Twisted Pieces (18 page)

“
Turn
around, asshole,
”
Chief
Jerry yelled.

Jace turned and the chief slapped
cuffs on him. This was just nothing but a dumb formality to make Chief Jerry
look like he was in control and like he had power.

He walked Jace toward the cells and
took him to a corner. He shoved Jace into a cold stone wall and put his hand on
the back of his neck.

“
You
fucking stole drugs from a dead body,
”
the chief growled.

“
What?
”

“
Those
bodies. You took a baggie off one.
”

“
So
what? I needed it to prove a point. I was helping
you
. Is that what this
is about?
”

“
No,
”
Chief Jerry said. He turned
Jace around.
“
But don
’
t fuck with I
’
m doing.
”

“
You
called us,
Chief
…
”

“
To
keep you in the loop. Not to have you tamper.
”

“
What
’
s it matter to you?
”

“
Matter?
I had some fucking meat neck walk in off the street with a baggie of drugs.
Told me you gave it to him. That you were trying to set him up.
”

Jace smiled.
“
And you buy that bullshit?
”

“
Of
course I don
’
t,
”
the chief said.
“
But it looks shitty in front of
all my guys.
”

“
Okay.
I get that. Sorry. I
’
ll
take that on the chin, okay? But I'm done waiting around for you to find me
answers. I was arrested right after I saw Coast Road make a deal. Then I was thrown
in prison on purpose and left there. And now there
’
s bodies with drugs. It
’
s all connected.
”

“
Why
don
’
t you handle the little
club beefs and let me handle the drugs?
”

“
That
won
’
t happen,
”
Jace said.
“
Miller wouldn
’
t allow it and the club wouldn
’
t vote it. We
’
re in this together. Now, is
that what you wanted?
”

“
No,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
I have something to show you.
”

The chief turned Jace around and
took the cuffs off his wrists. He walked Jace to a cell.

"Oh fuck no, Chief. You are
not throwing me back in there. You've got nothing on me," Jace started to
thrash to get out of the Chief's grasp.

"Will you calm the hell down
and look?"

"Look at wha...," Jace
froze when he recognized the little kid sitting in the cell.

His chin rested on his fists. His
knuckles were covered in fresh blood. He looked like he
’
d been in a car accident.

“
He
said he wanted to talk to you,
”
Chief Jerry said.

“
What
the fuck happened to him?
”

“
Ask
him.
”

The chief opened the cell and Jace stepped
in. When the cell shut and clicked, it sent chills through Jace
’
s nerves. He stood in front of
Jacob wondering what he was supposed to say.

Jacob looked up and his face was
beat up and bloody. When he smiled, he was missing a tooth.

“
What
did you do?
”
Jace asked.

“
I
fought back,
”
Jacob
whispered.
“
Like you said.
”

“
Christ,
kid. You look like you
’
re
beat up pretty bad.
”

“
You
should see what I did to them. I lured them into the woods. And then they
started to punch and kick me. It hurt so bad, you know?
”
Jacob
’
s
eyes filled with tears. He blinked and tears ran down his cheeks.
“
My father hates me. He hates
that I
’
m not big and
athletic. Like my brother is. But my brother does drugs. Dad gets him out of
trouble all the time. So I figured he would do the same for me."

“
What's
going on?" Jace asked.

“
You
were going to hurt me that day, because of something my father did. I hate him
even more for that.
”

This was the problem with not
finishing a damn job. The dead couldn't speak. But this kid could and he was
making Jace's heart ache a little.

“
What
did you, Jacob?
”
Jace
asked.

“
I
had a knife buried in the woods,
”
Jacob said.
“
I didn
’
t think they were all going to
beat me up. At one point I closed my eyes and just wanted to die. But then I
saw my father
’
s face. And I
snapped. I started to kick and punch. I hit a few guys. I did good without the
knife. But it was five on one. I needed the knife
…”

Jace crouched down to look at Jacob
straight on.
“
Fuck, kid,
what did you do?
”

Jacob looked at Jace.
“
I cut them all. I had to defend
myself. I had to stand up for myself. You told me to do that.
”

“
Yeah,
I did,
”
Jace said.
“
Did you kill anyone?
”

“
No.
I wanted to. But I didn
’
t.
”

“
Okay.
Chief brought you here?
”

“
Yeah.
My father is going to get me out. I
’
m
going to tell him I
’
m not
weak anymore. I can
’
t be
strong and play football like my brother, but I can fight. I
’
ll always fight.
”

Jace stood back up. He put a hand
to the kid
’
s head and
suddenly Jacob was sobbing. Jace knew the feeling.

“
You
’
ll be okay, kid,
”
Jace said.
“
I don
’
t think those guys will mess with you anymore.
”

“
Are
you going to kill my father?
”
Jacob asked through his sobs.

“
I
can
’
t answer that, kid. I
don
’
t know the truths and I
don
’
t like to lie. Just
keep fighting. I
’
m sorry
for whatever the hell you
’
re
going to go through next.
”

Jace turned and whistled. Chief Jerry
appeared and looked angry when he saw Jacob crying so hard. He opened the door
and Jace walked out. The door shut again and Chief Jerry spun him around.

“
What
the Christ did you say to that kid?
”

Jace froze and looked over his
shoulder.
“
I gave that kid
a second chance, because of his fucking father's involvement in all this. The
kid was getting picked on, so I told him to fight back and, well, he did.
”

“
He
stabbed five people,
”
Chief
Jerry said.
“
You know the
mess
…”

“
I
don
’
t care,
”
Jace said.
“
Good for the kid. And good for
the kid
’
s father. Someday
everyone will learn not to fuck with Back Down Devil.
”

“
Jesus
Christ,
”
Chief Jerry said.
“
You just taught that kid
…
to be like you
…”

“
And
he'll be much better off because of it,
”
Jace said.

He walked out of the police station
without another word. Blaine and Griffin were standing there waiting for him.
Jace put his arms out to show that he wasn
’
t
wearing cuffs and that there were no bullet holes in his body.

“
What
the hell was that about?
”
Blaine asked.

Jace ignored Blaine and grabbed his
cell. He called Jordyn and asked for directions.

Jace couldn't predict the future
and he couldn
’
t live in the
past. But at least he could take a breath and do something good for someone
deserving.

He would tell her grandmother that
he
’
d fallen in love with
Jordyn.

eighteen.

Jordyn was nervous. She had always
imagined this moment to be with a man in a suit and tie who would take her dear
grandmother
’
s hand and ensure
her that Jordyn would be cared for. That there was a great life waiting out
there and he was going to provide it.

Instead, Jordyn stood in the
hallway growing anxious as the sexiest man in the world came around the corner.
He wore black boots, jeans, and a leather cut over a black t-shirt that hugged
his muscles. His face was not clean cut, but his scars were honest.

And those blue eyes. Wow were they
piercing.

Jace took Jordyn by the hand and
pulled her close. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight.

“
Thank
you for being here,
”
Jordyn
said.
“
It means
…”

“
I
get it,
”
Jace said.
“
Trust me, babe, I get it. Are
you sure you want this though? I
’
m
not some good looking guy ready to take her granddaughter on a nice date.
”

“
I
know that.
”

“
I
’
m the guy parents and
grandparents fear. I
’
m the
guy that lives here and now, because death is right around the corner."

“
That
’
s actually perfect,
”
Jordyn said.
“
My grandmother has been defying
death for a while now.
”

“
I
’
m damn sorry about her,
”
Jace said.
“
Cancer is a motherfucker. It
’
s not right or fair.
”

“
I
don
’
t think much is in this
world, Jace. That
’
s what I
’
ve been learning and trying to
come to terms with.
”

Jordyn choked up and then swallowed
a lump in her throat. She promised herself she wouldn't cry in front of her
grandmother anymore. And she promised to accept that she was about to lose the
last part of her family. The last bit of her innocence was gone. But, somehow,
with Jace holding her hand, she was okay with that.

Jordyn opened the door to the quiet
room and walked inside. Her grandmother was resting peacefully, a television on
the wall droning on with a collection of hosts debating politics, what clothes
were worth buying, and how to have a better sex life.

In her mind, Jordyn was smiling.

Better sex life? Fuck a guy from
Back Down Devil
…

“
Gram,
”
Jordyn said.
“
We
’
re
here.
”

Her grandmother turned her weak
neck and smiled at Jordyn. She looked frail, but she definitely didn
’
t look half as bad as she could
have.

Jordyn took her grandmother
’
s hand and smiled.
“
I want you to meet someone. I
want you to meet Jace.
”

Jace stepped to the bed and nodded.
“
Pleasure to meet you.
”

“
Look
at you,
”
Jordyn
’
s grandmother said.
“
You look like you just got out
of jail
…
or you're on your
way to it.
”

Jordyn gasped.

But Jace laughed.
“
Do I look that bad?
”

“
Pretty
bad,
”
her grandmother said.
“
You could have at least
showered.
”

“
Gram
…”

“
Yeah,
you're right. I had a business meeting this morning.
”

“
Business?
”
Jordyn
’
s grandmother asked.
“
Now
what kind of damn business are you involved with?
”

Jordyn felt her heart racing. Her
mouth was dry. Her grandmother stared daggers at Jace.

“
I
’
m in the business of survival,
”
Jace said.
“
Of living. Of taking care of
things around me. Things I care about. Things I love.
”

“
You
know, my granddaughter dreamed of being a big businesswoman and having the
perfect man with the perfect life.
”

“
I
’
m starting to understand that,
”
Jace said. He smirked at
Jordyn. He looked back at her grandmother.
“
I
’
m not the perfect man for her.
At all. I won
’
t give her
the perfect life either.
”

“
Jace,
”
Jordyn said.
“
That
’
s not true
…”

“
It
is,
”
Jace said.
“
I don
’
t lie. I
’
m
as honest as they come.
”

“
I
like that,
”
Jordyn
’
s grandmother said.
“
So you
’
re going to crush my granddaughter
’
s dreams?
”

“
Yeah,
”
Jace said.
“
But I
’
m going to show her something so real she
’
ll never have to dream again.
”

Jordyn's mouth fell open. That was the
most romantic thing Jace had ever said.

“
That
I like,
”
her grandmother
said.
“
You care about her?
”

“
Of
course I do.
”

“
I
just wanted you to meet Jace, Gram,
”
Jordyn said.
“
To know that
I
’
m okay. I have a job.
”

“
Which
you hate,
”
Gram said.
“
I see it in your eyes, Jordyn.
You could never lie to me. Just like
…
like if I asked you if you had slept with this hunk right here.
”

“
Gram
…”

Jordyn felt her cheeks burning.

“
I
’
m respectful,
”
Jace said.

“
Do
you believe in anything?
”
Jordyn
’
s grandmother asked.

“
Like
what?
”

“
Heaven?
Hell? Religion?
”

“
May
I ask what you believe?
”
Jace asked.

“
I
don
’
t know yet,
”
Jordyn
’
s grandmother said.
“
I
’
ve got time.
”

She let out a laugh that broke
Jordyn
’
s heart. Jace
laughed again. Then Gram began a painful coughing fit that filled her eyes with
tears.

“
Gram,
take it easy,
”
Jordyn said.

“
I
’
m fine,
”
Gram said and swatted Jordyn
’
s hand away.
“
I
’
ll
laugh and cough until I can
’
t
anymore. Now, you, Jace, what do you believe in?
”

“
I
believe in right now,
”
Jace
said.
“
I believe that when
darkness comes and takes us, we find a way to live on. Through memories.
Through things we
’
ve left
behind. Is there something beyond all this? I don
’
t
know. I don
’
t think it
’
s my job to know that. I think
it
’
s my job to try and make
it to another sunset. And another sunrise.
”

Jordyn stared at him in disbelief.
She had never been so smitten by someone before.

“
You
take care of her?
”
Gram
asked, her voice crackling a little.

“
Yes,
”
Jace said.
“
She means a lot to me. I
’
ll protect her forever.
”

“
That
was my promise, too,
”
Gram
said.

“
I
know I look rough,
”
Jace
said,
“
but it
’
s who I am. I hold things very
close to my heart."

“
Can
I speak with my granddaughter alone?
”
Gram asked.

“
Yes,
”
Jace said.
“
It was nice to meet you. I now
know where Jordyn gets her beauty from.
”

“
Now
that
’
s bullshit,
”
Gram said, blushing.

Jace touched the small of Jordyn
’
s back and kissed her cheek.
“
I
’
ll be outside, babe.
”
His whisper made
Jordyn shiver with excitement and then Jace was gone.

The door shut.

Jordyn waited to be blasted by her
grandmother.

“
That
should be nothing more than a fling,
”
Gram said with a grin.

“
It
’
s not like that,
”
Jordyn said. It was still weird
to hear her grandmother reference sex.
“
He
’
s a good guy, Gram. He
’
s
…”

“
Oh,
hush up. Listen to me. You look at him with those eyes of yours and he looks right
back at you with those eyes of his
…
it
’
s real, Jordyn. That
’
s good. Scary, yes, but good.
And it doesn
’
t hurt that he
’
s sexy.
”

“
Gram
…”

“
What?
You see his arms? I
’
d like
to grab onto them for a minute or maybe a little longer.
”

Jordyn was embarrassed but smiling.
“
Are you mad at me?
”

“
For
what? For finding what you
’
ve
always wanted? Jordyn, the white picket fence isn't ideal. It
’
s a prop in the movies, dear."

“
His
club
…”

“
I
know who they are,
”
Gram
said.
“
Your grandfather was
almost one of them."

“
What?
”

Gram smiled.
“
I was like you, Jordyn. Pretty
young woman. Wanting a perfect life. Then this loud motorcycle almost crashed
into my boyfriend's car. My boyfriend got out to confront the jerk who just cut
him off and I sat in the car and watched this
…”
Gram exhaled and shook her head.
“
I
watched this beautiful man get off a motorcycle. He socked my boyfriend once in
the mouth and he stole my heart.
”

“
I
never knew that,
”
Jordyn
said.

“
It
was my secret, that
’
s
all."

“
Why
didn't he stay with the club?
”

“
He
didn
’
t want to get too
deep,
”
Gram said.
“
I didn
’
t pull him away. I didn
’
t care. I had him and that's all I needed. But he
left on his own and opened his auto garage and that was our life. We weren
’
t rich. We weren
’
t poor. But we loved each other
so madly, Jordyn. It made my world whole.
”

“
I
love Jace, Gram,
”
Jordyn
whispered.

“
Love
him with everything you
’
ve
got.
”

“
He
’
s not going to leave the club though,
”
Jordyn said.
“
He's already in too deep."

“
Then
it
’
s your life now, too,
”
Gram said.
“
Look at me. No matter how much I
could have protected myself, I ended up here. In a damn bed, sick. In pain.
Waiting to go. And that
’
s
where we are all going to end up. But it
’
s
that ride, Jordyn, that wild ride of freedom
…
that
’
s what makes all of
this worth it. I can still close my eyes and feel myself on the back of his
motorcycle holding on tight
…
and that
’
s what I will take
with me.
”
Gram took a deep
breath. It was hoarse, weak.
“
Can
I tell you something else?
”

“
Of
course,
”
Jordyn said.
“
Tell me everything, Gram. I didn
’
t know my grandfather was a
biker. That you were okay with it. You were always so
…
proper. Strict.
”