Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

T he drive to Pittsburgh was around three hours. Bulldog drove the SUV with Steel in the passenger seat. Ghost and Jumper sat in the back. Jumper appreciated the others being willing to take the drive in the cage rather than their hogs. There was a reason bikers referred to cars as ‘cages'. By the time they reached the outskirts of Pittsburgh, Jumper wasn't the only one feeling restless. They didn't all have to come in the SUV, but Jumper knew they were showing their support towards him for doing so.

He'd gotten his head wrapping off the day before. His hair mostly hid the hole they'd drilled into his skull. Without the use of painkillers, he was certainly feeling the effects more. Tylenol did not take the edge off so he'd stopped taking it. He could deal with the pain as long as it didn't impact his vision again.

It felt good to get out and stretch his legs. They'd stopped to top off the SUV with gas before heading to the Black Pythons' clubhouse they called the Pit. Without knowing what might happen, they weren't taking any chances that they might need to stop before getting back to their territory.

Jumper walked around the gas station parking lot. He certainly was not fast, but he enjoyed the fresh air. It was going to be difficult missing the rest of the riding season. Even Aerial looked morose at having to get back inside the cage.

The Pit was not fenced off as the VDMC property was. It was a large depot that had probably once been a storage facility. The outside did not look inviting.

As soon as Bulldog parked the SUV alongside the three dozen or so motorcycles lined up outside the building, they all exited and put their cuts on. They were arriving unannounced, which could be taken as a sign of rudeness. Steel did not want to give the Pythons time to rehearse a story or set up a trap. He'd rather have raw and honest answers, no matter the outcome.

Aerial was wearing a tactical harness, similar to the one she'd been trained in as a police dog. She was trained to know she was ‘on the job' when she was wearing a harness, but Jumper did not want it known that she was a service dog. While there was a possibility that the Pythons already knew, given their history with the McCrery brothers, Jumper chose not to announce it. Bulldog had done his fair share of studying the Pythons over the years, as they were the closest club to the Via Daemonia ' s territory. It was likely that they had done the same.

Ghost stepped forward and opened the door. Steel walked through first, followed closely by Bulldog. Jumper, Aerial, and Ghost brought up the rear.

Jumper's nose scrunched in distaste as the scent of cigarettes, weed, booze, and sex wafted over him, the heavy aromas making his head pound. While the VDMC knew how to throw a party, their clubhouse was not a den of debauchery. Some of his club brothers liked to have sex where others could see them or in a dark corner where it was known what was happening without there being a direct line of sight. Bear used to be one of them.

However, the VDMC had never had a gangbang in the middle of their clubhouse at noon on a Tuesday. Nor did they allow drugs of any kind, including marijuana, on their property. The amount of men walking around bare ass naked was eye opening—and most of them didn't have something to be proud of.

There was a woman bent over the pool table with two men trading places behind her. Another was sitting on a man's lap on a very old and decrepit couch. He was holding her legs open as one of his club brothers, who was wearing nothing but his cut, approached her with his cock in hand. Cages were set up where naked women danced to the blasting music. A woman in nothing but a thong danced on top of the bar.

In the middle of it all was a tall-backed chair staged like a throne. A man sat in it with his legs splayed. He was dressed, but his zipper was open as a naked woman openly sucked him off. Though she gagged and spluttered, the man forced her to remain where she was with a heavy hand wrapped up in her tangled hair.

Jumper was sure the disgust was plain on his face. He understood that this was a lifestyle. He got that this was what most people thought of when they thought of the MC life. But this was not his life. This was not the Via Daemonia way.

He'd never been so proud of that fact than he was right then.

None of these women were respected, none of them cherished. They were nothing more than holes to be filled. He wondered if a single man in this room even knew their names.

A familiar face caught Jumper's eyes. He glanced to his left and noticed that Ghost had already spotted her.

Cheryl.

She'd worked for the VDMC as a Honey until Bulldog had fired her. She'd made a public scene in front of Abby and refused to accept that Bulldog had claimed an ol' lady. Jumper had heard Abby had been near tears at the cruel things Cheryl had said.

Ghost, who had slept with Cheryl on occasion, looked sickened as he watched her be spit roasted between two Pythons. She was on all fours while a man shoved his cock down her throat and another pounded into her from behind.

Jumper wondered if anyone had looked Cheryl up after she'd been fired. Had anyone even known she'd come to the Pythons? When had she left Mount Grove? Jumper had never spent any personal time with Cheryl. He didn't know what her home life looked like or anything about her, beyond that she'd always dressed too scantily for whatever the weather was.

For all the fact that the unwritten job of the Honeys was to sleep with the brothers, none of the VDMC had ever treated them like whores. When Steel had agreed to have the Honeys be a part of their club life, he'd been very clear about the fact that they could say no . No matter what, no matter who. A Honey never had to sleep with a brother.

Jumper had a feeling that Cheryl hadn't been asked if she wanted to be tag teamed. Ghost looked like he was going to interfere, but Bulldog put a hand on his chest to stop him.

"That's not why we're here," Bulldog told him over the music. He looked just as sickened by the display as Ghost.

Jumper hated it, probably just as much as Ghost, but Bulldog was right. They were here for a different reason. Not to judge the Pythons for how they lived their lives. Bulldog would no doubt track Cheryl down after this and ensure she was choosing this lifestyle. If it wasn't, the VDMC would deal with it then.

The man on the throne, King Cobra, saw the exchange between Ghost and Bulldog. He did not seem upset about four Via Daemonia officers showing up unannounced in his clubhouse. If anything, he looked pleased that they had witnessed how their former Honey was being treated. Like a true patch whore. At a hand signal from him, the music lowered to a more reasonable volume.

"Do you like the newest addition to my family?" King asked, his eyes on Ghost. "She came to me on her hands and knees and begged to suck my cock after you threw her out."

"I find it deplorable." Ghost did not hold back his repulsion or judgement.

The corner of King's mouth twitched. He looked much older than his forty-three years. Likely the result of living such a hard life. "Yes, well, we've all heard how you sissies in Mount Grove treat your women."

"With respect?" Ghost shot back, not rising to the bait.

"If that's what you want to call it." King tapped the head of the woman between his knees. She pulled up off of his cock and looked at him. "You're boring me. Go suck someone else's cock and learn how to use that tongue while you're at it."

The woman—girl, really. Christ, she couldn't be much older than eighteen—let out an embarrassed sob and scurried away.

Rather than call over another woman to take her place, King tucked himself back into his pants and zipped up. Thank God . Jumper had not wanted to talk to the man while he was in that position.

King finally looked at Steel. "Don't worry. She's eighteen. I'd never do anything illegal." He grinned widely. "I hear your daughter is almost legal. Maybe I'll stop by and see her. Show her a good time." He grabbed the bulge in his pants for emphasis.

"You're welcome to try," Steel said dryly. "She's a Marine's daughter and will kick your ass. Not to mention what her mother will do to you afterwards."

King looked entirely perplexed that Steel had not flown into a rage at the idea of him fucking his daughter. The fact that Steel had thrown not only Melanie's but also Jenna's strength back at him only seemed to piss the man off. King was the sort of man who did not appreciate a strong woman.

He flicked his nose and tried to save face. "I'll be sure to tell her that her daddy sent me while I'm fucking her."

Steel did not respond. Instead, he held out his hand. Bulldog placed a manila folder in his hand and Steel dropped it at King's feet.

King barely even glanced at it. "What's that?"

"A peace offering."

Rather than get off of his ridiculous throne and retrieve the folder himself, King snapped his fingers twice. A kid, maybe sixteen, rushed forward to pick up the file and its paperwork. Jumper saw the bruises covering part of his face and his arm. He wore a cut that said Unworthy on the top rocker and Fag on the bottom.

Jumper did not know if the boy actually was gay or if it was just a way to humiliate him. Regardless, the helplessness in the kid's eyes when he looked up at the VDMC screamed at them to help him.

Jumper wasn't the only one who stiffened.

The kid looked away from them quickly. When he handed the folder to King, the man took it and then backhanded the kid.

Steel did not remain silent then. He immediately took the boy's arm and pulled him behind him. The boy tripped but Bulldog steadied him.

Without warning, Steel slapped the folder out of King's hand. Papers went flying. King moved as if to grab the front of Steel's shirt, but Steel was a twenty-year Marine veteran. Moving far too quick for King, who no doubt had had a drink or two already that day, he grabbed the man's outstretched hand, gripped his pointer finger, and twisted it back towards his wrist.

King's cry of pain drew the attention of the other Pythons in the room. Jumper and Ghost closed in ranks around the kid. Several members were looking around for weapons but, since they were naked, had none. Aerial also placed herself in a protective position. She backed herself up between Jumper's legs, growling at those behind them.

While King's finger was not broken, Steel could very easily break it. The hold took King out of his seat and down to his knees, where the woman he'd belittled for not sucking his cock to his liking had been.

"I'm aware we're on your turf." Steel's voice was cold as ice. "As…distasteful as I find what your men are currently doing to the women in your care, they are all adults. But a kid, King? No. That I will not allow."

Steel released King's finger and took a step back.

King gripped his hand to his chest. He snarled out, "I'll kill you, you sonofabitch!"

But Steel shook his head. "Not before you read what's in that file." Then he added to the amusement of his club brothers, "Trust me."

King glanced at the paperwork that had flown everywhere. It looked like he was planning on attacking anyway when something caught his attention.

Still on the floor, King reached over for the piece of paper. It was a police report, detailing the information about Venom's death.

King stood up slowly. "Where did you get this?" he demanded. He rounded on Steel and shouted, "Where did you get this?!"

"One of my brothers is former Naval Intelligence. There's not much he can't do with a computer." Steel indicated with his chin towards the rest of the paperwork on the floor. "I told you I was bringing you a peace offering."

"This says he was killed on your turf."

"Just outside," Steel corrected. Jumper was impressed at how well Steel was keeping his cool. "We know who did it and we know why. However, your vengeance will go unrequited because the men who killed your brother are already dead."

"Who?" King looked like he was scanning the paper for the answer, but he wouldn't find it there since the police didn't know.

"Jonathan Rhodes, a man you called Copperhead. He plotted with the McCrery brothers, who were running your illegal dogfighting ring, to kill Venom. Copperhead believed that he would then take his place as your VP."

"Copper's dead," King snapped.

Steel nodded. "Yes. Along with Fang, Boa, Talon, and Rattler. They were killed alongside Doug McCrery at your warehouse where you housed your fights."

King pulled a gun out from the small of his back. Jumper saw the boy flinch at the sight of it and place himself further behind Bulldog's bulk. King tapped the barrel of the gun against his upper thigh.

"What's so peaceful about this offering? Sounds like you know far too much to be innocent."

"We did not kill any of your people," Steel said honestly. "However, one of yours kidnapped one of our ol' ladies. Copperhead, or Copper as you called him, planned to pin Venom's murder on my Secretary." Steel indicated towards Jumper. "To what end, I don't know. That is why we are here to give you as much information as we have with the understanding that we were not involved. We do not want a war. We do not want to be blamed for something we did not do."

King looked down at the paper crumbled in his hand. "Pretty stupid if you ask me. Coming here to prove that you have the information I've been searching for?"

"Really?" Steel sighed, exasperated. "It's not the only copy of that file, King. I'm aware of how cliché it is, but apparently I need to remind you that I kept a copy and it will be handed over to the police if my men and I don't return safely. Oh, and I'm taking the boy too."

King's face turned an assortment of different colors. From red to purple to pale and back to red. It was very interesting as he mulled over Steel's words.

For some reason, when he finally replied, it was about the boy. "That faggot?" he sneered. "Your ol' lady ain't satisfying you, Steel? Need a butt-boy to do what she can't?"

The boy behind Bulldog stiffened. Bulldog twisted just enough to catch the kid's eyes and shake his head. Despite his hulking size, the boy seemed to trust Bulldog when he silently denied King's crude statement.

"Is that why you kept him around?" Steel asked in return. There was something dangerous in his voice now. "Have you been abusing the boy so?"

King's nostrils flared and he raised the gun to point it at Steel's head. "I ain't no faggot! I only kept the kid out of the kindness of my heart. His mother is over there on the pool table."

Steel ignored the gun. "And his father?"

King shrugged. "Could be any one of my boys. The woman isn't picky, if you catch my drift."

"Ghost, go ask his mother if she wants to come with us."

King's grip on his gun tightened. "The fuck?" Ghost left to go talk to the woman who was still bent over the pool table. King looked a bit frantic as he glanced between Ghost and Steel. "You ain't takin' any of my women!"

"This boy is not staying here to continue to be abused by you. If his mother chooses to come with us, then that is also her choice. She is not a prisoner here."

"She owes me a debt!" King snapped.

Ghost came back over and said disgustedly, "She told us to keep him." Given how angry Ghost looked, Jumper was sure the woman had said some other not-so-nice things about her son too. To King, Ghost added, "Looks like she can continue to work off her debt then."

King's face turned a bright shade of red. "What the fuck!"

"Read over what I gave you," Steel told him calmly. As he indicated for them to go, he turned back to King. "Oh, and keep your shit away from Mount Grove. The McCrery farm was less than five miles from my territory. You should have known better."

Steel took the humiliating cut off of the boy and tossed it onto the ground. Most likely he wanted to throw it at King but hadn't wanted to further rile the man.

They were halfway across the clubhouse when King called after them, "Hey!"

Steel paused but said to Ghost, "Get him to the cage."

Ghost took the boy's arm and hurried him out of the building.

Despite the fact that their President was marching his way across the floor looking murderous, most of the Pythons kept on minding their own business. Which, in general, meant that they kept fucking whom they were fucking and were not paying attention to what was going on around them.

It was pathetic in a way, the selfishness of these men.

King was still gripping his gun, but was holding it down at his side now. "Maybe I like Mount Grove. Maybe the Via Daemonia better move on if you don't want a war on your hands."

Steel didn't take a step forward. He didn't make a move towards King at all. His shoulders squared, Steel's cold voice held such ruthlessness Jumper had never heard before from his President. "Son, you don't know the meaning of war. I promise you this, though: if you choose to start something with my people, you'll soon learn."

Steel made a hand motion for them to move out. A man, who was only partly clothed, stepped between them and the door. He raised a gun. Aerial growled, preparing to launch herself at the enforcer. Bulldog moved for his own gun.

A shadow shifted to the right of the door. With a swift boot to his hand, the man's gun went flying. A second kick to the back of the knee sent him to the ground. Two blades crisscrossed at the base of his throat.

"Scar," Steel warned, "don't kill him."

The former VDMC member looked up at Steel. His bright blue eyes seemed duller than Jumper remembered. Even with his shock at Scar's sudden presence, Jumper took in the differences in the man almost immediately. His hair was longer, encroaching down around his ears. He was still clean shaven, enhancing the long, jagged scar on his face. He looked…thin. Scar had always had a leaner build, but strong and muscular like a swimmer. This was different. Was he not eating? There was a deadness in his gaze that made Jumper question whether he was going to listen to Steel's order.

The tense moment passed before Scar lifted his knives from the man's throat. He kicked the man away.

Steel glanced around the room. "Good day, gentlemen."

Scar followed them outside, leaving the clubhouse last. Bulldog immediately pointed a finger in Scar's face. "You follow us home, do you understand me? If you don't, I will hunt you down and drag you back by your ear. If you won't do it for me, do it for Sissy and Harper."

Scar's jaw tightened.

"Do it," Steel ordered. "We need to talk."

They hurried to the SUV, which Ghost had already pulled up towards the door. Everyone hurried inside. Jumper only stepped back to let Aerial in first before hopping in himself.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jumper saw someone exit the clubhouse with a gun. Before he could call a warning to the others, Scar threw a knife. The Python fell.

Steel shook his head as Ghost pulled out of the parking lot. "Fuck. I had been trying to avoid that."

With Ghost driving now, Bulldog and Jumper were in the back with the kid. Aerial had somehow squeezed herself onto the seat too and was curled around the boy.

The sound of pipes following them had them all checking the mirrors until they saw it was only Scar. Though he hadn't promised to follow them home, he was. Jumper had to wonder if he was only going to see them safely to club property before taking off again.

Steel turned in his seat to face the boy. "What's your name, son?"

The boy shrugged. This close, he was rather filthy. Though tall, he appeared younger than Jumper had originally thought. His eyes were so sad, perhaps that portrayed youth.

"You're safe," Steel assured him. "Whatever your life was like with the Pythons, I swear it won't be like that now. Will you tell me your name?"

Again, the boy shrugged. He glanced up at Steel, and seemed surprised when he didn't see anger on Steel's face. "Ollie." Then he cleared his throat and said louder, "Oliver."

"Well, Ollie-Oliver," Steel said with a gentle smile, "it's nice to meet you. My name is Jack, but you can call me Steel. Beside you is Bulldog and Jumper. On top of you is Aerial." She picked up her head and her tongue lulled out of the side of her mouth, clearly delighted with her new admirer. "And driving is Ghost."

Ollie looked around nervously at all of them. "My mom always said she wanted me gone. I'm not surprised she didn't argue or try to come with us. I'm more surprised she didn't try to sell me to you."

Jumper and Bulldog exchanged a hard look at those words. There was the chance that she had and Ghost had refused, then lied to the others.

"How old are you?" Steel asked him.

"Fifteen." Then in a rushed voice, he added, "I'm gay. But I'm a hard worker. I can cook and clean. Please don't sell me or make me use my body to pay back my debt."

The only giveaway of how angry Steel was at Ollie's words was the slight twitch of his right eye. "You will need to pay back your debt," Steel told him sternly. "We'll house you and feed you. You'll need to work hard and get good grades." At Ollie's confused look, Steel added, "It's the only way to get into college."

Ollie's jaw dropped. "Wait. You mean… I can go to school?"

"It'll be a requirement of living with us," Steel told him.

"And I don't… I mean, I don't have to?—"

"If anyone, man or woman, pressures you into sex, you come straight to me." There was a fierceness in Steel's voice that was entirely paternal. "Your sexuality is your choice and I could care less about who you love as long as they are good to you. Your body is your own, Ollie, and no one has a right to it but you."

At those words, Ollie burst into tears.

The ol' ladies had been given a head's up about Ollie. All five of them were waiting when the SUV pulled up in front of the clubhouse. The rush to get to Ollie and start fawning over him was interrupted by the hog that pulled in behind them.

Scar dismounted, taking off his helmet. As soon as Harper saw him, she broke away from the others and Ollie to rush over to him. She stopped just under an arm's length from him. Carefully, Harper lifted a hand and touched Scar's shoulder. A shiver ran through him, almost like he was releasing a heavy burden. Harper only kept her hand on him for about a minute before she took it away. Scar raised a trembling hand and placed it on her shoulder in return.

He did not grip her shoulder, only laid his palm on it. About thirty seconds later, he pulled his hand away as if she'd burned him.

It was progress, though. Scar didn't touch . The only times he did was when he was fighting. For him to place a hand on Harper like that… It was huge. Jumper had only seen him do it once before with her. And then the embrace he'd given Bulldog before walking out on the VDMC.

After a quick word with Jenna, Steel called out, "Church! Officers only."

They filed into the clubhouse, leaving Ollie in the care of the ol' ladies. They would take care of him and fight over who got to take him in. Ollie had no idea the maternal storm headed his way.

Jumper gave Jasmine a quick kiss before heading inside. She pointed to his head and he nodded that he was fine. Then he ordered Aerial to go with Jasmine. He hoped her presence would help soothe Ollie.

They all filed up the stairs. Jumper noticed that Ghost did not hesitate to take his seat, Scar's old seat. He wondered if Ghost felt threatened by Scar's presence. Bear and Lucky had been at their homes and Demo had been downstairs in his apartment. It only took minutes for all of the officers to take their seats.

Now that the adrenaline was leaving his system, Jumper did feel a slight throbbing in his head. He ignored it. He'd lie down with Jasmine later.

As the doors closed, Scar remained standing. Did he realize he didn't have a place at this table anymore? Did that bother him?

Jumper shifted his attention to Steel. What would Steel say to Scar? Would he offer him a place back with them?

Steel stared at Scar like he was trying to get a read off of the stoic man. Scar wasn't looking at Steel, but just over his head. It was unlike Scar to make eye contact.

Finally, Steel let out a long sigh. "You look like shit."

There was the smallest of twitches on Scar's lips.

"I honestly have no idea what to say to you. You left ," the accusation was sharp. "You left us . We're your family, Scar. I don't give a shit about your past. We took you in. We helped you. We gave you purpose, a job, family, friends… And you threw it all away!" Steel slammed his palm down on the wood table. "I get why you did it. I understand more than most, but then you didn't come back! You gave Bulldog some folder as if that explained where you've been or where you're going and you left again ."

Steel stood up. He leaned forward on the table on his knuckles. "I had to strip your colors. Do you have any idea what that felt like? Or are you so dehumanized that you don't even remember what feelings feel like?"

Scar's nostrils flared.

"What the fuck am I supposed to do with you? How did you even get into the Pythons' Pit? Why were you there?"

Scar just stood there.

"God-fucking-damn it. Someone give him a phone so he can fucking answer me!"

Jumper wasn't sure if Steel was angry. Despite his words, and obvious frustration, Jumper had to wonder if Steel was more worried than angry.

Bear, who was the closest to Scar, unlocked his phone. He tapped on it a few times and then handed it to Scar without a word. Scar had saved Tessa's life twice, but it wasn't Bear's place to say something like "good to see you, man" or "wish you'd come back". Especially with no one knowing how this would play out.

Scar accepted the phone. He stared down at it for several long moments before his thumbs started moving over the screen.

Then he placed the phone on the table. A mechanical voice said, "It's good to see you too, Steel."

There was a moment of tense silence in the room before everyone burst out laughing.

Bulldog got up and walked over to Scar. Unlike Harper, he didn't stop until he took Scar into his embrace. Scar stood ramrod straight, entirely uncomfortable, as Bulldog hugged him. After Bulldog stepped away, Scar picked up Bear's phone again.

"The Pythons knew you had been at the warehouse. He had not connected you to Venom's murder but he was looking into you for the others'. I had already been there when you showed up."

Jumper wasn't the only one who looked surprised. He hadn't seen Scar anywhere in that clubhouse before he'd moved to disarm that enforcer.

"How do you know about the warehouse?" Bulldog asked as he retook his seat. There was a hint of accusation in his voice.

"A source told me what happened. I came back to make sure everyone was safe."

Jumper noticed that Bulldog's stiffness lessened. He wondered if he'd been expecting Scar to admit he'd been in town the entire time. Did it hurt more or less that his friend had not been stealthily hanging around Mount Grove?

"What source do you have?" Ghost asked. His tone wasn't friendly, but it also wasn't hostile. Before Scar could answer, Ghost snapped his fingers. "The mystery woman. The one on the Sportster . You know who she is."

Scar didn't move for the phone. Nothing in his expression gave away his admission either.

"Do you know who she is?" Steel asked him.

Scar continued to stand still.

Bulldog ran a hand down his long beard. "Let's assume he does." He turned to Scar. "Can you tell us her name?"

Scar just stood there.

"Is she the one who took Venom's cut from the McCrery barn?" Steel asked him.

Scar stood completely still.

"It's like getting blood from a fucking stone." Steel scratched the back of his neck. "If you won't tell us who she is, will you tell us why she was there?"

When Scar still did not move to answer, Bulldog ran a hand down his face and beard. "Fucking hell, man, you need to give us something. Is she after the Pythons? She killed two of them, plus Tim McCrery, that we know of."

After a moment, Scar gave the smallest dip of his chin.

"That's ominous," Demo muttered under his breath.

"Why is she after the Pythons?" Steel asked.

Scar did not reach for the phone.

"Fuck." Steel started to rub his temple like he was getting a headache. He wasn't the only one. The pounding in Jumper's head was becoming harder to ignore.

Bulldog looked to Scar. "Are you leaving again? We might have danger coming at us. The Pythons didn't take our peace offering as well as we'd hoped."

The expression Scar gave Bulldog said he was an idiot for having even tried to keep the peace with the Pythons.

"We had to try," Bulldog snapped. "Are you staying?"

Scar looked to Steel. For a moment, the two just stared at the other. Scar looked away first, though there was nothing submissive about the action.

Steel leaned forward on his elbows. "I can't let you back in without some form of punishment. You lost your title as Enforcer. I know other clubs have more than one, but I never planned on needing so much protection. I can't let you just walk back in like nothing happened, Scar."

Scar picked up the phone. "If I am not one of you then I do not have to follow your rules."

Bulldog flinched. "You're not some mercenary for hire, Scar."

Scar did not look at Bulldog as he typed. "That's all I've ever been. Since the day I joined the Army. I will never be anything other than a weapon for others to use."

Scar handed Bear his phone back. Then he left the room.

Jasmine was waiting in Jenna's living room with the other ol' ladies. She hadn't realized she'd been added into their group text chat until Jenna had sent out an SOS regarding Ollie. Her heart broke when she'd seen him. He was so young. Who knew what his life had been like with the Pythons?

Harper had every intention of assessing his education to see where he stood.

Jenna was working with Keys to get him a new identity. So far, Keys hadn't found a record of his birth.

Abby was on the phone with Lila's therapist here in town and was scheduling a time when she could bring Ollie in to talk with her.

Tessa was inside the bathroom with Ollie. He was old enough where he deserved privacy for a medical exam. Since Bear wasn't available, Ollie allowed Tessa to do it.

Jasmine had offered to help Tessa, but Tessa did not think her assistance was required. Jasmine went into the kitchen to make Ollie a sandwich. The kid was skin and bones. Did the Pythons not feed him?

She knew the others were trying to figure out where Ollie should live. Tessa, Harper, and Abby had infants in their homes. Jenna, Abby, and Angel had teenage girls in theirs. Harper had Scotty, who was roughly a year older than Ollie. Also, there was Angel's secret pregnancy and the fact that Angel had the stomach flu. Jasmine was also pretty sure that Tessa and Bear were trying to get pregnant.

Jasmine wanted to offer but she and Jumper lived in an apartment. As soon as Rhonda and James went home, Pirate would move back in.

Really, the only logical place for him to go was with Steel and Jenna. Melanie, their teenage daughter, was about to leave for college.

Once Tessa was done with her exam, she left Ollie in the bathroom to shower and to give him some privacy. Aerial was in there with him.

The look on Tessa's face had Jasmine fearing the worst as she came into the living room. But Tessa quickly assured them that Ollie claimed he had not been raped and she could find no evidence to contradict that statement.

Jasmine let out a sigh of relief.

"He's a walking bruise," Tessa told them. "He flinched like he thought I was going to strike him every time I moved. He's going to be skittish for a while."

Abby, who unfortunately had experience with that sort of abuse, paled. "I made him an appointment with Dr. Nowicki. She has some time on Thursday and scheduled a double session for him."

Dr. Joanna Nowicki shared an office with Dr. Rutenberg above the bookstore. She saw Lila and Bree regularly, so the club was very familiar with the child psychologist.

Jenna looked towards the bathroom. "He's going to need clothes."

"Scotty's clothes won't fit him," Harper told them. "Besides, I think taking him shopping to pick out his own clothing would be beneficial. We don't want him thinking he's a prisoner here."

"Seconded," Abby said. "One of the best ways that I was able to prove to myself I was gaining my independence was having my own things. Not borrowed items or hand-me-downs."

Jenna nodded, "We'll take him shopping tomorrow."

"I want to take him to get bloodwork done too," Tessa spoke up. "Just to make sure."

"We still need to figure out where he's sleeping tonight," Jasmine reminded them. "Figuring out tomorrow's plan is all well and good, but he's going to come out of that bathroom soon and probably want to get some sleep."

"He won't sleep tonight." They all turned to Abby. She shrugged, looking down at the carpeting. "He won't sleep until he knows he can trust us. Don't be surprised if he barricades the door too. He will also hoard food and supplies. Money might go missing. Until he knows that he can trust that he's safe here, he'll always be preparing to leave."

Silence fell at Abby's announcement.

"He can do as he must as long as he doesn't hurt himself or anyone else." Jenna's voice was so sad. "I think he'll be most comfortable here with Steel. He can have Clara's old room."

Jasmine didn't know who Clara was, but was glad it sounded like Ollie would have his own room.

They all turned as they heard the bathroom door squeak open. Ollie walked out wearing a pair of sweatpants that were too large for him. He'd rolled them many times around the waist to keep them from falling down. He knotted the end of the white shirt at his side so it didn't hang down to his thighs. Even with his height, he appeared small.

Aerial followed him out. She walked directly to Jasmine until Jasmine signaled for her to return to Ollie. He patted her head affectionately.

"Let's get you into the kitchen," Jenna said sweetly. "Jasmine made you a sandwich."

Ollie glanced between the women as if he was trying to remember which one of them Jasmine was. When his eyes landed on her, she gave a little wave.

He gave a small smile back before following Jenna into the kitchen.

Abby signaled for the rest of them to hang back. "We shouldn't crowd him. He'll feel even more objectified."

"You know," Tessa said to Abby, "if you're thinking about going back to school, you should think about going into social care or psychology."

Abby shook her head. "I have four kids at home. Who has time to go back to school?"

"We'd help you with that," Harper offered. "You know we would. You'd make a really good therapist, Abby. You have insight that few others have."

Abby stiffened. "Firsthand experience, you mean."

"Yes," Harper said evenly. She made sure to catch Abby's eye before adding, "That's not a bad thing. Some might find it easier to talk to you because you've experienced what they have. They'll see you as a survivor, proof that life will go on."

Abby lost some of her defensiveness. "I'll think about it."

Jasmine looked towards the kitchen. "What are we going to tell others about where he came from?"

"We'll think of something," Tessa said offhandedly.

Harper turned to look out the window, staring at the clubhouse. Her voice was worrisome. "I can't believe Scar is back."

"Me either." Abby let out a long sigh. "I hope he stays. José's been really worried about him."

"Why did he leave?" Jasmine asked.

The others exchanged looks, but they seemed to be waiting on Abby to answer. "The club was…divided about what to do about the community I came from. Half wanted to turn the evidence they'd found over to the police and the other half… Well, let's just say José wanted to lead the charge to destroy them. Personally. Scar? He got there first. He took them down singlehandedly."

"An entire community?" Jasmine gasped. She had no idea how large the community had been, but it was still one against multiple.

Abby nodded. "Eventually the police got involved and the community was no more."

Jasmine wanted to say, "That's great," but bit her tongue. Abby didn't look happy about the community being disbanded. Instead, she asked, "What happened after that?"

No one answered for a moment. Then Harper said, "Scar left. No one heard from him again until my wedding day at the end of May."

"He stopped by my house," Abby continued. "He talked to Bulldog about something Bulldog won't tell me about, and then he left again. No one's seen him, as far as we know, until today."

Jasmine knew that there was a lot she was still missing. "Jumper said Scar was no longer a member of the VDMC."

"He's not." Harper did not look happy about this. "They stripped him of his colors over a month ago and made Ghost the club's Enforcer."

"Is Ghost not a good Enforcer?" She hadn't gotten that impression. She liked Ghost and thought he was protective enough to be a good Enforcer. Then again, she wasn't exactly sure what an Enforcer did .

"No, he's fine," Harper waved off Jasmine's concern.

"He's just not Scar," Abby added.

Jasmine looked between the two women. "I didn't know Scar at all. Frankly, he kind of freaked me out the times I saw him at Demon's . But you two seem…close with him?"

"He saved my life," Harper explained.

"Mine too," Tessa said. "And Maggie's, since I was pregnant with her at the time."

"He was a…presence to me," Abby hedged. "I knew I was safe because he was there. Then, when my father came for me, Scar was the only one who saw him coming."

Jasmine looked between the three women. She realized in that moment that she'd misjudged Scar. These women wouldn't trust their lives, and the lives of their children, with a man who was bad . Scar might look terrifying, but Jasmine had to wonder if he actually was.

There were evil men in the world. The McCrery brothers came to mind. They'd abused dogs, forced them to fight for profit. When a better opportunity came along, they'd taken it and had killed a man in the process.

Was Scar evil just because he looked monstrous?

No. She should know better than anyone that looks could be deceiving. People looked at her and thought her a glutton, lazy. They assumed the reason she was overweight was because she didn't work hard enough not to be.

She didn't know if Scar was staying. It didn't sound like the others knew either. If he was, though, Jasmine knew she'd make a point to get to know him better.

Sheriff Hannigan had not been inside the VDMC clubhouse since his daughter's wedding. The time before that, he'd been raiding it with a warrant he'd gotten with fabricated evidence. Now he sat at the end of the conference table, opposite of Steel. Carlos sat with him, as did Jeff Miller, a deputy who had gone to school with Lucky and Bear.

When Sheriff Longhill had been in office, he'd visited the clubhouse often. There hadn't been much ‘club business' that the club couldn't tell him back then. They'd been cleaner, more law-abiding. Recent events since Sheriff Hannigan's appointment, as well as his attempt to frame the club for his own son's crimes, had changed how the VDMC operated. The biggest one being that they no longer invited law enforcement on a regular basis to catch up and trade information.

This was the first time Sheriff Hannigan had replied to an invitation to visit by Steel. Jumper wondered if it had been Steel's insistence that the sheriff come or the fact that the sheriff was grateful Bear had saved not only his life, but also Harper's and his wife's.

There wasn't tension between the two groups. Carlos seemed relaxed, though worried. It was more of an awkwardness in the air. The sheriff was offering an olive branch by coming, and promptly, with only two of his deputies. Steel looked like he was about to go in for a necessary but painful medical procedure. He did not like that he was filling this sheriff in on club business.

Lucky was glaring daggers at his father-in-law. Despite Conner's birth and having married his daughter, Lucky was not about to forget anytime soon that Sheriff Hannigan had twice pointed his gun at a distraught Scotty.

Steel did not start off with any pleasantries. "Are you familiar with the Black Pythons?"

Both Pennsylvania natives, Miller and Carlos were aware of who the one-percent club was. The sheriff was not.

He shook his head. "I am not."

"They are a motorcycle club out of Pittsburgh. They run guns, drugs, and prostitutes, mostly," Steel added.

"All the things you claimed we did," Lucky snapped.

Steel put up his hand to silence Lucky. The sheriff at least had the decency to look abashed at Lucky's comment. "We recently had a run-in with them. They encroached on our territory and allied with the McCrery brothers."

Carlos's eyes widened. He saw where this was going before Miller or Hannigan.

"The McCrerys were both found dead in Johnstown over two weeks ago." The sheriff said it like he thought he was informing Steel of that fact.

"I'm aware," was all Steel said on that matter. "They were running a dogfighting ring and were using the McCrery brothers to supply them with dogs. The body you found in their barn was the Pythons' VP, Venom. He was also the brother of the Pythons' President, King. Though we had nothing to do with the deaths of their members, the McCrery brothers, or shutting down their ring, the Pythons have decided to set their sights on Mount Grove. King made a clear threat towards us today. We also had to wound one of his members on our way out of the meeting when he tried to stop us."

Steel would not mention that Scar was potentially back in town. Sheriff Hannigan might be willing to work with the club to make amends, but he also knew that it was Scar who had captured his son and delivered him to his fate. He did not know the details of that fate, but he could guess. He knew his son was dead.

"We've had our differences, Sheriff, but it is time to put all of that behind us. We will protect this town and its people by any means necessary. You're either with us or against us. The choice is yours."

Jumper let out a long sigh as he finally got into bed that night. Between the drive to Pittsburgh, talking with King, the drive home with Ollie and Scar, the talk with Scar, and finally the meeting with the sheriff, he was beyond tired. His head felt heavy and there was a pressure behind his eyes.

He felt the bed dip as Jasmine got in. He loved the fact that the pillow wall was no longer between them. She always made sure to move the bed or make noise so he knew she was coming, and she never reached for him in his sleep. While he'd had restless nights since her kidnapping and his surgery, he had not had the violent nightmares that had plagued him for a decade. Jasmine's own nightmares had been getting better, and she'd never acted out from them. At most, she'd wake gasping or crying out.

Jumper pulled her close so they were on their sides facing each other.

She reached to move his hair out of his face. "How are you feeling?"

He shrugged, not wanting to lie to her. "Better now that I'm lying here with you. I loved seeing you today with the ol' ladies."

"I liked being included," she confided. "It's been just Sophia and I for so long. It feels good to have a ready-made support group already there."

"Have you heard from Sophia today?"

Jasmine's face fell. She shook her head sadly. "She didn't answer any of my texts. I'm starting to get really worried about her."

"We can take a drive over to her parents' tomorrow after work." Then he amended, "Well, you can drive and I'll sit obediently in the passenger seat."

Jasmine chuckled. "It's killing you to not be able to ride your bike, isn't it?"

"You have no idea." He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips. "This makes it better, though."

"Does it?" she asked saucily. "I seem to recall the doctor telling you not to do anything strenuous for the next four weeks."

"I won't strain a bit." He took her earlobe into his mouth. "I'll lie here like a good boy while you do all the work."

Jasmine's voice hitched as her breathing changed. "I'm… I'm not sure that's what he had in mind."

Jumper rolled her earlobe between his teeth. "Not really sure I care."

"I do." She groaned and pushed herself back from him. "Jumper, we can't."

"Give me one good reason why we can't," he argued back.

"Your parents are currently sharing a wall with us." Jumper groaned. He'd forgotten about that. "You're only two weeks out from having an epidural bleed drained from your skull."

His eyes narrowed. "I said one good reason."

She grinned widely at him. "Now you have a spare reason."

Jumper scowled. "You don't play fair."

"I'm aware, but you love me anyway."

As Jasmine's eyes went wide in shock at her own words, Jumper realized he'd never actually said the words to her. That was an oversight he needed to fix immediately. "I do."

She swallowed nervously. "Do what?"

"Love you." He put his hand on her hip to pull her closer. "I've said it in my head so much that I didn't realize until just now that I haven't said it to you . I'm sorry about that. I love you, Jasmine Rose. You are the best, most important part of me."

Her chin trembled. "I love you too, Marshall whatever-your-middle-name-is."

Jumper burst out laughing. "I don't think you've ever called me ‘Marshall' before."

She scrunched up her nose distastefully. "I didn't like it."

He shook his head, "Me either. And it's Robert, by the way."

"What is?"

"My middle name. Marshall Robert Sager."

Jasmine seemed to mull that over in her head. "No, still don't like it. You're just ‘Jumper' to me."

"Well, Just Jumper loves you. Entirely and irrevocably."

Her face turned sheepish. "Even though I acted like a stupid horror movie heroine and put myself in danger?"

Jumper shook his head. "You are beautiful, smart, strong, and brave. You're the heroine of my story, Jasmine. You saved me . I was drowning and you became my life raft." He leaned forward and kissed her. "However, if you ever scare me like that again, I will take you over my knee and blister your ass."

Jasmine gave him a wicked smile. "Not exactly a deterrent to behave, you know."

He kissed her again.

Their story wasn't over. It was just beginning. Once he found the perfect ring, he was going to propose and make her legally his too. He still needed to talk to Demo and Steel about building a house on club property and figuring out the funding to do it. Maybe in a few years she'd be round with their child growing inside her. He wanted to see that, a little baby boy or girl with their mother's eyes. It sounded perfect.

The Black Pythons didn't know what would be waiting for them if they came for Mount Grove and the Via Daemonia . Steel's warning had been real. The Black Pythons' version of war was nothing in comparison to the real thing. The Via Daemonia were strong. They all had combat training and would rise victorious. Jumper had no doubt. It was the collateral damage that concerned him, the innocents were the ones who suffered more than any regardless of the war.

As Jumper pulled Jasmine close, he vowed that she would not be one of those casualties. He'd protect her with everything he was.

They would figure out what was going on with Sophia. Hopefully, even if she didn't confide in them, she would confide in Dr. Rutenberg.

Jasmine and he would have a future, and he would strive every day to make it a good one. Never again would he go a day without telling her that he loved her. She would know beyond a shadow of a doubt how much she meant to him. The alternative was unacceptable.

Finally, Jumper realized as he drifted off to sleep, he could breathe.