“Baby, you gotta know that you are always welcome. We want you wherever we are as much as possible. I know for right now we have to hold back, but you might want to prepare yourself for the night after your last day working with Pa. We will be taking you out for sure. Text one of us to let us know you made it home.”
Before I open my mouth, he holds up his hand and continues, “I know you’re an independent woman and all, but since that doll was left on your doorstep, and it’s late, just humor me, please.”
“Well, since you said that so sweetly, I’ll text you. You have some time with Rory and do the brother thing. I’m sure we’ll talk tomorrow.”
“You know we will. Be safe, baby.”
He closes my door and watches as I start up the car and reverse out of the parking spot. The prospect, Cain, is manning the gate and opens it. He waves his goodbye.
Juan
Walking back to the bonfire, I see that the only people around the fire are Pa, Jon, Rory, Ry and Max. The girls took Ma home just a bit ago and Pa wanted to stay a bit longer. I barely sit down and Pa starts talking.
“You boys take your heads out of your southern orifices and do what I suggested?”
“Yes, Pa. J and I talked to her last night like we said we would.”
Jon adds, “I know you’re going to gloat, old man, but you were right. She honestly hadn’t caught on to us flirting with her.”
“No, son, I’m not going to gloat too much. One positive with her thinking like that, just like your ma, is that if any other man tries to flirt with her, she’s not going to even notice that’s what they’re doing.”
“Between her letters and me observin’ her today, I can tell she doesn’t see herself like we do. From what I know, I think that mom of hers is a piece of work, and I don’t think she’s ever supported her. Hell, she was named Jane because her mom thought she was plain as a baby.”
Shocked at what Ror just shared, I don’t know what to think about that.
Pa speaks up first. “Well, boys, unless she does something unforgivable, she’s going to have Ma in her corner for the rest of her life, whether or not you last. She was saying earlier that Jane needs some family and she was going to have us no matter if you boys fizzle out with her. So just be prepared.”
A growl comes from across the fire and I realize it’s Ror.
“Pa, she ain’t going anywhere. She’s ours and will be from now on. That woman has more love, beauty, and kindness than just about anyone else I have ever met. We are not messing this up,ever.”
Pa chuckles at Rory’s growl. “Good to hear, son. Glad you got some sense while you were away. Now, I want you to know I did something for her without talking to you first. Max has two clients already that didn’t know about him. First was you, Ror, of course. Second, I looked into Jane’s dad and his case. Like she’s said, he definitely has done some illegal things in his life and has lived a bit rougher than our club, but I don’t think he did what he was sent away for. I’m having Max look into it.”
“I know she says she really wasn’t raised around the club when she got to visit her dad, but did you find out what club her dad is a member of?” Jon asks Pa.
“Son, I’ve known who her dad is since the first day she started working with me. Her dad is Mallet with the Sangre Devils.”
Holy shit. We’ve all heard of that club. Hell, we’ve all heard of her dad.
Jon speaks up, “He’s one of their enforcers, ain’t he?”
Pa nods.
“Yeah and he’s been a part of their club since he got out of high school. About the same time Jane was born. He was arrested with a few younger members, but his charges are the only ones that stuck. He wasn’t sent away for drugs or guns but was convicted of aggravated assault and first-degree murder. However, looking at the evidence, Max thinks that Jane is right. Tell them what you’ve found so far, son.”
“Pa is right. I think he was set up to take the fall. First of all, there was almost no physical evidence. Everything was circumstantial. Second was the way the club handled it. They didn’t get him a lawyer or anything. He had a fucking public defender. Noone from the club came to support him. You know their president and VP both retired about a year before this all went down. When that happened, they were replaced by some of the younger members, and not the ones you thought might get an officer spot. In fact, other than her dad and two other officers, they all magically retired or supposedly relocated at that time to a tropical location. Some of them were barely in their forties. Their dealings and what they’re into since then has gotten very quiet. If you believe rumors from some former ally clubs of theirs, they’ve moved into the skin trade and are working with the cartel. Her dad isn’t mentioned as a current member anywhere that I can find. From what I can tell, he also magically retired his cut when he went to prison.
“I think there’s actual physical evidence that was never tested as the public defender didn’t seem to ensure any work was done. From some things I’ve uncovered, it sounds like much of the PD in that town were in good with the Sangre Devils. Juan, I’m gonna want you to look into a few things that I can’t really do at work.”
“Just let me know when. I’d love to help get him out if possible. Jane speaks so highly of him and his reputation backs that. He was known to be ruthless but not to people who didn’t have it coming. How he ended up in prison sounds very fishy and we need to look into it more. I’m all onboard.”
“I’m glad we had this discussion, boys, but I’m gonna need to head home now to your ma. Is Jane coming tomorrow for Sunday lunch?”
Ry pipes in, “I wouldn’t think so. She and Nicky do brunch together every Sunday, just the two of them.”
I look over at both J and Ror and see they have the same look—why does dear baby brother know that? Oh, ’cause he and Nicky are getting close. One of these days, he’s going to realize we’ve known he was at least bi if not gay since a very young age.
“Well then, someone get me home and I’ll see the rest of you lot tomorrow. Remember, don’t be late or it upsets your ma.”
