Broken but Breathing (Jinx Tattoos 2)

“All right, man. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow then.”

He walked out of the office hoping for the best and fearing the worst. What had they told Jocelyn about him and Jade? Clearly she knew she was adopted. Both of her parents were Caucasian. Feeling the weight of the club who wanted to plan a patch in party, his journey to get his daughter back, and the unsettled feeling between him and Es, he did the one thing he knew would clear his head: hit the open road.

He ended up at Rain just before closing. I’m officially whipped. Part of him worried that she’d come to her senses any minute. She was an ex-school teacher. He knew she had no business being with a man like him. After parking, he walked inside scanning the mostly empty floor. He spotted her at the bar closing out tabs. He nodded to Chuck, the bouncer, and walked over to sit in Es’ section. She lifted an eyebrow.

“Can I get you something?” she asked.

He leaned in. “Hey, do you think your boss would let you leave early?”

“Not funny,” she replied, shaking her head. The twitch of her lips betrayed her amusement.

He mentally wiped his brow. “I was serious. How was your night?”

“Busy, but good. How did the meeting go?”

“Good. They want a DNA test.”

“Makes sense.”

“I told him I’d take the test as long as they agreed to tell me something about Jo

celyn. I don’t know a damn thing about her anymore.” He glanced down at his hand on the bar, ashamed.

“Hey, none of that’s your fault. You’re going to make it right.”

“If they accept, the test will be given by an impartial third party company.”

“Sounds fair.”

“I hate this whole civilized act we’re putting on. I want to go down there, get my daughter, and bring her home yesterday.”

“Except it’d be horrible for her. She wouldn’t know what was going on, who you were, or why you took her. You’d be the enemy who stole her from the parents who’ve loved and cared for her all this time. You don’t want that.”

He clenched his fists. “Only reason I’m doing this.”

She patted his hand. “You’re doing it right. It’ll take longer, but in the end it’ll be worth it. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for, but their brains are still developing. You have to break it to her little by little and ease her into this. You’ll get where you want to be.”

“And you’ll be there to help me.”

“I said I would.”

“Are we okay?” he asked.

She looked startled, which caused his stomach to sour. He cleared his throat and swallowed. He wasn’t used to being unsure where he stood, or dealing with all the emotional work that came with relationships. He’d been alone for a while, and giving orders that were carried out without question for nearly the same length of time. It had colored his personality in ways he hadn’t anticipated. She was new to his world in so many ways. Another girl would’ve folded and accepted what he gave. Es never would. It was part of why he loved her so much. She would always speak her mind, demand the respect she deserved, and love him because he was Xavier Kolton. With the biker bunnies there was always a question mark when it came to relationship. Were they with you because of the cut, your position, or the bad boy image you personified in their eyes?

“We’re okay, Snake. This was our first fight, but I’m sure it won’t be our last. It’s the way of things,” she said with a smile and a shrug.

Reassured, he relaxed on his stool.

“How about I wait here until you get off?”

“Shouldn’t you be working?” she teased.

“Perks of being the boss. I don’t have work unless I want to.”

“Ass.”

“You just now figuring that out, Sprite?”