Now, after talking to these females for over an hour, it seemed like there was only one option at this point. An option Ronnie Lee Reed kept trying to talk her friend out of.
Most things people stressed over Sabina didn’t understand. But this, this she understood. It was something she’d never do. Not for all the dark chocolate in the world.
“Phone, Ronnie Lee.”
The She-wolf dug the phone out of her small backpack, then stopped and asked again, “Are you sure you want to do this? Are you really sure, Sissy Mae?”
“Do I have a choice? Do any of us?”
To Sabina’s surprise, she actually didn’t despise Sissy or her pouty-lipped friend. They both cared about Smitty the way she and May cared about Jess. They were family and they were willing to do anything to make these two assholes happy even if it killed them all!
“Give me the phone.”
Ronnie slapped the small cell phone in her hand. “I sure hope you know what you’re doin’.”
Sissy chuckled and dialed. “When have I ever?”
First they sang “Happy Birthday to You,” as they were traditionalists. Then they sang, “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want,” which made Johnny laugh out loud.
He did seem overwhelmed by his gifts and, okay, maybe the dirt bike and new violin based on his teacher’s recommendations—and which he could return if he wanted a different one—was spoiling him a little, but she knew what it was like to be spoiled and then not to be. Johnny was a good kid. He deserved a little spoiling now and again. Although she didn’t agree with the dirt bike. Why would you give someone with hands blessed with musical talent a goddamn dirt bike? But when she argued the point, Phil shoved a piece of chocolate cake in her mouth.
Jess knew when Johnny suddenly hugged her while she poured glasses of milk for the kids that she’d made him happy.
Now, while her Pack danced to old seventies and eighties music in the living room, Jess wandered out to the back porch and sat on the steps. She’d brought with her a piece of May’s dark chocolate cake and a glass of milk. She wasn’t really hungry, especially not after all that food, but having it would keep everyone off her back about “sulking.”
Really, there was nothing like having forty wild dogs asking you if you’re “okay”—constantly.
Jess wasn’t surprised when she saw Smitty walk out of the dark woods toward her. She’d known he’d been in the woods earlier in the day, only as wolf. If she hadn’t been able to scent him or hear his breathing—she had—she would have simply known. She felt his presence like a warm blanket around her shoulders. Protecting her, soothing her.
Now, as a fully dressed human, he sat between her legs on the lower step. She handed him the slice of cake and then the milk.
They sat like that for a long while, not saying anything, simply enjoying the land they felt a part of.
When Jess heard her Pack in the kitchen, putting food away and cleaning up, she took the empty plate and glass and stood. By the time she walked to the back door, Smitty had walked off. But she knew he’d be back. When she went to bed, she’d find him in her room, waiting for her.
And, again, she’d let him snuggle up to her, snoring lightly in her ear. Why? Because she loved him and didn’t want to sleep away from him.
Unfortunately, none of that changed a goddamn thing.
She knew Smitty; he was still floundering. Still trying to figure out what she wanted. It would take something extreme to get him to wake up. Something he’d never see coming.
She simply prayed it was before she gave up hope entirely. She had only so much.
CHAPTER 26
Smitty climbed down the tree that he’d been using to get in and out of Jessie’s room. Once he figured out how to make her his for good, he’d cut down this goddamn tree. Too easy for scumbags to get in and out of her room. But it definitely served its purpose this weekend.
As he dropped to the ground, he scented a wolf and quickly turned to find Johnny leaning against the trunk of another tree, watching him.
“Boy.”
“Loser.”
Smitty’s eyes narrowed. No, no. Not a good idea to kick the shit out of the kid yet. No matter how much he deserved it.
They stared at each other, and Smitty was impressed the kid didn’t look away. But he did speak first.
“Don’t hurt her.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“Well, you’re doing a shitty job.”
“Maybe you should stay out of this, son. Until you actually have some fangs.”
Johnny glanced at Jessie’s window. “That woman means the world to me. Fuck her life up at your own peril, hillbilly.”
He walked off and Smitty gave a little smile. That kid would be dangerous once he grew into his paws.
Jess sat on the front porch, her feet up on the railing and a mug of May’s hot and delicious coffee gripped between her hands. They were heading home today. Back to work. Back to her life. What she still didn’t know—whether her life included Smitty. They’d slept together again the night before. Literally. Fully clothed. Simply holding on to each other. To be honest, Jess slept like a baby, feeling safe and loved in Smitty’s arms.
Clearly, she’d have to help this idiot out. If she waited for him, she’d be old and gray by the time he bought a goddamn clue.
So annoyed by the whole thing, Jess answered her phone without even checking caller ID.
“This is Jess.”
“Yes, it is.”
Jess’s feet dropped to the ground and she frowned, the southern accent that slithered through the phone making her hackles rise.
When she didn’t speak, the male voice continued, “I thought about calling Maylin directly, but she couldn’t decide her way out of a wet paper bag. And I need decisions.”
Jess slowly stood and walked down the porch steps. “Decisions about what?”
“About how my daughter will spend the next two years of her life. With y’all? Or with me and mine?”
Jess continued to walk away from the house, a potent rage singing through her veins. “You don’t want her.”
“No, but I’ll take her. The courts are real kind about that sort of thing. Especially when a father’s been kept from his child.”
She didn’t bother to argue the point with him. They both knew it was a lie, arguing would waste her breath.
“So what do you want?”
“A lot. I want a lot.”
“That’s awfully vague.”
“I can be much more specific... in person.”
She stopped walking. “I’m sure you can.”
“We can keep this nice and simple, you and me. Just between us.”
Jess gave a short snort.
“What’s so funny?”
Turning, she faced the Pack house. Not surprisingly, a good majority of the adults stood there, listening. Their wild-dog hearing clueing them in, their loyalty to each other leading them.
“You really don’t know what you’ve done, do you?”
He laughed. “Ain’t no little runt dogs gonna scare me.”
“I know,” Jess sighed out. “But that’s because you’re stupid.”
She hung up before he could say anything else, her gaze focusing on her Pack. She had one shot to fix this before all hell broke loose. Then it wouldn’t matter who Wilson’s Pack was tied to, who his kin was.
None of it would matter once the damage was done.
“Move that ass, Sissy Mae.”
“Hold your damn horses, Bobby Ray.”
Sissy Mae ran down the stairs, her traveling bag slung over her shoulder. “I don’t see what the big rush is.”
“It’s a rush when I say it’s rush. Now move!”