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Christ, she hated that Judge chose this path. Deacon, too.
If anything, during her time home, maybe she could convince them to rethink their choices. They had good women, a loving family and neither needed to be a part of a brotherhood that could potentially destroy their futures with those women and family.
Judge finally had Ry back and was discussing adopting Daisy. So, if he went to prison for something like their father had done, he’d desert his own children. Like Ox and Trixie had.
In truth, their parents weren’t a loss. Their parenting skills had been lacking, or, for the most part, non-existent. She and her brother lucked out by being taken in by Lottie and Walter, who acted like real parents should.
The problem was, while Jemma had benefitted from their solid parenting, Judge had been sixteen and by that time, bad habits were already instilled in him. Walter did his best to straighten Judge out. Jemma knew her brother had loved and respected their uncle, so he tried to follow their uncle’s advice and guidance. To an extent.
Fortunately, Judge wasn’t Ox, at least not yet, and he’d be a great father to both his son and future adopted daughter. Even so, he needed to be there for them no matter what. Especially since he missed the first eighteen years of raising his son.
Jemma’s chest became tight as she stared at Crazy Pete’s cut and blew out a frustrated breath to try to loosen it. She loved her brother and cousin to pieces, and she didn’t want anything bad happening to either. Plus, Walter’s loss affected all of them deeply. Lottie had remained strong throughout Walter’s cancer and death, but Jemma was sure she’d be devastated if anything happened to her son or nephew and might not recover so quickly from another life-altering loss.
She turned and let her gaze slide through church again. It didn’t create a knot in her gut like the warehouse always did. Just the atmosphere alone had a totally different vibe. The warehouse had been dingy, dirty and dark. The upkeep done on it was minimal. While The Barn didn’t have windows, it wasn’t nearly as dark or depressing.
It also was free of bad memories.
Except for Pete’s cut, of course.
She moved behind the bar and grabbed an unopened bottle of Jack Daniels to go along with the six-pack of cola she had snagged from the pantry in the kitchen. If Cage wanted beer, he could get it himself. The stroller was already overloaded with goodies.
Anyway, coming over to the bunkhouse to grab food and drinks gave her an excuse to get Dyna out of the trailer and give Jemma a change of scenery. Even if that scenery was a naked sweet butt.
She tucked the bottle securely under the stroller seat and took one last spin around the interior to take in the details and, as she did so, one of the double doors on the side opened just a crack and someone slipped inside.
Not just anyone.
Ry.
Her nephew was sneaking into church. That made no sense since he lived here. He didn’t need to sneak anywhere.
“Hey!” she called out, causing him to visibly startle and spin toward her with wide eyes.
He quickly schooled his oh-shit face. “Uh... Hey, Aunt Jemma!” He sounded a little too enthusiastic to see an aunt he’d only met recently.
She smiled and rolled Dyna closer. She’d head out through the same door Ry just entered. “Just Jemma. You don’t need to add the ‘aunt.’”
He nodded and scrubbed his fingers nervously over his short hair. He was so clean-cut compared to the rest of the men on this property. Not one tattoo, short, neat hair, and he looked comfortable wearing a turquoise polo shirt with khaki shorts.
Both fit him well. He wasn’t as gangly as Judge had been at that age. He was very handsome and solid. She could see girls chasing him.
Or boys. Whatever he was into.
Well, at least she knew now Angel wasn’t bringing Ry a smorgasbord of food and pussy to his bed. She would have a little discussion with Judge to make sure the sweet butts were told to stay hands-off with his son.
“So... Where are you coming from?” And why do you look so guilty?
He glanced nervously over his shoulder at the now closed door. “Uh... nowhere.”
“Nowhere, huh?” She raised both eyebrows and watched him closely.
“I... I was just checking to see if my dad was home.”
“He’s probably working.”
Her nephew’s Adam’s apple shot up his throat and then dropped like a rock.
She pursed her lips and studied him. “Was Cassie home?”
“N-no. She went to work.”
“Ah, yes. Most people are at work right now. So, was anyone home?”
“Only... uh...” Color tinged Ry’s cheeks.
While Jemma had to smother her smile at his reaction at being busted, she also became a tad concerned. “Only...” she prodded.
