Page 30 of Blue-Eyed Jacks (Destroyers MC: Skilletsville PA #1)

The Clubhouse—Jackson

B ear arrived just in time to be at my side when Shock pulled up. He leaned in with an ominous whisper. “Your woman is pissed.” Then he plastered on his work face, leaving me hanging.

That was going to throw me off my game. And I’d need it based on the scowl on Shock’s face.

“Gimme one clue, motherfucker,” I hissed at Bear.

“Ma.”

That was even more cryptic than his prior declaration. I cussed at him, “Asshole.”

Speaking of…

“Asshole.” I didn’t bother holding my hand out to Shock or that shit. The son of a bitch in front of me was going gray. He’d put on at least another thirty pounds since I’d kicked his ass in Sturgis. His dark eyes glittered in the afternoon sun. I read their depths. Yup, he still hated me.

To my surprise, Shock grinned. “I’ll remember you said that.” He shoved past me like he owned the place. Which wouldn’t fly. I slapped my hand on his vest and pushed back.

Did I mention thirty additional pounds? Fucker didn’t budge. In fact, his momentum dragged me with him.

“This is my house. Let me get the door for you.” And slam your ugly face into it…

He spread his hand in front of himself like he was a king bidding a subject to wait on him.

Nonno couldn’t get his ass here sooner? I squashed that thought down.

He’d get here in his own time. Making me wait with Shock would solve all his problems if one of us killed the other.

And there was no use in getting my hopes up for an easy solution.

Wish in one hand, shit in the other. See which one fills up first. That’s how much good it’d do you.

Shock stopped in the doorframe, blocking everyone behind him. He casually looked over his shoulder at me. “Your house? Did you get tired of that little white farmhouse you just bought?”

He didn’t bother to wait for my answer, because that wasn’t the point. He wanted me to sweat.

I shot Bear a squinted message to fill me in on everything asap . This was fucked. One of the hookers talked. And did it so well, my home was compromised. The trail of bikers filed inside, leaving me alone with Bear.

“Ma, huh?”

That meant they were at the lake house. Shock hinted that my castle of suburbia wasn’t safe.

And Bear moved the women to the best place for them.

Except, the hookers knew about that place, too.

But at least there was a top-notch security system there.

Even better than the one that Skinner planned for mine.

Sprout pulled in on his CVO alone. I waited under the eaves for him to dismount.

“How’s your house, Sprout?” If Kate was angry and Ma was involved, something had to be destroyed.

“Still standing. Ma’s going to show off the new indoor range today. But Kate’s the one threatening to cut off my nuts. She doesn’t want Zoe anywhere near it.” He’d dropped his tone at the mention of my daughter. Smart man.

“Ma’s got them on the firing range?” Holy fuck . No wonder Kate was pissed.

“I told her you cleared it.”

I slapped the back of his head. “Idiot.” I didn’t hit him hard. He was doing his job. And finally filling me in after the fact so I wouldn’t be surprised when Kate bitched me out later.

Sprout grinned. And I silently admitted that he had a point.

The more women comfortable with guns, the better.

Ma was a crack shot, and Danielle wasn’t awful, but also pregnant, therefore still getting her balance right.

If Kate and Zoe knew enough to differentiate between the grip end and the boom end, that was a good thing.

“Hagerstown set up shop on the perimeter.”

“Who thought that up?”

“I did. Knew you’d be needing a better solution than just bodyguards for a few days.”

His normal grin wasn’t there.

I nodded at Sprout, giving him credit for having my back. “Your dad would be proud of you.”

Sprout grabbed my arm and squeezed it. His eyes were squinted, looking somewhere in the past. Old Jolly wasn’t with us long enough. And it was a bitch bringing that up because Sprout missed him the most of all of us.

He changed the subject. “Shock’s here. Problems?” He tipped his head at the cluster of bikes.

“I called him an asshole already.”

“Dude, I wanna be you when I grow up.”

“You’re never growing up.” I shoved him and laughed. But I’d left Shock hanging long enough to insult. My footing with the club was shaky enough without adding another pile of shit to it. “Take my right, two steps back. Bear?”

“On your left, boss.”

Where he should be.

Shock puddled his Jabba-the-Hut ass on a sofa that had been dragged from its spot against the wall to the center of the room. Two of the hookers I’d called in flanked him. Behind him was his new sergeant. Bear’s counterpart looked much more competent than the last one.

But I didn’t know him. And that was a problem because I should know everyone in this club. Especially someone in an officer role.

“Who’s the fucking cop?” I pointed out the new guy.

“Shut the fuck up, Jackson. Bandit is legit.”

Like hell was I taking Shock’s word for it.

I slid a finger along my nose to signal Hickey to sniff him out.

And with that signal, the men of my club formed ranks.

Each man tagging one of Shock’s. I had a dozen men.

Shock had almost as many. He must have tapped his entire chapter to bring this party to my house.

Instead of being honored, I waited to get stabbed in the back. “Whatever.”

I pretended it didn’t bother me.

Once Nonno got here with his entourage, we’d be outnumbered.

Hagerstown would be a great equalizer, but I needed them watching the lake house more than I needed them here.

Besides, Nonno owed me.

Eventually, he’d remember that.

Meanwhile, there was a club to entertain. Maybe two of them. I dragged a bar stool to the center of the room and sat my ass on it, effectively enthroning myself higher than Shock and in a much better position to fight. Besides that, a barstool made an excellent weapon.

We squared off in silence. The usual raucous atmosphere of the room dulled by our icy impasse.

Even the hookers picked up on it. Their nervous glances, the lame attempts at small talk, and repeatedly rebuffed advances made the two parked next to Shock sit straighter than normal.

If I wanted to look weak, I’d warn them to get gone.

But they were locked in this cage match with us.

If shit went down, they were on their own.

Wolf took my lead and dragged another stool next to mine. He sat on it, shifting his weight off his prosthetic foot. His assessment of the situation was much quicker than our other witnesses.

“Jackson filled me in.”

I would have elbowed him to shut him up, but he wasn’t my VP for nothing. Of all the men in my club, he was one of the most ruthless and smartest. And too goddamn brave for his own good.

Shock shifted his gaze to Wolf. “And?”

“And, what? Everyone knows you aren’t serious about Kate. This is just for show.”

That elicited a reaction. Shock’s skin flushed darker, a sure sign his blood pressure just skyrocketed.

He cooly slid his attention to me. “Do you always let your minions do your dirty work?”

I laughed. If only he knew… “Why else have ‘em around?” I hoped like hell that Wolf knew I was bluffing. We’d played enough poker together to read each others’ tells. But perhaps I needed to be clearer? “Wolf knows what the hell he’s doing. That’s why he’s where he is.”

Shock’s gaze drifted down to the state-of-the-art modular foot sticking out of his jeans. “If he were mine, he’d have been replaced. He’s a liability.”

I fired back, “You know, I’m going to correct my earlier statement. You’re not an asshole , Shock. You’re a goddamned moron. Wolf is five times the man you are. What the fuck? You jealous?”

“Of a cripple? Fuck no.”

Ah, I saw the game here. He was trying to get me backed into a corner.

Either make my man look weak, or weaken the bonds of brotherhood here by not defending my VP.

I shot a look at Wolf along with a heavily arched eyebrow.

He dipped his head in that way he does right before quartering off a room and eliminating the greatest threats.

“You do realize all it would take is one accident and you’d be a cripple. Maybe even a vegetable.” My comment was delivered with all the charm I could muster for someone I despised as much and for as long as I had.

“Is that a threat?”

“No. It is what I call a sad inevitability. You fuck around with mine , you’ll find out.”

Shock reclined against the sofa as if he had no worries at all.

In fact, his color had retreated to the normal alcoholic flush he was known for.

He spread his arms out, daring me to stab him in the gut, or heart, with how openly he exposed his vital organs.

Hell, he even spread his legs further. One good cap in the groin and he’d never fuck around again. Literally .

I glanced up. His sergeant watched me carefully. One wrong twitch, and he’d be justified in taking me out. Behind me, I could sense Bear gearing up for action.

Shock grinned. “Jackson, you’re a lot of talk.”

He had to have heard some of my reputation.

Anyone who paid attention to rumors knew I was the kind of president who got dirty.

I didn’t slide pawns around the table to get shit done.

I did it myself. Bear’s breath on my neck reminded me of the caveat—if my men let me.

But sometimes, I did shit whether they let me do it or not.

This time, instead of just a glance, I addressed his bodyguard directly. “Are you ready?”

Bandit’s eyes narrowed, but he remained mute. He knew his role. Damn it.

“Fuck all this.” Shock slapped his hands on his knees. “Bring me my wife. You do that, I’ll leave, and you can entertain Nonno all by yourself.”

“She ain’t your wife.”

My declaration was answered by Shock’s snap of his fingers. One of his men brought a binder and handed it off. Shock opened it and pulled out a fancy certificate.