“Basically, if a murder suspect is beaten to the point of mental incompetence before trial, criminal proceedings are suspended indefinitely because it’s a violation of due process to try an incompetent defendant. They deemed Benjamin as such and committed him to a mental health facility for treatment. They said the original murder charges would likely be dismissed if his competency cannot be restored. My parents did everything they could to ensure he got the best medical care money could buy, trying to fix his fucking brain. At the same time, Iheard them talking with the psychologists who oversaw the paperwork. They guaranteed he would never clear Benjamin to stand trial. That monster killed his twin brother. I know he did. He then killed my twin. And still, my parents didn’t care. They looked at me like I was the demon, not him.” Her fists clenched under the table.
“We can get into the facility he’s in. DaiTai, she’s super stealthy. I bet we could get in and out without anyone being aware until he’s a block of ice,” Lennox growled.
Jovi, the quiet one, nodded.
Jinx blinked at the other woman’s words. “Oh god, I love you ladies,” she hiccupped.
“Good. You’re one of us now.”
“We can’t break into the facility, though.” She wiped at her eyes. Jinx looked around at the women who’d shown her more compassion in the short time she’d known them and compared them to the people who were supposed to love her.
“I think what I feel for Viking is what it’s like when you find the person you’ll burn the world down for. When you’re more than just you.”
Ayesha nodded. “Exactly. You’re two people who become unbreakable. Two hearts beating as one.”
Jinx closed her eyes. “Viking is the person who would help me find my way out of the dark and into the light. I know, with absolute surety, he would stand beside me and face whatever, whoever comes at me. Hell, he’d push me behind him and make sure the world knew they had to go through him to get to me. I’ve never had that kind of backing. It’s crazy because we haven’t known one another for long, but my heart and mind don’t care about any of that.”
“King decided I was his the second he saw me hiding behind another man. Mind you, I needed him and had a shitton of trouble on my plate. He didn’t have to take on my bullshit, either. But that man didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything that wasn’t his agenda. When he sets his mind to something, he’s not gonna be swayed by logic. Of course, I’m not complaining.” Ayesha and the others laughed, then high-fived.
“So, you’re saying we all have to be batshit crazy to fall for one of these men?” Jinx asked the ladies.
Ayesha and the others looked at one another, then nodded.
“I think I can work with that,” Jinx said.
T-Rex brought over a tray of Jello shots topped with whipped cream. “Here we go, ladies. House special just for our favorite patrons. Ayesha, King said you can have two of these if you’ve had no more than two mixed drinks. I told him you were on your second round. Let me know when you want your next shot.”
Jinx controlled her giggle as the large man handed out the tiny plastic cups to each of them.
“What’s that smirk for?” T-Rex asked.
“These cups are so tiny in your huge hands.” She hiccupped again.
“I need to ask Viking if you have a limit. I’m pretty sure you’ve probably hit it if he’s not aware you need one.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Viking sat down at the long table across from Duke. King, the President, leaned back in his chair at the head of the table with a glass tumbler filled with amber liquid in his hand. He lifted the drink toward Viking, gesturing toward the bottle by his arm. He filled the tumbler partway, taking a sip of Maker’s before sitting back.
“How was your trip, brother?” Duke asked.
“Long but not too bad.” Viking realized for the first time since he’d been making the arduous trip every year, he truly meant the statement. Every year, he’d return from visiting his baby girl’s grave a broken man. It would take him a couple of weeks to get back to himself. The MC gave him time and space, knowing his past.
“You look good, brother.” King motioned to him.
He swallowed, then took another sip of his drink.
“Fuck, I actually feel as if I’m not looking to end it. Not that I was actively searching for ways to meet my maker or anything. Hell, I don’t know how toexplain it. I didn’t have a reason to live, you know. I didn’t wake up and say I was going to drive off a cliff, but if we went into a situation, I was cool with being the first one in. Life had lost all its joy for me. Even sex was mechanical these last few months. When I entered a little bar in my hometown and saw Jinx, it was like lightning striking me.”
Traeger, the Sergeant at Arms, moved away from the door. “That, my friend, is how you know she’s the one. If I can give you one piece of advice, it’s to grab ahold of her with both hands and don’t fuck it up.”
“I agree with Traeger. Hell, all our ole’ ladies have in some way, or another landed in our lives like live wires. If I’d have chosen a different path in my life, all our lives would look a hell of a lot different. Ayesha is the soft to my hard. Don’t fucking say it, Duke. I will beat your ass.” King stabbed his finger toward his brother.
Duke held up his hands. “Hey, I wasn’t going to say shit. Although you really are sounding like a big old pussy. I’m totally going to tell Ayesha about your declarations.”
A knife appeared, stabbing down between the table and Duke’s glass. Viking hadn’t seen King pull the blade, and neither had Duke. The VP only laughed. “I’m kidding, bro. You know, there are rules about the shit that gets said in here staying in here, even when we’re talking about our feelings.” Duke shivered uncontrollably for several seconds.
“Traeger, if I kill my brother, I want it noted he was a dumbass who deserved it.” King reached over, tugged the knife out of the antique wood table, and tapped on the tablet in front of him. “Now, let’s talk about what Keys found out about your woman’s shitshow.”
