Page 116 of Mouse Trapped

She’s right, I know it. Her upset stomach shows how much strain she’s been under. “If you had been, I wouldn’t have minded,” I tell her, truthfully. “But all the stress wouldn’t be good for a baby if you were. Let’s just be us, for the moment.” My attention is caught by laughter from the pool table. Drew is playing against Jayden and clearly the youngsters are having fun, Paladin is leaning against the wall, his arms folded, glaring at them.Uh oh.“I think,” I tell her, “we’re going to have enough trouble with one teenage boy.”

She turns to see where I’m looking. “Hmm. Jayden’s with Paladin, isn’t she? I thought they were leaving, going to Colorado?”

I continue to watch Paladin. That’s the plan. The young member won’t want anything to happen to upset that. It’s nothard to see what he’s thinking. Drummer’s given him instructions he’s got to be hands off until she’s eighteen. Drew’s had no such warning, and may not, they’re so much closer in age. Could be nothing, but from the look on Paladin’s face, there could be trouble brewing. But I don’t want to add to Mariana’s stress tonight. I content myself with saying a simple, “Yeah.”

The next night, as I’m walking into church, I find I was right to be concerned. Paladin puts himself in front of me.

“Tell your boy to keep away from Jayden,” he snarls.

“Whoa.” I hold my hands up in front of me. “They’re around the same age. Kids are gonna get together if they’ve got things in common.”

His hands make fists by his sides. “You know how long I’ve fuckin’ waited for her,” he hisses. “Might not be able to publicly claim her, but she’s mine. Ain’t havin’ someone else fuck it up now. Not now we’ve got plans in place to leave for Colorado.”

I top him by a couple of inches. Pulling myself up to my full height, I rasp out, “You can’t claim someone who doesn’t want to be claimed,Brother.I don’t know what the fuck Drew thinks about Jayden, but it’s up to her to tell him if she’s not interested. Seems to me you might be taking things for granted. Need to work at it, if she’s the one for you.”

“You’re not going to speak to him?”

“Nah. But if you lay one finger on him, Paladin, I’ll break both your fuckin’ legs. Man up, will you?” I place my palm on his chest, physically pushing him back. “Drew’s not your problem, but maybe your assumptions about Jayden are. Seems it’s her you should be focusing on, not my boy. You hearin’ me?”

He spins on his heels and storms off.

“You’re right, Brother.” Slick steps out of the shadows behind me. “Jayden’s growing up. Paladin never thought she might grow away from him.”

“She’s sixteen now, Brother. Maybe time to loosen the reins a little,” I suggest.

Slick frowns. “Part of me agrees with you, part of me still remembers that broken little girl we rescued. And it’s not me that needs to be convinced. Ella wants to keep her wrapped in cotton wool.”

I gaze thoughtfully after Paladin. “Paladin’s had his hands tied by both you and the prez. If Drew or anyone steps in when he’s forbidden to make a move, there’s going to be bloodshed.” I just hope it’s not Drew on the receiving end.

A loud sigh, then, “You’re right,” he repeats. “I’ll have a word with Drummer. Won’t be able to do much anyway when they go to Colorado.”

“That still happening?”

Slick grimaces. “Much as I hate it, that’s for the best. We live with the fear of Jayden being snatched off the street, hell, taken out of school under some pretence or another. The Herreras getting hold of her however careful we are. So, yeah. Hellfire has agreed. They’ll be leaving in a few weeks. That will be your problem with Drew solved.”

It will. But maybe it’s opened Jayden’s eyes as to there being other possibilities. I wonder how Paladin will cope if she sets her eyes on somebody else.

Conversation over, Slick slaps my back and we walk into church and take our seats just as Drummer bangs the gavel.

This time I can pay attention to what’s going on. Blade’s report is particularly interesting.

“Got the lease signed on the tattoo shop. Rock and I have been going through the applications for a couple of tattoo artists.” Blade breaks off, spins his knife until it’s pointing at me, his grin evil. “Brother there is a blank canvas. Thought we could use him to try them out.”

“No fuckin’ way,” I snarl. “Not gonna have needles anywhere near me.”

“Says the man who’s got a fuckin’ apadravya,” Joker reminds them.

Once. It was one time I told them. Memories like fucking elephants around this table. “I was drunk,” I explain through gritted teeth. I was. Woke up with a fucking hole and jewellery in my dick. Once it had healed though, I hadn’t regretted it. I shift in my seat as I think of how much Mariana appreciates it, and my cock reacts.

“Come on, Mouse. Take one for the team. Have Mariana’s name tatted over your heart.” Now Lady’s joining in.

“You fuckin’ volunteer,” I point my index finger at him. “You can have Joker’s.”

“Alright, alright.” Drummer’s loud voice brings our exchange to a halt. “No one’s forcing anyone to get a tattoo.” He jerks his chin toward Rock. “What about your back?”

“Be a few months yet, Prez. Doc reckoned to leave it a year so the skin’s properly healed.”

I send him a glance of sympathy. Poor fucker had his Satan’s Devils tattoo flayed off his back. While Doc did what he could to minimise the scarring, he’ll still need a good tattoo artist to replace that.

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