“Dancer, man—”
“I’m asking you man to man if my past hurt my daughter. If I was the reason that the light went out of her eyes, Grunt.”
I take a deep breath, instinctively knowing I’m treading thin ice here, just from what Jasmine had shared with me.
“Not the way you’re thinking. I don’t know your story, but I know enough that I figure you carry a large enough burden. Don’t take this on. Lagger was a poison that needed ending and that’s exactly what happened. The others, I have no idea about, but I wanted to make sure I covered my bases.”
“So, it was you,” he says.
I shrug. “Me and my club.”
“I should talk to Jasmine…”
“No, you need to let it go. I’m going to tell you that Lagger did not hurt Jasmine physically until he hit her that day beside the road. That’s what got him killed. He was a twisted fuck, yeah, but Red, she can handle herself. She was fine. What she would not be fine with, would be having her father take on a guilt that he had no reason to feel. And personally, I think that’s giving that fucker too much credit. The circle is closed now, you heard the news. Those fuckers died by their own vices and hands. There’s no blowback. It’s done. The past is dead and rotting. Dancer, I can’t know what happened or what’s going on in your head, but I think we both need to let it rot and concentrate on everything we have.”
Dancer doesn’t reply right away. He continues to drink his beer, watching Jasmine spin Daisy around.
“We have a lot,” he says, and I nod, even though he’s not looking at me.
“That we do.”
“She’s going to be trouble,” he says, and I jerk my gaze to watch Gina walk up to Daisy and grab her by the arm, trying to forcefully pull her away from Jasmine.
“Fuck,” I hiss, getting ready to go over there. That’s when Dancer puts his hand on my shoulder and holds me back.
“Jasmine might be a girl, but she’s more mine than her brother. She’s got this,” he says. I think he might be insane. I’m set to ignore him and walk over there, when I start laughing.
Jasmine grabs Gina by the arm, she twists it in a way that looks completely unnatural and really painful. Then, she brings her knee up and plants it in Gina’s stomach.
“Get this straight bitch, this is my daughter. If you ever come around her and put your hands on her again, I will end you and I will bury you so deep you can kiss the devil’s ass,” Jasmine bitches.
The boys all go quiet and Gina looks around at everyone. She’s had the run of the club for a while now, being the only old lady and there’s been no one in the running to worry about replacing her, since apparently Ford has sworn off women in general. It looks like Jasmine may have just made her case as leader of the females in the club.
“Damn,” I hiss, my cock actually getting hard seeing her in action.
“Told you,” Dancer laughs.
“Are you all going to let her talk to me like this? Sledge! Do something!” Gina demands. I tense, waiting to see what Sledge does, he’s a wildcard at best. I feel Dancer come to attention beside me. Then, Sledge defuses the situation easily.
“Welcome to the family, Jazz,” he calls out and every single one of my men hold their beers out, taking a drink, and toasting her.
“That’s my girl,” Dancer says, taking another drink, toasting her himself. Jasmine picks up my daughter and kisses her on the top of her head and our eyes meet.
“No,” I deny him. “That’s my woman.”
I leave him behind, a forgotten memory, as I go and kiss the hell out of Jasmine, thanking my lucky fucking stars that I have her.
The End