Jackson (MC Sinners #7)

4 – Jackson

“ Y ou’re goin’ to need to sit down, Pres,” Cade murmurs, his voice careful. “I got a call from the prison.”

My chest immediately clenches as I hold my breath, terrified the next words that come out of his mouth will be that she’s dead.

Someone got to her.

“Tell me she’s still breathin’,” I rasp, my voice barely audible.

“She’s alive, but Hound stabbed her.”

I see red, and, for a minute, all I can hear is white noise as my world seems to come to a standstill.

Hound stabbed her.

That motherfucker is going to kill her.

He’s going to kill my girl.

“Where is she?” I bark, my fist flying out and sending the contents of my desk off and onto the floor. “Fuck, tell me where she is. How the fuck did he get near her? They’re meant to be separated. What sort of fucking prison is it?”

“He has a hand in every pie. It happened during groundwork. That guard has got her in protection, but they can’t keep her there forever. She’s okay, it’s just superficial, but we need to move this plan forward.”

“Tell me we’ve got somethin’ on that guard?”

My chest is heaving with the complete and utter agony rushing through my veins.

Fuck .

I need to get her out.

“We do. Turns out he owes some money for an old gambling debt. He’s been managing to avoid trouble, but from what I know, they’re closin’ in on him. We can use that to our advantage. He helps us, we make them disappear.”

It could work.

“How much money?” I growl.

“Fifty k.”

That’s enough to get him on our side.

“Get word to him, threaten him if you have to, but get him workin’ for us. We need to move this plan forward or Hound is goin’ to kill her.”

“I’m on it.”

Cade leaves the office, and I stare over where Ava is sleeping in her portable cot, unbothered by the chaos that just unfolded. Nothing bothers her—she’s always calm, always relaxed, always letting the world go by without stress. She’s the complete opposite of me, and I love her more than I could put into words.

“What’s going on, old man?”

Turning at the sound of Addison’s voice, I can’t help but feel warmth in my chest. My baby girl, the first woman to ever truly change my life. I don’t know where I’d be without her. I might not have had her for her entire life, but I’m sure as shit making up for it now.

“Come and give your old man a hug,” I murmur.

She smiles, her eyes warming, and she rushes over and nestles into me, her cheek pressing to my chest. Closing my eyes, I take a moment to feel it, because fuck knows I need it.

“What’s going on?” she asks, pulling back.

“Serenity got stabbed.”

She reels back, and her eyes widen, her arms flying up and fear contorting her beautiful features. Probably shouldn’t have started with that.

“She’s okay,” I tell her, putting a hand up. “But we gotta get her out of there or that fucker is goin’ to kill her.”

“We can’t let her stay, Daddy,” she whispers, shaking her head. “Oh my gosh.”

Her eyes move to Ava, and I know what she’s thinking – we have to get her mama home safe to her.

“We’ve found a guard, we just need a plan.”

“Tell me what you need from me, I’ll do anything.”

I reach out, running a thumb down her cheek. “Need you to take care of your sister for me, no matter what goes down, promise me you won’t let her out of your sight.”

“I swear it.” She nods, her eyes softening. “Nobody is coming through me.”

I have no doubt about it.

My daughter can be as savage as they come when she wants to be. She gets that from me.

Ava stirs, and I walk over, reaching down and placing my hand on her round little cheek. She immediately falls back into her deep slumber. I stroke my fingers over her soft hair, thick like her mama’s. I have to get Serenity out, because this little girl needs her.

But mostly, so do I.

I fucking need her.

“LOOK AT ME,” I ORDER , and Serenity’s eyes meet mine.

She has a bruised cheek—yet another fight.

Her hair is bunched on top of her head and there is something in her eyes that tells me she is about ready to give up. She looks like she wants to throw everything away, and I can’t let her do that.

I can’t let them beat her.

“Listen to me, baby,” I murmur. “We have a plan. Muff got onto your guard, and he’s goin’ to help us.”

Her eyes widen. “Xander?”

I glance at the guard, and then lean in closer so she can hear my whisper. “He owes money to some bad people, an old gambling debt. We’re payin’ it out if he helps you out of this place.”

She stares at me, almost in shock. “How the hell am I supposed to get out?”

“We’re creating a diversion, a fake one, but it’ll work. We’re goin’ to cause an uproar outside the prison in two days. It will have all the guards rushing to stop it, and while they do, Xander is going to get you out using the maintenance tunnels. This prison has some old ones, but they are still used.”

“The cops will come looking for me, it’ll cause even more trouble,” she whispers, concern washing over her expression. “I could end up in here for life ...”

“We have a plan for that, too. We’re goin’ to swap cars multiple times, and then take you to a secure and safe location until we can find Gerard and get your name cleared.”

“There is still the small fact that I had a prison break ...”

“Got people on my side, you don’t need to worry about that. We get the evidence we need, you’ll be cleared.”

She looks nervous. “What about Xander? He’s actually a good guy, I don’t want him to lose his job.”

“Nobody will ever know he had anythin’ to do with it. He knows where the cameras are, and he’s goin’ to make sure they’re down when everythin’ unfolds. I promise you this will work.”

Nervously, she shifts to the side. “If it doesn’t, I’m never getting out of here.”

I clench my jaw, trying not to reach for her when it’s all I want to do. “I promise you, Serenity, it’ll work.”

She swallows, but nods.

“How are you going to find Gerard when you know they will have him in protection?”

I grin. That fucker might think he’s smarter than us, but he’s not. No fucking way. I have connections on the inside, too. Officers willing to help me for a price. Just like Xander, if I offer them protection or money, they’ll do just about anything, including giving me information on where that cunt is.

I’ll find him, and he’ll wish I didn’t.

“Leave Gerard to me, for now, you just do everything Xander tells you.”

“What if it goes wrong?”

I lean in a little closer. “Trust me, yeah?”

She exhales, and nods.

“I’m gettin’ you out, and when I do, I’ll never fuckin’ leave you again.”

She swallows, fighting back tears. “I love you.”

“Love you too, baby.”

I’ll get her out.

I have to.