“I’ll testify against him if you do,” I tell her.
“And what about Gray? If Jeremiah’s behind bars, he’ll just take over and we’ll still be a target?” Jessia asks us all.
“But you said he was there with Jeremiah when all of this took place. He’s just as responsible for everything as Jeremiah is. They’ll both be going down. Lord knows I’ve got plenty to say where it comes to him as well,” I say, looking her square in the eye so she knows that I will help in any way she wants.
“Or,” Shamus butts in, “we can do things our way.”
Chapter Eleven
Shamus
“Your way?” Jessia asks as she inhales a deep, lung-filled breath.
“Shamus?” Gunner scolds, shaking his head at me.
“What? They know we’re no shrinking violets. We put ourselves out there to get them out. They’re gonna retaliate, and we’ll be ready. Some lives could be lost, I mean, if they attack us it’s self-defense, right?” I question everyone’s logic. Am I the only one thinking clearly here? Why would we invite the law in to take care of our problem, we’ve never had an issue before when it comes to taking out the enemy; as far as I’m concerned… Jeremiah is mine, and I expect my brothers to back me when I take his life.
“Is it sad that I’d prefer him dead?” Jessia questions. “I mean he’s my brother, shouldn’t I want him to live?”
“I’m with Jessia and Shamus,” Star concludes. “Even behind bars he’s got a stretch, people who are under him that are loyal and would carry out his acts of treason. We’ll never be safe as long as he’s breathing.”
“Let’s call it a night and pick up this discussion after everyone’s had a good night's rest,” Gunner concludes. I know he’s got a lot on his plate right now with the whole Jamie situation, but I have this feeling after the guard spoke, that this man is an extension of that issue. Maybe we can catch the both of them together and end them once and for all.
“I’ve got a portacrib that I can bring in your room, Star,” Stella tells her.
“She’ll be in my room, both of them will,” I inform Star’s sister. It’s me claiming her in a roundabout way to the old ladies, the same way I did with the men.
“Y’all are, a thing?” Stella confusingly asks. “But you have only known one another for a minute. How did this happen?”
“That, sister dear, is a story for another time. Just go with it. I’ve learned there’s no reasoning or arguing with Shamus once he’s put his mind on something,” Star speaks out.
“Come on, Jessia.” Stella stands up and grabs Jessia’s hand. “I’ll show you the room I’ve set up for you.”
“Thank you, Stella. I can barely keep my eyes open,” Jessia appreciatively returns. “I’ll see you in the morning.” She walks up to my woman and hugs her, then walks up to our daughter and strokes her hair before placing a light kiss on top. Then, she dutifully follows Stella out of the room.
Kruger grabs Jaggar from Star’s arms and follows the women. Star turns to me with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “You just have to be a caveman with everyone where it concerns me, don’t ya?”
“Damn straight,” I seriously state.
“If you weren’t holding Ella, would you have beat your chest?”
“If it’s what I had to do to get my point across, I definitely would’ve. Told you, Star, you’re mine, and everyone else needs to know it and accept it so we can move forward.”
Star yawns and shakes her head. “I’m ready for bed, Shamus. Show me the way, my neanderthal biker.”
“Right this way, madam.” I turn around and walk down the long corridor that will lead us to our room. God, it feels good to say our instead of mine, I wasn’t aware that it bothered me before, not until I just thought it to myself. She’s gonna change me. Hell, who am I kidding, she already has.
When I walk into our room, I see Charlee and Cameron setting up the crib that we use for guests who visit with babies. I never understood why we needed to have one on hand until this beautiful girl in my arms needed a place to rest her head.
“Charlee, Cameron, this is my old lady and Stella’s sister, Star. Star, these are Gunner and Country’s old ladies. My sisters,” I introduce the three of them.
As expected, they welcome her with politeness and open arms, then aww and tease me about holding Ella in my arms. I’ve always been scared to hold the little ones, fearful that I’ll hurt them in some way, but with Ella, it just feels right.
Once they retreat, I look at the bed, then down at Ella, not sure I’m ready to let her go just yet. “Here, I can take her and lay her down so you don’t have to.” She misinterpreted my look of trepidation for fear.
“I’m not scared to lay her down, Star. Just not sure if I’m ready to do it is all.” At my proclamation, a smirk forms on her face.
“You’re too cute,” she mumbles.
“I’m not cute, woman. I’m manly, irresistible,” I state, puffing my chest out like a proud peacock, wanting her to admire my form.
“She needs a bed, Shamus. You can hold her tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Won’t she need to get up and be, I don’t know, fed and changed tonight?” Kruger always has to get up with Jaggar and change him.
“She’s not a baby anymore, Shamus.”
“Yes, she is,” I argue, looking down at the bundled up little girl nestled into the crook of my arm.
“She just seems tiny to you because you’re so damn big.
