Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ace

L eaning up on my knees, I reached across the coffee table and grabbed the puzzle piece I needed, piecing it together with the corner piece. This was the second puzzle I’d started working on in the past three days, and being able to zone out and just piece together puzzle pieces settled something in my mind when Gunner couldn’t be attached to me at the hip.

He’d had to go into town two days ago to grab some things Blakely needed to be able to continue cooking food for the four of us, and he’d also grabbed things he needed for his plants while he was out. I’d dug around his house, antsy for something to do, my mind running a million miles a minute, and then, I’d come across a few dust-covered boxes of puzzles. They’d been opened, and some of the pieces were still stuck together from Gunner previously putting them together.

When Gunner had come home from the store and found me sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, the puzzle pieces laid out in front of me, he just smiled, softly kissed me, and left me to my vices so he could tend to the greenhouse.

He spent so much time out there. I tried it once a few days ago, but getting my hands dirty just wasn’t my thing. And it was so hot inside that greenhouse. I couldn’t deal. I was not made for outdoorsy shit, even if Gunner was. He could one hundred percent be the “man” in our relationship.

A shadow fell over me, and I looked up, frowning at Jax. He jerked his chin toward the front door just as Gunner came in through the back door, heading for the kitchen.

“What?” I muttered, looking back at my puzzle.

“Come on a walk with me,” Jax said. It was more of a command than a suggestion. Immediately, my hackles rose. “You haven’t been outside in three straight days, kid.”

“Fuck off. I don’t want to go on a damn walk. I’m fine right here.”

“Ace baby,” Gunner called in that Papa voice that always made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, even if he was about to make me do something I didn’t want to do, “you need some fresh air, sweet boy. Go with Jax.”

Turning my head, I pouted at him, hoping it would get him to change his mind. But nope. Because Gunner was a good Papa who made me do things that were good for me even if I didn’t want to do them.

“That look isn’t going to work, baby. Go on a walk with Jax.”

I huffed and stood. “I don’t even have winter clothes.” And it was cold outside.

“Oh! I have a jacket and gloves you can use,” Blakely said, jumping up from the recliner and moving to her bag, which was stuffed in the corner of the living room so it’d be out of the way.

“And you have the boots I picked up for you in town the other day,” Gunner gently reminded me. He’d gotten them for me in the hopes I’d help him in the greenhouse more, though he’d never pressured me to go out with him once he realized how much I really hated playing in the dirt. I’d spent damn near fifteen minutes trying to clean the dirt from under my fingernails. “I’ve got a counter-argument for every fight you put up, sweet boy.”

I huffed again before grabbing the jacket and gloves Blakely held out to me before marching upstairs to get my boots. Gunner appeared just as I was sitting on the bed to tug them on. I frowned up at him.

“I don’t want to go outside, Papa.”

He crouched in front of me and gripped my thighs, smiling up at me. My irritation immediately bled away, and I grasped his cheeks, raking my fingernails through his blonde beard, just needing to touch him. “The walk will be good for you. When you get back, Blakely and I will have stew on the stove, you and I can get a hot shower together, and then, you can have all the cuddles you want, okay?”

I nodded and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his lips. “Okay.”

He squeezed my thighs before focusing on my boots, helping me put them on and tie them up. Then, standing to his full height, he held out a hand to help me up. I took it and wiggled my toes in my new boots, a small smile pulling at my lips. We walked downstairs, and Gunner gripped my arm, pulling me to a halt. When I turned to face him, he pulled his beanie off his head and pulled it down on mine.

Reaching up, I touched it, my insides all fuzzy knowing I was wearing something of his. I leaned up on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. He grinned at me. “Thank you, Papa.”

“I’ll see you in a bit,” he assured me, gently nudging me in Jax’s direction.

Jax opened the door, and I slipped by him, being careful not to touch him. He stepped out behind me, shutting the door before moving around me and heading down the porch. Sighing, I shoved my fingers into Blakely’s gloves, then followed Jax down the porch and into the woods. Blowing out a breath, I watched it fog in the air before slowly dissipating.

“You know I’m not much of one for talking,” Jax began after we’d walked in silence for a few minutes, “but I just…” He paused and turned to look at me, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. “Honestly, kid, we’re both shit at communicating.”

I snorted. “Who the fuck can blame us?” I asked him in all seriousness. After all we’d been through, it was no surprise communication wasn’t something we were good at.

He nodded, tilting his head back to look up at the canopy of trees above us. I followed his gaze. The sun wasn’t out today, and bits of the gray sky could be seen through the branches. Finally, he looked back at me. “You might hate me for this, but I overheard yours and Gunner’s talk the other night. The night I told you your last foster father had been dealt with. I had Rico run a background check on you.” Anger burned in my gut, boiling hot so fast, it made me a little dizzy. “He’s dispatching men to take care of everyone who put their hands on you as a kid.”

I was going to punch him in his fucking face, even if it sent me into a panic attack.

“You what ?” I seethed. “Not only did you fucking betray my trust by digging into my past, but you asked Rico to do it?!” I shouted. Rico always wanted something in return, even from Jax, who was one of his only friends, from what I understood. Rico wasn’t someone to be fucked with. He was like a ghost—only seen when he wanted to be. And he was one of the wealthiest, most dangerous men on the west coast.

Something scurried away from us in the underbrush. “What are you going to owe him for this, Jax?” I demanded. I clenched my fists at my sides, my chest heaving. “What the fuck are you going to owe him?!”

Jax sighed. “Ace, I won’t owe him anything.”

“Bullshit,” I snarled. I spun on my heel, heading back for the cabin.

“Ace—”

“We’re going back to the cabin,” I bit out. “And when we get there, you’re calling Rico, and I want to hear from his own fucking mouth that you won’t owe him shit for this.”

Since I was angry, it took me and Jax half the time it took to walk where we’d gotten to get back to the house. I flung open the front door and shoved my boots off before spinning around to face Jax, my arms crossed over my chest as I glared at him.

“Well?” I demanded. “Fucking call him, douchebag.”

Jax rolled his eyes as he pulled his burner phone from his pocket. “You’re being a child, Ace.”

“ Fuck you ,” I seethed. “ You were the one who went behind my back and dug into my past, then had the audacity to ask Rico fucking Martinez to kill people for you. Call him !” I shouted.

I was so angry. So hurt. I felt betrayed. Once again, Jax had gone behind my back and broken my trust. He’d always been the one person in the world who never abandoned me, never walked away from me, but this was the second time he’d gone behind my back like this.

Gunner’s hands settled over my shoulders, and he drew me back against him, wrapping his arms around my chest, binding me to him. A tear ran down my cheek, and I quickly reached up to wipe it away as Jax dialed Rico’s number. When I sniffled, he looked up at me, his face expressionless as the ringing of his phone filled the tense silence.

“Jax,” Rico drawled, his Mexican accent more noticeable than usual. Usually, it was almost non-existent. “What can I do for you?”

“Not Jax,” I snapped. “What does he owe you?” I demanded.

“For?” Rico asked, not sounding as laid back anymore. His tone was stiffer, a chilling warning riding his words.

I glared at the phone, my muscles bunched so tightly, I was trembling against Gunner. “Don’t play stupid with me, Rico.”

Rico only chuckled. “Kid, I’m afraid you’ll need to be more specific. I’ve heard more from Jax in the past three days than I have the entire time he’s been out of lock-up.”

I glared at Jax. He only shrugged at me. “What the fuck has he contacted you for?” I demanded, more tears burning in my eyes. Was Jax going behind our brothers’ backs? Was he doing work for Rico? What the fuck was going on?

“Jax called me a few days ago, asking for help to track you down. He doesn’t owe me anything for that. I like you, kid, and I didn’t want anything to happen to you.” I winced. Too bad no one had gotten there in time to prevent that. Gunner’s muscles bunched around me, and he buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. I knew it bothered him that he hadn’t gotten to me in time, and I wished I could take that guilt away from him. I gripped his forearms, digging my nails in, hoping it soothed him.

“The night you were rescued, he called me again, asking me to run a background check on you.” Gunner released me, and I looked up to find him glaring at Jax. I grabbed his hand, hoping it kept him calm. I was angry at Jax, but I didn’t want Gunner to hurt him. “He asked me to eliminate everyone who touched you.” He sighed. “He doesn’t owe me anything for that either, Ace. I have a specific kind of hatred for mother fuckers who touch kids.”

I stared at Jax, tears blurring my vision. “I hate you,” I croaked. “And I hate that I still love you despite you constantly doing shit behind my back.”

Jax ended the call without even bothering to say bye to Rico. He shrugged at me as he shoved his phone in his pocket. “I told you, kid—I’ll always do what I think is in your best interest. And knowing there were other people out there who hurt you and were getting to live their best lives—who, might I add, were hurting other kids—” I swallowed thickly, vomit churning in my gut, “didn’t sit right with me. So, I made the call. Hate me all you want, Ace. Again—I’ll always do what I think is best for you, even if that hurts you for a little while or makes you hate me.”

My chin wobbled. Tears streaked down my cheeks. Gunner reached to pull me back into his arms, but I shook my head and stepped up close to Jax, tilting my head back to look up at him. I took a deep breath, preparing myself to touch him. “You’re such a dick,” I croaked, jabbing my finger into his chest.

Jax arched a brow at me. “That’s old news, kid.”

Sniffling, I cautiously wrapped my arms around him. He tensed for a second before he hugged me back, squeezing his arms around me and resting his chin on the top of my head.

“I know I’m not exactly as human as the rest of you,” Jax said quietly, “but just like Blakely, kid, I’d take a bullet for you without hesitation. And I will always do what’s needed so you’re safe, and for the rest of my life, I’ll always end the lives of anyone who hurts you.”

I nodded, my tears wetting his shirt. He slowly released me and gently gripped my shoulders, turning me to face Gunner. Gunner tugged me into his arms and squeezed me so tight, I could barely breathe. But it was just what I needed.

“We’ll be on the back porch,” Gunner quietly announced as he leaned down to grip me beneath my ass, lifting me up. I wrapped my arms and legs around him, burying my face in the curve of his neck. “Let us know when dinner is done.”

“Of course,” Blakely said softly.

When we were on the back porch, the door shut behind us, Gunner settled on the porch swing, gently rocking us back and forth.

“I told you Jax loves you the most of your brothers,” he told me quietly. “He just… doesn’t show it well.”

“You’re never wrong, are you, Papa?” I croaked. Leaning back, I gripped his face, sliding my fingers through his beard. It was always so soothing to feel the coarse hair beneath my fingertips and my palms.

Gunner shook his head and chuckled, the sound low and warm. It made me feel all gooey inside. “Of course, I’m wrong sometimes, Ace baby. But you know who never questioned me the entire time I was fighting with your brothers over you being missing? Jax. He had my back from the moment he found out you weren’t answering my calls. And even though he busted into our cabin,” my chest tightened when he called his home ours , “he never really put up that big of a fight, sweet boy. Jax has good instincts. And he trusts your judgment.”

I pondered over his words, realizing he was right. Sure, Jax was overprotective of me, just like our other brothers were, but he still trusted me to know what I was doing with my life. Still let me make my own decisions.

“I still hate he went behind my back like that,” I muttered, sinking back into Gunner’s hold. He wrapped his arms around me, flattening the fronts of our bodies together. I tucked my face into the curve of his neck, inhaling the scent of him. Pursing my lips, I pressed them to the pulse at the base of his throat, letting the steady throb calm me down.

“I don’t agree with it either,” Gunner said quietly, “but I’ll admit, baby, I’m glad everyone who hurt you won’t be able to hurt anyone else. And I hope Rico’s men make sure they let those fuckers know why they’re dying. Why they were put on Rico’s radar. I hope they take their last breaths knowing that you’re the reason they’re leaving this world.”

“You have a very bloodthirsty streak, Papa.” I snuggled deeper into him. “I like it.”

He softly laughed and turned his head to press a kiss to my cheek. “What can I say, sweet boy? You bring out the best and darkest parts of me.”

I smiled. “I love you,” I murmured.

Gunner sighed like I’d popped something inside of him that had been hurting. “I love you, too, my precious boy.”