The image of Mama dragging her away flashes through me, and I flinch and look back at Aisling, who looks at me expectantly, and I suck in a breath.
“Please, Mama…” She whispers, and I clear my throat.
Crap.
“You know she’s safe here, Jas…” Rose says from the seat beside me, and I nod because I know she is, but that doesn’t take away my fear, especially when I’ve already put her in danger once.
Taking a deep breath, I whisper, “Go on then, just-just be careful with your arm, okay?”
She nods and climbs off me, and I tremble a little but take deep breaths, allowing her to play. Rose quickly grabs my hand, and I squeeze hers tightly as Ais runs after some of the Devil’s kids.
“You did well, Jas,” Rose whispers, and I nod once, not taking my eyes off my little girl, keeping my focus on her.
“Will it get easier?” I ask quietly, and Rose squeezes my hand in support and confirms, “It will, as long as you lean on Tank and us, it will.”
I swallow the lump forming just as the door to the church opens, and Aisling shouts, “Daddy!” and I melt seeing him pick her up and place her on his hip, smiling wide at her.
“You did what you thought was best, Jasmine. You need to stop beating yourself up,” Rose says, seeing my look, and I mutter, “Easier said than done.” And she squeezes my hand yet again, just as Logan’s eyes lock with mine, and he walks my way, his eyes going to my hand locked with Rose’s, and he smiles slightly.
“Hey, buttercup,” he says, and I smile slightly as Aisling asks, “Are you going running now, Daddy?” as she grabs hold of his cheek to get him to look at her, and he chuckles.
“It’s called a run, baby girl,” he murmurs as he kisses her hand before he confirms, “and yes, I am, but I expect you to be the best girl I know you can be, okay?”
She nods before pressing a kiss on his cheek with a big, “Mwah,” and he chuckles as he lets her down, and she turns to me and says, “Bye, Mama, love you,” as she presses a kiss on my cheek, and I furrow my brows with a small smile.
Guess she’s planning on spending some time with the other kids before we go home, huh?
I don’t take my eyes off Aisling as she runs over to her grandpa, and it isn’t until he’s picked her up that I finally look away and towards Logan, just as Rose kisses my head and lets go of my hand.
“You got your bag in the truck?” I confirm and he hums in confirmation as he kneels before me and cups my cheek, his touch everything as I lean into it.
“Have fun and be safe,” I say, forcing a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes.
We haven’t spoken about me leaving. We haven’t got everything out to help us heal or to help him forgive me. Instead, after his mama and Bruce died, after I killed my mama and went mute, we just brushed it under the rug. Now, after finding out I’m pregnant, he’s about to leave for four days and it leaves us in limbo. It leaves me petrified.
The fear hits me again, and Logan tilts his head, his eyes boring into mine.
“Your bag is in the truck as well,” he says softly, and I frown.
“My bag?” I ask with confusion, and he hums as he leans forward and presses his lips against mine before he stands, but pulls me up with him, and I go with a frown as he guides metowards the door, the brothers all following, and I press, “What do you mean by my bag, Logan?”
He walks us outside without answering me, and my legs stupidly follow.
What the hell does he mean about my bag?
As we get outside, Doc, Snake, and Axel are already climbing on their bikes, their women with them, as Logan walks me over to his before grabbing something off it, then holds it out to me, and I gasp.
Property of Tank
“Logan?” I choke, not taking my eyes off the old lady cut I gave back until he was ready to give it to me himself.
“I think it’s time you put this back on where it belongs and get your sweet little ass on the back of my bike for a fun run, just you and me, to get back what we lost but you as my woman, as my old lady, like you should have been six years ago.” He rasps, and a few tears fall as we lock eyes.
“What about Aisling?” I ask, not even bringing the cut up right now because I really don’t think I deserve it, and I lean forward as I eye everyone watching and whisper, “What about the baby? It isn’t safe…”
He smiles, and without answering me, he gently puts my arm in the cut, then my other, before pulling it up on my shoulders, and I swallow hard at how right it feels, just like it did a few weeks ago.
“Logan…” I whisper, and he moves before me again, cups my cheek, and informs me, “Aisling is staying with my dad,” making my eyes widen, “it will be his first year not attending the run, and you know she will be safe. You’ve been so obsessed with ensuring she’s safe, you’re not looking after yourself. It isn’t your fault what happened, Jas, you’re not the only one who forgot about your mother.”
