Tex (Hell's Ankhor #5) - Aiden Bates Page 0,88

the football carry she preferred so she could see everything going on. “Because I need a break.”

Jazz laughed and stood up, and then took Grace from Maverick’s arms. He raised her overhead and spun her around, and she shrieked with glee, kicking her arms and legs.

Warmth flared in my chest at the sight. He played with Grace with so much ease and attentiveness, and it came so naturally to him. Jonah smiled at the sight, too.

Jazz offered Grace to me, and I set my paint roller down and took her into my arms. She always had a single-minded focus when I was the one holding her: my beard. As always, she honed in on it within seconds and wound her fingers in the plait. She tugged on it, then laughed, then tugged again, and laughed harder. I was happy to oblige her, just hear her bright, cute laugh again.

“Everyone, hey, listen up!” Blade rapped his knuckles against the bar. “Since you’re all distracted anyway.”

Jazz laughed unapologetically.

Jonah set down his paint bucket and untangled Grace’s hands from my beard. She pouted a little, but she was always happy to be back in her dad’s arms.

“It’s been a hell of a couple years,” Blade said. Members murmured in agreement around the room. “We’ve lost members” —soft, sad murmurs of Ankh’s name— “added new ones” —Blade cast his eyes to Logan, Rebel, and Jonah— “and had some come home.” Jazz nodded in gratitude.

Blade grabbed a beer from behind the bar and raised it. “And because of our members, our bond, our club—the Vipers are finally gone.”

Cheers rang out and members stomped their feet in approval. I wrapped my arm around Jazz’s shoulder and pulled him against me, and then pressed a rough kiss to his temple.

“You’ve all been a part of that. Our territory is safe again, and we can finally take a fucking break.” Laughs of agreement. “But there’s been one kid who’s been with us throughout this entire ordeal. He’s been working in the shop, going on rides, and keeping up with club business, all while attending school. And he’s bled for this club not once, but twice. We’ve waited too long to do this.”

From the edge of the group, where he was holding a broom from sweeping up broken glass, Heath gaped at Blade like he’d grown a second head.

“Come up here, Heath,” Blade said.

Heath dropped the broom with a clatter. Blade grabbed him by the shoulder and pressed a patch into his pocket. “You’re patched in, Kid.”

Heath stared at the patch with something like adoration in his eyes. He turned the patch around so the rest of the club could see it: in white letters, stitched on black, it read The Kid.

The moniker suited him—we all called him that already anyway, and despite his steady competence, he still had an aura of youthfulness around him. He was courageous and smart, and his training sessions with Jazz had been good for both of them. I was proud to officially call him a brother-in-arms.

“All right, gang!” Blade moved behind the bar and started pouring pints. “Take a break, have a drink, congratulate the Kid—and then it’s back to work!”

While everyone was distracted grabbing beers, I pulled Jazz closed to me, leaning back against the unpainted section of the wall. I kept my hands at his hips.

Jazz smiled. “You’re doing a bad job painting.”

“You’re distracting me.”

“I’m just fixing the table.”

“Yeah, but you’re doing it while being you.”

Jazz’s cheeks flushed pink. “That doesn’t even mean anything.”

“It means you look fucking good doing it,” I said. “And it means… You’re patient, and kind, and you put up with my bullshit.”

“Damn right I do,” Jazz said. He leaned closer and pressed a kiss at my jaw, beneath my ear, right at the edge of my beard. “I’m lucky you let me.”

I was so settled and comfortable with him close. It felt right. I knew this was it for me—that Jazz was it.

Without a doubt, I was the one who was lucky.

I carded my hand through his hair gently, and then rested my hand at his nape, the way he liked it. I loved knowing what he liked. I couldn’t wait to spend all the time I had finding out everything else. I kissed him softly at first, and then deeply. “I love you.”

Jazz’s lips curved into a smile against mine. “Love you, too, cowboy.”

23

Heath

I turned the patch over and over in my hands. Honestly, I was still having trouble believing this was actually happening. After