Twisted Pieces (Back Down Devil MC #5)(45)

Instead, Jordyn stood in the hallway growing anxious as the sexiest man in the world came around the corner. He wore black boots, jeans, and a leather cut over a black t-shirt that hugged his muscles. His face was not clean cut, but his scars were honest.

And those blue eyes. Wow were they piercing.

Jace took Jordyn by the hand and pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.

“Thank you for being here,” Jordyn said. “It means…”

“I get it,” Jace said. “Trust me, babe, I get it. Are you sure you want this though? I’m not some good looking guy ready to take her granddaughter on a nice date.”

“I know that.”

“I’m the guy parents and grandparents fear. I’m the guy that lives here and now, because death is right around the corner."

“That’s actually perfect,” Jordyn said. “My grandmother has been defying death for a while now.”

“I’m damn sorry about her,” Jace said. “Cancer is a motherf*cker. It’s not right or fair.”

“I don’t think much is in this world, Jace. That’s what I’ve been learning and trying to come to terms with.”

Jordyn choked up and then swallowed a lump in her throat. She promised herself she wouldn't cry in front of her grandmother anymore. And she promised to accept that she was about to lose the last part of her family. The last bit of her innocence was gone. But, somehow, with Jace holding her hand, she was okay with that.

Jordyn opened the door to the quiet room and walked inside. Her grandmother was resting peacefully, a television on the wall droning on with a collection of hosts debating politics, what clothes were worth buying, and how to have a better sex life.

In her mind, Jordyn was smiling.

Better sex life? Fuck a guy from Back Down Devil…

“Gram,” Jordyn said. “We’re here.”

Her grandmother turned her weak neck and smiled at Jordyn. She looked frail, but she definitely didn’t look half as bad as she could have.

Jordyn took her grandmother’s hand and smiled. “I want you to meet someone. I want you to meet Jace.”

Jace stepped to the bed and nodded. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“Look at you,” Jordyn’s grandmother said. “You look like you just got out of jail… or you're on your way to it.”

Jordyn gasped.

But Jace laughed. “Do I look that bad?”

“Pretty bad,” her grandmother said. “You could have at least showered.”

“Gram…”

“Yeah, you're right. I had a business meeting this morning.”

“Business?” Jordyn’s grandmother asked. “Now what kind of damn business are you involved with?”

Jordyn felt her heart racing. Her mouth was dry. Her grandmother stared daggers at Jace.

“I’m in the business of survival,” Jace said. “Of living. Of taking care of things around me. Things I care about. Things I love.”

“You know, my granddaughter dreamed of being a big businesswoman and having the perfect man with the perfect life.”

“I’m starting to understand that,” Jace said. He smirked at Jordyn. He looked back at her grandmother. “I’m not the perfect man for her. At all. I won’t give her the perfect life either.”

“Jace,” Jordyn said. “That’s not true…”

“It is,” Jace said. “I don’t lie. I’m as honest as they come.”

“I like that,” Jordyn’s grandmother said. “So you’re going to crush my granddaughter’s dreams?”

“Yeah,” Jace said. “But I’m going to show her something so real she’ll never have to dream again.”

Jordyn's mouth fell open. That was the most romantic thing Jace had ever said.

“That I like,” her grandmother said. “You care about her?”

“Of course I do.”

“I just wanted you to meet Jace, Gram,” Jordyn said. “To know that I’m okay. I have a job.”

“Which you hate,” Gram said. “I see it in your eyes, Jordyn. You could never lie to me. Just like… like if I asked you if you had slept with this hunk right here.”

“Gram…”

Jordyn felt her cheeks burning.

“I’m respectful,” Jace said.

“Do you believe in anything?” Jordyn’s grandmother asked.

“Like what?”

“Heaven? Hell? Religion?”

“May I ask what you believe?” Jace asked.

“I don’t know yet,” Jordyn’s grandmother said. “I’ve got time.”

She let out a laugh that broke Jordyn’s heart. Jace laughed again. Then Gram began a painful coughing fit that filled her eyes with tears.

“Gram, take it easy,” Jordyn said.

“I’m fine,” Gram said and swatted Jordyn’s hand away. “I’ll laugh and cough until I can’t anymore. Now, you, Jace, what do you believe in?”

“I believe in right now,” Jace said. “I believe that when darkness comes and takes us, we find a way to live on. Through memories. Through things we’ve left behind. Is there something beyond all this? I don’t know. I don’t think it’s my job to know that. I think it’s my job to try and make it to another sunset. And another sunrise.”