Jared nodded. “My daughter has a big heart. And now that Lucia is my woman, my daughter views Gabe as a brother.”
“This all started because we invited Gabe and Chico to work out here after they met Jessy. We were not trying to interfere in gang business,” Royce assured them. He went on to explain about Gabe getting beat up, the vandalism and fights. “When Chico showed no interest in working out we were fine with it. We never mentioned the gang or told him not to join. Gabe likes being here and he is part of our family now.”
Santiago nodded. “Chico’s older brother Carlos was the one who took offense. He wants Chico in the gang and thought you were trying to talk him out of it. I see now it wasn’t that way. I think Carlos let his temper get the better of him.”
“We don’t want to be feuding with you or be afraid to let Jessy or Lucia come and go,” Royce told him honestly. Santiago seemed calm and mellow, nothing like the other guys who attacked them. “We train our fighters here and that’s what we want to concentrate on. We have no problem with any of you and we have never gone into your territory looking for trouble. Fighting with your boys on a daily basis is not what we want to be doing.”
Santiago stayed silent for a moment, then looked at Jared. “I knew Lucia’s ex-husband. He was a friend of my father’s. She is a good person and she has had it tough since he took off. He got in some trouble with some bad people and hasn’t contacted anyone. I told Chico to recruit Gabe, thinking it would help them financially. I like taking care of my people.”
Jared spoke up. “Then we have that in common. I am the same way. I love Lucia and Gabe and I plan to make sure they never want for anything. We are not so different after all.”
“I see that. I am glad Lucia and Gabe found something good here.” Santiago sighed and looked around the gym. “I saw you fight on TV once, Royce.”
“I hope it was when I won and not when I got my ass kicked.” Royce smiled.
Santiago laughed. “Yeah, you won.”
“I will make sure none of my people bother you and your family. I’m glad Gabe is off the streets. It’s a dangerous place out there. I was angry when I heard Carlos and a few others jumped him. I also heard he got some good licks in. Obviously he is doing well here.”
Royce shook his hand, feeling a load off his shoulders. “I appreciate it, Santiago.”
They shook hands and the men left.
Royce looked at Jared and Tom. Tom had stayed quiet and out of the way. “What do you think?”
“We can only hope and see,” Jared said. “I was worried about Jessy and Lucia. I still think we should have cameras outside just in case.”
“I feel better. He seemed sincere,” Tom admitted, standing up. “I think they weren’t very informed of what was going on here. Hopefully Santiago will keep those other punks away from us.”
“Me too,” Royce agreed. He hoped this was the end of it. He had so many good things he wanted to concentrate on. For once his career and his personal life were going good. He wanted to keep it that way.
Chapter 24
Three months later
Jessy leaned against Royce as he slipped his arms around her waist. Her dad and Lucia had just taken off for their honeymoon. They looked so happy together and Jessy was thrilled to extend her small family. Jared never stopped grinning these days and it warmed her heart to see him that way.
“Hey, Jessy. Blake and Sam are taking me out tonight,” Gabe told her with a wide smile. His mom had made him wear dark dress slacks and a white dress shirt. He looked so handsome and she thought he might just break a few hearts along the way. He was out of school for the summer and his teachers were impressed with the change they had seen in him. He still hung out with Chico, who came by to work out. Chico was always on his best behavior when he was here. The gang members that had messed with them had apologized and left them alone.
Gabe and Lucia had already moved in to the house and had settled in. Lucia was no longer working as a waitress and she looked more relaxed these days. She and Jessy got along well.
“Have him home by midnight. I’m supposed to be responsible for him,” Jessy yelled out to Blake and Sam, but they just laughed and told Gabe to hurry up.
She looked at Royce with disbelief. Her eyebrows were arched in annoyance.
“Can you believe those two knuckleheads? If they get me in trouble with Dad and—”
Royce stopped her tirade with his lips and took possession of her mouth in a hot kiss until she forgot what she had been complaining about.
“While they are gone, we can go upstairs and I can peel this dress off of you. As nice as you look in it, I’d rather see you out of it,” he told her while he kissed her neck softly. She had worn a light-blue short dress with thin straps, leaving her shoulders bare. She had been Lucia’s maid of honor for the small wedding they just had.
Jessy laughed and decided to tease him a little. “Well I thought I should address those wedding invitations and maybe you should help me. Six months passes by quickly.”
They had decided on a long engagement. Jessy did not want a rushed wedding like her dad’s. This would be her one and only wedding and she wanted time to plan it right.
Royce groaned and Jessy hugged him. She squeezed his waist and leaned against him. “Just kidding. There is nowhere I’d rather be than naked with you.”
He picked her up off her feet and swung her around in a circle. “Magic words, babe. I love you.”