“Jessia is gonna take Ella and run. That shit needs to be nipped in the bud before we head out. The safest place for the two of them would be here. They’re our family now.” He looks over at me with pleading eyes.
I wonder what the hell that's all about? I thought Texas and Jessia were gonna become an item. They’ve been spending copious amounts of time with each other since he came back from visiting the guard at the hospital.
Texas and Malice have been known to share a woman in the past, but I don’t see Jessia as the type of woman who could deal with the two of them.
“I’ll talk to Star. Stella would have a conniption fit if her niece was out there without her, Kruger, and the club to protect them. Don’t worry, man, I’ve got this shit,” I tell him, slapping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks, man,” he exasperatingly says back. I vow right here and right now that there’s no way in fuck I’m gonna be getting in the middle of that love triangle in the making.
Once my guns are cleaned and stocked, I head back into the house so I can corner the two women who have been plaguing my mind since speaking to Malice earlier. I know what they’re thinking, that if Star and I aren’t around for some reason, it’d be better if Jessia and Ella hit the road and tried to hide, but that’s not a life I want for my little girl. She needs the support and protection of not only the club, but her family… Jessia too.
I walk in and see all of the women banded together in a cluster playing a board game. They’re laughing and appear to be having the time of their life, I hate that I’m gonna be placing a black cloud over their sun-filled day, but I need her girls to back me on what I have to say.
“Jessia. Star. Need to speak with the two of you for a minute,” I broadcast with a frustrated huff as I amble my way over in their direction.
The serious look I’m sporting has both of their spines snapping straight before turning their full attention to me. “Everything alright?” Star hesitantly asks. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see Jessia send a wavering, worried look in Star’s direction.
“Guess that depends on your definition of alright,” I snap, gaining the attention of the others in the room. The more I’ve thought about this, the longer I’ve stewed. My anger is strumming through me and making its presence known in my tone. I didn’t plan to speak to her and start beating my chest or anything, I thought I was cool enough to have a civil and pleasant conversation. I thought we’d be able to sit down like rational adults and talk this shit out. I’d make my point and she’d see reason and know that their plans were complete and utter shit.
“Would you like to go somewhere a little more private and talk?” Star asks, and whereas I know she’s a tad bit uncomfortable right now, I think we should do this with an audience so that she finally gets the fact that no matter what, this is her, Ella and Jessia’s family. They cannot make plans like they were without including us in them.
“I think that this conversation needs to be had with our family,” I insist. “Did you catch that word, Star, our? Because, baby,” I state, kneeling down in front of her and clasping her chin in my fingers. I turn her head to where her eyes are leveled with mine before continuing, “This is your family. Yours, Jessia’s and Ella’s.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“Do you? Because I have a very distraught brother who is worried sick about a conversation he overheard between you and Jessia earlier.” Both of the women’s eyes comically widen as they scan the room. I’m not sure if they're looking for the culprit, or if they’re worried about the fact that everyone has now come over to stand with us and listen in on this conversation. “Can you honestly tell me that if anything happened to me or you, that you believe with all of your heart, that Jessia and Ella would be safer on the streets than here? Surrounded by family and friends who will always have their backs; protect them with their lives if it came down to it.”
“We weren’t making definite plans, Shamus. We were playing the what if game and trying to plan for all outcomes. She wouldn’t have left with Ella without support from everyone else. We know how hard it is to disappear without a trace. I promise you; we weren’t going behind anyone’s backs. But we’ve been scared for a long time, and having a backup plan makes us feel better,” Star swears.
“We would never do anything that would put Ella in more danger, Shamus,” Jessia inserts. “The plan was, that if anything were to happen to both you and Star, that I would speak to Kruger and Stella about options. We were just preparing ourselves for hiding Ella from ever being in Jeremiah’s grasps again. We thought maybe they’d have somewhere we could go and hide while waiting for him to be dealt with.”
“Y’all aren’t going anywhere,” Texas rumbles from behind me, causing Jessia’s eyes to peek over my shoulder to where he and Malice are standing side-by-side. The dreamy look she’s wearing while looking at the two of them has me wondering what’s been happening on the sidelines while none of us were paying attention. Maybe the two of them, together, will help keep her from wanting to run and hide.
“Change of plans,” Gunner intercedes. “Texas, you and Malice are staying behind to keep an eye on our family.”
Malice begins methodically shaking his head from side to side.
