Virile (Whiskey Run: Savage Ink Book 1) Read online

I cut through the silence. “I feel bad that you both are having to sit with me. I promise I’ll be fine. I mean, we’re in a hospital. My father won’t come here.”

  Jax smiles. “There’s nothing I need to be doing but holding my niece.”

  I giggle and a snort comes out. “I find that really hard to believe.” I mean, he owns more businesses than I can count. I’m sure he should be working.

  He laughs. “Okay, I have plenty to do, but nothing is as important as this.”

  I nod to Treyton. “What about you? You can leave if you want to.”

  But he’s already shaking his head. “I promised Aiden I would stay with you and Jessica. I’m not leaving.”

  He’s gruff. He’s been gruff since he got here and Aiden introduced us. Guilt eats at me. I wouldn’t like me if I was him either.

  In a low soft voice, I tell him, “I didn’t want to hurt him.”

  Treyton’s eyes snap to mine, and he sighs loudly. Aiden warned me that Treyton doesn’t say much, but it’s got me on edge.

  “I know you didn’t. Aiden explained it to me. I wish that I had done differently. That I had tried to help him find you instead of just thinking the worst of you. That’s on me.”

  The gruff, tattooed guy is not mad. He’s eaten up with guilt. “It wasn’t your fault—"

  But he interrupts me. “Gracie, I tried to get him to forget you. I’m glad he didn’t listen.”

  I don’t know what to say. Obviously Treyton has been hurt before. I try and lighten the mood. “That’s okay. You can make it up to me by babysitting.”

  His eyes get big, and he looks over at the sleeping Jessica. I expect him to say no but he surprises me. “If you trust me with her, I’ll do it.”

  I shake my head. “Aiden obviously trusts you, so yeah. I do too.”

  Treyton nods, and even though he doesn’t really smile, his lips do turn up on the sides.

  Aiden

  I take the stairs up to the maternity floor. I all but run to get back to Gracie and Jessica. I know they’re okay, but I need to make sure I get there first. Uncle Jax’s surveillance team already informed me that Mayor Franklin is on the premises. I walk past the two guards outside Gracie’s room, and they both nod at me as I walk in.

  Gracie’s whole face lights up when she sees me. I scan the room and find Jessica lying on my uncle’s chest.

  “Hey, baby,” I say, going to Gracie. She lifts her face, and I can’t resist kissing her. Screw it; if Trey and Jax don’t like it, they don’t have to watch.

  Reluctantly, I pull away. I put my hands on Gracie’s shoulders. “Gracie, honey, I don’t want you to be scared. Your dad is here at the hospital.”

  She gasps, and her eyes go to Jessica. I put my hand on her arm. “Honey, it’s okay. She’s safe. You’re safe. The only reason I’m telling you is because I need to know if you want to see him. Do you have anything you have to say to him?”

  She shakes her head side to side, and it kills me to see how scared she is and to think how many years she put up with his bullshit. “Are you sure? The FBI is here and is waiting on a nod from Uncle Jax. They’ll wait if you have something to say to him.”

  “The FBI?”

  I nod. “Yes. I guess your Aunt Bethany had enough dirt on him, and they’d already been investigating him. They tracked him down pretty quickly.”

  She looks unsure. “So he has done something?”

  I squeeze her hand and hesitate. Fuck, I hate having to tell her what a slimeball her dad is.

  Uncle Jax clears his throat softly and talks low so as to not wake Jessica. “Yeah, honey, he’s responsible for six babies missing and at least seven women. There could be more.” Uncle Jax looks at his phone. “He’s about to get on the elevator.”

  “I don’t want to see him. I don’t want him anywhere near our baby, Aiden.”

  “Done,” Uncle Jax says.

  Gracie takes a deep breath and lets it go. “Thank you. Thank all of you.”

  Uncle Jax gets up and brings the baby to me, putting her in my arms like he’s been carrying babies his whole life. He leans over and kisses Gracie on the forehead. “You’re family now. You and Jessica. We take care of our own.”

  Gracie sniffs and puts her arms around Jax’s neck. “Thank you, Uncle Jax.”

  Jax is not really an emotional guy, but he seems affected by her gratitude. His phone dings, and he reads it. “It’s done. Mayor Franklin is in custody.”

  Gracie lies back in the bed, and I swear I can see the relief on her face.

  Uncle Jax pats me on the shoulder. “I’m leaving the guards outside until you go home. Take care of your family, son. Call if you need anything.”

  “Thank you, Jax.”

  As soon as Jax leaves, Treyton stands up. “I guess that’s my cue to go.”

  “Not so fast, Treyton. I need a hug from you too,” Gracie says, holding her arms out toward Trey.

  If it was anyone else, I’d probably put a stop to it. But not Trey. He always has my back. But I’m still surprised when he goes to the side of the bed and hugs Gracie.

  He pats me on the shoulder and offers a little pat on Jessica’s back before he walks out. “Call me if you need anything, brother.”

  I wait until the door is closed behind him before I turn to Gracie. “Wow! How’d you do that? Trey’s not really the huggy type.”

  She says, “He’s been hurt before, hasn’t he?”

  I nod. “Yeah, pretty bad too.”

  She cracks a smile. “We’ll have to get Violet on it.”

  “Oh no, Trey would definitely not appreciate being set up. Plus, I’m pretty sure Violet’s going to be busy for a while.”

  She shrugs. “Maybe.”

  I lay baby Jessica in the bassinet by the bed. With a quick kiss to her forehead, I pull the bed closer so I can sit next to Gracie. “Okay, Momma, what do you need? Are you hungry?”

  She shakes her head. “You know what I really want?”

  “Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

  “I want you to hold me.”

  I reach to wrap my arms around her, and she shakes her head and pats the bed. “No, I want to lie in your arms and have you hold me.”

  I jump up and lower the railing. She moves gingerly to the side, holding a pillow to her stomach.

  “Are you hurting?” I ask.

  “It’s manageable.”

  I climb into the bed next to her, wrapping my arms around her. She lies against me, her head on my shoulder.

  “You okay, honey?”

  “As long as I have you and Jessica, I’m happy, Aiden.”

  “Me too, baby. Me too.”

  Epilogue

  Gracie

  Six Weeks Later

  Who would have thought at eighteen, I would find my soul mate? And that’s the only way I know how to describe Aiden. Everything he does, he does for Jessica and me. When I got home from the hospital, I was surprised to find that in those few hours Aiden was gone from the hospital, he had put together a crib, and I’m pretty sure he bought out the baby store.

  Anything Jessica could want or need was set up in the apartment.

  And Aiden wasn’t lying about our future. We no sooner got out of the hospital than he had a preacher marry us, and even a small reception. Now we’re looking at houses.

  Our lives have been a whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

  “Gracie, baby, our five o’clock is here.”

  I smile at my husband and the scantily-clad woman next to him. She’s beautiful and can’t seem to keep her eyes off my husband, but I can’t even be jealous. He only has eyes for me.

  “Great, I can work up a design that you’ll love. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  The woman looks at me. “I want him to do it.”

  Aiden crosses his arms over his chest. He doesn’t like anyone to disrespect me. I pat him on the stomach. “He’ll be doing the tattoo. But you paid for a Savage Original Artwork. That’s me. I’ll talk to you, get a feel
for what you want, and then draw it. Aiden then guns it.”

  This was all Aiden’s idea. I was hesitant at first, but I’m so glad I did it. I’m able to work and contribute to our family and do it through art.

  Even though the woman is reluctant, she finally warms up to me, and I draw her a red rose that she goes crazy over.

  “All right, I think Aiden is ready for you.”

  “Second door on the left. I’ll be right there,” he tells her.

  He waits until the woman walks down the hallway, and he pulls me into his arms. I kiss his lips and smile up at him. “I’m going to get Jessica from the babysitter. We’ll be home waiting for you when you’re done.”

  He locks his arms around me and holds me tight just like I like it. “I won’t be long.”

  I trace his nipple through his shirt. “I hope not. You do know Jessica is six weeks old today, and I think it’s time we make our marriage official.”

  He groans into my neck and breathes deeply. “Oh, it’s official. There’s no doubt you’re mine. But yeah, baby. I know what today is. I’ve been hard thinking about it all day.”

  My whole body trembles in anticipation. “Well, go hurry. I’ll see you at home.”

  He kisses me deeply and thoroughly, giving me a good indication just how excited and ready he is for tonight. I open my mouth as he groans just as the bells over the door break us apart. A woman walks in, and I pull away but can’t help smiling. “Go ahead. I’ll help her. See you soon.”

  He kisses me again before walking off with a wink.

  I turn to the woman. “Hi. Can I help you?”

  “Yeah, hi. I’m Katie. I have an appointment with Treyton.”

  I tilt my head. “You look familiar. Do I know you?”

  She laughs. “Yeah, I brought you some ice at Jasper Mercy. I’m a nurse. I actually was Violet’s nurse. She’s the one that convinced me I needed to come to Treyton to get my tattoo.”

  I giggle almost giddily. “Oh she did, did she?”

  Violet is at it again.

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