Page 85 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
Should I lie?I opted for the truth or a facsimile.“A present from Shock.”
He rushed to the kitchen island where I stood.Water dripped from his hair.It was usually braided from hairline to neck.The sides were shaved to show off his skull tattoos.But with it down, he almost looked normal…for a six-foot-two-inch biker with too many piercings.
I grabbed a towel and handed it to him so he wouldn’t get the photos wet.“They’re photos.”
“I can see that,” he said.
“Of Jackson,” I added.
His hands stilled.One photo peeked out, frozen in time.In that one, Jackson glared at the camera.
That must be his “I’m going to kill you face.”I didn’t like it much.
I tapped that photograph.“He knew this one was taken.”
Bear’s eyes dipped to it.“Motherfucker.That party was club b…”
I stared at him, daring him to finish.
Instead, he stuffed the photo back in, bending it.
I took the envelope from him and straightened things out so it would close.“Take this, hide it somewhere Zoe will never find it.”
His lips whitened.It was the only sign I’d gotten my point across.
Then he nodded.
I handed him the envelope.He went to his coat and fiddled with the lining, making the entire package disappear neatly.
“Do you want some Fruit Loops?They’re Zoe’s favorite.”Jackson was right.I had help.His men were rough, capable, but also competent.Bear being an exemplar in that respect.More importantly, Jackson was smart to begin adhering us to his men.Even if Bear thought I was a bitch, or an ice queen, he’d warm up to Zoe.I’d make certain that happened.Because Shock was too invested in me to let things go easily.
Those photos proved that without any doubt.
“Can we talk about that?”
“Nope.”
“Kate—”
“Zoe will be up soon, no.”I locked eyes with him.No sooner than I did, the telltale sounds of Zoe sliding her feet down the steps proved me right.
I smiled.She did that in the house in Maine because the stairs were so uneven, it helped to keep her upright.I couldn’t begin to count how many times she or I slipped on those damn things.
“Morning, Zoe.”
Bear leaned in.“We’re going to have to move you.”
“After breakfast.”I held up the box.
He shook his head.I’m not sure if it was passing on the cereal or at my lame attempt to keep control over a situation that could quite literally blow up in my face.
But Shock wouldn’t do something that extreme.He’d proven through his obsessive documentation that he wanted me alive to torture.That meant whoever was near me was safe, at least from explosives, or random splatters of gunfire, or any number of ways someone could die.
“When did you get cereal?”Zoe’s mumble made me smile.
“Your father arranged it.”
She stared at the bowls, the box, and eventually the clean house.“No shit?”
