Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
S ophia didn’t see Pirate again that night. She was tempted to follow Jumper and Jasmine back to their place but knew both of them needed to get some rest before going to work the next day. Frankly, Pirate did too. All she knew was that Carlos had not pressed charges. Sophia was grateful for that.
She wasn’t sure who knew what or what rumors were flying about. The main topic of conversation was obviously the birth of Lucky and Harper’s daughter, Stephanie. Hopefully that would hold everyone’s attention for a while and the fight between Carlos and Pirate would not be brought up.
Some days, Enola stayed with her brothers at Jumper and Jazz’s apartment. Other days, Sophia kept her with her as she went around town or drove to the charity locations she sponsored. But sometimes, Sophia dropped her puppy off with her mom at the main house. Her mom liked the companionship Enola provided when her dad was out of town for the day or longer. Since her dad had left that morning on a business trip to Philadelphia, Sophia had dropped Enola off at her mom’s after leaving Jazz’s apartment that morning.
With how late it was, Sophia had texted her mom from the hospital asking if she could keep Enola overnight. Her mom had answered she would and even asked if Jazz needed her to go over to her apartment to feed and walk Pooch and Kidd. Jazz and Jumper had appreciated the offer and accepted. Aerial had been at the hospital with them and Jumper always kept an emergency food supply in his bike for her.
Entering the guesthouse, Sophia flipped on lights as she went through. She unzipped her boots, tossing them willy-nilly around. The guesthouse was her dad’s former garage. It was two stories. On the first floor, she had a large living space with a couch, television, and bookshelves. A glass sliding door led out the back and towards the pool house and pool. Her kitchen was far too big for her, since she didn’t cook. It wasn’t from laziness but a lack of skill. Jazz often joked that Sophia could burn water. The marble island in the center had seating for four as well as a double sink, dishwasher, and wine fridge. Against the wall was a long counter space, a massive four-door fridge and freezer combo, a range with a convection oven and stovetop, and a microwave.
Immediately across from the front door was the floating staircase that led up to the second story. The room used to be a bedroom for her dad’s driver and a maintenance shop. The bedroom and bathroom were the original design, just with new carpeting, paint job, and furniture. The area where the maintenance shop used to be was now an expansive walk-in closet.
Sophia journeyed into the bathroom. She’d lived in the guesthouse for nearly five years. It had been her home since the construction finished. When she and Jazz had moved back to Mount Grove after graduating college, the plan had been for them to move in together. But the only apartment in the building that had been in Jazz’s price range had been a one- bedroom. Additionally, Jazz had been so busy getting her vet clinic up and running that she would have barely been at the apartment anyway. Sophia had moved into her parents’ house and reclaimed her childhood bedroom. It was supposed to be temporary, and it had been, but only because of the guesthouse becoming available.
Since getting Enola, her place had started to feel a bit more like home, but Sophia still preferred Jazz’s place. That was a home.
Well past midnight, along with all of the excitement of the day, Sophia was beat. She needed to shower and get to bed.
As Sophia made to undress, the hairs on the back of her neck started to stand on end. She turned. The bathroom door was open, giving her a clear view of her lit bedroom. Looking around, she didn’t see anyone or anything out of place. Just to be certain, she even walked across the room to look in her large closet.
Nothing.
For shits and giggles, she checked under the bed too.
Still nothing.
But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone. The desire to call someone rose up in her. She wanted to call Pirate. But, regardless of what they weren’t to each other, he would drop everything to come to her. And he needed to work in the morning.
No longer in the mood for a shower, Sophia took one last look around the place. She wished Enola was there. If it wasn’t so late, she might have taken the excuse to join her mom at the big house and have a girls’ slumber party.
No one was in the place with her. Not unless it was a ghost who could walk through walls.
Still, Sophia pushed her dresser over just enough where it would stop the bedroom door from opening all the way. She took the chair from her small desk and put it under the closed closet door.
With the bathroom and bedroom lights still on, Sophia crawled into bed. Wishing with all her might that she was just being paranoid. She wanted to call Pirate so bad, but no one was in her bedroom besides her. She’d already confirmed that. What would be the point in calling him too? She was Sophia Groveton and she did not need a man to save her.
But damn it would feel nice if she had a man there to hold her.
Just because Carlos did not press charges did not mean Pirate wasn’t in trouble for his actions at the hospital. Steel and Bulldog had ordered him back to the clubhouse after Bear had patched Carlos and Pirate up. Thankfully, neither had done more than bruise the other. Pirate’s ribs were not broken, but sore as hell. It was no less than he deserved.
He still couldn’t believe he’d struck Carlos. Even now acknowledging that jealousy had driven him to do so, it didn’t make him any less shocked at his actions. He would accept whatever punishment he had coming his way. And didn’t imagine it was going to be easy. Despite Carlos being the town’s sheriff, he was also Bulldog’s little brother.
Pirate was surprised to see the clubhouse lights on when they entered. Papaw was sitting at the bar nursing a long neck. He didn’t see anyone else around and wondered if Papaw had already sent Fletcher home for the day. Pirate didn’t think so, as Steel had made it sound like he wanted to see Fletcher before he left.
Papaw turned upon their entry. “Why the fuck did you send me a spoiled rich brat?” he groused at Steel. “What did I do to piss you off?”
“Where is the spoiled little brat?” Steel asked instead of answering Papaw’s question.
“Out in the garage,” Papaw told him. “After I had him scrub the kitchen with a toothbrush, I had him do the floor out here. Even had him up on the roof shining the shingles. Anything to keep him entertained while Pumpkin and Grumpy took that shiny piece of junk he called a bike to the garage. They took it apart piece by piece.” At Steel’s raised eyebrow, Papaw shrugged. “I told him you required all prospects to know every inch of their sleds. Some bullshit about needing to be able to take apart and put your own bike back together blindfolded. He thinks there’s going to be a test on it.” Chugging back the last bit of his beer, Papaw added, “If the little bitch finished throwing a tantrum, he should be in there trying to put his bike back together.”
Reaching into his cut, Papaw pulled out a metal chunk. Pirate had no idea what it was but it was shiny enough to make him believe it belonged to the Tomahawk. “Night, gents!”
With that, the older man walked out the front doors.
Bulldog walked over to the bar and picked up the piece of metal. “It’s the cylinder head. Cranky bastard made it so the bike can’t be put back together.”
Pirate really wanted to chuckle at that, but also didn’t want to draw attention to himself.
“Go see what’s going on in the garage,” Steel ordered Bulldog.
Bulldog glanced at Pirate and then headed out. It was hard to believe only a few hours ago the two of them were leaning against each other laughing outside the hospital. He’d let Bulldog cool off, accept his punishment from Steel, and then offer Bulldog an apology the next day.
Steel walked behind the bar. He pulled two beers out of the fridge from below the front bar and held one out for Pirate to take. Surprised, Pirate reached forward and accepted the cold brew.
They both popped the top off on the edge of the bar. Feeling very much like he was sitting in the principal’s office, Pirate took a sip of beer when Steel did.
Steel rested his beer on the bar, taking a minute to study Pirate. It took all of his nerve not to look away. Whatever Steel was on about, he’d get to it when he was good and ready.
Finally, Steel asked, “Are you going to claim her?”
Though Pirate knew damn well whom he was referring to, he still asked, “Who?”
“Mother Theresa,” Steel snapped. “Don’t play games with me, boy. I know everything that goes on in my clubhouse. The two of you have been sneaking around for months. Did you forget we have cameras in here?”
He hadn’t, but he also hadn’t realized they were monitored so closely. Knowing he needed to be honest with Steel of all people, he confessed, “I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.”
Steel tipped his head in acknowledgment. “You know that I can’t let what happened tonight slide. Beyond that it happened in public, Carlos is family. He may not wear a patch but he does wear a badge and he wears it honorably. That earns him our respect.”
Pirate nodded. “I know. I’m not even sure what happened. I didn’t plan for it to happen, but I accept the consequences because it did happen.”
“Good. Your punishment is twofold. First,” he slid the cylinder head across the bar to Pirate, “you’re going to help Fletcher put his bike back together.”
Pirate’s jaw dropped open. “I know nothing about bike mechanics.”
“Then Google it,” Steel snapped.
Pirate groaned but accepted the cylinder head. “Anyone ever tell you that you have a mean streak?”
“All the fucking time.”
“I’m dreading what the second half of my punishment is.”
Steel’s smile was icy cold as he said, “The next time I see you, you better have an answer to my question.”
“What question?” Pirate asked, confused.
“Whether you’re claiming her.”
Pirate swallowed hard. “And if I don’t?”
“Technically, she’s here under Jumper’s protection as his ol’ lady’s best friend. That’ll be up to your brother. But know this, if you’re not claiming her, then this better be the last fucking time your personal life interferes with club business. Do you understand me?”
Stiffly, Pirate nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Get to it then,” Steel dismissed him. “Only way you’re leaving that garage is if that bike is fixed or it’s time for you to get to work.”
Pirate held back a groan. It was going to be a long fucking night.
Sophia barely slept. Even with the lights on, she could not shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone. At one point, she even got up to close all of her blinds, but the sense that she was being watched did not go away.
Eventually she drifted off, but it was a restless sleep.
However, when she woke up, the feeling was gone. Calling herself all sorts of a fool, Sophia got up to shower and get ready for her day. She had a lunch scheduled with Jazz at her clinic to help her put together the gift baskets for the table centerpieces.
A message was waiting for her when she got out of the shower.
Pirate: Need to talk. Didn’t get much sleep last night but I want to see you this afternoon.
Sophia: Slept like shit too. What happened with you?
Pirate: Carlos didn’t press charges. I apologized to him but I owe you one too. Part of what I want to talk to you about tonight.
Pirate: Unfortunately just because Carlos forgave me didn’t mean Steel did. I wasn’t wearing my colors last night, but I’m still a patched member. Been up all night serving my penance.
Sophia: You okay to work? Need me to bring you anything?
Pirate: I’ll survive. he wasn’t going to get into a second one in the same night. No matter how much he fucking wanted to. Fletcher was baiting him and he knew it. He was not going to fall into the trap.
Additionally, all of Fletcher’s words were being recorded by the camera inside the club’s garage. No way Steel would let Fletcher into the club after watching the recording and hearing every vile word Fletcher spewed from his poisonous mouth. The one thing Steel would never stand for was the mistreatment of women and children—including hurtful words.
So Pirate kept his silence. After Fletcher had thrown in the towel, Pirate had finally been able to think through his rage and continued to work on putting the Tomahawk back together. Even if it was a shit-poor job that would ensure Grumpy never hired him at his auto repair business. Jumper was the mechanic in the family, not Pirate.
Going to work with no sleep had been hell. His leg throbbed all day long, causing Pirate to have to sit more than he ever had before while on a shift. By the time he climbed onto his hog upon leaving, he was limping.
There was no way around it. He was going to need to remove his prosthetic when he got home and use his forearm crutch. It had been more common for him to do so when it was just Jumper and Pirate living in the apartment. After Jasmine had moved in, and Sophia had started randomly coming over, Pirate had started only removing his leg when he was getting ready for bed and not before.
The pressure of his body weight on the cap that was surgically attached to his leg could cause irritation, swelling, and pain if he wasn’t careful. He knew it had not been Steel’s intention to cause pain to his leg, but that was the result. Technically, Pirate could have removed his leg after Fletcher had left the night before, but he hadn’t had his crutch with him.
He saw Sophia’s red Beetle in the apartment’s parking lot and felt an immediate sense of relief. It wasn’t the first time he’d gotten home to find her in his apartment nor was it the first time that the sight of her cage had had this effect on him.
But it was the first time he understood why.
Wow. Carlos was right. He was a dumbass. It was a bit embarrassing really.
Maybe it was the sleep deprivation or the need to keep himself awake, but Pirate had done a little research on the subject of love while at work. And then deleted his history and would never admit, even under pain of torture, that he had looked up such a topic.
Some blogs had some more personal ways to tell, but the most common ways to tell if you’re in love revolved around having compassion for them, the desire to connect with them, passion, and a desire to know everything about them and be known by them in return.
Pirate could definitely check off all those boxes in regard to Sophia. Another page had mentioned how your partner should never ask you to change, accepting you as you are, but the two partners should change together as they grow closer. It was an interesting concept and one he wasn’t sure yet applied to him and Sophia.
As Pirate hobbled his way up the stairs to their apartment on the fourth floor, he was really loathing the fact that his apartment building did not have an elevator. He wanted to stop partway up but knew he’d never get going again if he did. He fought through the pain and eventually had to resort to a two-foot per step ascent, using his left leg to do all the heavy lifting.
He’d never seen a happier sight than his apartment door as he finally reached the landing.
It was only made better by walking in to see Sophia sitting crossed legged on his couch with his tablet on her lap. He couldn’t recall if he’d ever given her the password and honestly didn’t care.
Her brilliant smile at seeing him warmed his insides. That smile dimmed almost immediately when she saw him struggling to walk.
“What the fuck?” she demanded. Tossing the tablet onto the cushion, she rushed over to him. “What’s wrong?”
“My leg,” he gritted out with regret. This was not how he wanted to start their conversation about their future this afternoon.
Sophia looped his right arm around her shoulders, encouraging him to lean on her. “Couch or bed?” she asked. Kicking the door closed behind them, she locked the door and the deadbolt.
“Is Jumper or Jazz home yet?” He didn’t see their cage or sled in the parking lot but he also hadn’t been looking for it the way he had Sophia’s.
“No. She’s got a late surgery tonight so they’re going to be a while.”
That was good at least. Gave them some privacy to talk some things out. If he didn’t pass out first.
“Couch,” he answered her original question. It was closer and wouldn’t be as much of a struggle for her to get him there.
It was slow going and thankfully Kidd and Pooch stayed on their bed and out of his way. Last thing he needed was to trip over a damn overzealous puppy.
“Where’s Enola?” he asked Sophia.
“With my mom. My dad’s away for the week and so she’s keeping her company.” There was something in her tone that made Pirate think she wasn’t happy about that.
Like contenders in a three-legged race, they managed to get him to the couch. Pirate let out a long sigh of relief when his ass hit the cushion.
Sophia stood over him, her face full of concern. “What do you need? Should I call Bear?”
Pirate shook his head. “There’s an ice pack in the freezer. Can you grab that for me?”
She nodded, immediately leaving to go get it. Pirate gritted his teeth as he twisted enough to lift his right leg onto the couch beside him. It was a stretch and uncomfortable to reach the laces of his boot.
He’d been concentrating so hard on undoing the laces that he hadn’t heard Sophia return to his side. She batted his hand away from his boot.
“Stubborn man,” she rebuked. Then got to work getting his boot off his fake foot.
He watched her closely as the prosthetic came into view. She’d never been this close to it before. It was a subject they rarely brought up. But there was no disgust on her face or morbid fascination. Her expression was almost clinical, though laced with concern.
Pirate sat back as she worked his pants up his leg. She stopped just before the cap was revealed.
“This is stupid,” she announced. Pirate’s eyebrows drew down, not sure what she was referring to. Then she reached up higher towards his belt. “I assume we’re removing the leg and icing it, right?” Pirate nodded. “Then it just makes more sense to remove your pants.”
Though he could do it himself, he let Sophia unbuckle his belt, unbutton and unzip his pants, and then lifted his hips enough for her to pull them down his legs. After removing his other boot, she pulled his pants completely off. She left his boxers on.
A glance up his legs showed her the evidence of how her undressing him affected him.
Sophia met his eyes and then rolled hers. “You’re in pain and you’re still able to get an erection?”
“You have a very strong effect on me,” he pointed out, unembarrassed.
Shaking her head, she turned her attention back to his right leg. His left was still hanging off of the couch and Pirate was now laying supine across the cushions. “Wow, your knee looks awful. You worked all day like this?”
Pirate nodded. “It’s the weight of the cap pulling on my knee and then my body weight pushing down on the cap. I’m not supposed to leave it on so long.”
“Why did you?” she asked.
He shrugged, not wanting Sophia to blame Steel. He was the one who punched Carlos; he’d done the crime, so he did the time. “Wasn’t intentional. Just how it happened.”
“Can you take it off or need me to?”
Pirate hesitated, but mainly because he didn’t like how the better of the two options almost felt like a test. “Could you?” he asked gently. “You don’t have to.” Then changed his mind. “No, it’s okay. I can?—”
“I got it,” she insisted, raising a hand to stop him. She bent over his leg. “Well, I’ll get it as soon as you tell me how.”
Pirate chuckled. “There’s two smooth buttons on opposite sides of the cap. See them?” She felt around and then nodded. “Press at the same time and the cap will release the prosthetic.”
“Cool,” she muttered before following his instructions. The leg disconnected immediately. Sophia picked it up, as if examining it. “You know, it’s really not fair.”
“What is?” He did not want her pitying him.
Sophia held out his fake leg as if to show him. “I shave every day and my legs are never this smooth.”
Elation filled him and Pirate threw his head back as he laughed. “Saucy wench,” he said playfully.
She waggled her eyebrows at him. Putting his leg on the coffee table behind her, she reached for the ice pack. “Do you want a towel down first or directly on the cap?”
“It’s fine to put on directly. And can you put it more on my knee?”
Laying the ice pack over him, Sophia asked, “Good?”
Pirate let out a long sigh as the ice immediately started to cool down his swollen, throbbing stump. “Very good. Almost better than sex.”
Sophia raised an eyebrow. “Almost?”
“Nothing beats sex with you.”
She scowled at him, but he saw the amusement in her eyes. “Smooth talking pirate.” She looked him up and down. “What else do you need?”
“My crutch’s in my bedroom. I’ll need it when I’m ready to get up but not now.” He patted the couch next to him. “Come sit with me.”
Rather than sitting beside him, Sophia moved around, lifted his head, and then sat down, placing the back of his head on her thigh.
Pirate closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh, which turned into a large, jaw-cracking yawn. He shifted himself carefully to lift his left leg onto the couch too and then turned his head so his nose was pressed into her belly.
Sophia started to run her fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry you had such a crappy night and were in pain at work.”
Pirate shrugged. “Gotta pay the bills,” he replied softly. “I owe you an apology too. I was wrong to hit Carlos and you were right to yell at me for it.”
“Kinda surprised you weren’t in jail last night.”
He snorted. “You and me both. But we talked and we’re good.”
Not one to dance around a subject, she asked bluntly, “Did you hit him because of what I told you? About what happened in college?”
“Yes and no,” he answered honestly. Her fingers through his hair felt amazing. “I didn’t mean to punch him. I meant what I said on Sunday. I’m not angry with you or him about what happened. I have no right to be even if I was. But I’ll admit that I was jealous. It was irrational and completely unexpected, but it’s the truth.”
Her fingers paused before continuing their strokes through his hair. “There’s nothing to be jealous of. There’s nothing between Carlos and me. He’s happy with Zoe and I’m?—”
When she stopped talking, Pirate opened his eyes and tipped his chin up enough to look at her. “You’re what?” he prompted.
Sophia looked down at him. “I’m happy too,” she confessed. “It makes no sense, but I am.”
Pirate smiled up at her. “Me too.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed. Closing his eyes again, he turned his face back into her belly. She smelled like chocolate and her favorite cucumber-melon body wash.
Sophia draped an arm over his chest. She was still running her fingers through his hair with the other one. Pirate clutched her arm tighter to his chest like a child would a stuffed animal and promptly, contentedly, fell asleep.
Pirate slept soundlessly. Which was good because he clearly needed it. Sophia didn’t know what he’d been up to the night before, but she was pissed it had kept him awake and on his leg all night. She needed to do a better job of encouraging him to remove his leg when he was home and maybe even around the clubhouse. She hadn’t realized that the prosthetic could have a negative effect.
Reaching for the tablet that had thankfully not been squashed under them, Sophia did some research on the care required for a prosthetic. And soon discovered just how many different types of prosthetics there were! Jesus! Looking up at the coffee table, Pirate’s seemed like a basic kind. It didn’t have any electronics that she knew of. She’d never seen him plug it in.
He had two as far as she knew. The one he’d been wearing plus a running one that looked like a giant hook. She’d never seen him wear it but knew he had it because she’d seen it in his closet. Then there was the peg-leg he had worn last Halloween. So maybe he had three, but she wasn’t really sure if the last one counted.
She’d never seen him put lotion on his knee around the scars or the skin that was attached to the cap that was implanted to what remained of his leg stump. She went online and purchased a couple of bottles of the leading recommended brand. She’d strap him down and apply it herself if she had to.
For all the time they’d spent together, his leg hadn’t been a topic they discussed. Guilt seized her heart. It was such a big part of his life and who he was. It felt wrong that they’d never talked about it.
The two of them certainly had a lot to talk about. Both of them confessing they were happy was a start, but it certainly wasn’t a conclusion. She’d let him rest first. He obviously needed it. And his confession gave her enough hope that Jasmine was right for her to be patient…for a bit.
She was concerned about the next day though. He would need to go back to work and be on his leg all day. Would that re-irritate him? Could he miss work? She did not like the idea that he would be in pain all day just so he could pay his bills.
Other than his insisting on paying her back for his portion of their trip to Hawaii and then the delay in San Francisco, they’d never discussed finances. It also wasn’t like they’d been on a real date where they fought over who paid or agreed to go Dutch for such things. There had been nothing monetary about their relationship so far.
If their conversation went the way she hoped it would, the subject would come up. Pirate certainly wasn’t the type of man to accept a handout or expect something from her. It was one of the things she admired about him. But would he be offended if she paid for some things anyway? Would he allow her to pay his rent so he could afford to miss a few days of work to take care of himself?
She didn’t think so. Which made her feel awful. She’d never had that type of struggle, never had to worry about rent or a car payment. It didn’t seem fair. Pirate had given up so much of his life, first for his country and then for his brother. When was it time for someone else to take care of him?
Sophia must have dozed off too. She woke up when Jumper and Jazz came home. From the darkness outside the living room window, it was late. As soon as she saw them, she put a finger to her lips and then pointed down at Pirate still asleep on her lap.
Jazz’s look was a mixture of aww and I-told-you-so.
Sophia stuck her tongue out at her bestie.
Jazz pointed to the dogs in question. Sophia shook her head. She’d walked them when she first got to the apartment that afternoon but hadn’t fed them dinner or walked them since.
Jumper and Jasmine worked together to get Aerial, Kidd, and Pooch fed. Sophia felt bad that she’d slept through their dinner time, and was a bit surprised they hadn’t woken her to demand their dinner. Aerial must be a good influence on them because no way Enola would have allowed Sophia to get away with sleeping through her mealtime.
Jazz mouthed to ask where Enola was, to which Sophia mouthed back the single word of “Mom”. Jasmine nodded and then joined Jumper as they took the three dogs for a walk. Normally Jumper and Pirate took the three, or four, dogs for their morning and nighttime walks. Sophia was grateful that they let Pirate sleep.
Once they were all back, Jumper came over to take a closer look at his brother. After noticing his leg on the table, Jumper reached to lift the ice pack, which had to be completely thawed by now, off of Pirate’s knee. His frown said he was displeased by what he saw.
“What happened?” Jumper asked softly.
“Not really sure,” she answered just as quiet. “He was limping when he came home. Said he was up all night on it and then had to go work. He passed out shortly after four.”
Looking at the clock, she saw it was after nine-thirty. Jumper and Jasmine must have gone out for dinner to be getting back this late.
Jumper reached under Pirate’s knees and then his back. Pirate must have really been out of it because he didn’t even wake as his older brother lifted him off of the couch. He just kind of hung there limply.
Sophia frowned in concern.
“Did he take anything?” Jumper asked as he started walking to Pirate’s bedroom.
Sophia shook her head. “Not unless he did before he got home.”
It seemed like yet another thing Sophia should know. Was Pirate on any medications? Did he take anything daily for his leg or as needed?
Grabbing his prosthetic leg, pants, and boots, Sophia followed Jumper into Pirate’s bedroom. Dropping the items onto the chair in the corner of his room, Sophia crawled onto the bed opposite of where Jumper put Pirate down.
He still didn’t budge.
“Can you lift him so I can get his shirt off?” she asked Jumper.
Pirate’s brother helped her remove his polo shirt.
“Is this… Is this normal?” she asked him. “For him to pass out like this?” She didn’t like that she didn’t know the answer herself.
“He pushes himself too hard,” Jumper told her. “Thinks he has to do everything so I don’t have to. I’ve only seen him like this once before. Based on how awful his leg looks, I’m not surprised. Sleep is the best medication and all that. Just let him rest and come get me if you need me.”
Sophia looked up at Jumper in surprise. He said it like it was a given that she was staying in Pirate’s bed .
Jumper raised an eyebrow. “I’m quiet, not deaf or blind. I’ve known what the two of you have been up to for months.”
Sophia’s jaw dropped open. “You have? Why didn’t you say anything?”
He nodded. “It’s not my business. The two of you are consenting adults.”
Sophia didn’t really know what to say to that. He wasn’t wrong, but still…
“Are you staying?” Jumper asked her.
Sophia nodded. She was not going back to her guesthouse tonight. The thing with her boots that morning had really freaked her out. She hadn’t mentioned anything to Pirate earlier because his leg had taken priority and then he’d fallen asleep.
Then she looked up at Jumper. “Can I talk to you?” She indicated outside of Pirate’s bedroom door.
Jumper nodded and then headed out of the room. Sophia pulled the blankets over Pirate’s nearly naked form before following him out. She closed the door behind her.
Jumper and Jazz’s door was closed, which probably meant Jasmine was inside changing for bed.
“Look, I’m not one to cry wolf,” Sophia started before Jumper could ask her why they were out in the hallway. “I also can admit when I’m wrong and being too stubborn. Last night, when I got home, I could swear someone was inside my house with me.” Jumper’s eyebrows drew down as his face formed into a scowl. When he went to say something, Sophia held up her hand to stop him. “No, I did not call anyone. I searched upstairs and found no one, nor did I find any evidence that someone was there. I foolishly chalked it up to me being tired and stubbornly decided to brush it off. But I couldn’t shake it. All night, I stayed awake convinced that someone was watching me. Then,” she took a deep breath, “this morning, when I went downstairs, I found my boots had been moved.”
“What do you mean ‘moved’?” Jumper demanded. He clearly was not happy about Sophia’s story.
“I mean, I took them off by the door last night and walked straight upstairs. I never walked around downstairs. Yet, when I went down this morning, my boots were over by my couch, lined up neatly by the edge.”
“Did you tell Pirate? Call him?”
Sophia shook her head. “No. I went to check on my mom and Enola. Both were fine and Mom said she didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary last night.”
Jasmine opened up the bedroom door. She was in a pair of lounge shorts and one of Jumper’s shirts. “I only heard part of that. You think someone was in your house last night?”
Unhappily, Sophia nodded. “I couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched.”
Jumper pulled out his phone and walked back into the hallway. He dialed a number and then raised it to his ear. “Keys. Someone was in Sophia’s house last night while she slept.” A pause. “No, she’s fine. Whoever it was didn’t make their presence known other than moving a pair of her boots. Can you check the cameras?”
Jasmine took Sophia’s hand as they watched Jumper make his phone call in silence. She squeezed her bestie’s hand.
Jumper turned to Sophia. “Was it just last night?”
“That I know of, but…” she hesitated.
“What?” Jazz asked her.
Well, she supposed it didn’t matter now. “Pirate and I have been meeting to have sex at the clubhouse. We stayed later on Sunday night than we usually do and I was dead on my feet when I got back. I’m not sure I would have noticed something was out of place.”
Jumper didn’t bat an eye at her candor or the information about his brother’s sex life. He turned back to the phone. “Check Sunday night too.”
After agreeing to something Keys said, Jumper hung up the phone. But then he dialed someone else. “Bulldog,” he said. “Someone was inside Sophia’s house last night.”
Sophia turned to Jazz. “I didn’t mean to make a big deal. There’s a good chance they’ll find nothing.”
Jumper spoke before Jasmine could. “We failed you once while under our protection. There won’t be a second time. You’re living here until I say otherwise.”
Sophia scowled at him. “You can’t order me around. What about my mom? She’s at the house alone right now while my dad’s out of town.”
“We’ll take care of your mom too. Let’s figure out what’s going on before we uproot her, since you said she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.”
Jazz squeezed her hand. “This is what they do when one of their women is threatened. Let them handle things.”
“I’m not one of their women,” she answered on impulse. Jasmine raised a skeptical eyebrow while something resembling a snort came from Jumper behind her. Still, Sophia pushed. “We haven’t said anything. Not official, at least. Pirate said he wanted to talk to me tonight but we never got around to actually talking about, you know, us .”
“I have no doubt you will,” Jasmine told her reassuringly. “I have a good feeling about you two.”
Sophia loved her bestie’s confidence. She only wished she had some certainty to the outcome of her and Pirate’s future. It wasn’t like her to be so unsure and nervous. But this was Pirate . In a way, she wished Jasmine hadn’t made her realize she had feelings for Pirate. It would kill her if he walked away from what she knew they could have.
She both wanted tomorrow to come faster and to freeze time so it would never come. Her entire future felt like it was teetering on an old apothecary scale.
It was scary beyond belief. But if this was the last night she had with Pirate, she was going to take advantage of it. Saying good night to Jazz and Jumper, Sophia headed into Pirate’s bedroom.