“Um, hey, quick favor. Could uh you sit with Jim Jam for a few while I run and put a load of laundry in? It will only take me like five minutes if the machine is empty.”
“Why don’t I do it and you can get him to bed.”
“You sure?”
“Happy to help. Whatever you need, Lissa. I want you to know that you can count on me.”
“I’ve never doubted that. Let me grab some quarters and a basket.”
Melissa goes down the hall and I take the opportunity to ask Jimmy an important question. “What’s something you’d like to get your Momma for Christmas?”
He taps his finger on his chin turning his head sideways to look at me. “Tocks and tandy.”
“Socks and candy?” He bobs his head up and down. “All right. What about you? What did you ask Santa for?”
“Fire truck. Dis big.” He holds his arms outstretched as far as he can.
“You been brushing your teeth?” He nods. “Don’t pick your nose, do you?” He scrunc
hes his nose while making a sour face and I chuckle.
Melissa returns holding the basket with a laundry detergent bottle stuck down in the side and hands me a roll of quarters. “Thanks. You can just stick my basket on top of the washer and put my quarters in the fabric softener box. I’ll get them in the dryer in a bit.”
“No problem.” I bop her nose with my finger. “Keep being good Jim Jam and I bet Santa will bring you that fire truck.” I level the basket on my side, so I can open the door. I look back at Melissa and Jimmy, but they are already going down the hallway to the bathroom. I hate to leave them and hope that one day the three of us will be a real family and I won’t be the outsider looking in.
The laundry room is a building away from Melissa’s. I don’t like the idea of her out here late at night alone and leaving Jimmy asleep in the bed while she does it. What if someone attacked her, a fire broke out, or worse Jimmy woke up scared and went wandering in the dark searching for her? I want to say something to her about it, but I know her, and she’ll take offense. Think I am dogging her parenting skills. I’m not but I worry. I’ve always worried over her since the day she came into my life. I took care of her every day after school and hated every minute of it—until I didn’t. When I was twenty and she was fifteen her hormones were raging, mine were too but I never touched her. I wanted to, but I knew better. I damn sure didn’t want anyone else to have her either though.
I am starting out the door of the laundry room when Carmen, one of the clubwhores, shoves me back inside. I forgot she lives here. “Hey you. You’re a hard guy to get alone.” Her fake red nails stroke my jaw and I take a step back. She’s nice enough but I’m not interested.
I shrug. “I’m a busy guy.” I took over the garage after the shit that went down with Zo Zo and him hurting MaryAnn, Cupid’s old lady. Carmen has been chasing my dick for a while now and every fucking time I turn her down.
“You don’t look busy now. What are you doing here anyway?”
“None of your fucking business.” Bitch is starting to piss me the fuck off. I’m a nice guy to a point but I won’t tolerate her disrespectful bullshit. She fucking knows better too. “Only woman who will ever have a right to question me will be my old lady. I’m only going to tell you once to get the fuck out of my way, cunt.”
The bitch drops to her knees. “I just want to blow you, Cocky.” Her lashes flutter at me and I grab her by the shoulders. Melissa picks this exact moment to walk into the laundry room. Her hand flies to her eyes, getting the wrong idea.
“I’m sorry,” she blurts out and turns on her heels.
“Lissa, wait. It’s not what you think,” I call out after her, shoving Carmen to her ass, and giving chase. I catch up to her halfway down the sidewalk and jerk her backward by her shoulder. “It wasn’t what you think. That crazy cunt was throwing herself at me—”
Pressing her hand to my mouth she cuts me off. “You don’t owe me an explanation. You’re a grown man. If you want to fuck around that’s your business not mine, Shawn.”
“I wouldn’t disrespect you like that. I meant what I said.”
An exasperated sigh leaves her parted lips. “It’s late. I’m tired. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.”
“Will you ever…want to have it?”
“I don’t know, but don’t put your life on hold for me. Do what you want to.” This time I don’t stop her when she walks away. Fucking Carmen. I should go ram my dick down the back of her throat and teach her a lesson, but I get int the truck I borrowed from the garage to haul the tree over and head to my room at the clubhouse. I was working for Reaper at his construction company, but when Hades gave me the garage, I couldn’t refuse the offer.
I never can get shit right with her.
I let out a sigh and drive off like a wounded animal to lick my wounds.
—–
Hades has called everyone to church. A lot of changes are happening, and we are all stretched thin. With Uno patching over to the new charter, Black Rebel Devils, in Texas we are down by two men, three if I count the prospect that he’s taking with him. The other man we lost was Zo Zo but he no longer counts or matters. That sick bastard got what was coming to him. I took over Zo Zo’s garage and Terror has been given the responsibility of the Cherry Room in Uno’s place. Boogeyman and Shelly are busy with their tattoo shop. I don’t think Amber is too keen on the idea of her old man looking at tits and ass all day which is why I am proposing a switch. He can take the garage and I can take the club and put myself closer to Melissa.