Page 45 of Filthy Savage
Axe
“Excuse me?”my stare shoots back and forth between Kade and Nancy, and rests on my sister. “Run that by me again? I must be out of my mind, because what I thought I heard was that this motherfucker is your husband?”
“You heard correctly,” Nancy says, meeting my gaze. “What part ofI’m getting married to Kade Jacksondid you not hear back then?”
“How the fuck was I supposed to know it wasthisKade Jackson? You never gave bikers or anyone who wasn’t perfectly white bread and middle class the time of day. I just assumed—”
“Don’t give me that. Your assumptions almost killed my kids’ father in his own home!”
Groaning, I lower the gun and jam the safety into place. I put it away, wiping my palms across my face. “Maybe you’re right. We do have a lot to talk about, and sleeping with the enemy is right at the top of the goddamned list. It may have occurred to you to have told me something like, Hey, Axe. Guess what? I married a Los Diablos member, and not just any Los Diablos, the president of the motherfucking Nevada Chapter. I mean, Jesus Christ, what if you hadn’t come in the house? Did you consider that, sis? Kade’s big ugly mug would be splattered all over your perfect kitchen.”
I clutch one arm to the counter beside me, suddenly visualizing that night all over again. “I could have fucking killed him, and the kids are right upstairs…they would have seen…”
Unable to cope, I quickly push off from the spot, brushing by Nancy and Angel. I make a dash for the front door, heading right back to the truck. One stupid move could have put those kids through exactly the lives me and Nancy had, even though I fought damn hard to protect her from it back then. My head pounds and even in the blistering hot truck interior, my skin is cold and sweaty. Thank fuck I haven’t had much to eat yet, because the thought has me ready to puke my guts out.
“Alexander?” Nancy’s muffled voice floats in as she knocks on my driver side window.
I crack the door open slightly, not wanting to bother with starting the engine to lower the window. “What?” I croak, swallowing down bitter bile.
“Are you okay?”
“I should be asking you that…I did almost murder your…Kade. You married that guy? What the fuck, Nance?”
“It wasn’t a secret. You knew his name. I figured that was one of the reasons you kept your distance.”
I shake my head wildly. “No way. I’m not buying that bullshit story. You knew exactly what you were doing by keeping the truth from me.”
A heavy silence hangs between us, and then she says, “Fine. Okay, maybe I did subtly neglect to mention the Los Diablos part. I should’ve told you a long time ago.”
“Yeah, you damn well should’ve.”
“Will you just come inside so we can talk?”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, when Angel and I have been running from a bunch of Louisiana Los Diablos. How the hell can I keep her safe when Kade over there probably already gave them the heads up that we’re here? How can I be sure he’s not in on it? I could have just walked Angel right into her last day on the planet.”
She glares at me. “He is not, and he won’t.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Stop looking for another excuse to run, Axe. Get inside. We can all sit down and get this out. I’ll put on a movie for the kids upstairs, and we’ll have a good hour to clear the air.”
“Wait a minute. Who do the kids take after?”
“What the hell do you mean by that?” she grunts out. “You’ve seen them. Who do you think they took after? And why the hell does it matter?”
“Well, you’re a suburbanite. He’s a fight or die MC Prez.”
“You know what? I’m starting to like the quiet, brooding brother I knew all those years ago way better than the one who’s on my doorstep saying ignorant things about my children.”
“I’m not trying to insult you. Jeez. I just want to know…well, I’m curious.”
“They’re my kids and when they grow up they can do whatever they want… except join a motorcycle club. Is that clear enough for you?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, and just so you don’t go apeshit a year from now…” she lowers a hand to her flat stomach, and her face softens. “We’re expecting one more. A boy. I’m five months along… I know, I’m not showing that much. That’s how it was for Annalee, but I don’t know what he’ll be yet, all right?”
“Wow. Okay. Congrats!”
