Page 109 of Tattooed Love

“Don’t know what you are talking about old man. Since when were you a member of the Deadly Dozen anyway? And, from your vest, it looks like you are President.”

“Blake’s father and I were prospects together. He left after a few years to form the gangs that Blake proudly runs now, and I… well… I stayed.”

“Talk about family tension,” I muttered, liking the fact that the subject was now off me. “So that’s why you didn’t wear your patch at the BBQ when I met you.”

Grant nodded his head causally. “Once a year I take it off, for the family.”

“Well I’m guessing your family BBQ is off this year.”

“Considering Blake won’t be attending, I have no need to go.”Grant moved forward and leaned across the chair to me. “Now tell me, why you are dating a walking time bomb.”

“Excuse me?”

“Jax is deadly man, Amber. He isn’t someone you want to get close to.”

“Good thing we aren’t close then,” I snapped at him, while narrowing my eyes. “We aren’t dating.”

“Seeing that he has had his grips wrapped around my daughter for most of the night, I tend to believe you to some degree.”

“The beautiful woman he is with is your daughter?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes, and every time Jax rolls in, she is his pick.”

“And you let him?” Surely Grant wasn’t that much of a pushover.

“Mai goes to him, and I don’t want to pick a fight I can’t win.” Grant lit another cigarette and the chair crackled as he moved in it.

“Jax isn’t that tough,” I grunted, as the memory of him picking me up from the bathroom floor flashed across my mind.

Grant’s deep rumble of laughter brought me out of my flashback, and his wicked smile had my full attention.

“I suppose he isn’t to women he sleeps with.”

“I’m not a bed warmer.”

“No, you’ve already been kicked out by the looks of it, by Mai.”

“My brothers wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to hear we are together. We don’t have a choice.”

“Your brothers are weak when it comes to Jax, just like I am.” Grant looked at me with a knowing, warm, fatherly smile.“So why are you staying in the shadows?”

Grant knew the headstrong Amber; the one that would put a gun to someone’s temple and not even blink. He’d heard of the girl that could help Blake take a hit out, and eat and laugh, all in the same night. That girl was unstoppable, but now I realized I was only unstoppable because I’d had Blake. Without him, I was robbed of the little strength I had left and now, well now, I was a shell. One that cries when left at home, and whose boyfriend runs around doing whatever he wants. All because I was scared of my brothers?

“I don’t know,” I muttered, rising from the chair. “Jax isn’t Blake.”

Those words settled it. I knew Jax was strong, but maybe his new found love for me wasn’t. Blake would’ve stood up and declared me his, and anyone who got in the way would be shot.

“Not all relationships are crystal clear. Night old man,” I said.

“Don’t let him make you feel weak Amber.”

I stopped in my tracks as I was retreating to the bedroom that I was meant to have been in all this time.

I sighed softly before I began to walk away again. Maybe he was right.

But I still knew I was going to learn the hard way, because I always did.

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