Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Joey
Iwas softening toward her. I couldn’t fucking help it.
I’d been trying fucking hard not to, but the moment I’d seen her standing in the middle of my clubhouse with her arms wrapped around herself, her brave front nowhere to be seen, something inside me had shifted.
And goddammit, I couldn’t help but want to fucking take care of her.
To comfort her and give her everything she could ever want and need.
I wanted to see her spread her wings and fly. To tip her chin up at the world and give everyone both her middle fingers.
I was fucked. So, so fucked.
Leaning back in my chair, I stared up at the ceiling, wishing I knew what the fuck to do.
Because the last time I’d followed my gut instinct, I’d ruined the woman I loved more than anything in the fucking world.
I didn’t want to make the same mistakes I’d made with her.
Fuck, I refused to. But it was inevitable that I was going to want Elaina. To make her mine.
Sighing heavily, I leaned up and snatched my phone off the table.
Bracing myself, I dialed Adelaide’s number.
I’d always told her to hold me with her, but now, I needed to hold her with me.
Because I was spiraling, terrified of what my blossoming feelings for Elaina meant not just for me, but for the blonde beauty I’d made ramen noodles for out of my personal stash.
I didn’t share my food with anyone. Not even my sister. Yet I was feeding her my food and offering my fucking cookies. And those cookies were my fucking kryptonite. Yet there I went—sharing them with her.
“Joey?” Adelaide asked, her smile clear in her voice. “To what do I owe the pleasure on this lovely Sunday?”
I sighed and rested my forehead on the table, closing my eyes. “I think I need you, pretty girl.”
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice softening. When I didn’t answer because I wasn’t sure how to answer, she spoke again, her voice even gentler. “What’s happening, Joey?”
I blew out a harsh breath. “How much has River told you?”
“Nothing,” she said. “What the fuck is happening, Joey? You’re scaring me. Do not make me drive down there because I fucking will.”
I laughed softly. There was the spitfire of a woman I’d made rise from the ashes of her trauma.
“No need to drive down here,” I told her. Leaning back in my chair again, I scrubbed my free hand down my face. “Alejandro Garcia reached out to me about a trafficking ring, asking if I could open my doors to him and the woman he’s rescued while he worked on dismantling the ring.”
“Do not fucking tell me you agreed,” she snapped.
Adelaide was a girl’s girl—for the most part.
She’d tear the world apart to help someone who’d been abused and needed help, but she had her own limitations.
If it put those she loved at risk, she’d let them continue to suffer.
She’d already lost so much, and she couldn’t bear the thought of losing anyone else.
“I did worse,” I chuckled. “They’re here, and I think I’m already growing feelings for the woman he brought with him.”
“Jesus fucking Christ, Joey,” she sighed. I grimaced. She knew me so goddamn well. “Always hard and fast, huh?”
I hummed. “I tried keeping her at arm’s length,” I confessed.
“But I only fooled myself. She’s so goddamn broken, even if she tries to hide it by acting tough and trying to pretend what’s happened to her doesn’t affect her.
And now, I want to protect her and help her and…
God, Adelaide, I’m so fucked,” I groaned, leaning my head back to stare up at the wooden rafters along the ceiling.
“You are,” she agreed, amusement coloring her tone.
I huffed. “You’re going to fall for her, Joey.
It’s inevitable.” There was no pain in her voice.
We’d both done a lot of healing since she found her happiness with River.
We would always love each other, and a part of us would always need each other.
But she had River now, and that man worshiped the ground she walked on and made her so fucking happy.
Maybe it was time for me to move on, too. I was just terrified to.
“I don’t want to damage her, too,” I admitted.
“You won’t,” Adelaide said confidently and without a beat of hesitation. “You’re not that man anymore, Joey. You’ve changed so much, and you changed for the better. Don’t let our past together hold you back from finding happiness.”
“Pretty girl—” I started, but she cut me off, hitting me right where she knew it would matter.
“For me?”
I loudly groaned. “You don’t play fair.”
She laughed. “I never have, Joey.” No, she hadn’t, and I’d never expect her to. “Give yourself a chance to see where things could go with her. You deserve to be happy, too. Fuck, I want to see you happy. But while she and Alejandro are there, don’t get your ass caught up in this shit he’s in.”
I snorted. “Too late, pretty girl. I’m burying myself in it. I can’t just let those women and children suffer. They deserve to be free.”
She huffed. “I hate your fucking hero complex,” she griped. “I’m assuming since you mentioned River knowing, you’re trying to pull my husband into it, too?”
“I’m not,” I promised. “But you know River’s not going to just let this go either, pretty girl. A war is coming.” I blew out a soft breath and scratched at my beard. “I suggest you get prepared.”
I could practically see her rolling her eyes in my mind. “I’m always prepared, Joey. I learned from the best, after all.”
I chuckled. “That you did, pretty girl.” A light knock sounded on my chapel door, and I sighed. “I need to go. Get with River and get caught up on the finer details, yeah? I don’t want you blindsided if shit goes sideways.”
She hummed. “Will do. Love you, Joey.”
My chest filled with warmth. “Love you, too, pretty girl.”
Setting my phone down, I got up and crossed to the chapel doors. After flipping the lock, I twisted the knob and pulled one of the doors open.
Alejandro was standing on the other side, his face set in stone, and his eyes were hard and unforgiving. “Yes?” I asked, arching a brow at him.
He grunted, his shoulders so tense, it was like they were made of stone.
“We need to talk.”