Page 88 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Gimme one clue, motherfucker,” I hissed at Bear.
“Ma.”
That was even more cryptic than his prior declaration.I cussed at him, “Asshole.”
Speaking of…
“Asshole.”I didn’t bother holding my hand out to Shock or that shit.The son of a bitch in front of me was going gray.He’d put on at least another thirty pounds since I’d kicked his ass in Sturgis.His dark eyes glittered in the afternoon sun.I read their depths.Yup, he still hated me.
To my surprise, Shock grinned.“I’ll remember you said that.”He shoved past me like he owned the place.Which wouldn’t fly.I slapped my hand on his vest and pushed back.
Did I mentionthirtyadditional pounds?Fucker didn’t budge.In fact, his momentum dragged me with him.
“This is my house.Let me get the door for you.”And slam your ugly faceinto it…
He spread his hand in front of himself like he was a king bidding a subject to wait on him.
Nonno couldn’t get his ass here sooner?I squashed that thought down.He’d get here in his own time.Making me wait with Shock would solve all his problems if one of us killed the other.And there was no use in getting my hopes up for an easy solution.Wish in one hand, shit in the other.See which one fills up first.That’s how much good it’ddo you.
Shock stopped in the doorframe, blocking everyone behind him.He casually looked over his shoulder at me.“Your house?Did you get tired of that little white farmhouse you just bought?”
He didn’t bother to wait for my answer, because that wasn’t the point.He wanted me to sweat.
I shot Bear a squinted message to fill me in on everythingasap.This was fucked.One of the hookers talked.And did it so well, my home was compromised.The trail of bikers filed inside, leaving me alone with Bear.
“Ma, huh?”
That meant they were at the lake house.Shock hinted that my castle of suburbia wasn’t safe.And Bear moved the women to the best place for them.Except, the hookers knew about that place, too.But at least there was a top-notch security system there.Even better than the one that Skinner planned for mine.
Sprout pulled in on his CVO alone.I waited under the eaves for him to dismount.
“How’s your house, Sprout?”If Kate was angry and Ma was involved, something had to be destroyed.
“Still standing.Ma’s going to show off the new indoor range today.But Kate’s the one threatening to cut off my nuts.She doesn’t want Zoe anywhere near it.”He’d dropped his tone at the mention of my daughter.Smart man.
“Ma’s got them on the firing range?”Holy fuck.No wonder Kate was pissed.
“I told her you cleared it.”
I slapped the back of his head.“Idiot.”I didn’t hit him hard.He was doing his job.And finally filling me in after the fact so I wouldn’t be surprised when Kate bitched me out later.
Sprout grinned.And I silently admitted that he had a point.The more women comfortable with guns, the better.Ma was a crack shot, and Danielle wasn’t awful, but also pregnant, therefore still getting her balance right.If Kate and Zoe knew enough to differentiate between the grip end and the boom end, that was a good thing.
“Hagerstown set up shop on the perimeter.”
“Who thought that up?”
“I did.Knew you’d be needing a better solution than just bodyguards for a few days.”
His normal grin wasn’t there.
I nodded at Sprout, giving him credit for having my back.“Your dad would be proud of you.”
Sprout grabbed my arm and squeezed it.His eyes were squinted, looking somewhere in the past.Old Jolly wasn’t with us long enough.And it was a bitch bringing that up because Sprout missed him the most of all of us.
He changed the subject.“Shock’s here.Problems?”He tipped his head at the cluster of bikes.
“I called him an asshole already.”
