ALPHA(23)

“I’ve got my best men working around the clock to try and figure it out though, so I’m confident we will.”

“I trust you guys. Are we safe here though? Everyone knows where I’m staying.”

“They do, but they also know you’re staying with me. My guys are here all the time, this is the safest place you’ll ever be.”

I felt better when I remembered how often Jackson’s men would be in and out of the house. There was always at least two of them in the house, normally just eating or hanging out with Jackson, and it did definitely make me feel safer. The only way I was able to sleep at night was knowing that there were at least three, massively built guys watching television downstairs. It still confused me as to what their roles were, though.

“I still don’t understand. Are they just your friends? Because they act like your employees.”

“It’s difficult to explain to someone who wasn’t raised around here. I guess you could call me the sheriff and these guys are my deputies. You’d have to shoot them in order to get to me, though.”

I laughed at his reference, and was secretly thrilled by the way he smiled at me in response.

“Ah, I see. So, you’re like the boss?”

“Pretty much. I’m hoping that by having you stay here, it will put whoever is trying to hurt you, off. They’ll know the family they are messing with and will hopefully give up whatever they are trying to achieve.”

“Nothing is ever that simple though, is it?”

“Unfortunately not.”

“It’s not a burden to stay here, I mean your place is beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m hardly ever here, hence why it’s quite sparse. It’s really just a place to rest my head, but by 7am I’m back out again.”

“So, being the boss? It’s kind of a 24/7 deal then?”

“Definitely. Keeping these guys in line is a full time job.”

“Oh sure, they seem like such terrors.” I said sarcastically, smiling when he barked out a laugh. I was beginning to realise I had been wrong about Jackson. I’d presumed he was a hard-ass, who never smiled and was angry with absolutely everyone. I’d realised over the past couple of weeks that he was just selective with those he let his guard down with, and I couldn’t help but inwardly cheer that I was one of the people he did that with.

“You weren’t here the time we had to go and retrieve Blake from the top of a tree when he was stuck.”

“Oh my god, was he a child?”

“It was about six months ago.” I laughed, and begged him to tell me the story.

“I got a phone call. Blake told me he was having a nightmare in the forest and needed assistance. I panicked, thinking he was in a lot of trouble so went along to the location he sent me with about six of my men. I imagined every scenario you can think of; he had been attacked, he’d got caught up in an animal trap or fallen down a bloody well. Nope, we arrived to find him right at the top of a huge tree, freaking out that he couldn’t get down.”

“Seriously?” I chuckled. “Blake who is about four times the size of me, and looks like he spends every second lifting weights down the gym, couldn’t get down from the tree?”

“See, that’s the thing. Blake is the toughest guy I know underneath all the bravado. Seriously, put him in a fight with ten men against just him and he will win, but when faced with his biggest fear he just fails to function.”

“He’s scared of trees?”

“No, he’s scared of heights. Like, terrified. He was trying to act all cocky and stuff but he was literally shaking.”

“Why the hell did he climb a tree when he is terrified of heights?”

“He said he was trying to conquer his fear, but all he did in the end was put himself off tree climbing for life. Now do you see the kind of crap I have to put up with on a daily basis?” I laughed, and relaxed back in to cushions on the sofa. I was grateful to Jackson for distracting me from my worries after the fire, even if just for a moment.





JACKSON



Drinks in the pub. 10 Minutes.



I sighed as I read the text message that had just come through on my phone. I knew why the guys wanted me to meet them at Logan’s. Pretty much to rip the shit out of me about Laura. Great. I hopped in my car and took the ten minute drive to The Howl, already dreading the probing questions I was bound to be asked. I stepped inside and noticed the pub was half full, with Logan at the bar, serving. I walked over to the corner where Noah, Isaac and Blake were sat, drinking beers and laughing about something. Great, all the brothers together. It could have been worse, though. Ethan was normally the worst for taking the piss, so I was extremely grateful that he was clearly otherwise engaged.