Page 33 of Ruined

And it was going to take me some time to come to terms with that.

“I won’t, Addy baby,” I promised her as I laid her on my bed.

But she was already passed out, not hearing my words.

When I walked back into the bar, Joey was swallowing a mouth full of beer, and Jessie was helping Zyla clean up, though they seemed to be holding a pretty good conversation. I understood Jessie’s need to do something, although she looked like death rolled over. She was trying to have normalcy. It was a normal reaction after surviving something so traumatic.

“Bit early to be drinking, isn’t it?” I asked Joey as I took a seat next to him.

He just shot me a dark look. “I just found out I’m going to be a dad, not to mention the fact that the woman I’m madly in love with is carrying that kid and that she’s in love with another man.” He chuckled but it lacked humor. He shook his head as he took another swallow of the beer in his hand. “I always knew I would lose her to you someday,” he admitted, sounding like he had just lost one of the greatest fucking things in his life.

Fuck, I was going to need a beer for this conversation as well.

I got up and walked around the bar to the fridge, grabbing two beers, one for me and another one for Joey since he had just finished his off, and it looked like he was definitely going to be needing a second.

“What’s your plan for her?” I asked him.

Joey popped the top off of his fresh beer with the bottom of a lighter he pulled from his pocket. “I’m doing what’s right by Adelaide and that baby. She may be with you, Grim, but I willbe there for her as well.” He let his dark eyes meet mine. “You’re going to have a miserable relationship with her if you make her give me up,” he warned.

I clenched my jaw, jealousy sparking in my veins. I smothered it though. There was a baby in the picture now. Ihadto learn to get along with Joey for the baby’s sake… and Adelaide’s. Because Joey was right. I couldn’t ever force her to give him up. Shewouldchoose him over me.

“I’d be pissed if you weren’t,” I told him. “Takes two to tango and all that shit. This baby is your responsibility, too.”

“Which means you and I are working together from now on, Grim.” I grunted in agreement, though I didn’t like it. “The past? Out the fucking window. Clean slate.”

He was fucking serious about this shit because Joey didn’t let go of grudges for anything, not unless he gave a fuck about something.

And if I knew there was one thing in this world he gave a shit about, it was Adelaide.

“And your club?” I asked him.

Joey smirked—a cold, calculating smirk that chilled my bones. Sometimes, it was hard to forget just how ruthless and destructive Joey could be. He was clearly softer around Adelaide, which had led to me letting my guard down around him.

“I’ll put a bullet in the head of every mother fucker that dared to follow Charles, that dared to fucking cross me wrong,” Joey swore. “And I’m taking my mother fucking club back.” He swallowed another mouth full of beer. “No one watches overAdelaide unless it’s me, you, or Jesup. I won’t take any chances with her safety. She’s our priority. Not a goddamn thing comes before her.”

I nodded in agreement, glad that we could at least agree on something. Jesup came out of the back, but he halted in his steps when his eyes landed on Zyla. His jaw clenched so tightly, I could see the muscle there ticking from my position at the bar. Cursing, I set my beer down, already knowing this was about to get ugly.

He had no idea that his ex-wife was back, nor that she was back seeking refuge from her crazy ass husband. Right when both he and Zyla turned eighteen, they went to the courthouse and got married. We hadn’t even graduated high school yet. And only a few months after their marriage, she left him for another richer man.

“What in the hell are you doing here?” Jesup snarled at her.

“Ooh, drama,” Joey said as he grinned at the scene in front of him. I glowered at him. He only shrugged. “What? I’ve been getting the shit beat out of me for the past few days. Cut me some slack,” he grunted.

“J—” Zyla started, but I cut her off.

“Jesup, let’s go talk,” I told him as I slid off of the barstool.

Joey got off his stool, too. “I’m going to go check on Adelaide. Where is she?” he asked me.

“My room. Can’t miss it. It has ‘president’ on the door.” I pointed a finger at him. “Don’t disturb her,” I ordered.

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not a fucking idiot,” he smarted off before he strode toward the hall. I glowered at his back. Joeyalways ran by his own book, and he never gave a fuck whose toes he stepped on in the process.

These next few years were going to be fucking exhausting and a real damn test of my patience.

“How the fuck are you even alive right now?” Jesup demanded as Joey walked past him.

Joey shook his head at Jesup. “I did die, but they were able to revive me. I told them not to tell anyone I was alive because I’ve known for a while that Charles has been plotting against me.” He clenched his jaw, looking over at his sister. “And he’s been working with Vin this whole fucking time,” he quietly snarled, not letting his voice trail beyond us three.

---