Page 15 of Dealing Dirty
“We have plans in place. Diablo’s reign will end soon enough, but I need the pack to trust me and keep a level head about it,” Jack says, meeting Kenneth’s sharpened inflection with a bladed edge of his own. “We’re all family here, you know that.”
The older man holds Jack’s gaze before flicking his eyes toward me. Giving a tight nod, he moves to stand, and we hold a single breath until he’s well across the room, back beside his daughter.
Jack turns his back to the bar, planting his palms flat against the wooden counter behind him. My eyes cling to the dark mass of tattoos marring his skin. Unlike Kenneth’s prison tats, Jack’s are well defined and intricate.
“I don’t know how much more I can take, D.”
Part of us wishes we could put all of this behind us and move forward, but it isn’t an option. Ben’s our brother, and it’s nearly impossible not to think about where he is or what he’s up to right now. There are many days I wonder if he’s even still alive. I can’t imagine how Jack is feeling.
I nod, at a loss for words.
“I’m going fucking insane, and now the Wolves are closing in on us.” His thumb and forefinger rub a circle around his mouth. “I want to go after him.”
Turning so that I’m out of earshot of any customers, I drop my voice low. “Absolutely not. We can’t risk it.”
“Wearen’t going to risk anything. I know you want to help Ben too, but this shit isn’t going to stop. It’s not over by a long shot, and Kenneth has a point. I won’t be a sitting a duck, waiting for Diablo to swoop in for the kill.”
Arguing is tempting, but this is one of the very reasons I would lay my life down for the guy. Jack is nothing if not loyal, and he wouldn’t hesitate to jump in the line of fire for any of us.
Tinkling laughter drags my gaze over my shoulder and toward Juliana. She bumps the man who’s flirting with her with her hip, drawing my gaze like a magnet. I faintly hear her speak Spanish to him, and their matching smiles fuel a foreign pressure behind my sternum.
“If we want to stop Bruce for good, we have to let Ben do what he needs to do,” I reason. “We know he’s got bigger plans, and if you bust in wherever he is with some half-cocked plan to break him out of there, you’re only going to get yourself killed. You’ve got more riding on the line now.”
We watch as Cassidy gathers drinks onto a tray that Micah has helped her set up. She beams a thousand-watt smile our way before bouncing back to the floor. Cass hasn’t really been herself over the last few months, but I get it. She’s trying to cope with losing someone she’d loved dearly.
That’s the shitty thing about losing the living; they’re alive and well, moving on to another life, while the ones they’ve hurt mourn them like they’re dead.
Having Juliana here gives her back the glow she’s been missing, and a smile sneaks its way to my lips.
“She’s pretty incredible, isn’t she?” Jack murmurs. I’d tease the guy for being so whipped if it weren’t the God’s honest truth.
Their nauseating love-gushing may make me want to stab my eyes out with a fork, but I couldn’t be happier for them. Jack’s been a brother to me for the better part of half my life, and it brings me immense joy that after everything he and Ben have been through, he’s found happiness.
Exhaustion bleeds into my bones when it’s time to finally shut ’er down.
“What the hell was that about tonight?” Cassidy sighs, propping her feet up on the countertop. “We only get crowds like that when Jack’s up there showing off.”
Juliana unties her apron from around her waist and plops it next to Cass’s feet before falling back onto the stool next to her. Her shoes fall to the ground with a thud, and she moans, rubbing her sore feet.
My dick springs to life like a dog begging for a treat.
Down, boy.
I pour them both a beer as Jack joins us. “Showing off? I’ll remember that next time you’re front and center and I’m stepping over your drool.”
A seductive smile curls Cassidy’s pink-glossed lips as they share a silent conversation.
“So,” she says, grabbing her ponytail and twirling the end of it around her finger. “I was thinking how nice it would be if we all had dinner soon.”
My eyes widen.
“Jack and I have been sprucing up the bachelor pad, and I’d like to show you guys our progress. Plus, it’ll be so nice to hangout outside of work like normal folks.” She looks at each of us expectantly, and I notice Juliana stiffen.
“I, um…” I glance at Jack for a way out of this, but he only shrugs.
Asshole.
“Derrick can pick you up!” She turns to Juliana, clapping excitedly.
