Jagged Edge

The food I ordered is good, the drinks are cold and plenty, the Brotherhood and the Damage fellowship all look pleased. Little kids are running about between the stalls. Seriously, between them, the guys could open their own kindergarten.

Nothing major has gone wrong so far—fingers crossed nothing will—and all in all, I should be proud of putting this event together.

At least that’s what everyone has been telling me all day.

But I’m distracted.

My thoughts are torn between memories of Jason in my bed, and the dead-end of our talk. One-sided talk. I told him I care for him, that I’m worried about him, that I want to help him, that his confession changes nothing for me… and he told me to stay out of it and that he doesn’t need to worry about me, too.

Cold shower, much?

Or not? Why did he put his walls back up? What isn’t he telling me? Was he angry at me, or…

Or what? Whenever I’ve been angry at him it was a disguise for my worry. But who says it’s the same for him? He’s so hard to read, and that’s on the best of days. The sex was awesome, it was off the charts good, and he enjoyed it. Hard to argue with two loads of cum drying on my bed. He came, and he cried, and I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing.

I love him.

Turning away from the stage, I blindly make my way to the door and let myself out of the shop. I love Jason Vega. What do you make of that, huh?

I feel like I can’t breathe without him, can’t smile when he’s not around, I’m worried to death when I think he’s in danger and get hard just from the memory of him.

Textbook case. I may never have felt this way before, but I’ve seen it happen to others. In fact, I always thought it was a thing that only happens to others. I’ve always watched it, amused, kinda smug. Above it all.

Until now.

“Any news from Jason?” Jesse Lee asks me as the event finally winds down. “Ocean asked me to talk to him, but did he tell you I couldn’t find him? He’s nowhere.”

“He’s staying with me.”

Jesse’s brows lift. “No shit.”

“I offered him my couch.” Not a lie. No need to say he ended up sleeping in my bed, but I bet Jesse will put two and two together any moment now. “Thing is, whatever it is Simon Gomez is holding over him, he’s not talking.” I consider Jesse’s distraught expression and something nags at me. “Is there anything else you haven’t told us about?”

“About what?”

“Simon Gomez and Jason. Why would Simon be so interested in him? What else do you know?”

It was just a hunch and it’s not until Jesse’s eyes widen a fraction that I realize I’m right.

Shit.

“Look… It’s something Jason asked me not to tell anyone.”

“You made a police statement, didn’t you? Against Simon.” I eye him. “You left information out?”

“It didn’t seem important.”

“What didn’t seem important? How would you know?”

“Whoa, buddy.” Jesse’s green eyes flash. He puts a hand out to stop me and I realize with a start I’ve cornered him against his stall. “I said, Jason asked me not to talk about it, okay? Just… back off.”

I lift my hands and step back. The barely suppressed panic in Jesse’s eyes reminds me so much of Jason it’s eerie.

And then I remember Jesse was in Jason’s gang. He went through similar experiences. He got attacked by Simon Gomez, and…

“Wait a minute. Simon attacked you, but why?”

“He wanted me to join his MC. I didn’t feel like it.”