Page 11 of Paladin's Hell

“Me? But I can’t be that important, surely?” My eyes silently beg for confirmation. When I don’t get it, I start to feel sick.

“Jayden, I’m so sorry.”

I turn to my sister. “Why didn’t you tell me? I have a right to know.”

“Sweetheart. We didn’t want to worry you.”

My teenage mood swiftly changes. Unable to cope with my fear, I swap it for anger once again. “I’m not worried. You wouldn’t let them take me. It’s that you lied to me and that’s what I don’t like.” Yeah. That’s what I got out of that. I should have been included. I don’t feel a part of this family, just some baggage they have to carry around. An inconvenience they had to take on after my mom got shot of me just as soon as she could. She’s living with a new man now, neither Ella nor I know who or care.

“Jayden…”

“No, Ella.” I swing around. “Why don’t you go back to the house? I’ll be okay here on my own in the compound. You’re here every day anyway. Wouldn’t you be more comfortable back at home?” Maybe then I’d be able to spend more time with Paladin without their interference. Hmm. That sounds like a really good idea. He’ll keep me safe. He wouldn’t let anything hurt me. I try to persuade them. “I’ll be fine. You can start decorating the nursery.” I pause. Damn, I wanted to be part of that. I shake off my burst of remorse. “You’ll be better off there than here.”

Slick looks like he’s veering between anger and compassion. In the end, it seems sympathy wins out. “Sweetheart. Wouldn’t be anything wrong with that if we could guarantee you’d be safe on the compound.”

What does he mean?

“Of course I’m safe,” I scoff. “I’m part of the club. You’ve told me that. So all the Devils would protect me.” Especially Paladin. No one would get through him. Would they? Again that box rattles.

Once more there’s a loud sigh from Slick. Ella’s shaking her head, but he narrows his eyes at her. “You heard the girl, El. If she’s not armed with the facts, she can’t make any choices. She’s right, she’s old enough to have some say in decisions concerning herself.”

I frown, biting my lip to stop the words, ‘I didn’t mean it,’ coming out of my mouth. I love living with Slick and Ella, don’t really want them to go back to the house in Tucson and leave me alone here. I’m scared enough as it is.

“Okay.” Ella looks like she’s going to cry.

Slick’s head dips up and down, then he draws up a chair and sits in front of us. “If the Herreras decide to launch an attack on the compound, Devils might not be able to hold them off. They outnumber us, sweetheart.”

The implications sink in quickly. An attack on the compound? The men could be injured, or worse. The children. All the babies and toddlers I babysit and watch so often. They could be at risk. The men, the old ladies. While to me, my own safety is paramount, I couldn’t live with being responsible for any of them getting hurt. There’s only one solution. “If that’s the case, it’s best I go away. Away from Tucson.”

To my surprise, while Ella lets out a sob, Slick nods. “That’s the gist of it, sweetheart. Wish things were different, but it could be safer for you, and everyone else here.”

Where would I go? My hands are trembling. How far is far enough to be out of danger?

“We could go somewhere with you,” Ella suggests. “All of us, start over.”

“We could,” Slick agrees. “But there is another option on the table.”

“One I don’t like, Slick.” Ella doesn’t often glare at her man. She does now.

“Ella,” Slick groans. He throws up his hands. “Don’t you think she should make her own choice? Have the chance to say no for herself?”

For a moment they have a staring match, then Ella turns away. Slick seems to take it as permission as he resumes.

“Paladin is prepared to transfer to the Colorado chapter. Their prez, Hellfire, is happy for you to go with him.”

I can feel the lines on my brow deepening. “Me go, with Paladin?” There’s a little buzz of excitement inside me which I try to hide all visible signs of. “Why Colorado?”

“Why exactly,” butts in Ella. “I’m sure Red would have them in Vegas.”

Again Slick frowns at her. “Because Hellfire has brought up a family. Red, hasn’t. Nor any of the other presidents. We all know what could happen if Jayden and Paladin go off together without a chaperone.”

A chaperone? They’re saying I couldn’t be trusted?But I trust Paladin. Don’t I? My eyes go to one then the other.

As my mouth opens wide, Ella purses her lips. “Then we all go. Together.”

Slick places his hands over hers. “El, darlin’. I know you want to keep Jayden close by forever, but you’ve got to let her fly on her own sometime.”

“But Colorado…” Ella protests.

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