Page 101 of Angels and Skulls
I hadn’t thought about that. Actually, I haven’t pictured any of this, but she’s right. I don’t think I could live with Jenny in the home Rachel and I created together.
When I step from the trees, Maggie already has her daughter wrapped in her arms. Fuck, I guess that’s the end of that conversation … for now.
Aspen is jumping up and down waiting for her turn. Garfield leaps from my shoulder and runs to her, curling around her little legs like he’s known her forever.
Jackson looks at me over their heads. He wants to talk. I pat Maggie on the back as I pass. She’s over the fucking moon.
Jackson and I make our way around the house and sit on the porch. “Tell me what went down at the shed, and I’ll consider letting her leave here with you.”
I sigh. My son is a good president and an excellent negotiator. He was born for the role. “The man’s name was Benjamin. He was the man your sister was supposed to marry.”
Jackson’s eyebrows jump in surprise. “The wedding you all crashed?”
He’s heard the story many times. It’s one of the club’s favorites.
“Yeah.” I rub my head.
My son doesn’t know how his sister’s ex treated her. I don’t know how much to tell him without revealing too much of her story. It’s not mine to tell. “He – he wasn’t a very good man, Jackson. Most of those types aren’t. Anyway, he told Jenny that his father was the top dog of the organization that took us.”
The blood drains from my son’s face.
“But it was a lie, Jackson. It was a lie … he just wanted … he wanted to take advantage of her. He was a slimy low-life coward, but he’s gone. It’s done. And I don’t want Jenny to know that none of what he said was true. She would be devastated to know that she fell for his lies.”
He blinks at me. “What a fucking asshole. How did he know she was trafficked?”
“They all know, Jackson. It’s the game they play.”
He looks away from me, and I know he’s thinking of his biological father.
I nudge his arm, and his head falls.
“I’ll tell the guys to keep it quiet.”
“Thank you.”
We sit in silence for a few seconds before he speaks again. “I think we let her decide where she wants to go. I mean, maybe shewants to stay at my sister’s or Grandma’s. We aren’t the only two options.”
“I think that’s wise,” I tell him, even though I hate it. Why did I raise him to be so responsible? “We leave it up to her.”
“It’s crazy that her place burnt to the ground. I’m glad she didn’t get hurt.”
“Me too, Son.”
Both of us look at each other, and a niggling fear starts to worm its way into my brain. “You don’t think Jesse …?” I can’t say it because fuck, that would be insane.
“She was busy bringing that asshole in. It couldn’t have been her.”
“But she just left him there and then disappeared. Dirk and I didn’t see her the entire night. We still haven’t found her.”
“Why would she burn Mom’s house down?” Jackson asks. “I can’t believe my aunt would do that to her.”
“Yesterday Lexie delivered a letter to Jenny from your mom.”
Jackson’s face falls. “Mom left her a letter too?”
“Yeah.” I run my hand through my hair, thinking about it. From that moment on, everything has seemed to snowball. “Wait. Lexie told me Mom wanted her to remind me to remember the Skull motto.”
“To protect those we love?” he asks.
