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Blizzard and I had managed to make it through the whole day without any more moments. We both turned our attention to Jayla, making sure we made her laugh and smile as often as possible.
When she had told me it was okay, that I didn’t need to be scared, my heart had sunk. There was more to this little girl than either of us had anticipated. There was something more going on in her head than just losing her mom. The need to protect her filled my gut. She had buried herself inside my heart in such a short time. I knew that no matter what happened with me, or with the club—or if I was dragged all the way back to New York—I would make a deal with the devil himself if it meant that she would be safe and cared for and loved.
I checked over my shoulder to find her strapped into her car seat and snoring away as we headed back to the compound.
Blizzard’s relationship with her, while beautiful and special, was still a mystery to me.
“Did you have something with Jay’s mom?” I asked casually as I stared out the window.
He was silent for a moment. “Why do you ask?”
I shrugged before turning to look at him. He kept his eyes on the road, but his hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than needed. “Well, she’s not yours, but from the way you are with her, and the way she looks at you like you’re her world, anyone would think she was.”
His eyes flicked up to the rear vision mirror then back to the road. “Her mom, Hayley, hadn’t been with us for long. A couple months at the most. When she was killed, the club took in Jayla without a second thought. We protect what’s ours, Rose. Hayley had been one of our girls and we failed to keep her safe.”
“She loves you,” I said simply with complete confidence.
I caught the small twitch of a smile. “Don’t know what it is. She’s good with all the brothers. But she always seeks me out in a crowd or reaches for me when she’s upset.”
“You’re her pacifier.”
He laughed. “What?”
“Her pacifier. The things they give babies to calm them or relax them.” I couldn’t help but smile. “She knows she’s safe with you. So you let her breathe easily.”
He checked his mirror again like it was just natural for him to make sure she was okay every few minutes. “Hayley came into work one day, she was stressed, trying to get her high school diploma. But Jay was sick and she couldn’t study. We gave her some time off, told her we’d help. Not even half an hour later, she was dead outside X-Rated.”
I didn’t even think before the words came out. “It was Marco, wasn’t it?” When he didn’t reply straight away, I continued, “It happened around that time.”
His eyes flicked to me as he pulled up to a stoplight in the middle of town. “We thought it was at first. But after what Jayla said today, I’m beginning to rethink that theory.”
“Why?” I asked curiously.
“Hayley apparently was kicked out of home when she was pregnant. From what she told the girls, it had only ever been her and Jay.” He scrubbed a hand through his short hair. “But Jay knew fear. She knew what it was like to be scared to death of someone. And that’s something that’s learned.”
My hand went to my heart and I rubbed at my chest with my palm. It hurt, it hurt for this little girl who had quite possibly seen more in her short life than anyone should ever have to.
“Is she safe?” I whispered.
He nodded. “This is the safest place she could be. My brothers and I won’t let anyone hurt her or try to take her.” His hand reached over and squeezed my leg reassuringly. “Looks like I’m not the only one the kid has wrapped around her little finger,” he teased.
I laughed softly. “How could you not be with a face like that?” I tilted my head to the little black haired beauty.
He glanced over at me, staring at my face for a second before turning his eyes back to the road. “True story,” he mumbled.
The rest of the ride was silent until we pulled up to the gates of the compound.
“What the fuck?” Blizzard growled under his breath.
I spotted Jackie, and Judge, standing next to their bikes talking to Optimus. There were a few other men standing off to the side, all the motorcycles with heavy bags packed on the sides and a single cab Chevy truck with Skins leaning against it.
“What’s going on?” I asked as we pulled to a stop. Optimus veered off from his conversation and headed for us. Blizzard threw himself out and I scurried out my side, rounding the vehicle.
“They aren’t supposed to be leaving until the morning,” Blizzard snapped as Optimus got within a few feet.
“Shit changed, they need her on stage tonight,” Op countered, narrowing his eyes at Blizzard.
“Why?” I asked, nerves suddenly striking me in the stomach.
