“No, I was serious when I said you were going to do that. But if you call him before he gets back and mention this I will spank your ass, whether it’s my right or not. He needs his wits about him when he’s out there on the road working. It’s dangerous otherwise.”
Jocelyn’s eyes widened.
“There are so many things you didn’t consider when you pulled this stunt tonight. You could’ve been killed! Your father just got you back, what do you think that would do to him, or me? I’m the one responsible for you right now. You’ve completely broken my trust. I won’t believe a word out of your mouth for a long time. All for what? Where did you think you were going?”
“Home.”
“This is your home now. Your name is Jocelyn Kolton. Nothing you do will change that until you’re eighteen. I know this isn’t easy. But there are so many people here to help you through it.” Es shook her head. “You’re going to eat dinner and go directly to your room. I’ll be removing all the art supplies while you do that. The alarm is on and armed. I’ll know the minute you try to leave.”
“I won’t do that again,” Jocelyn whined.
“No you won’t on my watch,” Es agreed.
The girl look shocked. She almost felt bad for her. She’d been overindulged in her last life. It was time for a lesson in humility and realism.
“I’m sorry,” Joc mumbled.
“Show me, don’t tell me,” Es said, not about to ease up after the years she’d taken off her life. Her father is going to murder me.
§
Snake
There was something in his old lady’s voice that nagged him his entire trip. It pushed him to make the ride back on minimal amount of sleep. It was sheer will that had him pulling up in front of his house just after noon. Everything looked good from the outside, but his gut told him otherwise. The front door opened, and he was struck by the exhaustion visible in Es’s face. He hurried up the walkway and took her into his arms, lifting her off the floor. She buried her face in his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.
“What’s wrong, sweet girl?”
“I missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too,” he murmured, kissing her temple, thinking about the velvet box in his cut. It’s time.
He rubbed her back, inhaling her sweet scent. “How’s Joc?”
“She’s waiting for you inside. I think I’m going to spend some time in the garden for a bit.”
He pulled back. “She have a hard time?”
“You could say that,” Es replied elusively.
Snake frowned.
“It’s her story to tell, not mine.”
“All right,” he said as she lowered her feet to the ground and all but ran for the back door. He stepped inside the house, and dropped his saddle bags gently by the front door. Jocelyn sat on the edge of the couch with puppy dog eyes. I’m not going to like whatever she has to say.
“Es said you had some problems while I was away,” he said, running his hand through his windblown hair. All he wanted right now was a long, hot bath, food in his belly, and the feel of his woman pressed against him.
“I did something really stupid,” she whispered.
He arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like you.”
“Yeah.” She nibbled her bottom lip.
“Come on, out with it, girl. Stalling won’t change the facts.”
“I ran away.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say? For a minute there I thought my daughter just said she ran away.”
“I did,” she mumbled.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he roared.
She flinched. The gesture pained him, but he refused to soften.
“I don’t know.”
“Jesus Christ, do you know what could’ve happened to you? There are so many sick fucks out there—” He bit his jaw hard enough to taste the metallic flavor of blood.
“I know, that’s what Es said.” She burst into tears. “I hurt her so bad. I just… I was so mad about moving here, leaving everything, and then you left.” She hiccupped.
Her words were a flaming red flag. “What did you do?”
“I told her she wasn’t my mother.”
He closed his eyes and went onto one knee in front of her. “But I want her to be. She loves you like one. You’re lashing out at the wrong person, baby. Without her, we’d be screwed, plain and simple. She’s a common wealth of knowledge and constantly helping us through this.” He shook his head. There was no choosing between her or Estelle Noll. They were both his.
She sobbed harder, and he knew her guilt would be worse than any punishment he could think you.
“Do you like Es?”
“Yes,” she wailed.
“Then why?”
“I don’t know.”
He sighed. “That’s not a good enough answer, little girl. You’re too old for me to accept that without punishing you properly. But first you are going to apologize to Estelle and mean it. I plan on putting a ring on her finger, and making us an official family, which means she will be your mother, if we’re both lucky. Then you’re going to be grounded for the next month. That means no television, no outings, and you’re going to do some volunteer work. You have no clue how good you’ve had it. I think seeing the other side of things will bring clarity.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m disappointed in you right now, but I don’t love you any less, you understand?” he asked, careful to drive the point home. The Miles had been hung up on the right behavior. He wouldn’t have her feeling that way here. Kids messed up and you steered them back to where they should be. It’s how it went.
“Yes, sir.”
“Can I get a hug?”
She launched herself into his arms, surprising him. He stroked her hair, grateful for the break through. “I want you to go upstairs to your room until it’s time for lunch, okay?”
She nodded.
He kissed the crown of her head. “Love you, little one. Now get.”
He released her small frame and watched her make her way up the stairs. Finally, he had his baby back in his life where she belonged. Now to take care of my other girl. How her words must have cut. He forced his aching body to rise and sought out Es.
She sat in the rocking swing they’d purchased, staring out at the woods.
“You got room for one more?”
“She tell you what happened?”
“Yeah, she did.”
“I almost lost her, Xavier. What the fuck kind of guardian does that make me?”
“One dealing with my spawn?”
She turned to him. “How can you joke about this?”
“It’s easier than voicing the horror running through my head about what might’ve happened if you hadn’t gotten to her in time.” Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he brought her up against his side. “You want to tell me your version?”
She hiccupped and nodded, pouring her heart out between gut-wrenching sobs. Thank God for Enzo.
“You asked me what kind of guardian you are…well, you’re one who places herself in the path of harm to protect my daughter. She loves you, Es. She lashed out, and you were the closest, so you took the brunt. Don’t take too much of this onto yourself.”
“How can I not? I should’ve followed her. What was I thinking? God. I don’t want to be responsible for losing another child.”
“You didn’t lose the first one. That was a freak incident. You know this.”
“That’s not how it felt when I realized she was gone.”
“Oh my sweet girl,” he whispered pulling her up into his lap. “You love so hard. This is exactly why you’re the perfect mother for my daughter, and wife for me. You are a part of this family and I think it’s time we make it official.” Reaching inside his pocket, he pulled out a black case. “Estelle Poppy Knoll, will you marry me and be Jocelyn’s mother?” He opened the case to reveal the flower-shaped platinum ring with diamonds around the two karat square in the center.
“You still want me?”
“Sweet girl, I will want you until my last breath. You owe me a yes.”
She sniffed. “Yes.”
He grinned like an idiot. “I’m holding you to this. I’m not doing that long engagement bullshit. I’m giving you a month to pull something together.”
“Yeah?” she asked, giggling.
“Yeah, and that’s me being generous.”
She held out her hand, and he slipped the ring onto her finger, feeling complete.
§
The rest of the month was a blur of insanity as Es made plans with Kali and Jolene. He did his best to stay out of their way as they poured over magazines, ohh-ed, ahh-ed, and teared up. He’d taken to spending as much time at the Clubhouse as possible. They’d avoided a war, presenting a strong front as they visited their sister chapters during their run. The incident with the I.R.A. coming in under their noses had people wondering if they had gone soft. He hadn’t understood why Mike had chewed him out until he came clean about the rumors going around. Now they were in a good place, and he was back on track as Vice President.
It took a lot of different gears to keep the machine that was the Wild Ones running smoothly.
“You been spending a lot of time at the Clubhouse, brother, you sure you want to get married?” Mike asked as they dressed for the wedding they’d decided to have in the backyard. The girls had masterminded and he foot the bill, happy to be excluded from the tedious planning.