Page 21 of Brood

Chapter Sixteen

The red-hot anger that was coursing through my veins has somewhat dissipated since I walked out of my bedroom to let Jordyn put her clothes back on. Taking those pictures and handing them over to Wiz’s contact in Seattle didn’t seem to be such a big deal… until I saw what scars Jordyn had marred across her body. Never once did I think that she would have something so horrific carved into her skin. I should have known, though, given the man who gave every mark to her.

I get Kasin ready to go to the clubhouse for dinner, with the images on the phone still heavy in my pocket. He must catch on to my mood because he wraps his tiny little hand around my leg and hugs with all his might. This boy. That is all it takes for my anger to fully dissipate. Dropping to my knees, I give my son a proper hug. “Thanks, Kas. Dad needed that.” I pat him on the back and stand with him still in my arms. “You ready to get some grub?” His little head jerks up then down, signaling a yes. “Me too. I’m starving.” We step out into the kitchen where Jordyn is. “You ready, Jor?”

“Ready?”

“Yeah. Dinner. At the clubhouse.”

Small wrinkles appear on her forehead. “We just ate lunch.” She glances around the kitchen, looking for a clock, eyes widening when she finds it. “I had no idea it was so late.” I hadn’t either. We were in my room a while, long enough for Kasin to get through a whole movie and start another one.

“You coming?” I ask as I pass her.

“Ah. Yeah. I guess. I don’t really want to stay here alone.” She follows us outside, stopping at the door to put on her shoes. After we are all loaded up in the pickup truck, we make the very short drive over to the clubhouse, where most everyone is already gathered outside. Today it’s so nice outside we decided that firing up the grill would be a good way to end the day. There are already kids out playing on the playground equipment we placed when the members started popping out kids. It all started with Buggs, Eagle and Iris’ daughter, who now lives in Cental with her husband Rock and their four kids.

Kasin is bouncing up and down beside me as we walk closer to the playground. There are multiple picnic tables set up now. Jordyn and I both take a seat at one while Kas takes off at breakneck speed toward the other kids. Of course, Halley is already out there and immediately latches herself to my boy with a happy squeal. “She really likes him, doesn’t she?” Jordyn is staring after the kids the same as me with a smile on her face. Her beautiful red highlights shine in the sun, and with each movement she makes her hair shifts, almost making it seem like it’s sparkling. Damn, it looks so soft; it makes the tips of my fingers tingle.

“You still here with us, you brooding bastard? Shit, I almost thought I was going to see you crack a smile.” Show comes bursting into my… whatever the fuck I was doing and ruins it.

“Fuck do you want?” I shift and face away from Show… and Jordyn. Maybe it’s best not to look at her anymore. I have been avoiding eye contact for a reason. I knew as soon as I let myself actually look at her, there would be consequences. And I was fucking right. Having her in my room, stripped down and showing me all her battle scars nearly did me in.

“Roman is fuming, man.”

I let out an annoyed sigh. “What happened this time?”

“Wiz and Pria apparently hit it off, and he isn’t likin’ that one bit.” Show chuckles at Roman’s misery. “Serves the fucker right. Shit if she looked at me the way she used to at Roman, I would have made her my old lady in a heartbeat.”

“That girl wouldn’t look at you if she were paid.” I send the jibe, knowing it will piss him off.

“Someone is in a bitchy mood. That time of the month then for you Pres?” He puts emphasis on my new title and shakes his head. “Crabby ass, motherfucker,” he mumbles and stalks away as if I have bruised his ego. I doubt it, though.

“That wasn’t very nice.” A light huff comes from my side.

“Maybe.” I shrug it off.

“What made you so grumpy all of a sudden?” Jordyn tries to draw my attention her way, but instead, I make an excuse to leave.

“I need to talk with Sage.” I gruffly excuse myself and walk away from her. She thankfully doesn’t follow as I make my way to where Sage is perched on top of a picnic table with Brook sitting between his legs on the actual part where one is supposed to sit.

“Hi, Brood.” Brook’s sweet face lights up a little more as it always does when she smiles.

“Brook. Heard congratulations are in order.”

She looks down at her flat stomach, smiling. “Yes. Thank you.”

I glance up at Sage and notice his eye is slightly purple. “I see you got your congratulatory gift from your father in law.” I point to my own eye as Sage laughs.

“Asshole didn’t even warn me first.” Sage’s hand goes to stroke his cheek. “I think he pulled the punch though, been hit harder by the man. Either that or he is just getting old.” He laughs and receives a light tap from his wife on his knee.

“You both are almost the same age.”

“The keyword there is almost.” Sage reaches down and gives his wife a light tickle to her ribs that makes her squeal before he bends down to kiss her.

“I got your phone,” I say out loud to break up the happy couple’s moment. I really rather not watch the two of them necking like a couple teenagers. Sage pulls back at my words, knowing what they mean.

“Baby, why don’t you go and make sure Halley isn’t choking the life out of Kasin by dragging him around the playground.” Brook gives her husband that I know why you want me to leave look but gets up from her spot between his legs anyway.

“Fine, but this is a family barbecue. No more club business after this,” she scolds Sage and maybe even myself a little, although she doesn’t send it directly my way. Then she walks off to the playground where Jordyn is now, pushing a couple of the kids on the swings.

I take out the phone he gave me to snap the pictures and hand it over to him. When Sage takes the phone from me and opens it up, I see the exact moment he finds the pictures. “Jesus.” He swipes a hand across his face. “He did this?”

“Yeah. All of it,” I confirm. “You remember that story we heard about him killing his son?” Sage nods, placing his phone down now on the table. “He did it because the kid was helping her. Said he was killed right in front of her. Even his own son knew how fucking bad he is. If he doesn’t take the bait, I’m ready to go to war and kill ‘em. Hell, I’m almost hoping he doesn’t.” I know going to war isn’t something I should want, especially now that I have taken on the position of the President. I just can’t fight the urge to kill the fucker myself.

“Hear ya, brother. I wanted to tear the whole town of Cental apart when Brook went missing. Sometimes I wake up and have to reach for her, make sure she is still there.” I don’t argue the fact that Brook is his old lady and not just some girl that showed up in town needing a mechanic. Two completely different situations.

He stands up and pockets his phone. “I’ll get these sent out to him.”

“Don’t show any—”

“Yeah, Pres. Need to see. I got it.” His head bobs up and down before he walks away and into the clubhouse, giving his wife one last glance as he does. She must sense the tension in her husband’s body because she shoots a glare back toward me, one I turn away from. That girl, sweet as fuck she is, is a damn meddler. She won’t stop until she has pried into whatever Sage and I were talking about. I should point her in the direction of Roman and Pria if she wants a project.

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