JACK
Jack heard voices as he entered the house through the kitchen. Judging from their booming voices and boisterous laughter, he knew that it was Hank and Frankie, which meant they’d given Victoria the news about Katlin’s pending charges. Victoria wasn't exactly going to be happy that he’d stepped in and handled the situation. In some ways, she appreciated her life of privilege, but more often than not, she was offended by the inequality of the classes. Jack was certain that her mentality had a lot to do with her upbringing as a woman of color, and her time on a police department that catered to the ‘good ole boys.' Jack understood why she felt the way that she did, but there was no way he was going to allow his wife, the mother of his children, to spend one minute in some shitty jail. She would just have to respect his position.
Jack followed the voices into the parlor where he found his wife sitting on a barstool laughing with her friends.
“Here’s the man now!” Frankie boomed.
“Frankie, Hank, how’s it going?” Jack asked as he made his way over to the bar.
“Can't complain,” Frankie answered for them both.
Jack kissed to the top of Victoria’s head. He looked around the room and asked, “Where are the kids?”
“Your sister took them to see your mom.”
“Which sister?”
“The one that’s not afraid of babies,” Victoria chuckled.
Jack laughed. Of course, she meant Amy. For some reason, Emily was squeamish around children, even refusing to pick up Little Jack until he was able to walk, saying that she was afraid that she might break him. But his baby sister, Amy, was a natural with children. Since she and her partner, Mia, were planning to have children of their own, Amy welcomed all the practice that she could get.
“When will they be back?” Jack asked.
Besides Victoria, his babies were the first thing that he wanted to see when he entered his home.
“Around four,” Victoria responded.
“Then that gives us a little time,” Jack said, turning to Hank and Frankie.
“Aww, fuck. I can take a hint,” Frankie said with a wink.
“Come on, Hank. Let’s go. They're about to play ‘hide the salami.’”
“More like hide the anaconda,” Jack retorted.
“Yeah, right,” Frankie said, pulling himself up from the sofa.
Jack walked the guys to the door. Frankie and Hank were no longer just Victoria’s former teammates. After all that they’d been through together, Jack considered them friends as well. They’d had his and his entire family’s backs too many times to count. They had risked their lives and jobs by engaging in several off the book rescue missions to save his family. They’d even traveled all the way to Poland to aid in Natasha’s rescue. Jack wanted them to know how much he appreciated their loyalty and friendship.
“When you get home,” Jack said to them both, “there will be a little something waiting for you. And don't even think about refusing.”
Frankie’s knitted brows let Jack know that he was in for some opposition.
“Listen here, Storm. I don't care how rich you are. I’m not your bitch. Don't be gifting me shit!”
Jack folded his arms across his chest and pinned Frankie with the same stare he used in the boardroom. Frankie wasn't intimidated, but Jack wasn't deterred.
“Listen, Frankie, I know that you're not my bitch, but you aremy wife’s bitch. Therefore, you will accept the fucking Maserati that we bought you. And Hank, you will accept the Harley. And the both of you will understand just how thankful we are to you both. For everything that you've risked for us, we are in your debt. And we won't even mention the shit that you've covered up for us.”
Jack thought of all the bodies they’d left behind when they had to rescue Victoria, along with his mother and sister from the abandoned warehouse where they were being held prisoner.
Hank stood between the two men and placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“New Harley? Shit, I was Vic’s little bitch when she was broke. I’m her super-bitch now. Thanks, bro,” Hank said with a chuckle.
Jack and Hank turned to Frankie.
“Well, the motherfucker should have led with Maserati. We could have avoided this whole conversation.”
