I didn’t know what I would have done if I didn’t have my guys or Lola. I thought I was strong, but this whole thing was making me wonder if I was still just a weak little girl pretending.
What was the truth? At this point, I was afraid I didn’t know anymore.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Mike
I didn’t necessarily want to go anywhere with Jason, but it was decided for me, and I didn’t care enough to argue. Kieran was probably the one who should have spent some time with his father, but he clearly wasn’t ready to, so he pushed it on me.
It was great. So fucking great.
In fact, this whole situation was great. Right when things were calming down, shit hit the fan while we were unaware and unprepared.
I felt terrible for Laina. I wished she would’ve talked to me, but I couldn’t fault her for shutting down. Grief hit people in different ways, and this was just her way of dealing with it. As long as she knew that I was here for her, that I’d do anything for her, I’d be as patient as she needed me to be.
Now, when it came to Jason… the jury was still out when it came to that man.
Everyone believed him, and I was inclined to believe him too, but there was still something about him I wasn’t sure about. Maybe it was merely the fact that he wanted to get closer to Laina, and I wasn’t as thrilled with the idea of sharing her with yet another man as, say, Fang was.
I drove, not wanting to give any reins to the man in question. Jason was silent for most of the drive—we were heading to my place first, then we’d swing by his. I wasn’t sure how long we would be at Lola’s house, but I’d pack some clothes and toiletries and whatever else I thought I might need, giving myself at least a week’s worth.
Might end up being more, who knew? Could always head back to my place to grab more if needed.
We were nearing my place when Jason finally broke his silence and asked, “How do you like my son?” The question cameout of the blue, and for the first few seconds after it was spoken, I was caught off-guard.
How did I like Kieran? There were a few ways I could answer that particular question, not all of them good. But, as much as I hated to admit it, the man had played nicely these past few months. He hadn’t done any stalking that I was aware of. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he’d proved himself to me, but it was clear to see he did care for Laina a lot.
As long as he never hurt her, we’d be good. If, however, he turned to the dark side and went against Laina, him and I would have a problem. I didn’t think it would happen, but stranger things in this world had taken place… such as said man’s father strolling into town and somehow dazzling our shared girlfriend.
I might’ve taken too long to answer, but eventually I said, “He and I don’t really see eye-to-eye, except where Laina’s concerned. Even then…”
The man must’ve known what I was attempting to say, because he nodded once. “Kieran’s always had a… unique way of looking at things. It’s what made him so loyal. I thought Tessa carried that same loyalty, but if there’s one thing this city has shown me, it’s that I was wrong about that.”
“Both your children are terrible people.” I glanced at him, wondering if those words would strike a nerve. I imagined, if I was a father, they would anger me, but then again, I never saw myself being in the position Jason was in right now. A future without Laina felt so… pointless. Bland. Boring.
Jason smirked, and I hated to report it was the same smirk I’d seen on Kieran’s face time and time again, dimples and all, even though he had gray stubble coating that jaw. “I won’t argue with you on that. I’m no saint. I never taught them they needed to be saints—sometimes you need to get your hands dirty to get what you want. It’s why I let their mother go, why I let them go when they were old enough. I thought, let ‘em make their ownchoices, their own decisions. As a parent, there’s only so much you can do for them before you have to let them fly on their own.”
I understood what he was saying, but still, wasn’t it a parent’s job to instill some type of moral code upon their child?
He went on, “The one thing I always preached was that family is forever. You never, ever went against your own blood. The world is out to hurt you, always, unless you’re privileged enough to be born into obscene wealth, so your family is all you have to really depend on when shit hits the fan.”
I picked up on context clues. “You’re really upset with Tessa for turning against Kieran.”
“Yeah, I suppose I am.”
“To the point where you’ll stand to the side when it comes time for Laina to get her revenge?” When Jason didn’t answer right away, I added, “I’ll do whatever I have to to see that girl get whatever she wants, and Fang and Kieran are the same.”
The man looked at me. “She made her choice. She lied to me about it, knowing exactly how I’d feel if I knew the full truth. All this time, she’s been playing her own game.” His black eyes turned to gaze out the window as we drove through the city. “I won’t be a piece on her board anymore.”
You’d think it would be good to hear that—and it was, but maybe not as good as it should’ve been, due to everything else, and it was because of everything else that I asked, “What about Laina?”
“What about her?”
What could I say about her? Lots. Everything. I’d come to know the girl pretty damn well since I first saw her, since I began as nothing but a bodyguard pushed onto her by Lola. Everything had changed between us, and yet she was still the same confused girl she used to be, much as she tried to act differently.
“She latches onto people easily,” I settled for saying. “And she tends not to take no for an answer.” How many times had I tried to say no to her? How many times had I failed? I wouldn’t trade away the time we’d had together since, but in the beginning… it was tough. Tougher than I ever thought it would be.
“Yeah, I picked up on that. She’s not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
