Primal Fury by Piper Davenport
Indigo
“Up, love,” Dad ordered, and I gripped his arms as he lifted me from my chair. “I’ll get you back to your room and then I’ll head home.”
“Okay, Daddy, thanks.” I held on as he steadied me, and then he helped me to the bathroom where Bellamy took over. Jekyll had installed safety bars in both of my bathrooms, so I was finding I could do a lot more myself, but I still needed help to stand from my sofa or cuddle chair.
“I’m good, Bell. I’m just going to take a quick shower.”
“I get that. But if you fall and it’s on my watch, your man will murder me, so I’m going to sit here and wait.”
I let out a quiet groan as I turned on the water.
“I’ll wait outside until you get in, if that helps.”
“Fine,” I bit out, and she left me to do my thing. I stepped into the shower, using my walker to steady me, then called out, “I’m in.”
“Okay, spill the tea,” Bellamy demanded while I went through my shower routine.
“About what?”
“The renos for the dorms. How the hell did you find someone to work for less than anyone else, and are we sure they won’t fill the walls with asbestos or something else just as bad?”
I grinned. “Honey, Jekyll’s organizing it. A couple of his friends are contractors and I guess there are some recruits who need to pay their dues.”
“Yeah, how does the whole dues thing work?” she asked.
“I have no clue. I’m sure Jekyll would be happy to enlighten us.”
“I’m not sure how much I want to know, honestly.”
“How come?”
“Because if they’re criminals, I’d like some plausible deniability.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t think they’re criminals, Bellamy. I mean, at least, Jekyll’s not. I did that background check on him, remember? He’s totally clean.”
“Yeah.”
“What? Please don’t tell me you’ve got a bad feeling.”
I frowned, holding my breath. Bellamy was a highly intuitive person and if she had a ‘feeling’ about someone, good or bad, she was always right.
“Not about him.”
“But…?” I prompted.
“I just feel like something’s coming,” she said.
“Well, shit,” I breathed out, turning off the water and grabbing a towel. “I don’t know if I can handle much more.” I sat on the little seat in the shower to dry off before standing again and wrapping my towel around me. “I’m getting out now.”
Bellamy slid the curtain back and helped me lift the walker out, drying it off as I stepped out. “You’re so much stronger,” she said.
“I keep telling all of you that, but you don’t seem to believe me,” I teased.
“We believe you. We just want to baby you a little.”
I chuckled. “I get it.”
“Indy?” Mina said through my door.
“She’s supposed to be asleep,” I whispered.
“I’ll get her,” Bellamy said, and headed to the door, pulling it open. “Hi, baby, you okay?”
“Where’s Ekyll?”
“He’s at church,” I said, shuffling from the bathroom into my bedroom. “Remember?”
Mina sniffed.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Bellamy asked, and Mina nodded.
“I’m going to get my pajamas on, but how about if Bellamy reads you a story while I do that?”
“Okay,” she said.
“You go pick a book,” Bellamy said. “I’m just going to help Indigo first.”
Mina nodded and left my room.
“I’m good, Bell,” I insisted.
“Humor me.”
Despite my objection, she helped me with my pajamas and helped me back to my chair before heading into Mina’s room to read to her.
Jekyll walked in about twenty minutes later, smiling as he walked over to me, but his smile seemed forced.
“Hey,” I said, gripping his chin as he leaned down to kiss me. “What’s wrong?”
“Rough night, baby. I’m okay.”
“Ekyll!” Mina squeaked, rushing into the room with Bellamy chasing her.
“Jesus, she’s quick,” Bellamy panted out as Mina slammed her tiny body into Jekyll’s legs.
Jekyll’s hand went to Mina’s head, and he tipped her chin up. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“She had a nightmare,” I said.
“I read her two books,” Bellamy said.
“Two?” Jekyll mused. “That’s a lot.”
“How about you go potty, and Jekyll will tuck you in,” I said.
Mina dropped her head back, keeping her arms wrapped around his leg. “Stowy?”
“Yeah, Mina Mouse, I’ll read you a story,” he said. “One.”
She rushed off and Jekyll shrugged off his cut, laying it over the sofa.
“I’m gonna head home,” Bellamy said. “You sure you don’t need me to come by tomorrow?”
“I’m here,” Jekyll said. “So, we’re good.”
She grinned, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “See you Saturday.”
“Wait,” Jekyll said. “Saturday’s family night at the club.”
“So?” Bellamy said.
“So, it’s family night, which means, I’m bringin’ my family,” he said.
“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” I pointed out.
He sighed. “Yeah.”
“Ekyll! I’m ready,” Mina called out.
“You go read, honey. We’ll talk about this later,” I said, and he walked down the hall.
“We can totally reschedule,” Bellamy whispered.
“I’ll text you. I have no idea what this family night thing is, so let me find out.”
“Okay.” Bellamy grinned, grabbing her purse. “I’ll see you later.”
“Hold up,” Jekyll called, stalking back into the room. “Walk you down, Bellamy. You know the rule.”
“You’re supposed to be reading to Mina.”
“She can wait,” he said, holding the door open for Bellamy.
Bellamy gave me a little wave, then walked out the door with Jekyll. He walked in a few minutes later, toeing off his boots and heading back to Mina.
I closed my eyes and let the gooiness of Jekyll’s protection of my best friend settle deep into my bones. He was proving to be more than I could have ever wished for in a man and I wondered what I’d ever done in a past life to deserve him.
I started when I felt something cover my legs.
“Sorry, baby,” Jekyll said. “Blanket.”
I smiled, pulling the quilt tighter around myself. “Thanks. Is Mina out?”
“A while ago.” He cocked his head. “You’ve been asleep for about an hour.”
“Seriously?”
Jekyll chuckled, sitting on the sofa and picking up what looked like a fresh beer. “Yeah. You wanna head to bed?”
I shook my head. “I want to talk about Saturday.”
“Family night.”
“Which is… what?”
“Family, friends, kids, whoever wants to come. We grill and the kids run amok. It’s a time for everyone to get to know each other.”
I reached over and squeezed his arm. “Why do I feel you’re being evasive?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a big deal, right?”
He sighed. “Yeah, baby, it’s a big deal. We’re burying Scrappy as soon as the coroner releases the body, so Saturday’s a chance to blow off some steam.”
“I can reschedule with Bellamy.”
“She can come,” he said.
“What about Mina?” I asked.
“Yeah, she can come, too,” he said. “I figured she would. Leo, too.”
“Did you already talk to Leo?”
“No. Wasn’t gonna do anything until I talked to you.” He took a swig of beer.
I waved a finger at him. “You are learning, young Jedi.”
He nearly did a spit take as he burst out laughing. “Jesus. I wasn’t expectin’ that.”
I smiled. “Are you sure you don’t want to close ranks? The stuff with Scrappy’s going to be really hard.”
“I am closing ranks. You’re part of those ranks.”
I liked that. I liked that a lot. “I will see what Bell wants to do. Hanging with a room full of ‘hot as fuck’ bikers might just be right up her alley.”
“Hey now,” he growled.
“Her words, Hyde. Not mine.”
He narrowed his eyes as he took another swig of beer and I laughed.
“You’re so not scary.”
“Apparently, I need to try harder,” he said.
“Don’t you dare,” I demanded.
His phone dinged and he grabbed it off the coffee table and glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow.
“Everything okay?”
“I’ve been approved as an official foster parent.”
“Bullshit,” I said. “How?”
“I thought you wanted this to happen A.S.A.P.?” he challenged.
“Hyde, it doesn’t happen this fast. Like, you haven’t done all the classes in order for you to even get a home visit.”
“I have connections.”
“Which means, what?”
“I don’t think you want to know that, GoGo.”
I sighed. “Honey, that’s a major red flag.”
“Jesus, you and your fuckin’ flags.”
“Well, I’m sorry!” I snapped. “You can’t just have someone hack into the foster system records and make yourself suddenly a foster parent. What if you’re a serial killer, a molester or a rapist?”
He reared back like I’d hit him. “Do you really think I’d molest or rape anyone, let alone a child?”
“No, of course not, but that’s not the point.”
“It goddamn is the point, Indigo. And how the fuck did you know I hacked into anything?”
“Oh my god, I didn’t! I was actually just making a sweeping statement, because I watch way too much TV,” I said. “Did you really hack into their system?”
“No.”
“Hyde,” I challenged.
“Someone else did,” he admitted.
I burst into frustrated tears and Jekyll scowled.
“Why the fuck are you cryin’?”
“Because I can’t kick you out or stomp away!” I cried.
He dragged his hands down his face. “So you’re not willin’ to let me explain?”
His phone rang interrupting any explanation he might give, and before he could swipe it off the coffee table, I saw my dad’s name pop up on the screen.
“Why is my dad calling you?” I asked.
He didn’t answer me as he picked up the phone. “Hey, Hugh.” Jekyll glanced at me. “Yeah. Yeah, sure. Give me a second.” He pulled the phone from his ear. “I’m gonna take this outside.”
“Why is my dad calling you, Hyde?”
“Just give me a few, baby.” He stepped out onto my balcony and closed the door behind him, and I was left in my stupid chair with my stupid leg throbbing because I’d waited too long to take my meds.
I also couldn’t stop my tears. I was tired and frustrated and in way too much pain, and I hated myself for allowing it to overwhelm me. I heard my slider open and hurriedly wiped my tears. Jekyll walked over to me, sitting on the edge of my coffee table, and spinning my chair to face him. “I gotta tell you something.”
I shook my head. “Is this ‘something’ the reason you were talking to my dad?”
“Yeah. And I’ll preface this by saying your dad should be talkin’ to you, but he’s… his words… an old chicken shit who can’t handle his daughter being pissed at him.”
I swallowed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Jesus,” he hissed out quietly.
“Just spit it out, Hyde,” I snapped.
“Your dad isn’t in the aluminum siding business.”
“Well, I know that.”
“You do?” he asked, looking surprised.
“Yes. He’s retired.”
He dropped his face in his hands and groaned.
“I’m kidding,” I said, letting him off the hook. “What do you mean?”
“Let me put it to you this way. Your dad never sold aluminum siding.”
“Well, what did he do for the Miller Aluminum Siding Company?”
He stood, his hand scrubbing the back of his neck as he started to pace. “He never worked for the Miller Aluminum Siding Company.”
“Then what company did he work for for forty years?”
“Uh…the company.”
“Hyde, you better start using more words.”
“It’s not the words I’m having trouble with, it’s the letters.”
“What letters?”
“CIA.”
“Hyde, I swear to god, you better add more than a few letters to the end of that,” I growled.
“It’s true, GoGo, they recruited him right out of college as an analyst.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! If you’re about to try and convince me that the man who always made sure we cut down a fresh Christmas tree and did my hair for my prom, was actually Jason Bourne, I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.”
“He did your hair for your prom?”
“Very poorly, but I never had the heart to tell him. Bellamy fixed it in the limo on the way to the dance.” I threw my hands up. “But that’s not what we’re talking about right now, Hyde. My dad never worked for the CIA.”
“Try and think of him less like Matt Damon and more like Simon Pegg in Mission Impossible.”
“You’re lying.”
“Baby, I’m not fuckin’ lying,” he snapped. “You can call him to confirm.”
I burst into tears again and he rushed back to me, sitting down and taking my hands.
“I don’t understand,” I sobbed out. “Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
“Babe, it’s obvious, he was trying to protect you.”
“But he tells you?”
“Well, no, not directly.”
“Oh my god, what?”
“You know how I had a guy who got into the foster care system?”
“Yes,” I said, carefully.
“Well, he did a deep dive on you and your dad when we first met up and found more than I’d bargained for.”
“What do you mean ‘deep dive?’ I don’t remember giving you permission to—”
“You did a background check on me,” he pointed out.
“Because my kid was going to work for you!” I squeaked. “And you’re part of a notorious motorcycle gang, so I had to make sure—”
“Club,” he ground out. “Not gang.”
“Stop interrupting me!” He stood again, crossing his arms as he put distance between us. “What world have I stepped into, Hyde? Honestly, this is ridiculous. I work for a nonprofit. I have a dad who’s my world. A simple salesman who took over the job of both mom and dad, and did it beautifully. I don’t have a dad who’s in the CIA. He never went anywhere. He was always home. Don’t agents travel all the time? You know, to torture the enemy or whatever? Are you going to try and tell me my best friend is a secret assassin as well?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
“You didn’t do a deep dive, invasion of her privacy?” I spat out. “Just mine?”
“Our club always does a background check on anyone coming into the fold,” he said. “The deep dive only happened because your dad was a ghost.”
“What do you mean, he was a ghost?”
“I think you need to ask your dad about the rest,” he said, suddenly defeated. “I don’t want to be the messenger that you kill.”
“The messenger part isn’t why I want to kill you, Hyde.” I squeezed my eyes shut. “I need you to go.”
“I’m not goin’ anywhere, Indigo.”
“Well, then go wait on the balcony or porch for a little while,” I snapped. “Somewhere I can ignore you.”
He scowled, storming through my front door.
I grabbed my phone and called my dad. Lucky for him, he picked up right away.
“Is it true?” I demanded.
“Aye, love, it’s true.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “Oh my god, why would you lie to me all this time?”
“I wanted to protect you. Your mother’s family is more danger—”
“Wait,” I burst out. “What does any of this have to do with Mama?”
“Shit,” he hissed.
“Daddy, you need to start talking right now.”
“Well, first, I need you not to blame that man of yours. He’s doing me a favor.”
“I don’t actually give a shit, Dad, so you need to start disclosing.”
“How about I come by tomorrow—”
“How about you stop stalling, old man, and tell me everything.”
He let out a deep, loud sigh. “Right, love. I am CIA. Retired. I was recruited out of college—”
“Jekyll already told me all this, Dad. What’s this about Mom?”
“Your mother’s father is Yakuza.”
“Yakuza. Like in the movies Yakuza?”
“Aye. I was placed as security within her family, which is how we met… and, ultimately, fell in love. I was supposed to be the eyes and ears inside her father’s circle, but instead, I found myself looking for a way to get us both out.”
“And you got out.”
“We did. But they found her, love.”
I bit back tears. “When I was six.”
“Aye.”
“So you lied,” I whispered. “Again.”
“I had to protect you.”
I wiped the wetness from my cheek. “Maybe when I was six, but later, you could have told me the truth.”
“I don’t like that you know any of this shit now, Indigo. Your mother’s family is still a threat.”
“You can’t really expect that they would come after me,” I said in total disbelief.
“They are capable of anything, mo stoirín. I expect anything from them, particularly if they knew they had access to a piece of your mother.”
“Even more of a reason to fill me in, don’t you think? But, no. You’ve chosen to leave me unaware, exposed, and unprotected.”
“You have never been unprotected,” he argued.
“Really? How do you figure?”
“Just trust me on that.”
“This is the problem, Dad. I don’t trust you. You’ve lied to me. My. Entire. Life!”
“If you take a few minutes to think on why, you’ll see I had no choice.”
“That’s your answer? Fine. I’ll take a few minutes in the form of decades to think on it. I do not want to hear from you until I’m done thinking. Got it?”
“Indy, honey…”
“I’m hanging up now, Dad. Bye.”