head. Shithead would learn one day. Alice was innocent, and Diesel wouldn’t defile her. Those babies had been created by immaculate conception.
“Jody. She looked well?” I pressed.
“Yes. She’ll be in sometime today,” Onyx replied.
“When?”
“Jody didn’t say, just rushed out. Sounds like two are scrappy,” Onyx stated.
Those must be my sons. If they were fighting, my genes were dominant.
“Magic. Jody wore a wedding ring,” Alice said softly, and pain lanced through me. I got control again before anyone realised what those words had done to me. Never show weakness was my mantra.
“So?” I replied calmly.
“Thought you ought to know. Magic, who is she?” Alice asked, concerned.
“Jody Srock is trouble, head to toe. Do not trust or believe her. Jody stole from me—something precious. When Jody comes back, don’t let that bitch leave until I talk to her.”
“That won’t be a fuckin’ problem, Magic, especially as you have something of mine,” Jody said from behind, and I stiffened. I didn’t need to turn around to check it was her. Her voice was the same. Smooth velvet with a hint of huskiness.
I took a few moments, while no doubt Jody tapped a foot in irritation, before I turned. Jody was older, with a fuller figure, but just as curvy. Well-worn jeans clung to thick thighs, and I remembered what it was like to be between them. My cock began responding even as I willed it down.
Jody’s hair was longer, hanging to mid-shoulder length, and was a smooth, glossy brunette.
There was no grey; Jody either dyed it or was lucky.
Her tits were larger; had they grown because of the pregnancy and never shrunk?
She was short, five feet three at the most, although she wore four-inch heels.
Jody’s waist remained as tiny as I remembered, and I wondered if my hands still fit around it.
Laughter lines framed Jody’s eyes, and I could tell she’d had a good life. And there was a damn wedding ring.
“Finished checking me over? Magic, I’ve somewhere to be,” Jody said, and I saw the fire in her. That had never dulled, apparently. She was also guarded and wary. I recognised that in the way she held herself.
“What do you want?” I demanded. And before I could stop myself, “Where are my kids, you goddamn bitch?”
That set Jody’s temper off. “Yours? The babies you didn’t want? Yeah, those unwanted children don’t exist,” she snapped.
Hurt, I flinched.
“You had an abortion?” I gasped as pain raced through me.
Jody offered a disgusted look. “What do you think I am? Actually, don’t bother answering. I’ve no intention of entertaining the peanut gallery. Aunt Shirley gave you a key; I want it.”
“Shirley?” I said, trying to keep up.
“Don’t play fuckin’ dumb, Magic, because I know better. Aunt Shirley sent it a year ago, and I need it.”
“You’re here for a key?” I asked, confused. What about my twins? What did Jody mean by ‘those kids didn’t exist’? If she hadn’t aborted them, what had happened? Panicked, I paled, and now Jody frowned.
“You miscarried?” I pressed, needing answers.
“Can we stay on topic? Magic, give me the key.”
What was Jody on about? A faint memory poked at me: about a year ago, I’d received a safety deposit key.
It had arrived with a note to keep it safe and that someday someone would come for it.
Me being me, and being a perverse fucker, I’d thrown it in a drawer and forgotten about it.
Apparently, I had an answer to that mystery: Shirley had been behind it.
“Tell Shirley to come and fetch it,” I retorted spicily.
This wasn’t how I dreamed of seeing Jody again.
I’d pictured Jody begging, pleading for my forgiveness and listening as I explained what had happened.
Tears would have streamed down Jody’s face as she realised she’d been impatient and cost us everything.
This wasn’t the version of Jody I’d imagined.
“Shirley’s dead. She died a few months ago after… Magic, the key, please.” Pain erupted from Jody, and it was tangible.
“Bitch, I wanted my kids, now you understand what it is to want,” I snapped back angrily.
“You fuckin’ liar!” Jody exploded. Her fists opened and closed, and I wondered if she was considering punching me. But I’d unlocked the floodgates, and Jody let rip.
“Several times I tried telling you, but you kept shutting me down. How dare you stand there and lie to my face? Magic, you knew before me that I was pregnant and turned against me. The day I learned about the twins, I came to the yard. Remember that? ‘Not now! Christ, Jody, you’ll get me fired!’ Those were your words when I said it was important.
And that evening, does this ring a bell?
‘You aren’t my equal. We’re not even on the same level, Jody. Know your place, and I’ll know mine.’
“For a fortnight, I tried to tell you I was pregnant, and you didn’t listen to anything.
I begged you to attend that doctor’s appointment, and do you remember your reply, Magic?
Because I do, word for word. How about this?
‘For fuck’s sake, Jody! I said I’ll try’ when I told you how important the appointment was.
Or perhaps, ‘I have shit going on…’ or even better, and this was epic, ‘Not everything is about you, Jody.’
“Don’t stand there in front of your friends, staff, and the fuckin’ peanut gallery and pretend you were the innocent party,” Jody snarled. “Magic, I want Shirley’s key. Now!”
“Jody, you got a lot of stuff wrong, and you never let me explain.” I was fully prepared to argue. Jody was taking words and twisting them.
“The fuck I didn’t. ‘Not everything is about you, Jody.’ Something every pregnant and scared woman needs to hear.
Plus, you didn’t come home that night. Probably shacked up with some cheap whore.
Don’t worry. My husband did a wonderful job of loving and nurturing my kids,” Jody spat, and I reeled inwardly.
Was some other guy raising my children?
“They call him Dad?” I whispered. That was a stab to the heart.
“Why not? Vulcan was their daddy,” Jody said without an ounce of spite. I physically flinched. Another man had raised my kids and was their dad.
“Magic, I’m not here to dig into the past. It’s done and dusted.
We’ve both experienced a lot of shit, and there’s never any do-overs.
If you’re really worried,” and Jody sounded like she doubted that, “the twins have a good life and are loved and doted upon. Vulcan was an amazing man. Please, Magic, now that you’ve filled everyone’s mouths with a shitload of gossip, can I have Shirley’s key? ”
“Jody, I’ve no idea where it is.”
“I see. Spite is the path you’re choosing. Fine, Magic, enjoy your resentment,” Jody shot back and turned on her heel.
“Wait. I actually do mean I’ve misplaced it. Give me a few days, and I’ll find it. What’s your address?”
“I’ll be back in four days. Is that enough time?” Jody asked.
“Don’t want me confusing the children?” I demanded, feeling a pang of bitterness.
“The twins understand you’re their sperm donor. But believe me, they’re fully aware of who their dad is. Don’t even think of starting shit with them.”
With that, Jody turned and marched out. Eyes bored into the back of my head, and Alice appeared.
“You want to tell me something, asshole?” Alice snapped, hurt in her voice. Aw hell. Here we go.
Jody
Magic was as gorgeous as I remembered, and time had been kind to him.
He was as big as ever, and his eyes told me he’d lived.
I wondered what he’d been through, but that wasn’t my business.
I was shocked, though, that Magic remained in close contact with Onyx.
Had Magic joined their club? Although he wore a cut, I’d not seen patches on it linking him to Riders of Vengeance.
The drive home was filled with unanswered questions.
“Did you see him?” Lars demanded as I entered Crook House.
“Yes.”
“Did he give you the key?” Laila asked.
“He said he’d put it somewhere and couldn’t remember where. I’m going back in four days.”
“Mor, be careful that this isn’t a trick,” Lars warned. I chuckled and reached out and ran my knuckles over his cheek.
“Honey, Magic isn’t a part of my life, nor will he be. It’s been a damn long time. You and the others are my future for now.”
“Mor, you’re young enough to have a relationship,” Laila said, wrinkling her nose.
“Shut up!” Lars snapped, looking appalled. “That’s our mom!”
“And Mom’s only thirty-eight. She can even have more kids,” Laila declared. Lars turned green.
“She’s our mom!” he hissed. Laila grinned, and I guessed she was getting payback on Lars for an unspecified reason.