Chapter 7

Jake

I ring the bell at my father’s house a second time, wondering why it’s taking him so long to answer the door. I called ahead to let him know I wanted to speak to him. Suddenly the door opens and much to my chagrin, Payton is standing on the other side of the doorway with her hands on her hips, practically growling at me.

“Why it’s nice to see you again, too little sis,” I say with a smirk on my face. “Aren’t you going to give your brother a kiss hello?” I ask just to see the shock on her face. I am not disappointed.

Her mouth opens and closes several times before words form. “Why were you following me today?” She practically spits at me.

“Following you? My, don’t you think you’re important.” Then to really throw her off I continue. “I was just out for an afternoon ride, enjoying the view. And what a lovely view it was.” I purposely rake my eyes slowly over her voluptuous body. Then I lean forward and whisper in her ear. “Sure you don’t want to take a ride with me? I’ll make it memorable.” Nipping her ear as I straighten I can see her chest rapidly rising and falling. She turns around and storms off as I chuckle and readjust myself.

I make my way into the house, wondering once again why my father stayed here. Laura is standing in the same location she was at Saturday night, still dressed and perfectly made up, only this time she has no drink in her hand.

She gives me a smile this time. “Roland is on a call in his office. He asked me to entertain you until he was available. Would you like a drink?” She asks.

I’m thinking I would rather have your daughter entertain me but instead I say, “Just water would be great.” She looks surprised at that and I almost laugh. I actually rarely drink but ‘judge a book by its cover’ I guess. She walks over and hands me a glass of water and sits primly on the end of the chair opposite of me.

She seems nervous so I let her off the hook. “So, tell me about yourself. How did you meet Roland?”

Clearing her throat she answers. “My late husband worked at Roland’s firm. In accounting, just like Payton will be next week.” Interesting.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how did he pass?” I have to ask, wondering if maybe he took a tragic fall like my mother.

“Lung cancer.” She shakes her head and you can see genuine sadness in her eyes. “Never smoked a day in his life and he suffered for four years before he was finally at peace.” She wipes a single tear off her cheek and I feel like a complete asshole.

“I’m so sorry.” Is all I can say. Fuck, was Payton close to her dad? She must have been if she followed in his footsteps. I wouldn’t know what that feels like, although I did follow in Luke’s. Huh.

I try to lighten the mood. “I’m sure it must be nice to have Payton back home,” I comment.

“Oh yes,” Laura responds with a smile. “It’s always nice to see your baby succeed but hard to see them growing up and moving on with their lives at the same time.”

Just then I hear Roland come into the room and look up to see him looking between the two of us. Laura plasters a smile on her face as she gets up to greet him.

“Jacob and I were just chatting while we were waiting for you. He hasn’t been here long.” She assures him.

“We can talk in my office, Jacob, in private.” He adds on that last part as if to tell Laura he doesn’t want her involved. Fuck, he’s an asshole to her too it appears.

As I follow him into his office, still in the same room but totally renovated I can’t help but ask, “Why are you still in this house?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I bought this house with my first million, it’s worth five times that today. Besides, it’s a great neighborhood.” He says, like that is all this house is, a dollar amount.

I blurted out my next comment without thinking, “I hope you at least replaced the stairs.” Fuck, I am supposed to be here to convince him that I am willing to try to make amends. He ignores my comment however and gets down to business.

“So, as I said, I am considering running for mayor and I would like your support. The Deputy Mayor will only take the reins until a new mayor is elected.” Roland says. Then continues with a little more honesty, taking my point before I can make it. “This is a Marine City. It would be great if I could have a Marine at my side.”

I shock him when I respond, “I agree”. I almost laugh at the look on his face. Then I go in for the kill. “That is why I think you need my team as your security detail.”

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Roland exclaims. “I can’t have a group of bikers hanging around me. I need you by my side as my Ex-Marine son, not a fucking gang banger.”

That’s when I lose it. “Listen to me Roland, I will not stand by your side as your son but I will as your bodyguard first and maybe your son second. I know Wallace has disappeared, it is all over the media, you think because I work under cars, I got my head in the sand? If you don’t want the same thing happening to you, you need protection.” Then I really go in for the kill. “What about your pretty new wife and daughter? You want the same thing happening to them that happened to Wallace’s? No one was ever charged with that. Makes you wonder why the police weren’t more determined to solve such a high profile case. How will that look if you end up a widower twice?”

He is stunned that I would actually know that much about his world. He pours himself a drink and downs it all in one swallow, then refills his glass while he glares at me. “You. You can be with me as my son, who is also my bodyguard. That’s it.”

I shake my head. “What’s in it for me? I’m starting a new career here. Need I remind you that all of us bikers are also ex-marines? All of my team will be ex-marines. Imagine how patriotic that will look, not to mention what it will do to promote Camp Pendleton and the city. The mayor of San Diego employs former marines on his security detail. Great Headline! Plus, it will be a good promotion for my services. A win-win.”

He looks at his phone long enough to see who is messaging him, then puts it back in his pocket. He takes a few deep breaths, then speaks. “Just you for now. I want you to move in. Once I start campaigning, which will be very soon, we will add more.” He finishes off his drink. “But one fuck up and that’s it, I don’t care how it looks. You are gone. Take the guest room on the other side of the ensuite from your old room. Payton is in that one now. Go get settled in, I got some calls to make. And for fuck’s sake, get a haircut.” He barks out.

Well fuck me, that went easier than I thought. He must be worried.

I'm curious about how I can get along with my new sister, as I think it will be a fascinating experience.