“I’m sorry to be discussing a tough subject. Just tell me hush like my missus does when I ask too many questions. Sometimes my mouth keeps going on its own accord, I swear.”
Realizing I’m going to really enjoy working with Mr. Weston, I let him know that I’ll be here about eleven a.m. on Monday for our first session and we’ll be meeting three days a week. I then take my leave and say my goodbyes to the Westons. I head to the store so I can get everything for this evening.
Jon
Feeling the wind on my face as we take the long way to the clubhouse from Ma and Pa’s, the only thing on my mind is that woman. The one who swears she won’t hurt Pa and can take care of him. The woman who didn’t seem to have an ounce of concern when I voiced mine.
The one with so many stories in her eyes that she has to be holding some secrets. A woman like that has lived through some things and has some walls up. She also has a lot of curves to grab on to… no, I won’t go there. She’s an employee and nothing more. I don’t need more than this. That’s wrong. I need Rory to be out and riding with us. Just a few more months and he will be. Then, everything will be right and I won’t feel like this woman could possibly be someone important. Nope, not gonna go there. Just going to focus on church tonight and then hanging out with my brothers. Not going to think about how she would look in between us. Nope, not at all.
We finish up our ride and turn to go into the compound walls that encase our clubhouse with the shop next to it. I see Mario, one of the prospects, rushing to open the gate to let us in. I drive through, pull up, and start to back into my spot. Both Juan and Ry do the same. It looks like there are a decent number of bikes here already and church is still an hour away. We’ve got a good brotherhood, but we all have jobs and responsibilities. There are times that some members can’t come to church and it’s okay as long as they let me or the VPs know. I can’t wait till Rory is out and back in his seat at the table. When Pa passed the gavel to me about five years ago, I knew I couldn’t do it without my brothers at my side.
We balance each other out. Juan always gets excited and passionate about an idea and is ready to jump right into whatever it is right away, sometimes without thinking everything through. Rory is quiet but thoughtful. When he speaks about an idea, he’s already thought of five different scenarios and at least eight outcomes. When he does make a decision, that’s it and he’s not moving from it. Like when he decided to take the fall for all of us. He’s now finishing his five-year stint in the pokey. I knew the minute I saw him get the handcuffs slapped on him that he had decided to be the only one to go away.
Pa always said I was the natural leader of the three of us. I was the oldest and I speak my mind and know my actions affect others. I am nowhere near perfect and rely on my brothers a lot, but I won’t let anyone disrespect my family. Knights Wrath MC is my family and we are a force to be reckoned with.
I walk through the common room, nodding to brothers as I head to my office to look over some things before church. I unlock my office door as I don’t trust the hang arounds and guests we have coming in and out of here. I open my door. I barely get a couple of steps into my office and I hear footsteps behind me and the door closing. I don’t even have to turn around to know who it is.
“Tell me she caught your eye, brother. There’s somethin’ there, ain’t there?”
Looking at him as I sit down at my desk, I swear he looks as hopeful as a girl selling Girl Scout cookies outside a Weight Watchers meeting.
“Don’t fuckin roll your eyes at me like Ry. I’m serious.”
I sigh at his immediate reaction. “J, she’s there to do a job and get Pa better, not for us to fuck. You want that, there are plenty of willing girls here who know the score. One look at Jane and you can see she isn’t that kind of woman.”
The fucker who just told me not to roll my eyes at him just rolled them at me and proceeds to give me a glare that would make weak men tremble.
“That’s not what I mean, and you fucking know it. I mean, I think she could be someone who would be worth all of us getting to know. I feel it, Jon.”
The look he’s giving me shows he’s serious about this. He’s not said this, but one other time in our lives. That look and my thoughts on the ride give me pause.
“There’s a big problem with that, brother. Well, more than one problem. First, one of us ain’t here to weigh in. Second, sheisan employee, no matter how much you want to forget that. Third, she may not be married, but that in no way means she's available. Fourth, could you not tell that the woman had walls up as strong as the Berlin Wall? That’s just off the top of my head. I’m sure there are more problems with your idea, but everything really stops with the first. Rory ain’t here. Nothin’ serious can happen without him and—”
“You think I don’t know that? I’m not talking about jumping into anything serious with her right now, just seeing if you’re at all interested in getting to know her. Or are you going to continue to be an ass like you were today? I wouldn’t think of getting serious without Rory being involved, but he’s out in less than three months. That’s nothing to get to know someone, especially as we’re not a normal package to present to her. You and Rory can both be grumpy on a good day. You’re just lucky to have my good-looking smile and charm to smooth things out.”
Snickering at his shit-eaten grin, I say, “Sure, brother, that makes us look so much more normal and appealing. Now, let’s get our asses in church so we can get that done and have some beers.”
“I think that’s the first smart thing you’ve said all day, brother.”
Chapter 4
Rory
Two thousand, one hundred and fifty-four hours left. Four days till the family comes for another visit.
Jane
Some people hate Mondays. Not me. I’ve always loved my job and the people I get to see. When I was a kid, it was always library day at school, which meant new books to read and I could hide in my room, away from my mom. This week I get to start with the Westons as I’ve had two clients complete their rehab. Their place will be my second stop today after my client who’s been with me the longest, Mrs. Kody.
This week also brings my quarterly visit to my dad. I would visit more, but he doesn’t let me. He says visiting him at prison is no place for me. I think he forgets sometimes that I’m over thirty and not ten anymore. I’ll take what he gives me though, as I miss him fiercely.
My stepdad was pretty awesome, and we kept in contact even after he and Mom divorced. He always made me feel like I was his kid too, not just Logan. I was truly heartbroken when he died of a heart attack.
See, my mind can wander from tangent after tangent. I check my phone and I have fifteen minutes to get my ass into gear and out of the house. I take the world’s fastest shower, throw on my scrubs, put my hair up in a messy ponytail, and get my shoes on. I grab my coffee, purse, and keys. I give Tyger a kiss goodbye and head out for my day. I’ve got three clients today, so it’ll be a full one.
My Explorer clunks to a stop in front of the Westons’ and sputters, stalling out before I can turn it off. Apparently, my putting into the universe that I like Mondays has karma declaring that today is the day that changes.
My first client Ms. Kody has dementia and today she thought I was a woman coming to steal her boyfriend. Said boyfriend I was informed died forty-five years ago. We were in the middle of doing some stretches when this thought came to her. In the blink of an eye, I was hit on the head with a lamp that came after she kneed me in the eye. I was on my knees helping her to bend her legs. I’m now sporting an eye that is turning blacker and bluer every minute and have one less client as her family have decided to put her in a facility that specializes in memory care.
