Page 33 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

Chapter Thirty-One

Leo

T he weight of paranoia has finally lifted, and I can breathe again.

Shit got dark and no matter what I do going forward will it ever lead me to that place again.

Grim and Nora have left town but if I’m honest the paranoia disappeared when I saw how Nora went to bat for Grim the day Harry’s parents showed up.

For a moment I even believed her. She was convincing to say the least. With Nora free from my mind, the Hades Hogs have my full attention and they’re going to wish they didn’t.

Holly walks down the stairs with Roman freshly bathed and in his pyjamas. “Have you seen Harper today?” I ask her.

“I checked in this morning. She’s what you’d expect when someone you’re close with kills themselves. Your mom spent the day with her, keeping her busy. Nina and Bonnie are checking in on her too.”

“I’ll go see her in the morning.”

“Be sure you do, you’re good with her.” She places Roman down on his playmat. “I forgot to tell you that Grim left you something before they went home.”

Frowning, I ask, “Where is it?”

“He told me to put it up out of reach of the kids so I put it on the top shelf in the laundry room.”

What the fuck. Putting my beer down, I walk through the house and retrieve said box. Using my knife, I slice through the tape and find a gun inside, no bullets, and a note scribbled on top of the lid.

I can’t leave knowing you have doubts about my old lady. For your peace of mind, here’s our word.

The gun they used to kill Harry. Guilt should hit me, but it doesn’t. It’s the final nail in the coffin burying the paranoia. Keeping the gun in the box, I head out and make my way over to my bike.

“Where are you going?” JJ hollers from the bar door.

“Out.”

Making sure the box is secure in my saddle bag, I bring my engine to life and ride out to the cabin. It’s been a long time since I’ve returned to my old home, and I enjoy the ride on the quiet roads. I shouldn’t be riding alone but I can’t do this around any of the brothers, not even JJ.

The cabin is the same as the last time I was here, though the bushes and trees have grown wild and need tending to.

I unlock the shed, grab the shovel, and start walking.

I walk until I’m just before the border of our land and pick the biggest tree as my marker.

I start digging, having to shrug out of my cut and hoodie halfway through.

I make sure the hole is deep enough and then use my hoodie to wipe all prints off of the box.

I chuck it in and start filling the hole in.

It doesn’t feel like any time at all but over an hour later, I fall back against the tree and wipe the sweat from my forehead. I light a cigarette and inhale deeply.

I’ve always found it peaceful out here, especially at night, but it isn’t peace I need.

I need to be on top form when it comes to the club and to our enemies.

I need to dig and lock onto the ruthlessness my brother owns so naturally.

I won’t be caught out again and if shit goes to plan, the club won’t see another death under my time at the gavel.

Locking up behind me, Holly’s halfway up the stairs on the way to bed. “Do I want to ask why you’re covered in dirt?”

“I was out at the cabin,” is all I tell her.

“Why?”

“Just tying up loose ends.”

I shrug out of my cut and hang it on the back of the kitchen chair. I whip my hoodie and tee over my head and toss it in the laundry room. I shove out of my jeans, and they follow suit. Down to my boxers, I shut off the lights and make sure the doors are locked.

As I climb the stairs, I no longer dread the next day. I no longer envision the worst possible scenarios. I feel like me again.

Holly creeps out of Roman’s room and then checks on Rayna before closing her door and smiling at me. Her and my kids are the reason I will never make a Nora mistake again.

“Don’t think you’re getting in our bed before you shower,” Holly warns, and I grin.

“Wasn’t going to,” I murmur, reaching for her hand.

Before she sees it coming, I lift her over my shoulder and lock us in the bathroom.

“I’ve already showered!” she shrieks as I put her back on her feet.

“Won’t hurt to have another.”

Slipping out of my boxers, it’s obvious I don’t want to shower for the sake of it. She bites down on her bottom lip and flicks her gaze to my eyes.

“I don’t often say this but be quick. I haven’t slept in days and at this point, I’d choose sleep over your dick every chance.”

Instead of offending me, I laugh. “I hear ya, babe.”

Using one hand to turn the water on, I use the other to pull her against me and claim her mouth.

Yeah, this won’t take long at all.

JJ answers the door and lets me in. The house is quiet, and I almost think I’ve come around too early.

“Is Harper up?”

“Yeah, she’s in the kitchen. I’ve been trying for the last hour to get her to eat something.”

He’ll be worrying, not only about her starving herself, but the effectiveness of her meds. I walk through the house, and she’s sat at the table with her knees up to her chest. She doesn’t register I’ve walked into the room, and I make her jump when I drag a chair around the table to sit near her.

“Why are you here so early?”

“Why aren’t you eating?” I retort.

Rolling her eyes, she tells me, “Because I’m not hungry. I’ve told Jay I’ll eat when I’m hungry. He’s worrying too much, can’t you send him on a run or something.”

“Don’t be like that. He loves you, of course he’s going to worry.”

“I get that, but it’s like he doesn’t believe me when I say I’m okay. Yeah, I’m sad but who wouldn’t be? I just need time to deal, that’s all.”

“You’d be the same if it were Bonnie and Jay weren’t eating.”

She doesn’t have anything to say and goes back to staring out of the window.

“I’m angry, Leo. She had no right to kill herself in my house. The one place that’s truly been a home for me. She’s ruined it and now I’ve got to raise my son here with her ghost roaming around the place.”

“Move.”

She huffs. “Where exactly would we go? I don’t want to go back to town, and I don’t want the last empty house.”

“We’ll build another here. There’s still plenty of land to use.”

She focuses on me, and I can’t work out what’s going through her head.

“I don’t want to be in this house. Apart from Jay and Gunner, I don’t want anything inside this house. Everything is tarnished with death.”

I didn’t give a shit about Harper when it came out she was my sister, but I’ve come to care for her a lot and when she’s anything but happy, I feel it like a sucker punch to the gut.

“Where is my nephew?”

“He’s still asleep.”

“Go wake him up and I’ll take him round to Dad’s.”

“Why?”

“Do you trust me to help you?”

She nods.

I stand and hold my hand out. She takes it and she offers me a small smile.

She passes by JJ and my brother asks, “What the fuck are you up to?”

I shrug. “Do you want your old lady back?”

“You know I do.”

“Then I’m not sorry for what’s about to happen.”

Gunner still sleeps against Harper but wakes when she passes him over to me.

“Go pack what isn’t tarnished.”

“Seriously, Leo, what are you up to?” JJ demands.

“Taking Gunner to see his grandparents.”

I’m out of the door before he can ask any more questions and knock at my parents’ door when I find it locked.

Mom answers and surprise covers her face seeing me with Gunner on her doorstep.

“This is different.”

“I need you to watch him.”

I pass him over and without another word, I jog down the porch steps and grab two cans of gasoline from the garage.

Making my way back to Harper’s, Dad is now sat on his porch.

“Leo,” he drawls. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Helping my sister.”

Harper dumps two cases on the porch overflowing with clothes while JJ brings out piles of framed photos.

After a few more trips, she turns to me and says, “There’s nothing else I want to keep.”

I hand her a can of gasoline and her eyes light up. The small smile I received not half an hour ago transforms into a full-blown grin.

Sweeping my hand toward the house, I ask, “Shall we?”

She nods enthusiastically and together we walk into the house and dowse the place. She heads upstairs, and I make my way around the downstairs.

“This ain’t fuckin’ happening!” JJ roars, not sure whether to come at me or go up to his old lady.

“It’s what she needs.”

“I’m her fuckin’ husband, I…”

“You need to move out of the way, brother.”

He steps to the side, and I meet Harper out front of the house when we’re both done.

“Leo Jackson! Don’t you do what I think you’re about to do. Are you crazy?” Mom shrieks from her porch.

Maybe I am but who the fuck cares if it helps someone I love. I’d do it for anyone. Nothing is permanent in this world, and everything can be rebuilt. Harper needs to know that. I won’t let her get stuck in a place that causes her pain.

I light a cigarette, ignoring everyone. I take a couple of pulls and hand it over to Harper.

She pulls on it once and as she exhales, she tosses it in the gasoline trail. Flames lick up across the grass and then up the porch steps. JJ falls to his knees, yanking on his hair as his house goes up in flames within seconds.

Harper takes a shuddery breath, and I wrap my arm around her.

“She wanted to die, now she truly is dead.”

“Her ghost can’t follow you now,” I promise her.

JJ stands and demands to know, “And where the fuck was she gonna follow us to? We’re fuckin’ homeless now!”

Harper slips out from under my arm and goes to her husband. She doesn’t speak, she leans up on her tiptoes and presses her lips to his. He doesn’t deny her and when she pulls back, she tells him, “You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”

“I think you’re wrong, but I won’t argue with you.”

“We need to call the fire department,” I hear Zach say.

Harper spins around to him and shakes her head. “No. It needs to burn to the death.”

Zach looks to me for the final decision, hoping I’ll go over her.

“You heard her.”

They can’t say they want Harper to be well and want the best for her if they don’t listen to what she needs.

Arms wrap around my waist and Holly rests her head against my back. I hold onto her gloved clasped hands and watch the flames roar with anger.

“You’re a good brother but this wasn’t what I meant when I told you to check in on her.”

I hear the amusement in her voice and chuckle.

Harper stands in Jay’s arms, watching her first ever home burn, but she’s never looked so at peace.