Jack, flanked by Niko and Three walked out to the edge of the drive to see them off as Rance, Slade, Dean and Ted got in Rance’s truck, and Dane waited in the Pride’s Suburban while Tate, Noah, Dillon and Hugh got in.
Titus stood apart from the others, his eyes glued to the door he’d last seen Hail get into.
As the vehicles took turns backing up and turning toward the drive that would take them away, Frenzy rolled down his window and made kissy lips at Jack and the rest of the males standing with him.
Jack laughed.
“There is something wrong with that boy,” Niko said.
Jack gave him some side-eye. “He’s only slightly worse than you, on a good day.”
“I don’t see it,” Niko said.
“We do,” Three said.
Jack couldn’t help but notice Titus while Hail drove away. From his posture, the interaction between them had not been what he’d hoped for. The shared night between them must have meant more than anyone expected — at least to Titus.
“You good, Titus?” Jack called out.
“Never better! Time to get back to work,” Titus answered as he walked away without looking back.
“He alright?” Three asked.
“I’m not sure,” Jack admitted. “I’ll talk to him in a little while when I go meet him about new builds.”
“Since I’m no longer needed, I think I’ll take a quick nap and a shower, and then I’ll take Griffin and his mother on a tour.”
“Don’t play with that woman, Niko,” Jack said.
“I’m not! Griffin wanted to hang out so I offered to give them a tour,” Niko said.
“If you don’t plan to mate her, leave her the hell alone, and her kid,” Jack said.
“I can’t be her friend?” Niko demanded.
“That’s totally up to her, but if you take advantage of the situation and then pretend you don’t know her, I’ll hand you your ass. She’s been through enough and she’s a single mom with a kid that for whatever reason has decided you’re going to be his new daddy.”
“He knows I’m not his daddy. And I wouldn’t do that, Jack. I wouldn’t take advantage of either of them,” Niko said, all seriousness now.
“I would hope not. But it bears saying anyway.”
Chapter 20
The vehicles took their time making their way down the mountain. Almost halfway down, Rance, who’d taken the lead, slowed to a stop when he saw Alison, Maeve and her son walking down the mountain road. He rolled down his passenger side window and looked across Slade who was riding shotgun, at Alison who was walking on that side of the truck. “Where y’all going?” he asked.
“To the bus stop across from the bar. We’re going into town to do a little shopping,” Alison said.
“Why didn’t you get somebody to take you?” Rance asked.
“Didn’t want to bother anybody with having to follow us around while we enjoyed our day,” Alison said.
“You mind if somebody wants to tag along?” Rance asked.
“Not at all, just didn’t want to be a bother. I go all the time by myself.”
“Yeah, but since the attack on the Gamieyon Pride, I’d feel better about it if you took somebody with you.”
“Okay, should we wait at home?” Alison asked.
