Page 6 of His Flawed Ride (Sons of Lost Souls MC #16)

“Dinner’s ready!” JJ hollers and we both share a sigh of relief.

In the dining room, there are more photos hanging on the wall. Mostly of Gunner with various family members, but the one that becomes my favourite instantly is the one of him and Harper sat on a swing. Their matching smiles is almost a fuck-you to me that my fuck-ups haven’t ruined their lives.

The table is set for four with Gunner positioned at the head of the table. Harper and JJ sit either side of him and I pull out the chair beside my daughter.

The food smells amazing and my mouth waters at the homemade lasagne. It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten homemade anything.

“So where have you been, Lily, that took you away from your daughter and your grandson?”

I bite down on my tongue and roll with the venom in his tone. Harper kicks at his leg under the table but he doesn’t break his stare with me.

“I stopped with my cousin for a while then I went…”

“We’re not doing this now. We’re eating then we’ll talk,” Harper grates out.

To change the conversation or from the awkward silence returning, I say, “I can’t believe these houses. I mean, it makes sense, the guys spend so much time here.” I’m rambling.

“It was Dad’s idea, then when Leo got out of prison, it ran away with itself and now it’s home.”

“Leo went to prison?”

Precious Leo Jackson? The light of Cas and Alannah’s eye was caught doing something he shouldn’t. That shit surprises me.

“Yep, but he’s been out for a while now.”

“That’s crazy.” I know better than to ask what he went away for and it seems my daughter knows better than to let her mouth run away with itself.

“Nothing crazy about it. It’s completely normal how much you miss when you run out of town,” JJ quips.

Ignoring him, I ask, “How is everyone? I’m still in shock Cas gave up the gavel.”

“He wanted more time with Alannah and the family,” Harper explains briefly.

“Still, it’s a huge step for someone like him.”

“You fuck him once and think you know everything about him?” JJ snaps defensively.

Harper’s knife and fork clatter on her plate and she pushes up out of her chair.

“Babe, a word in the kitchen? Now!”

I scoot along into Harper’s chair when they leave the room and grab a napkin from the table.

Wiping Gunner’s face, I say quietly, “Don’t mind daddy, he just doesn’t trust me, but I’ll show him.”

He’s more interested in his food than me but I’m content to be in the same room as him.

I move back to my own seat when they return, and we all start eating in silence. I hate the quietness.

To break the tension rising, I tell them, “I got a job in your Aunt Kristen’s shop.”

Silence returns and this time it’s from shock, and not disdain.

“Wow. That’s… different for you,” Harper says.

“I start tomorrow.”

“You’re really serious this time, aren’t you.”

I nod. “I am.”

I dare to reach over and place my hand on hers. I’m glad when she doesn’t pull away. She offers me a smile and then we finish dinner.

Not wanting to outstay my welcome, considering I only had a little to start with, I say, “I should get going.”

“See ya,” JJ smarts and Harper rolls her eyes.

“Babe, you can bathe and put Gunner to bed tonight.” To me, she says, “Let’s talk outside.”

JJ has Gunner out of the room and up the stairs before I can say goodbye. I follow Harper out onto the front porch.

I can almost forget where the house is until I see the back of the clubhouse across the way.

“I’m glad you came to dinner. A part of me expected you not to show.”

“It’s going to take time, but I will earn your trust back.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve trusted you, but I’m willing to see where this goes.” She takes a deep breath and continues, “Before I had my son it was only myself I had to protect, but now he’s here, I’m truthful when I say you get one chance.”

“I know. I should’ve made these changes a long time ago, trust me, I’m well aware of all the times I got it wrong.”

“Luca shouldn’t have run you out of town, but you could’ve come to me, and I could’ve gotten dad to talk to him. We could’ve sorted something out and you could’ve stayed.”

“You weren’t there, Harps. There’s something dark in that boy, I believed he would follow through on his threats.”

“Still, if you had come to me, I would’ve at least known what you were up to instead of being left confused. Do you even realise how much it hurts when you up and leave without a word?”

I wipe my watery eyes before a tear can escape. “It was hard for me being a mom. I didn’t know what I was doing. I kept thinking if I found a good guy, he would look after us and we’d finally have a family.”

“I already know that. I figured it out years ago. But the difference is, if Jay left me today, I would go the extra mile to fill the void for Gunner. Not with another guy, but me. He would still feel protected and loved.” A tear rolls down her cheek.

“This last time, it didn’t take long before I was glad I didn’t have to worry about you.

It’s never been my job to worry about you, Lily.

” Her voice grows louder and it’s no surprise when Cas comes out of his house next door and wanders over.

“We’ll continue this some other time. I better check on Gunner. He and Jay can flood the bathroom at bath time if I let them.”

Ending on a tense but positive note, I watch her escape into her home and then turn to Cas.

“I don’t need a lecture from you.”

“You’re not gonna get one. I always come around this time of day to say goodnight to my grandson. You know, being an active grandparent is important to a kid’s development.”

It’s getting harder to roll with the digs. With Cas, I don’t need to hold myself in check.

“Fuck you, Cas.”

I go to brush by him and get the hell out of here when he grabs my arm.

“It doesn’t matter how hard you try, or how long you stick around for, Harper’s mine now. It took me a while, but I finally figured it out.”

“What?”

“The reason you kept her a secret from me. You knew you’d lose her to me.

You knew I would’ve been able to give her a better life, stability, and routine.

And when you were still struggling, and knew I had kids of my own, that I had a family home, you couldn’t bear the thought of my Lana being a better mom to your kid, cause she would have been and we both fuckin’ know it. ”

“Again, fuck you, Cas.”

His grip tightens around my arm. “I told you years ago you were done fuckin’ up my daughter’s life, don’t doubt I won’t put you in the fuckin’ ground if you fuck about around my grandson.”

“He’s my grandson too.”

“Like fuck he is. They’re mine and each day you get to spend time with them you should thank me for allowing it.”

“No wonder Luca turned out how he has, the apple really didn’t fall far from the Jackson tree, did it.”

“My boy had the right idea, it’s just a shame he didn’t act on it and get rid of you once and for all. Life is settled here, your kinda shit ain’t welcome. You put one foot out of line, and I’ll shake the whole damn Jackson tree down over you and bury its roots on your bones.”

Yanking my arm free, I refuse to cry in front of him.

“My relationship with Harper and Gunner is none of your business. I’m staying and you won’t stop me from mending broken bridges.”

The asshole laughs. “Fuck, Lily. You really are stupid. You haven’t broken bridges, you’ve burnt them all down. You’re treading on ashes that can never be the same again.”

His words follow me back to the car. Even the fact that Shane is fucking some club girl up against the wall doesn’t ignite any emotion from me.

He meets my eye for a flicker of a second and then I’m in my car.

I sit behind the wheel willing myself to calm down.

There’s something about these bikers’ audacity that just constantly riles me the wrong way.