Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(41)

“Stop worrying, he’ll be okay.” Callum says from behind me, making me jump and sending grated cheese in the air.

“What the f*ck, Cal? You scared the shit out of me.” I hold my chest and put the cheese down. “Fucker.” I mumble.

“I heard that.” He chuckles and helps me clean up.

“Good.” I glare at him and serve the plates.

“Really, he’ll be okay.”

“I hope you’re right.” I sigh as I grab the hot sauce.

“I am. They might rough him up a bit, but they mainly want to make sure he is with you for the right reasons. After all that’s happened, you can understand why they would.” He helps me with the drinks and plates and we head into the living room.

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Gabe has never been understanding when it comes to the guys I date, why would that change now? Especially considering that Jase has just told everyone that he’s been lying for years.” I sigh as I sit on the ground, giving him the couch as he takes up most of the space. Huge f*cker.

“Not all of us were born into the MC. I wasn’t. We all have a past too. Some of us had it easy, some of us didn’t. Our pasts led us to do things we didn’t want to and they shaped us differently. I was forced to lie too. If you have a good reason for all the lies and were forced to do so, it makes it easier. Jase didn’t have a choice, it was to save his life. How did you feel when he told you and how long have you known?” He looks at me before digging into the lasagna. “This is so f*cking good. Hats off to the chef.”

“Josie’s.” I chuckle. “He told me last night. I was shocked by what they had him do and at such a young age. It’s horrible that he was brought up in such an environment, but he didn’t turn into one of those Disciples. I think he was afraid I’d think he was no better than them but he’s nothing like them. I hate what he had to do to survive, but it didn’t make me think any less of him.”

“And it’s not going to make any of us think any less of him either. It’s actually a relief that he’s not a f*cking cop. Imagine Gabe’s reaction knowing his baby sister is f*cking a cop.” He scoffs.

“You’re one to talk, f*cking Lewis.” I grin innocently and stuff my face.

“What the f*ck?” He looks at me raising his eyebrow.

“I know.” I look up at him, grinning wide.

“How?” He sighs.

“She confessed to Jase and he told me.” I shrug.

“Great. He’s f*cking dead.”

“You hurt him, I’ll make sure she stays away from you for good.” I glare at him.

“She already is.” He keeps eating, but he looks sad.

“What do you mean?”

“She was too conflicted by her feelings for me and her job, she picked her job.” He shrugs, but I can tell it’s killing him.

“You like her, don’t you?”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter, she doesn’t want me. I’m not going to f*cking chase after her.”

“You’re one stupid man.” I chuckle and eat more.

“Elaborate.”

“She wants you. She believes in a system that’s corrupt and has been corrupted by bikers for years. She wants to do her job but her feelings for you are impairing her judgement and she’s not able to do her job properly because she doesn’t want you to think it’s payback for things not working between the two of you. She’s torn between listening to her heart and her head. You have to make sure she follows her heart. It’ll be hard because you are an outlaw and she’s the law, but you can do it.” I smile at him.

“You have too much faith in me, Nic. I’m not the man for her. I’m too damaged and f*cked up. I won’t be any good for her.” He tries to argue with me, but it’s pointless. I will have the last word.

“That’s f*cking bullshit and you know it. Aleck and Gabe are damaged too and they found their women. I’ll let you in on a little woman secret. When a woman is deeply and unconditionally in love with a man, no matter what he did in his past, she’ll stand by him and love him despite the odds. So grow a pair, talk to her and stop being so f*cking stubborn.” I grin and finish my plate.

“I’ll remember that,” he says finishing his.

“I’ll make sure to remind you every single day.” I smirk.

“I know you will.”

“You bet!” I take our plates back into the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher before returning to the living room with bags of chips and cake. Callum looks at me with an amused expression on his face.

“What? I’m stressed out. When I’m stressed I eat. Don’t judge or you’re not getting any of these.”

“No judgment from me.” He chuckles and helps me set everything down. “How do you feel having told what happened to all of us?”

“Weird. I never thought I’d have to confess. I honestly thought that story would stay buried, but then again I didn’t expect to see Jase when I came back here. I knew you guys were close to a cop but I didn’t know it was him. I was glad in a way, but I knew it’d be hard to keep things hidden between us.”

“How long have you been seeing him?” he asks tucking into the chips.