Jase (47 page)

***

Mason watched DeeDee throughout the day. He saw how quickly her wide smiles spread across her face, how the corners of her eyes stayed tilted up in pleasure, and he liked every bit of it. She had become a different woman with Jase in her life, more confident and open, and he was glad she found this for herself. Earlier in the afternoon, Jase had put on
Ray Gelato’s
classic
Mambo Italiano
and danced with DeeDee, whirling and dipping her with panache and style, much to the amusement of everyone present.

He leaned against the back of the house, watching the pack of kids as they played in the yard. He made a note to thank Myron; the man had outdone himself with this
house
. He thought back to the scared, skinny kid he found in a shelter in Chicago years ago and shook his head. Who could have known that the
boy, who amused himself by counting beans and buttons in jars,
would turn into such a whiz kid for finances, with a serious knack for locating things?

His eyes fell on Bingo, released from the hospital that afternoon, parked for now in a recliner the brothers had carried outside so he could be comfortable and still be surrounded by his family at this celebration. Mason knew his eyes were hidden behind the sunglasses he wore, so he slowly swept his gaze from member to member, cataloging their experience and strengths, weaknesses and skills. This was what he did best, lining up his brothers and friends with things that needed doing, and identifying people who needed…something.

He saw Tug standing with Maggie, noting she still didn’t have a rag. He frowned slightly, looking over at Shar and DeeDee; neither of them
was
wearing leather vests, either. He would talk to Jase. The man might not know the importance of the ‘Property of’ patch that the other women wore. He didn’t think DeeDee would turn the man down, so that wouldn’t be a factor.
Gunny and Tug both knew what it meant, however. There was no reason for them to hold back if they were in these relationships for the long haul, and from the looks on their faces as they watched their women, he thought they were.

All his brothers were finding their one,
their
always. He wished Willa had shown tonight, but then he was also halfway glad she hadn’t, because he needed to take care where she was concerned. He was not willing to get into another situation like he had been twisted up in with Mica, back in Chicago. He decided to never again love someone who could only accept half of him, who could only take part of who he was.
He needed a woman who would be all-in with him, ready to love him in suits as well as leather, someone who could wrap their legs around his ass on a bike and their arms around his waist at a high-class function.

Shaking his head, he lifted his beer and took a long drink, scoffing at himself. The
perfect
woman just didn’t fucking exist, and he goddamn well knew it. He looked around the backyard again, seeing Jase motioning from beside the grill. Walking over, he raised his chin, and Jase nodded. “First burger’s for you, Prez. Thank you.”

“Thank me for what, motherfucker?” Mason asked, bemused.

Jase shocked him by pulling him into a one-armed hug, hitting his back hard with a closed fist. “For giving me this life, man. Fucking honored.”

Mason thumped his back twice, pulling back to grip his forearm. “Do me proud, brother. I’ve known for a long time that we would suit you. Now you just gotta find your place with us.”

Jase nodded, handing him a plate, and Mason made his way over to a spot near Bingo, smiling his thanks at Sharon when she brought the man some food. It wasn’t long before there was a gathering of his brothers around them, and the talk ranged from women to bikes and back again.

Smiling, Mason let the conversation flow around him, offering an occasional quip or insight that drew laughter. He looked up to see DeeDee watching him and he nodded at her, receiving a chin lift in response. He saw her draw in a deep breath, somehow not surprised when she
raised
her hands, cupping them around her mouth to call across the yard, “Slate. My son.
Congrats
on the new baby, man. I heard you had good swimmers. Guess the proof is in the pudding, yeah?”

The yard erupted in laughter and shouts of excitement as the women gathered around Ruby, who stood stock still with a look of shocked dismay on her face. Mason laughed, reaching out to thump Slate’s shoulder with his fist, laughing harder as Slate rocked sideways, even though the blow wasn’t hard. “Gratz, man. Another baby already? That’s awesome, brother.”

Slate
grinned. “Yeah. Ruby wasn’t too happy about it being so soon after the twins, but she’s come around to the idea now. We’ll find out in a few weeks what we’re having. I told the woman she doesn’t get to do any of the visits by herself this time, no fucking secrets.” He scowled, still annoyed that she kept the fact of the twins from him for so long, but then his face lightened. “Maybe we’ll have twins again.” He leaned back with a broad smile, tucking his hands into the front pockets of his jeans.

Bear laughed and grinned, “Seems our kids will have built-in playmates, brother.”

Mason stood for a second and then, deciding he’d sat on the information long enough, shouted, “Goddamn big families, you people ever do anything but fuck? Eddie? Tell me again. When are you due,
darlin’
?”

The women squealed again as Eddie yelled, “Mason, dammit, you weren’t supposed to…”

***

Hoss walked over to where Jase stood and bumped knuckles with him. “You get it?” he asked, casually looking around to ensure DeeDee wasn’t anywhere close.

“Yeah,” the man said with a grin. “It looks good, too. I think I really understand for the first time, how much it matters.”

“If you’re serious, then it will always matter.” Hoss clasped a hand on Jase’s shoulder, shaking him gently back and forth. “Now you just gotta get your nerve up, but that’s easy. You’re a fucking biker, man. No worries.”

“Yeah,” he laughed a little. “No worries.” There was silence between the two men for a minute, then Jase said, “I don’t think I ever thanked you for everything. I know I was Slate’s prospect, but it felt like I learned more from you than anyone. Love you, brother. From the bottom of, man.”

“DeeDee’s
special
to us, Cap’n, I had to make sure her old man was a good’un.” Hoss grinned. “Couldn’t have just any old hockey player taking our best gal, ya know?”

“Speaking of best gals, what’s up with you and Mercy? I halfway expected you to bring her today.” Jase elbowed him in the ribs. “Watch out for her shoes. They’re registered as deadly weapons, eh?”

“Man, it ain’t like that with me and Mercy. She just needs someone to unload on sometimes. She’s
a good
woman, just had life deal her a shit hand, ya know?”

***

Standing in the kitchen, Mason leaned against the counter as he watched Jase and DeeDee put away the last of the clean dishes. He looked around. Nearly everyone was gone; there were just a few members sacked out on the floor and furniture, sleeping off a few too many beers before they hit the road to go home. The kids who lived in the house had all been sent off to bed hours ago. When Bear and Eddie left, he helped carry their sleeping little ones to the van, the exhausted boys
not
even waking as they were buckled and tucked into the vehicle.

He looked at the couple in front of him, noting again how comfortable they
seemed
with each other. “Y’all sure about this arrangement with Bingo?” He wanted to ask them this question while they were together. He had already had individual conversations with them, but liked seeing the two of them react as a duo so much he couldn’t resist the question. It was a good lead-in to the conversation he wanted to have with his cousin, too.

“Yeah,” Jase answered. “It’s a good fit in a lot of ways, man. We can help him out, and be there for the kids.”

DeeDee reached out a hand, stroking slowly down Jase’s arm, threading her fingers
through
his and pulling his hand against her hip. “I already love the kids; this just makes it easier to love
on
them,” she said with a smile, and Mason nodded.

“It’s going to be hard,” he warned them, watching as they looked at each other. “And you’ve just settled a new piece into your puzzle with Jonny.”

Jase answered for them again, “We know. Bingo’s prognosis is not the best. They found that second spot in the lower lobe, so he’ll be back into surgery in a week or so, as long as he stays
healthy
enough. That means he’ll have less lung capacity, probably have to go on oxygen, at least for a while. Even if this surgery is successful, he’ll have radiation and chemo if he chooses to treat things. If he decides on the treatment, the doc said he could have ten…twelve years. If he doesn’t, then it’s less. We
know,
Mason. We’re totally on board. And Jonny is already settled in here. He’s doing a ton better in school, and he gets along with the tribe like they were raised together. He’s bonded with every one of them. I think he needs them in his life. I know he needs us. But, the kids all need this, man.” He looked at DeeDee. “I need this.”

Mason looked at DeeDee too, taking in her too-bright eyes. “You okay with everything,
darlin’
? It’s not too much to ask, just when you’re finding yourself again?”

She frowned at him. “Finding
myself
again?”

“Yeah, after Winger died, we nearly lost you. Lost parts of you for a long time.” He shrugged. “In the past year, you’ve come back to yourself. It feels like we have the old DeeDee back, but in a newer, improved model.” He gestured to her body. “You aren’t skin and bones anymore. I don’t have to worry about breaking you when we hug. You smile and laugh like I haven’t seen you do since we were kids, Dee. I can’t tell you how great it is to see you like this. I just want to make sure taking on this for the club isn’t too much.”

She scoffed. “I wasn’t that bad, Mason. And I’m not taking this on for the club. I’m doing it for my friend and my family. Bingo and I have been friends for a long time. He and Winger were tight…brothers, even before they were in the same club. I’m doing it for the kids…all of them…and for me. This isn’t a burden, Mason. It’s an honor.”

“He and Winger were tight,” he agreed, seeing the smile slip from her eyes. “Winger would be proud of you, babe.”

“Thanks for that, Prez, but it doesn’t matter so much what Winger would have thought,” she said quickly, looping her arm around Jase’s waist. “Jase’s opinion is what I worry about. Jase and you.”

“So Winger don’t matter?” He narrowed his eyes. There was a dynamic here he didn’t understand. He knew she had loved Winger, and she loved Jase now, but something was going on.

“Of
course,
Winger mattered,” she said, lifting one shoulder in a shrug, putting the lie to her words. “He was my husband for a long time, my old man.”

Yeah, I need to talk to Jase about getting her a rag
, he
thought,
because it’s important to her
. “And Jase is…?”

“My old man,” she said, leaning her head against Jase’s shoulder as he looked down at her in wonder.

“Yeah?” Jase breathed the question, and Mason grinned, watching the man’s hand go to the pocket of his jeans, fingers caressing a lump there like a talisman.

She lifted her head, rising onto her toes to press her lips against his. “Yeah.”

***

Jase was breathless; with fear or anticipation, he wasn’t quite certain which. She called him her old man, which meant in her mind, they were together in the way the club saw things…saw couples. God, he was glad Hoss had talked to him about this and he was prepared. He was ready. He cut his gaze over to Mason, saw the man grinning at them like a loon.

“I’ll be right back,” he whispered, drawing away. He walked into the living room, going to the bag he had dropped in the coat closet earlier, and pulled out a box. Striding back
to
the kitchen, he held it out to DeeDee. “I was going to give this to you later, in private, baby, but I kinda like the spectator factor we have going on. I heard he’s a fan, eh? Can’t disappoint. Gotta put on a show.” He waved
his
hand towards Mason.
He had seen a couple of members’ heads pop up when he walked into the living room and knew they would have a larger audience soon. He had to rush things if he was going to keep it to just the three of them.

Handing her the wrapped gift box, he waited for her to focus on it, knowing she would untie the bow first. Taking advantage of her distraction, he pulled the other box from his pocket, palming it and using his fingertips to open it while he leaned in and kissed her lips. “I love you, baby,” he said, dropping to one knee as she opened the larger box.

“Be my old lady?” he asked, laughing as she lifted the leather from the
box
, letting the cardboard and paper fall to the floor.
He loved the look of awe on her face as she took in the new patch on the back of her vest, the older pieces of fabric still in place, the grime of long-time association with the club an honor he would never take from her.
What was new was the large rocker on the bottom, where he had replaced the old one.
This one had his name on it, his club name, ‘Captain’, so the patches on the back of her vest read, from top to bottom, Rebel Wayfarers MC, Property of, Captain.

She was already saying, “Yes,” when she looked down at him and gave a little scream as she saw the much smaller box balanced in his palm. “Be my wife?” he asked the second question and watched the tears overflowing onto her cheeks, holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

“Yes,” she repeated, reaching down past his hand to draw her fingertips along his cheek, plucking at his lips with a smile. “I love you, Cap’n. Yes, to both.”

Mason threw his head back and shouted, “Now that’s the way you do it, motherfucker!”
He began applauding and more hands joined in, the noise growing around them as the members jostled closer, hands reaching out to touch DeeDee even as Jase rose, pulling her in for a hard, demanding kiss.
He knew the raucous well wishes would wake the kids, but didn’t care. He wanted everyone to know that she finally had given him everything he ever wanted.
All
of her.