Page 22 of Paladin's Hell

Chapter 8

Paladin

My gaze follows Jayden as she enters the Tucson clubhouse. She looks around, spots me, and starts heading over. I can tell by the serious expression on her face that she’s got something to get off her mind. There’s not much she can hide from me, I’ve spent the last two years and more watching her, learning about her. Falling ever deeper in love with her.

As she draws closer, I kick out a chair. A quick nod of thanks, and then she sits down, immediately leaning forward and putting her elbows on the table, clasping her hands in front of her. It would be hard not to notice her eyes look sunken as though she’s had a sleepless night.

“What’s up?” I ask.

She sighs, presses her lips together, then finally, speaks. “Seems I’ve got to grow up now. Can’t be a kid any longer.”

Music to my fucking ears. Yet how will I cope if she acts adult, and I’m still required to be hands off?

“What’s happened, Doll?” Something has. That’s for sure. “You get into it with Slick and Ella last night?” I’d felt like punching Slick myself. Date night, fuck my ass. I could see how angry she was when she’d left me.

“Slick and El were assholes.”

She won’t be getting any argument from me. Her way of putting it brings a fleeting smile to my face, but it soon slides away. “And?”

“They told me about the Herreras. About the renewed threat.” She glances around, drawing my attention to where a pregnant Sam is playing with Eli, Drummer’s toddler son. Sophie, with an even larger rounded stomach, is walking in holding the hand of Olivia who’s tottering by her side. Her eyes catch those of Marcia who’s sitting on the floor with her eight month old twins happily playing on their mats. Then her head turns slightly, taking in Joker and Lady talking with Darcy, Peg’s expectant wife who’s just come off her firefighting shift. Jayden looks back. “About how me being here is a danger to everyone else.”

What?My face tightens. “I’m sure they didn’t word it like that.”

A shrug. “Maybe not. But that’s what it comes down to, doesn’t it?”

She’s right. It is a grown-up way of looking at it. But I don’t want her to feel she’s got everyone’s safety resting on her shoulders. She’s nervous, constantly scanning the room as if expecting the Herreras are going to appear any moment. “Jay, we’re not even sure they’re going to act on their threat, or even if they actually meant it. We’re just being prepared. Doll, there’s nothing for you to worry about. Every man here would give their lives to keep you safe.”

Her lips thin again. “But that’s what I don’t like. Of course I don’t want the Herreras to take me, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt trying to protect me.” She glances at her clasped hands which are trembling, then up at me. “They mentioned Colorado.”

“They mention why?” I ask, my jaw locked.

A quick look toward me. “Well they are worried if we go off together, they don’t think we’ll be able to keep our hands to ourselves.” The way she says it doesn’t sound like it’s a particularly attractive option.

In a way, I can understand. Much as I’d like the chance to move our relationship on to the next step, the thought it could happen so much quicker than expected has got me off balance too. I sigh. “Even if we wanted to, Jay, probably won’t be as easy as that. Hellfire and his old lady have been married forever. Got grown kids, one I think about my age. I don’t reckon we’ll have completely free rein. It wouldn’t be like we’d be moving in together.”

As her head tilts, I see a fleeting expression of relief. “We didn’t get around to discussing details. What is the plan, then?”

Drummer had filled me in after his conversation with the Colorado prez. “I’ll be patching over as a member and will bunk down in the clubhouse. You’ll be staying with Hellfire and his old lady in their house off the compound.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.” She’s shaking her head. “Staying with strangers.”

I nod, she wouldn’t. Living with people we don’t know will be hard for the both of us, particularly at the start. My hand starts to move, I force it to stop. I’d do anything to reach over the table and take hers, but we’re not alone in the clubroom. Word will get back to Drummer and Slick, my innocent action could be misinterpreted. I can’t wait to go somewhere where we can be ourselves. In Colorado, nothing can stop us physically demonstrating our affection for each other, once the next few months have passed, and Jayden’s reached her seventeenth birthday.

As she bites her lip, worried, I rush to reassure her, “Promise you this, Jay. You don’t get on with Hellfire’s old lady? I’ll find somewhere else for the both of us.”

“Pal, I…”

“Doll, I’ll do whatever you want to keep you happy. Always have. That’s not going to change.”

“I’m not ready to play happy families, Pal. El will want me to continue school.”

“Jay, you’re still young. I know that. Your education is important. I want you to continue it too. Get your diploma, then decide what you want out of life.”

Once again she looks around at the room filled with old ladies and babies. Heart has just walked in, making a beeline for his wriggling twins, Grunt, the fucking overgrown mutt, bounding along behind. I see her hands twitching as though she’s eager to go and help. She’ll make a great mom one day. Fucking loves kids.

“I’ll miss this.” She seems to have forgotten about her education.

“So will I,” I tell her truthfully. “Hard for me to move as it is for you. The men here? Well, they’re all the family I’ve ever known.”

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