Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(48)

“I’m all ears.”

“Great. You don’t waste any time, do you?”

“I’ve wasted two years not being aware of any of it, it’s your time to talk now.” He takes a pull from the beer I hand him.

“Well after I killed Rob, Jase and I started to see each other. It wasn’t anything intimate at first, just him coming over to catch up and see how I was doing and coping. It was nice and helped me cope with what I did. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you any of it as I knew you’d drag me back here without giving me a chance but a part of me wishes I had. It would have made things a lot easier.” I sigh.

“I can be a little hot headed sometimes.”

“A little?” I scoff.

“Alright, a lot. Continue.”

“Everything was fine for a while, Jase and I were getting closer and well, we started f*cking.”

“Did not need to know that.” He physically shudders and I laugh. I just can’t help it.

“Not even sorry in the slightest. Anyway, things were good. I didn’t want anything serious and he was sweet and nice to me and not just out to get some so don’t get any crazy ideas. After a while, I started to feel like someone was watching me. Everywhere I went, I would feel eyes on me. One day I manage to catch that person and asked them what they wanted. They said they were there that night and knew everything. I didn’t believe them at first, but the guy showed me pictures of me shooting Rob and then pictures with Jase covering up for me. He said I’d always be protected and Jase too if I did what they wanted me to do.”

“What have you done, Nic?”

“Nothing bad. As I was saying, in exchange for our protection, I’d have to do what he said. It was mainly going out with men who needed a date. Dress fancy, smile and shut up. I got some money out of it and was protected. No one dared f*ck with me but no one dared get close to me either. The few friends I had made vanished quickly and I was on my own. Good thing I’ve always been a loner.”

“You were a f*cking escort?”

“Yell it louder, I think some people in Texas didn’t hear you.” I glare at him.

“Sorry. I can’t believe you’d do that.” He frowns and looks at me with a disapproving look.

“I wasn’t f*cking any of them. Just nice dress, smile and that’s it.”

“For real?”

“Yeah! What the f*ck is it with you and Jase thinking I’d f*ck anyone for money for f*ck’s sake!” I yell at him.

“Why did he hear about this before me and how long has he known?” He glares at me.

“Last night, and because he looked into me and somehow found out some things about me.” I shrug.

“Right. How come if you are protected you are getting threatened by the Disciples?”

“Remember, I told you the guy who showed up at my house was my ex’s brother.”

“Right. And he’s in the Disciples. That’s f*cked up. It looks like it was a long planned revenge. This can’t be just it. It must go deeper.”

“I guess. They are after the club, Jase and I. That we know, but why?”

“I have no idea. I’ll need to talk to Jase. See if his connection can get us some information about the Disciples, see where they come from. They can’t just be the Kings leftovers.”

“Good idea.” I take a long pull from my beer and look up at the sky.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Mom and Dad. Do you think they would be proud of us?” I look at him.

“Of what we’ve done, no. Of the people we’ve become, yes. Well, despite the illegal shit.” He chuckles.

“Yeah. Do you ever think about how our lives would be if they were still here?”

“I haven’t in a long time, but I’m guessing I’d be married with kids and a house with a white picket fence. You’d be travelling around the world, falling in love with an Aussie boy and moving there, forcing us all to travel a crazy amount of hours to come to the beach wedding you’d have.” He chuckles.

“Do you really think you’d be that way?” I raise my eyebrow.

“Fuck no, that sounds boring just saying it out loud.” He laughs.

“I’d be more inclined to get married in Paris, by the way.” I grin.

“That’d be more like you, that’s true. You’d be able to stuff your face with some of the best croissants.”

“Nah the best in the world are Josie’s, hands down.”

“I think I’d still have ended up a mechanic and probably with these fools.” He chuckles, pointing to a drunk and limping Bennett.

“It’s good to see him back here.”

“It is.” He smiles. “I’m proud of you, Nicole. I might not say it a lot, but I am. Mom and Dad would be proud of you. You are living your life, fighting to be with the man you love and you’re doing good in college apparently. Not sure what you’ll do with an art degree, but I’m glad you are doing what you’ve always wanted to do.” He smiles and I just want to cry, he’s never open about his emotions, at least not with me.

“You’re going to make me f*cking cry!” I chuckle through tears.

“Come here.” He holds his hand out. I take it and walk the two steps separating us. He wraps me in a big bear hug, letting me lean on him.