Jackson

She’s anxious. I feel it and she is still trying to get me to leave.

“I have to open for business.”

I settle on the couch I made love to her an hour ago on. “I’ll be right here, sweetheart.”

“No!” She flails her hands wildly, while her hair still drying from our shower flies up around her face. “This is like self-sabotage. Do you know what they’re gonna do to you?”

With my hair still wet, I pull it back in a ponytail ignoring her question. If there was a magazine rack, I’d be pulling something down like at a damn doctor’s office. I’m here for the long haul. Michele stands in front of me on the couch. Reaching out with my hands on her hips, I tug her to my lap. “You need to calm down.”

Her eyes meet mine, the pain is so deep it sears my soul. “They can’t hurt you. I can’t let them hurt you more than they already have. Jackson, it was Bates who killed Paul not you. And he did it for these people. I’m in too deep. You’re not. Go be free of me, free of them, free from it all.”

I close my eyes and rest my forehead to hers. “I should be so pissed at you.”

“Jackson,” she whispers my name and my chest tightens.

“Fuckin’ hell, Michele. Thought I’d never have this again. Now you want me to walk away?”

She kisses the tip of my nose. “I’m sorry, Jackson. I’m sorry for not believing in you. I’m sorry for turning my back on you in prison. I’m sorry I ran and let you think I was dead.”

“You got nothing to apologize for. I know you were hurting. Was I pissed at the time? Fuck yeah. Did I have time to sort myself out? Fuck yeah. Hold none of that against ya.”

Her eyes meet mine and I see the pain. “I was empty.”

“I was too, baby, I was too. No more. I don’t care who walks in that door, I’m not walkin’ away from our second chance.”

“You’re a good man Jackson Joseph Presley.”

I smile. “They call me Rowdy now days, baby.”

She traces her fingertips over the edges of my cut. “Why do you wear this?”

“Got out, had one thing on my mind.” I blow out a breath and give it to her straight. “Revenge.”

She gasps and jerks back.

“Not a good man, Michele. You should know that. Situations change people. I’ve done bad things.”

I see the fear flash in her eyes before she pushes it down. “What’s that got to do with a vest?”

“Family was no more when I got locked up. Got out, found myself a place with Collector – Dover Ragnes, who was Bates partner. Together, we sought out the truth behind Paul’s murder because he knew Bates set me up but couldn’t prove it. Long story short, he had his own demons and left law enforcement behind. We joined up, hit the road on our bikes and didn’t look back.”

“You’re like in a gang then? I saw you with those guys not just one.”

“Not a gang. A motorcycle club. A family.”

She swallows down the fear. I fill with pride as she keeps herself in check. She’s not meek, young, and weak anymore. Michele has grown into a fierce, fearless woman. It makes me love her more.

“So strong. You’re so quick to push it down and protect yourself. You should be afraid. Not that I would hurt you, but I’ve crossed more than one line since my release.”

She stands and goes to open her shop. “Jackson, I don’t know what you want from me.”

“You,” I give her honestly.

With her back to me, she gazes outside so I am unable to see her face. “What if there isn’t any piece of me left to give? I gave it all to you an hour ago. I got nothing left.”

Before we can talk further, the door opens and in walks two Hispanic men in suits. The second man to enter, turns and locks the door behind him pulling the curtain in place to make us invisible. I remain beside Michele.

My gun is on my bike because I wasn’t thinking clearly when I came here.

I’m a resourceful man if necessary.

The first man has dark hair shaved close to his scalp and immediately removes his pale blue sports coat to roll up the sleeves of his cream button up to reveal his dagger tattoo that is the signature for the Almanza cartel. His fat lips curl into a sinister smile.

“Hermosa, you’re my bitch, why is a man here?”

Pulling Michele behind me, I stand eye to eye with the man. “She’s no bitch and I’m her motherfuckin’ husband.”

“She tastes,” the man smacks his fat lips in front of me, “delicious.”

Reaching out I wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze.

He laughs before his windpipe begins to close but never once does he show fear or even grab my wrists to try to fight me off.

The man behind us, lifts his aviators to reveal a scar running down his face and a missing eye. From his back, he pulls a pistol and aims it not at me but Michele.

“Release him!” He orders and I have no choice.

I won’t risk my wife. Dropping my hands, I step back and instantly feel Michele at my back.

Antonio spits at my feet.

A sign of disrespect.

I don’t budge. I don’t react. I keep Michele behind me and outside I listen for the sound of the Harley’s pulling up.

“My bitch,” Antonio says again to which Michele moves to my side.

“I told you I’m no one’s bitch! I did what I agreed to do through Bates. What happened to being men of your word?” She says this to Javi.

Extending my arm out, I keep her from moving beyond me. I look to the one-eyed villain.

“You ever been married?”

He nods.

I think about the information we learned on the Almanza cartel all those years ago.

“Juarez was not easy,” I bring up the city he was born and raised in. “Estella, does she miss being home?”

“Do not bring up my mother,” Javi says as venom flares in his one eye.

“Word has it, your primo here sold her out. Sold you out.”

Michele tugs on me. “Don’t push him, Jackson.”

“Listen to the little woman,” Antonio chimes in.

About that time Collector comes from upstairs and strolls in like there isn’t a gun pointed to my head.

“Michele, Sonnie needs you upstairs,” he says looking to me and raising his hands at the scene like he’s unarmed. I know better.

Thank fuck, Michele doesn’t say anything back. I look down at her. “Go upstairs, let us men have a talk.” She hesitates. “Trust me,” I whisper.

I see the worry in her face, but I need her gone. Collector coming down tells me the guys have the building surrounded and made their way inside from the second floor. I don’t care how they got in, I’m just thankful they have my back.

“Who else is here?” Javi asks with his gun still pointed at me but he looks to Collector for his answer.

“Me and my woman.” Collector explains. “I’m Dover Ragnes, Jackson and I go back. We heard Michele was here. He wanted to see his wife. We’re not stayin’ long.”

“I know who you are,” Javi tells him as I plant a quick kiss to Michele’s cheek to encourage her to go upstairs.

She hesitates and I whisper, “No matter what you hear, you don’t come back down.”

“Let the men talk business,” Javi says and finally Michele moves.

It kills me, but I don’t want her to be around for what may come next. Turning, I reach out to her pulling her close, inhaling the vanilla of her shampoo and kissing the top of her head, I soak up this moment.

“Go.”

“I love you,” she mouths the words but sound doesn’t come out.

“Back atcha.”

Only when she gets to the stairs and starts up do I turn back to the Almanza men.

“Look boys,” Collector says moving closer to me. “We’re all gentlemen here. Let’s put the gun away and discuss business.”

Javi studies me but never drops the gun. “Had a lot of men attempt to recreate your work on the car. None have ever done it to your caliber.”

“Not much for negotiatin’ with a gun pointed at me.”

Javi laughs, “I’m not much for negotiatin’ period. In fact, I wouldn’t blink to splatter your brains all over this place. However, I didn’t make it from the slums to motherfuckin’ symphony tickets by trusting a single fucker.”

“Not lookin’ for your trust,” Collector speaks up and moves in front of me. Immediately, I see two Glocks tucked in the waistband of his jeans under his cut. They peek out when he moves. “Lookin’ to have a conversation that makes shit mutually beneficial.”

Antonio grunts. “Way I see shit you two fuckers are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Javi, we don’t need some country boy riggin’ a ride for us. We can find someone to do the work.”

“I’m not some country fuck. I’m Michele’s husband and I’m not goin’ anywhere.” I move back to Collector’s side knowing I can reach out and grab the gun in an instant.

“Your wife tastes so sweet, like mangos and peaches,” Antonio goads me on and the fury rages within.

In swift movements, I grab him by the throat. He moves backward and I press on till he’s against the wall. Fire burns through my side when I see he’s pulled a knife and stabbed me in my ribs. I don’t relent.

“Be smart, Javi.” Collector mutters behind me. “You shoot Rowdy, I shoot you and your boy. Savin’ his ass worth your own.”

I turn my head as Antonio twists the blade in me to see Collector has a gun on Javi who is pointing his gun on me. Releasing Antonio, I pull the blade from my side and feel the pain rush to my head and straight down my side to my leg.

“That’s pussy’s mine,” Antonio says and I see red.

With the blade in my right hand, I lift and slam it into his neck. His eyes grow wide and those fat fuckin’ lips move up and down with pain filled mutterings that make no sense.

Twisting the blade, I look the man in the eye as I hit his juggler, “Michele’s my wife. Till death do us part motherfucker. You’ve never known sweet like hers and the hint of spice that lingers on your tongue after she’s lost all control for you. That pussy is mine. See you hell, motherfucker.”

A shot goes off, another. The pain sears my side. The fire runs through my hip and I fall to the ground as Antonio does so beside me taking his last breath.

“The devil fuckin’ called your name, bitch.”