Page 19 of Broken Skulls (Rebel Skull MC #7)

Chapter Eighteen

Jacob

A sliver of satisfaction slides down my spine.

She trusts me.

I walk her back to the house. She pauses before going inside, looking over her shoulder at the dragonfly painted on the barn. Her gaze drops to mine as we stand on the steps.

“I’m not doing this for myself. I’m doing it for her. I’ve been terrified she might get curious and go looking for her biological parents.”

“You can do it for her, but know that we are doing this for you,” I tell her.

“We?”

Laugher wafts from inside of the house, answering her question. Her eyes widen in surprise. “Your whole club is going after him?”

“They are.”

“You didn’t …”

I don’t let her finish. “’Till death,” I remind her. “I’ll always keep your secret.”

She blinks back tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just don’t run from me, okay?” I wrap my arm around her waist and walk her into the kitchen.

The room quiets when we step inside. Jackson whistles, ordering everyone out. He walks toward us. “Did you tell her?” he asks.

Elizabeth looks at me.

“I did,” I answer.

He taps her on the shoulder, and she slowly turns to face him. “You okay with this?”

She surprises me by answering.

“He’s … I don’t know what he’s capable of,” she voices her earlier worries.

Jackson begins to assure her, but she interrupts him. It surprises the shit out of me.

“You’ll need help,” she tells him, hugging herself.

Jackson and I exchange a look when she begins to wring her hands. “You should ask Tank to get in touch with Anthony. He’ll know who I’m talking about.”

“I’ve heard of Anthony. It’s that bad, huh?” Jackson asks, tipping her chin with his knuckle.

Her head drops, and she stares at the floor.

“Okay, sweetheart. We’ll get help.”

She nods, keeping her face down. He rubs the top of her head lightly while giving me a sullen look. Then, he turns and walks out.

Lily steps into the kitchen, leaning against the door frame. “You can stay here with Willow, but I’d love to have you at my house while we wait for the guys to get back,” she tells Elizabeth.

My girl looks at me, and I see how scared she is over all of this. No, she’s more than scared, she’s terrified.

“Lock me in the room,” she whispers.

I take a moment before answering her as the enormity of what this woman must have gone through punches me in the gut. What secrets has she kept in order to protect her daughter? She let the entire world hate her. Now that I’m really thinking about it, what did he do to her to make her go to such lengths? What horrors will I find?

The possible answers make me swallow hard. Lily steps toward us to offer her two cents, but I hold up my hand, holding her back.

“Okay,” I tell Elizabeth while silently pleading with my best friend for understanding.

And of course, that is what I get.

“I’ll take you over there. I promise,” she assures her.

Jesse coughs behind us.

Fuck.

She snaps for the two of us to back away from Elizabeth. Then, she steps between us before grabbing my woman’s face in her hands. Surprisingly, Elizabeth locks eyes with her.

I’m not sure what silent conversation is happening between the two of them, but the room is so fucking heavy it’s crushing me.

Jesse continues to stare at her, and when tears begin to build in her eyes, I’m sure that I have no fucking idea what is going on. Jesse doesn’t cry often.

“I’m sorry,” she says quietly to Elizabeth before abruptly turning her focus on me. “I’m sorry,” she repeats.

I literally almost fall over. She slaps me in the arm.

“Stop. You know I can admit when I’m wrong.”

When I right myself, I pull her in for a hug. She tries to push away at first, but she gives in pretty quick.

“Thank you. She’s going to need a bad bitch like you to get her through,” I whisper into her hair.

She leans away from me. “She’s already gotten through; she just doesn’t realize it yet.”

Before she steps out, she pauses. “I vote we set him on fire.” She snaps her gum between her teeth loudly. “We snuff him out, and then we light him all over again.” She flicks her lighter once before backing out of the room.

Lily just shakes her head, apologizing for her friend. “She’s all bark and no bite.”

I let out a laugh. “Don’t listen to Lily. That woman will absolutely bite. I’ve seen her do it.”

Elizabeth doesn’t laugh, but I do see a smile tug at her lips.

“Okay,” I say, rubbing my hand down her arm. “Let’s leave it on a good note, yeah?”

She nods, but as I step away, she reaches for me. “Wait.”

I pause my step.

“I won’t be able to bear it if anyone gets hurt.”

As quick as lighting, I turn, wrapping my fingers around her throat and squeezing tight. “Stop. There is no choice in this for you. There is no reason for you to feel any guilt.”

Lily makes a little grunt, but I ignore her. I know what my girl needs. She needs a fucking break. She needs someone to lighten the load she’s been carrying most of her life, and I’m just the motherfucker to do it.

“This is one hundred percent my decision. If someone gets hurt, it’s on me. Do you understand?” I continue, increasing the pressure on her neck when she doesn’t respond.

She tries to nod her head, but she doesn’t get very far because my lips crash down on hers. When I back away a few minutes later, she sways toward me. Lily grabs her around the waist, preventing her from falling on her face.

I point to her. “Better get to dreamin’, baby, because your life is about to begin.”