Strays

Trust

Chapter Eighteen

Jaycee

He shakes his head in defeat. " Either way, I'm facing a death sentence by the club or five to twenty years in prison. What kind of father can I be, dead or locked away the kid's entire childhood? "

I can't blame him for thinking the worst when all I want is to believe in the best-case scenario. What other choice do I have?

" They'll be taken care of. " Ronald, speak up. " But if I have my way, you're going to be just fine. "

Juice doesn't want to listen, and I can see it written all over his face. " And how do you plan on doing that? "

" Well... " I start, and he gives me the same look he gave me when he found out I was screwing Chibs. " I don't know how to approach this, Ronald. "

Tully nods and takes over. " With the predicament, we're all in... You being shunned and marked as a dead man. Jaycee is in the middle of this whole war. I've been dicked around by the Sons one too many times... I'm offering you the same thing I'm offering her: a safe haven. A family unit of sorts. "

" I don't understand. I thought you were his old lady. " Juice says in confusion.

I know exactly how he feels. " In many ways I am... I'm leaving the MC, Juan. Not my family, but the organization. It was already decided before I found out I was pregnant. Jax is convinced that I've been brainwashed, and that's not it at all. I'm ready for change, and Ronald's offering it. To all three of us. "

Juice

I stare at both of them dumbly. What the hell have these two been plotting behind the club's back? I never thought I'd see the day that Jaycee would turn her back on SAMCRO. " So you're good with the possibility of retaliation? Jax isn't going to allow this. "

" Jax doesn't have a choice. " She tells me confidently.

I feel my eyes bug out before anger flows through my veins. " Jesus Christ, JJ. Tell me that you aren't staying at the clubhouse while actively plotting to leave. "

" You haven't told him? " She asks Tully with a frown.

Shrugging he says, " it hasn't come up, no ".

" I don't live in Charming anymore, Juan. " She says shooting a glare at Tully. " Ronald had me relocated to his place after Bobby... I haven't been anywhere without bodyguards. "

Tully sighs dramatically. " It's for her protection. "

" Yes... " She says rolling her eyes. " For my protection. "

Slamming my hands on the table I flip the fuck out. " Protection?! You see where I am, JJ? I betrayed SAMCRO and got marked for death. How do you think this is going to end for you when they find out you're the reason I'm still alive? "

" I'm working on it. " She says quietly refusing to even look me in the eyes.

See, this has always been her problem. She always does before thinking things through. " Oh. you're " working on it ". Well why didn't you just say that? "

I'm supposed to be the dumbass here, not her. What the hell was she thinking? That she could just up and leave the only family she knows? That word won't get back to the club that I'm alive and they put two and two together?

Getting up she cups my face in her hands. " Remember when I came to see you after Unser found you in Wendy's apartment? Right before you didn't leave like a dumbass? "

" Yeah? " I grind out angrily.

Sighing she says, " I made you a promise that day that I intend to keep. Even if it means I lose my entire family at TM, I will protect you because you're worth it. I need you to believe that too. If not for me, " She says letting go so she can take my hands and place them on her still-flat stomach. " Then for him or her. My father was killed in prison when I was a kid. You never knew yours. I won't allow history to repeat itself with you. This kid is going to have their dad. "

Damn. My hands are touching exactly where our baby is growing. Our baby. " JJ... I... " I don't even try to stop the tears as they fall.

Every emotion I've been feeling since Roosevelt told me the truth about who my father was comes flooding out. I wrap my arms around her and bury my face into her stomach.

" I know you think going out for the club is the best thing for everyone. " She says and the shake of her voice tells me she's crying too. " You've been through so much the last few years I can see why you feel like that. But you should know by now that I'd never just throw you away. What we have is unconditional. "

I shake my head. " J- "

" No! You need to listen to me for once in your life! Do you have any idea what your death would do to me? Huh? " She says while pulling my face to meet hers. " It would destroy me. Like, what would I do if you weren't here? I had a taste of it when they took you away from the Mayan's. For three days, I thought you were dead. It wasn't anything I'd ever felt before. The world felt so fucking empty when I believed you weren't in it. "

Tully

The scene unfolding before me is truly touching. Hearing about how much they mean to each other is one thing. Seeing it firsthand is breathtaking. I let them go on for a few more moments before getting up and holding my arms out. Peaches looks up at me and then back at Juicy.

He nods and takes one of my hands to allow me to pull him into my embrace. She follows suit and before I know it, both of their scents mingle, intoxicating me. Their bodies fit perfectly into my arms and at this moment I know I can't lose either of them.

" It's going to be okay. " I try to soothe. " No one is going to hurt any of you, I promise. "