After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,99
so I prayed that they would do as they’re told and bring her home to us. To Piper. I didn’t overly care about me, but I did care about Piper. She was fighting it, but I could sense that she was losing herself and falling within.
“Where is she?” Piper demanded as we walked hand in hand down the hall toward where everyone was.
Dad was sitting in a booth with a few other guys. Catch and Tray were the only ones I knew. Cheesy walked up to them, placing a tray of beer on the table.
“Jaron.” Dad stood when he saw us approach.
“Greyson, where’s my baby?” Piper asked, her voice shaking.
“She was last seen at a gas station about two hours from here. She was spotted on the camera in the arms of a man.” He looked at me. “We need to talk.”
The hackles on the back of my neck rose. “Who the fuck was he?”
Dad’s face softened. “Jaron.”
“No.” I could feel Piper’s eyes burning into me, but I didn’t care. “Tell us.”
“We need to have this conversation in private.” Dad went to sit back down when I charged for him.
“Tell me where the fuck she is!” I yelled, shoving him back.
In a quick move, he grabbed me by the collar and slammed me up against the nearest wall. “Careful, boy. I don’t give a shit that you’re my son. You put your hands on me again and I’ll be bringing your mother to your funeral.”
He was so damn close that I could see the specks of gold in his blue eyes. “I need my baby. For Piper,” I murmured, knowing when to back down.
Dad leaned his forehead against mine. “I know, Jaron. Trust me, I know. I’ve been where you are. I know how you feel. I do.”
I remembered when he and my mom told me about how I was taken when I was first born. I had been so focused on my own issues that I forgot that my dad could relate.
“Let’s go talk.” He leaned down to my ear. “I don’t trust Shadow’s crew.” He released me, fixed my hoodie, and patted my cheek. “You are so much like me, it’s unreal. But there’s something you have that I don’t.”
“What’s that?” I asked, feeling all eyes on us but the only one I cared about was Piper’s.
“You have your mom’s fire.” Dad went up to Shadow who was sitting at the bar, watching the whole exchange. He said something to him, looking back at me over his shoulder.
Shadow nodded, standing and clapping dad on the shoulder.
“Jaron.”
I looked down, finding Piper standing right in front of me. She had been so quiet this whole time, I didn’t even hear her approach.
She slid her fingers in mine and started leading me out of Shadow’s club.
Sammy and Cyrus followed behind us, muttering to themselves, but all I could focus on was how much I loved the woman holding my hand. How much I needed her. How I couldn’t go on without her. How stupid I was for wanting to go after Brynn myself. But with the information that dad was withholding, I knew that she was with the mayor. How he played it off, I had no idea. The press would be all over him. Maybe he convinced them he adopted a baby. I wasn’t sure but then a thought came to me.
“Have you seen anything in the news about the mayor or his whereabouts?” I asked the twins. “Or anything online?”
A knowing glance passed between them before Sammy pulled a pack of cigarettes from the inner pocket of his cut. He stuck a smoke between his lips and for whatever reason, that act alone sent a tremor of rage rushing through me.
Releasing Piper’s hand, I stomped up to him and pulled the smoke from his lips.
He raised an eyebrow. “We gonna play, Jaron?”
“Sammy,” Cyrus warned.
“What?” Sammy frowned. “He’s clearly itching for a fight.”
“Jaron.” Piper came up beside us. “Stop. We don’t want to do this here.”
“You should probably listen to your girlfriend.” Sammy stuck another smoke between his lips and that set me off.
I shoved him, pulled my arm back, and slammed it against his jaw.
He stumbled to the side, a slow grin spreading on his face.
“Jaron,” Piper gasped.
Sammy caught his bearings and in two steps, he threw his own punch. When his fist connected with my jaw, my head rang. Pain shot up the side of my face, but it felt so damn good at the same time.