Page 44 of Jagger
Jagger
Two days later
Phantom and Animal made sure Jackie’s father got the girls, and he planned to transport them back to Michigan to their father’s house yesterday. The girls were pretty rattled from their ordeal, but I trusted they wouldn’t divulge what they’d seen or experienced. Laura, the woman who had been a captive for almost two years, was settling into a camper on Roughstock and Cheyenne’s property.
It was moved beside the house so Laura would be close, and she seemed to be settling in fairly well. They had offered to let her stay as long as she needed, but I could tell she was worried about taking advantage of them. I felt bad for her but was proud she survived. No matter what she had to do.
Blur offered to tell us everything about his operation, thinking it might keep him alive longer, but no amount of confessions would delay him dying. Blur thought that he could leveraged his secrets to save his sorry ass, but when Roughstock put a bullet in his head, his leverage went out the side with his brains.
Jackie and I spent all day in bed yesterday morning, getting reacquainted with each other. It was a perfect day, but when Cheyenne called yesterday afternoon, asking us to come to the ranch, Jackie knew it was about Laura. The woman had been through hell, but she confided in the ladies last night that no one had touched her. For two years, they threatened her with everyimaginable thing to scare her, but when Blur took off, she was left to take care of the women.
The men involved in Cheyenne’s kidnapping last year had come and gone from the property, until one day, they didn’t return. Laura said she didn’t leave out of fear and shame. I heard Jackie and Cheyenne reassuring her that whatever she did to survive was understandable, but I believed she held herself responsible.
I called Dawg, the National President of the Sinners Revenge MC, and spoke with his wife, Lori. She and Rose, the wife of Roughstock’s cousin, Jackal, were going to come up and speak with Laura in a few days. Hopefully, with what Lori and Rose had survived, they could help Laura find her strength.
Today, Jackie’s father was driving down to Rapid City to join Jackie, Nana, and me at my house for lunch. It was past time I introduced myself to her father, and he and my Nana wanted to meet, so Jackie suggested we cook here. My house was very much a bachelor pad, but I was willing to change whatever she wanted. She helped me straighten up to make the place presentable.
After deciding on the menu, we went to the store and got everything to make lunch. Watching Jackie move around the kitchen as she cooked made me want to put my ring on her finger and a baby in her belly even more. But we had the rest of our lives, so I wasn’t going to rush anything.
“I’m going to pick up Nana,” I remarked. “Did your dad say what time he would be here?”
She looked at the clock on the microwave and replied, “He should be here in twenty minutes or so.”
“Then we should get here about the same time.” Kissing her on the cheek, I added, “I love you, my beautiful little warrior.”
She turned and kissed my lips softly as she replied, “I love you too.”
Leaving her alone was difficult, but I knew she was safe in the house. And in a kitchen full of knives, I wouldn’t want to be the dumb fucker who’d try to hurt her. The skill she had when throwing that knife at Blur, landing it in a small spot to immobilize him without injuring Laura, was impressive, and I’d admit, I asked her to teach me her secrets.
She kissed me and whispered, “Ancient Native secret.”
I tickled her after her little joke, and her laughter was like the morning sun rising—beautiful and full of possibilities.
The drive to Nana’s didn’t take too long, and after getting her secure in my truck, I drove straight back to my house. There were only a few miles between us, and when I pulled back up at my house, I saw an unfamiliar car parked behind Jackie’s car.
After assisting Nana out of the car, I walked beside her as we moved toward the house. Her ankle was healed, but I felt better when I was beside her. As we got closer, she lowered her voice as she spoke.
“Did you get that nasty business with Trent’s father taken care of?” Nana inquired.
I glanced at her and responded in a general manner. “The man who hurt Nitro won’t ever hurt anyone again.”
She reached over and patted my arm as she said, “Good. People like that deserve to be put down like the rabid dogs they are.”
I tried to school my face at her shocking statement as I helped her up the stairs. Suddenly, it dawned on me that my Nana was more familiar with the workings of the club than I’d realized. Opening the door, she walked into the house before me and looked around. Cheyenne and an older man with a beautiful black braid over his shoulder walked into the room.
“Cora?” the man I assumed to be Jackie’s father asked. “Cora Morris?”
“It’s Connie Palmer now.” She took another step closer and remarked, “Oh my. Awena Swiftwater? How on earth have you been?”
The two embraced in a familiar hug as Jackie and I looked on, confused how they knew each other. Finally, Nana explained. “Awena and I worked on a project a hundred years ago. I haven’t seen you in, what, thirty years?”
“At least,” he returned with a smile before turning his attention to me. “You must be Lincoln. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you from Jackie. And if you’re related to Connie, then I know you have a good heart.”
I shook his hand and replied, “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Swiftwater. Welcome to our home.”
It was a slip, but he caught it. Looking at Jackie, he asked, “Will you still have your work with the tribes when you move?”
“Of course, Dad. And I’m not rushing to move tomorrow. We have lots of time for that, but I’ll never give up my work. It’s too important,” Jackie explained.
