Page 10

Stud

“S ee you tonight, gorgeous.”

Gianna flashes me her pearly whites, and I enjoy the view as she struts into Pizza Palace nearly hypnotizing me with the way she moves them hips. I fire up a cigarette and dial Chaser.

“Found her. That fuckstick Jesse gave her a ride. She said she was at your old man’s and Jelissa’s car wouldn’t start. Convenient huh? Yeah. I’ll meet you there, man.”

I end the call and get back in my cage. I drive straight to the trailer park.

I’ve been here more than once with Chaser to line his dad out.

Fucker loves to hit the bottle and when he drinks, he gets meaner than a junkyard dog.

I pull in behind Chaser and that’s when I ascertain that Jesse is parked next door.

That shitstain better keep the fuck away from my woman.

Gianna may not realize it, but she was meant to be an Old Lady. The way she shut his shit down and laid it all out there proved she’s the kind of woman I not only need but that I want.

Chaser lifts the hood to the black Chevy Malibu. “Everything seems to be in order. Try and start it.”

I climb in the driver’s side and adjust the seat to accommodate my six-foot frame. As soon as I turn the key she starts right up. Chaser closes the hood and I shut the car off, exit, and lock the doors. I toss him the keys, and he glares in the direction of Jesse’s trailer.

“Never liked that asshole.”

“You should know now that I’m serious about your sister. I dig her. ”

“Yeah caught that by the way you were drooling over her, feeding her them pancakes this morning. If she’s gonna date a brother, I’m glad it’s you. But that fucker is going to be a problem.”

“Gianna shut his ass down.”

“I don’t trust him. I’m gonna let the old man know that someone will swing back by for Jelissa’s car later and find out what he knows about his neighbor.”

“Call Jelissa. Tell her I’m swinging by to grab Gianna’s shit. I don’t like that asshole tampering with your Old Lady’s car or the way he looks at my woman. Prez gave me an upgrade. Got my own place today. Gianna will be safer on club property.”

“Fuck. You think she’s gonna go for that?” he shakes his head accompanied by a deep belly shaking laugh .

“She has no choice. He’s up to something, and I’m gonna find out what it is.”

“Hear that. I’ll tell Jelissa to expect you.”

“Later.”

“Just take care of my sister.”

“You can count it.”

I take off and drive straight to Chaser and Jelissa’s. She meets me at the door with Erik balanced on her hip. “She’s not gonna be happy with you or me.”

“Gianna will be all right. Prez upgraded my accommodations.”

The kid reaches for me, and Jelissa hands him over. I tickle his belly as I stroll through the front door and enter the living room.

“You really care for her, don’t you? Don’t bullshit me. Gianna is my best friend. More like a sister to me. If you do anything to hurt her, Chaser will be the least of your worries. ”

“Noted. What do you know about Jesse Lancaster?”

“That he’s a jerk. He cheated on Gianna when they dated and knocked some skank up. Got sent to the big house for armed robbery so they pretty much broke up after that.”

“You see him hanging around let me or Chaser know. He’s sniffing round Gianna and I get a bad vibe rolling off him.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything. I wanted to ask her about it first, but Leroy called me and told me that he saw Jesse grabbing her arm earlier. Said he didn’t like the looks of it.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Good. Gianna deserves someone who will treat her right. Is that gonna be you?”

“I’m working on it. You packing her bags or am I? ”

“It’ll be faster if I do it. Can you keep an eye on little man?”

“Sure thing.” I drop into the recliner and kick back with Chaser’s mini spawn sprawled on my chest chewing on his fist. Part of me likes the idea of it too damn much. Those visions of Gianna, wedding bells, and babies comes rushing forward.

The thoughts warm me, and my chest squeezes tight. “What do you think, little dude? Should I claim your auntie and make her my Old Lady?”

Erik stares up at me and smacks at my face with his drool covered hand.

“All right. I promise I’ll treat her right. No need to get violent, bro.”

The front door opens and Chaser strolls in and shoots me a scowl. “Motherfucker, you look a little to comfy sitting in my chair and holding my boy.” He laughs and kicks off his boots before shrugging off his leather jacket and hanging it on the rack in the coat closet.

“Your old man have anything to say about Jesse?”

“Yeah. I don’t care for what he had to say, and I got an inkling you won’t be a fan either. Put Erik in his walker, and we’ll talk over a beer.”

I get the kid settled and meet Chaser at the bar in the kitchen. Erik is racing back and forth between the backdoor and the refrigerator. “Shit. Already got a taste for speed.” I chuckle, and Chaser grins.

“That’s my boy.” He pops the cap off a bottle and passes it to me.

I take a swig and wait for him to share what Leroy had to say.

“Leroy says that Jesse has been asking after Gianna since she moved home. Wanted to know where she worked. Where she lived. What kind of car she drives. Asked if she’s married or had kids.

He didn’t think much about it. Thought Jesse was curious.

Dad didn’t even know Gianna was back in town until I told him about a week ago.

They haven’t exactly been close and kept in touch.

Now I could get him fishing for info about if she were married and if she’s happy, but I don’t trust him.

Not after he told me he saw him accost her outside today and manhandle her in a way that made him wish he owned a shotgun. ”

“Fuck.”

“Yup.” He takes a hard pull off his beer, and I have the urge to put my fist through that asshole’s face.

Jelissa enters the kitchen. “You two look ready to commit a murder. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Chaser mutters, shutting her out of the conversation, but being the wife of a biker, she’s used to being on a need to know basis.

“Right. I have Gianna’s necessities packed and waiting by the door. Make sure she calls me later.”

“Will do. Thanks, darlin’,” I kiss her cheek and finish my beer.

“You’re not staying for dinner?”

“Nah. Got shit to do but soon.”

“Take care of my bestie.”

“You can count on it.” I shoot her wink and head toward the door.

I hear Chaser telling Jelissa he’ll be back. “Care to drop me back at the car. I don’t like leaving it next door to that fucker.”

“No problem.”