Trusting Nicole (The Last Hangman MC #4)(49)

“Custom paints on cars and walls.”

“What?” He looks at me confused.

“That’s what I want to do.” I smile.

“We could use another one at the garage.” He grins.

“What? A painted wall or someone to actually custom paint cars?” I chuckle.

“Both.” He smiles. “It’d be good to keep an eye on you as well.”

“Dickhead. Always having to ruin the moment. I feel for Viv.” I say, deadpan.

“You love it and she does too.” He shrugs and finishes his beer, and mine.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being the best brother anyone could ask for. You raised me how Mom and Dad would have wanted. You always made sure we had food in the fridge and a roof over our heads. You always made sure I was happy no matter what was going on and I’ll forever be thankful that you brought us into this amazing dysfunctional family. I’m so happy we have them, they are always there for us and you’re always there for me. I know we don’t always see eye to eye, but you’re an awesome big brother and an amazing man. Viv is extremely lucky to have you as her man and I’m so glad you finally realized the feelings you had for her. Things might not always be peaceful and quiet, but that makes life all the more interesting.”

“Fuck me, Nic, you’re the one who’s going to make me cry.” He chuckles and then kisses my head.

“Thank you for being good when you were growing up, you were a little brat at times but you made it so easy for me to adjust and you were always a doll. I’m glad you think I’m a good man despite everything.”

“Of course you are. You all are. You’re not innocent or saints, but deep down you are good and you're just protecting what’s yours.” I smile.

“Amen to that.” He smiles back and we walk back to the compound to join the others.

Life might not be a long quiet road for us, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes us feel alive and keeps life entertaining. Might as well live our lives to the fullest so we don’t have any regrets when our time comes.





CHAPTER 18




Jason

It’s two in the morning and I’ve spent the past couple of hours driving around the city, in search of what I don’t know, but I couldn’t go home to Nicole.

Home.

Something I never had and yet whenever I’m with her that’s how it feels, but tonight I’m struggling to go to her. I need to tell her what I did but I can’t bring myself to do it.

Without realizing it, I park in front of her house. I debate getting out of the car and going in for a while, but she makes the decision for me when she opens the front door and waits for me. I take a deep breath and get out of the car. I lock it before walking over to her. Her eyes widening as she takes in the blood that covers my clothes.

“Dare I ask?”

“You deserve to know the type of man I am.”

“Here we go again.” She mutters and lets me pass by her into the house.

“I heard that.”

“Good. Saves me repeating myself. Whiskey?”

“You know me too well.”

“That I do.” She smiles bitterly and pours me one, looks like it won’t take much to push her away. “What happened?” she asks handing me the glass.

I down the whiskey before talking. “Someone tipped off the Disciples again. It came from inside, one of the officers was working with them. They threatened him and his family or something and so he was telling them when and where we were going to wait for them so they could escape. Said cop pulled me over when I was on my way to the bar and knew I wasn’t an actual cop, thanks to the Disciples. We fought and I shot him. Another cop was still in the car and probably saw and overheard everything.

“Lewis helped me escape and on my way to go hide at Sergei’s, I stumbled across the prospect who came to deliver a message the other day. I knocked him over and took him with me, to the room I told you about. I needed answers and he wouldn’t give them to me so I pulled his teeth out one by one until there were none left. He didn’t say much, well nothing I didn’t know already. I then slit his throat and watched the blood and life rush out of him. I enjoyed every second of it.” My voice is void of any emotion. I look at her and, besides looking grossed out, she doesn’t seem phased by what I just told her.

“Well, thanks for not sparing me the details, I’m glad I hadn’t just eaten or it’d have come back up.” She frowns.

“I told you I wasn’t a good man. Now you know what I’m capable of, in detail.”

“Right. So you are expecting me to push you away so it’d be easier for you to just get on with your life?” She raises her eyebrow at me.

I sigh. “I don’t know how to do this, Kitten.”

“Do what?”

“You mean the f*cking world to me and people threatening you is f*cking with my head. I want you but I want to keep you safe and the further away from me you are, the safest you’ll be.”

“Oh for f*ck’s sake, not you too.” She groans and starts pacing the room.

“What do you mean?”

“Aleck and Gabe did that. They pushed Line and Viv away and look where it got them. If they had had the guts to stay with their women they would’ve been able to protect them like the men they claim they are.”