The Originals (Ghosttown Riders #10)

Chapter Thirty-One

This was the last place he wanted to be considering the message he’d be delivering. Jack had gotten the call late last night. The one he’d been dreading. Sal wanted an answer. It had been a week since he’d heard about Satan’s Hex trying to strike a deal to replace Ghosttown for the potential partnership. In that time, he’d ignored all the calls from their president. Jack would remain silent until he and the club had made their final decision.

That time would be now.

Jack sat at the table in the clubhouse, staring off across the room. He was aware of the brothers filing in, but he didn’t make any eye contact. He was struggling with the decision he knew they had to make, and wanting something different for his club. Some would be happy with the decision, others wouldn’t.

When everyone was in the room and the door closed, Jack drew in a breath, prepping to give his speech.

“Got word from Sal’s people. He wants an answer.”

The room was drowned in silence. No one wanted to be the first to speak up. Jack didn’t blame them. Who would want the responsibility if this ended badly? Unfortunately, as president, he didn’t have a choice. The brothers looked up to him to lead them in the right direction.

“As I see it, we have no choice.” Jack cupped his mouth, staring across the room. “We’re partnering up with the Underground.”

“Always got a choice, Jack. That’s what you told me,” Mick said.

Jack grabbed his glass taking a slow sip. “Yeah, there is. But in this case, that choice is the difference between living and dying. We can’t go up against Sal. We’d never win. He’s got too many men under him, spread out across the state. That doesn’t even include his reach outside our borders. We either align with them and solidify a deal to keep our territory protected, or risk it and take them on.”

“We fucking risk it,” Mack snapped, slamming his hand against the table. “We’re not gonna pussy out of what’s fucking ours.”

“You’re looking at it all wrong. This ain’t a pissing contest, Mack. Sal’s already got the manpower. All those small clubs looking to make a name for themselves? If he doesn’t get us on board, he’ll pull all of them together, create a huge fucking army, and take a shot at us.”

“Then let them take the shot.”

Jack scoffed, shaking his head. “Not at my fucking club.”

Mack held up his hand, but Jack wasn’t done speaking.

“I started this club, and I’m not gonna let anyone come in and destroy it. So get over your fucking pride, open your fucking eyes, and keep your brothers safe. That’s the decision I’ve made for this club.”

I just don’t know if it’s the right one.

Jack settled back in his seat, scanning the room. “Let’s take a vote.”

****

“Ahhh…” Colleen arched her back, digging her heels into the mattress and clenching her teeth. Jack was a god with his tongue.

She reached down between her legs, slipping her fingers through his hair. Unlike most days, it was free flowing and not tied back. Colleen loved it either way, but she was partial to it this way. Wild and untamed was exactly how she thought of this man.

She arched her back when he added another finger inside her and gasped. Jack had discovered all her spots in the short time they’d been together. And he was discovering new ones. Colleen pressed her head into the pillow, craned her neck, and moaned.

“Right there, Jack.”

She was so close to coming.

His tongue flickered over her clit with an even pace as he fucked her with his fingers. She admittedly had been with a lot of men but none like Jack Reilly. It was as if he got off on giving her pleasure. Colleen wrapped her legs over his shoulders and swiveled her hips.

“Ahhh…” She moaned, pulling away slightly.

Jack wrapped his free hand over her hip in a tight grip. It was all she needed. Colleen came within seconds, panting heavy.

She was trying to catch her breath when his body came over hers, and he kissed her. Suffocation from Jack’s kisses? I’ll take it. She wrapped her arms over his shoulders, pulling him over her body. He outweighed her by at least one hundred pounds, and he seemed to lock his arms, not giving her all his weight.

They’d been in bed for at least three hours. Once Jack had come back from his meeting, he stalked into the house, and greeted her with a heated kiss. It was hard and rough, and she loved every minute of it. She wasn’t sure what brought it on, but Colleen was more than willing to go to his bed so he could blow off some steam. And he did. Two times.

“Round three?” She muttered against his lips, and his lips twitched.

“You trying to kill me?” Jack kissed her and rolled onto his back. He dragged his hand over his mouth and hooked it behind his head, staring down at her with a smile playing on his lips.

“Not a bad way to go.”

Jack laughed, sliding his arm over her back and down to her ass, giving her a playful yet piercing slap. It may have had an opposite effect than Jack had intended. I like that, Jack, remember?

“You’re dangerous.”

Colleen chuckled and cocked her head. “Are you afraid of me, Jack?”

The vibe in the room shifted slightly, and his stare darkened. Was he serious? As the silence stretched, a nervous bubble built in her chest.

“Are you?” She furrowed her brows, scanning his face.

“A little.”

What? Colleen gasped in utter shock. Me? She scrambled to her knees, wide-eyed and slightly confused.

“Jack, I would never do anything to hurt you or the club.”

The corner of his mouth curled, and he gripped her hip, pulling her back down against his chest. He brushed the hair out of her eyes and his finger traced over her cheek. They were only inches apart. “This right here is what makes you dangerous. You’re beautiful, sweet, and loyal. A man could fall hard for you. Lose sight of everything around him.” He paused. “Just for you.”

It was probably the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.

Colleen nestled closer, resting her head on his chest and her hand on his stomach.

“So you were at the clubhouse?”

“Yeah.” His voice was clipped.

“Hmmm.” She hummed, thinking about the bar.

“Why?” he asked.

“Just wondering who was at the bar and if they stocked it.”

Jack laughed, sliding his hand over her back. “You miss being behind the bar?”

“Not really. I mean, I like the clubhouse, but being away from the bar got me thinking maybe I should try working somewhere else. Never graduated high school, but I could always get my GED.”

Her sister-in-law, Beth, had been the driving force behind it. Surely there were places that offered a similar program in Turnersville.

“That’s a good idea,” Jack said. “What else?”

She knitted her brow and propped up on her arm. “What do you mean?”

“With your life. What else do you want to do?”

Colleen had never given it too much realistic thought, but she had some ideas.

“I’d like a good paying job so I can buy a little house with a back yard and put one of those swings on the front porch.” She smiled. “And travel a bit. I would’ve never gone to Colorado if my brother hadn’t lived there. So kinda explore some other places. Go to the beach.”

Jack’s soft smile sent a warm rush to her belly. He slid his fingers across her cheek and hooked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“What about down the road? Babies?”

Colleen tried to hold back her smile, but she couldn’t. Her first thought went to her brother’s son. She hadn’t considered children until she’d held her nephew.

“Yeah, but…” Her cheeks heated, and she ducked her head. “Not sure what kind of mother I’d be.”

Jack slipped his hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

“A good one.”

Collen hiked up on his chest, pressing her lips against him. She was falling so deep for this man. Jack just had a way of seeing her unlike anyone ever had in the past. It was as though he knew her better than she knew herself.

“You know what else I want in my very near future?” She mumbled against his lips but didn’t wait for an answer. “You inside me.”

Jack deepened the kiss.

Round three.

When the phone rang, Jack never broke from their kiss but flipped her on her back and reached over to the nightstand. She heard the click of the receiver seconds before he turned his head and held the phone to his ear.

“Yeah?”

Colleen caressed her hands over his back.

“When?” Jack’s tone was off, and she felt his muscles tighten. She glanced up. His jaw squared, and his brows dipped in a tight scowl.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Jack hung up the phone and rolled onto his back. He dragged his hand down his face. He was obviously stressed. While Colleen didn’t want to pry, she was concerned. She reached over, resting her hand on his stomach.

“Everything okay?”

Jack glanced over at her and didn’t say a word. The back of his hand brushed against her cheek, down her chest, and around her waist. He never broke away from her stare. Something had happened, but he wasn’t telling her. She parted her lips, and he pulled her over his chest. She cuddled closer, and Jack spread his hand over her back, holding her close.

It was the exact position they stayed in until she fell asleep fifteen minutes later.