Cursed (5 page)

Josslyn
opened her eyes and smiled, immediately wrapping her arms around the small little boy. She sat up kissing him, holding him close as tears leaked out of her eyes. “I’ve missed you so much. Are you okay? Let me look at you.”

Tank watched as she checked him over. “Does he need to see a doctor or something?”

“I think he’s okay.” She kissed his forehead. “Thank you, Tank.”

He nodded. He needed a shower before he even thought about going to sleep. He went into the bathroom and stripped, turning the water on full blast. Jeremy was home. Everything was right with the world again.

He washed off and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist. She probably wanted to get him home in his bed. It was damn near morning and the kid needed some sleep.
Josslyn
needed sleep too. He grabbed a pair of jeans and glanced over at them.

She held him in her arms, rocking back and forth. The kid was almost out. Tank dropped the towel and pulled his jeans on.

“Uh, can you not change in the bathroom?”
Josslyn
stared at him.

He glanced around. “It’s my room. Plus, you’ve seen it all before. You know I’m not shy.”

She blew out a breath and laid Jeremy beside her. She kissed him and pulled the blankets over his small body. Tank didn’t expect her to come over to him. Nor did he expect her to wrap her arms around him. He let her cling to him a moment before returning the gesture.

“That little boy is
my everything
.” She met his eyes. “Thank you.”

Tank held her to him and backed her up against the wall. His mouth crashed down against hers. Everything about her was always so sweet. He loved the way she felt against him. How her breasts pressed against his chest when he leaned in to kiss her. How she moaned into his mouth when he kissed her. She sucked his tongue between her lips kissing him as hard as he kissed her.

“I’m going to take you home.” Tank stared into her eyes. “He needs to be in his own bed.”

She nodded. “Let me get him. He’s tired.”

“Maybe we should have a doctor check him out? Just to make sure.”

He worried to death that those bastards did something to hurt him. He really needed to go back and finish the job. Tank didn’t like the feeling of being torn. Before, it was always about the club. He would do what
Josslyn
needed but afterward he went with the club. Some part of him deep inside knew he needed to go back. To help his brothers in the fight. He never
punked
out on them before and he didn’t feel like starting now. But he looked at
Josslyn
and he looked at the kid. There was something unexplainable that made him want to protect them. He’d do anything for them. He decided that the moment he saw Jeremy bound in the corner of the small room.

“Get him and I’ll take you both home.” He grabbed a T-shirt from the dresser she’d filled with clean clothes. He’d send Mac back if he hadn’t already left.

They walked out and Joker sat on the sofa with a beer at hand. It damn near killed him to be out on all the fun. “Babe, go get in the van. I’ll be there in a second.”

Josslyn
did as he said, carrying Jeremy in her arms. Tank turned to Joker. “No sign of Eddy, but he was behind it. I can’t help but wonder what Daddy has to say about it.”

Joker snorted. “Same old bullshit Matthias always says.”

“Where’s Scarlett? Why aren’t you home making sweet love to her?”

“She’s doing the night shift this week. She told me that I’d have to get over it.” He rubbed his forehead. “I’m not over it.”

Tank chuckled. He left him and went to the van where
Josslyn
held Jeremy nearly asleep while they waited for him. He climbed in and started it up. The fucking weather had turned cold and he turned the heat on full blast. The kid was still wrapped in his hoodie and
Josslyn
had pulled on his leather jacket. He couldn’t deny how much he enjoyed the sight.

His family.

It didn’t take too long to get to her house and he took Jeremy while she got out and unlocked the door. Jeremy’s room was upstairs and she led him there, waiting for him to lay the sleeping child on the small bed. He had motorcycles in his room and Tank glanced around, taking in the scenery.

“Can you hand me some pajamas? Second drawer in that dresser.”

He grabbed a pair and handed them to her. “The kid likes motorcycles?”

“Loves them.” She pulled off his clothes and dressed him in his pajamas. “He has a Little Tikes motorcycle to ride in the garage.”

He smiled. “I’m going to have to check that out when he wakes up.”

She tucked him in the bed. “He’s not riding a real one until he’s at least ten.”

He laughed and waited for her to leave the room. She went downstairs and pointed to the mess he’d left on the coffee table. “You are a complete slob.”

He was. He didn’t try to deny it. When they were together she nagged him all the time about cleaning up after himself. He never did.

She went to her bedroom and found the pajamas she’d worn earlier. He watched as she changed into them. “Are you staying?”

“You’re going to let me?”

“For tonight.”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’m staying.”

She tugged her blankets back and climbed in. He pulled his shirt off and tossed it to her. She narrowed her eyes at him while he took off his jeans. His boxers were probably a good choice considering he didn’t plan on wearing his jeans when he got up. He was fairly certain she’d rather have him partially covered too.

He crawled over her and moved to the empty side of the bed. She turned the light off and sank back into the pillows. He closed his eyes waiting for her to move closer and plaster her body against his. It didn’t take her too long.

“We’ve slept together too many times for you to try and pick a new position.” He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Her ass pressed against his crotch and he pressed a kiss to her bare back. “You’re most comfortable with me wrapped around you.”

“Stop talking.”

He grinned and allowed sleep to claim him.

The next time he woke, a little finger was poking his side. He groaned and rolled over to find Jeremy staring at him. The kid’s messy hair made him smile.

“Are you hungry?”

The kid nodded. Tank groaned and lifted his arm from beneath
Josslyn
, shifting her gently so she didn’t wake up. He pulled the covers back and damn near froze. She didn’t have the heat on as cold as it was outside.

“Let’s go.” Tank lifted the kid from the mattress and carried him to the kitchen. He sat him on the counter while he looked in the fridge for food options. “What do you like to eat?”

“Pancakes.”

“Okay. Pancakes it is.” He grabbed the stuff he needed and made a mess as he fixed the batter.
Josslyn
will most definitely tell him about it later. He yawned while he poured the batter into the skillet and watched as Jeremy took in everything he did. “I hear you like motorcycles.”

The little boy smiled.

“Do you have a motorcycle?”

He nodded.

“Does it go really fast?” Tank asked flipping the pancake.

The little boy nodded again.

“Man, I want to see that. Can you show me after breakfast?”

He nodded.

“Hey, you two.”
Josslyn
came in and hugged Jeremy, lifting him off the counter. “I see he weaseled pancakes out of you.”

“Yeah, well, we were hungry.” He glanced over at Jeremy. “Right, buddy?”

He nodded gripping his mom’s hand and hiding behind her leg.
Josslyn
immediately started to clean up the mess he’d made, though she didn’t say anything about it this time.

“How you feeling? If you want more sleep, I’ve got this.”

“You’re going to watch him while I sleep?”

“Yeah.” He sat the pancakes he’d made aside and grabbed the syrup from the fridge. “We’re riding motorcycles after breakfast.”

She shook her head. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Tank grinned at her and kissed her forehead. “I’ve got this. Go do whatever it is that you want to do.”

Tank sat the plate of pancakes in the middle of the table before going back to the cabinets to find Jeremy a plate. He cut the food up for him and grabbed a fork for him from the drawer.

“Have at it.”

The little boy reluctantly left his mother to sit at the table.
Josslyn
stared at them for a minute before leaving. Tank poured them both a glass of milk and carried it to the table.

“You’re big.” The little boy stared at him. “Are you mean?”

“Only to the bad guys.”

Jeremy lifted his glass to drink. When he was through, he had a milk mustache. “Was that guy my daddy?”

“No.” Tank took a bite of food. “I’m your daddy.” The kid stared at him to the point Tank felt uncomfortable. “Eat your food.”

“Do you love my mommy?”

Tank smiled. “Very much.”

The little boy lifted his fork and took a bite of food. Tank didn’t prepare himself for questions. The kid seemed content with his answers though. They finished their breakfast together and went outside to play. Jeremy showed him his motorcycle and Tank watched him ride it up and down the driveway.

“Hey,”
Josslyn
came outside and smiled at them. “I need to meet with a client to close on a house. Can you watch him for a little while?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“I also called the police to tell them that we have Jeremy now. I told them they brought him home.” She glanced toward the kid. “I don’t think he believed me, but I hope the nightmare is over.”

“Oh, I can guarantee it’s not over.” Tank met her eyes. “Did you call your father?”

“Yes.”

“What did he say?”

“He didn’t have much time to talk.”

Tank snorted. “Imagine that.”

“What does that mean?”

“Who do you think had Jeremy?” Tank watched as the little boy turned in the drive, not going near the road like he’d told him.

“Why would my dad take Jeremy?”

“Not your dad. Eddy. Shit went down a while back with him. He drugged a girl, Joker’s girl, and dumped her naked in our parking lot with a message for our club.” Tank glanced over at her. “Your dad’s been protecting him. Enabling him to do whatever the fuck he wants.”

“Eddy wouldn’t hurt Jeremy.”

“He wanted to hurt me.” Jeremy crashed into Tank’s legs and he bent down to pick the kid up. “He knew I didn’t know. He knew you’d call me.”

She shook her head. “We’ll talk about this later. I’m going to be late.” She leaned in to kiss Jeremy. “I love you, baby. You be good while I’m at work.”

The little boy smiled at her. Tank lifted the motorcycle and moved it out of the way so
Josslyn
could back out of the drive. Jeremy looped his arms around Tank’s neck and waved at her as she left.

“Now that mommy is gone, you want to party?”