Page 14 of Brood

Chapter Ten

I wait for what seems like forever for her to go upstairs. Then I listen to each step she makes on the floor above me. Getting her to stay here instead of at Eagle’s place was completely for selfish reasons, and not the fact I knew Eagle would be telling Iris the news about his retirement. Sure, I knew they would most likely be celebrating, but I just wanted Jordyn under my roof, if only for the night. I could also see how the storm was affecting her. My younger brother was the same way. Jordyn looked as though she was on the brink of passing the hell out. The music was a trick I used when my brother’s cries became louder than the storm itself. She had not even noticed when the rain stopped, and the thunder rolled far away from town. The alcohol might have helped a bit too. I know damn well the girl can’t be a day over twenty, but she put down that bourbon like a man twice her size. Usually, the first drink goes down hard but not for her; she drank it like water. Which only brought up more questions, questions I wasn’t about to ask and spook her any more than she already was.

I think back on the shit that I had found on her. There was no personal information about Jordyn, not even any record of her even being born. She didn’t even have a social security number. She just flat out didn’t exist. On paper anyway, when it came to the pipeline of criminals, her name stretched across the country. Five hundred thousand for any information on her whereabouts. Another five for her return. Even if what she told me was true and Butch wasn’t good for the money, it wouldn’t stop anyone out there from trying to collect. She is a walking talking target that might as well have a bullseye plastered on her back. And here she was in my house, where my son sleeps. A sane person would have fixed her car and sent her on her way. I’m not sane, I guess. All I wanted to do was make sure she didn’t end up dead, and she would if I didn’t do something. I heard enough stories about Butch to know her expiration date was drawing close and would most likely be cut short if he got her back. I needed to find out what exactly it is she might have of his, or maybe have on him for the man to hunt her down the way he was. It couldn’t be just because she was his daughter and he simply wanted his child returned. That part seemed to be bullshit. Butch is many things but a doting father sure as hell wasn’t one of them, given the most recent story of him killing his eldest son.

When her footsteps finally quiet down, and I no longer hear anything above me, I take my chance and step outside my door, then walk out of the house. Eagle’s place is right down the street from mine, and it doesn’t take me long to walk there. The ground is soaked, and puddles litter the half-dirt half-paved road as I make my way to the two-story home. It’s been years since I lived here with Eagle and Iris, along with their daughter and son, but it brings me right back when I look at the window that used to be my room. Like I did so many times before, I climb the small tree up to the window and slide it open. Being as quiet as I can, I slip inside. Her smell assaults me as my feet gently touch the floor. I swear she smells like sunflowers and sunshine. I wasn’t entirely sure Jordyn was staying in this room, but with her scent lingering in the air and most likely in the bed I once slept in, I find myself pausing for a second to smooth my hand down the neatly made bed. It doesn’t matter how much I keep flashing her adolescence in my head, her face, and her damn body flashes along with it. She is a gorgeous little thing, absolutely nothing like the women I would go for and still, she seems to have captured my attention without even trying or wanting to.

“She keeps her bag under the bed.” I jump to find Iris standing at the door, leaning against it with a smile on her face. “You could have used the front door, you know.”

“I didn’t want to bother you.”

“No, bother. Eagle is fast asleep.” She winks, making me groan.

“You’re like a mother to me.”

“Mothers have sex.”

“Oh, fuck no.” My hands reach up to cover my ears, and she smacks me on my arm.

“No swearing,” she scolds. “I’m assuming she is at your house?” She cocks an eyebrow at me, smile on her weathered face. Even with the wrinkles that have deepened at the corners of her eyes and mouth, she is still a knockout of a woman.

“It’s not like that. I had to convince her to not leave town just yet. I figured if I got her bag.” I bend down to reach under the bed. “That maybe she would stay. You know, if she couldn’t find it.” I smirk as I heft the too-heavy bag over my shoulder. I downplay the heaviness in front of Iris.

“That will not fly with her. The girl has a bite to her. Being on her bad side won’t bode well for you.”

“Yeah, well I can bite back just as hard.” Iris huffs out a laugh and leads me down to the front door, letting me go with a hug before closing it behind me.

I wait until I have gotten back to my house and have the cover of my room to open the bag. When I do, I almost wish I would have just let the girl leave when she wanted to.

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