Page 25 of Jackass

I moved in close to Charlie. Kissing her on the forehead, I smiled.

“Have a great time with Daddy, baby. Remember to hold his hand and stay real close. I’ll see you when you get back.”

“Bye, Mommy.” Her little voice pierced my heart.

I closed her door and turned to go back into the clubhouse.

“Sammy, come with us,” Jack implored.

I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. Tears ran down my cheeks, and I steeled myself against the fear.

“No, Jack,” I said firmly. “You were right. You deserve this time to get to know your daughter. Keep her safe, Jack.”

Muscle memory had me putting one foot in front of the other in order to make it back inside the clubhouse. I heard Jack’s door close, and the truck rumble when he started the ignition.

Entering the clubhouse, knowing my baby was leaving without me, was one of the hardest things I had ever done.

I leaned against the front door with my eyes closed.

“Samantha.”

My eyes flew open when I heard his voice. King stood before me with a scowl.

“We need to talk. Follow me to my office.” He turned to walk down the hallway.

“King.”

He turned back toward me. A few brothers milling around stopped what they were doing.

The room went silent.

He won’t hurt me.

“We have nothing to talk about,” I challenged.

King’s eyes narrowed in my direction. “We have quite a lot totalk about, Samantha. Now.”

“No.” I stood away from the door and walked to the couch. Planting my ass on the cushion, I waited to see what he would do next.

He crossed his arms over his chest and stood there. We stared at each other, neither wanting to give in.

“Samantha, I would prefer to do this in private, but we can do this here.”

I leaned back on the couch, crossing my arms to mimic him. I knew I was safe, but I trembled inside just the same.

“Samantha.” King sighed.

Before he could continue, the club girls walked over and sat on the couch with me. The five of them squished in with me, all glaring at King. Then the front door opened, and Rachel, Beck, and Grace stepped in.

“What’s going on?” Beck asked, looking from me to King.

“Samantha and I need to have a chat. We were just about to go to my office,” he lied.

He knew damn well I had no intention of going to his office.

Rachel came over and sat on the couch with me and the club girls. It was getting crowded, but there was no way I would ask any of them to move.

“King, you need to stay out of this,” Beck warned.