The Pull | Jax Teller

The Trouble With Men

Donovan Carmine wondered how in the hell his boxing gym had turned into a goddamn daycare. He wasn't going to complain about spending time with his grandbabies. Isla and Abel were his pride and joy after his snot-nosed niece and nephew, but he found himself tripping over Kenny and Ellie and somehow Piper.

He loved the kids, he did. He wasn't above putting them to work as they were all old enough to help out with training and even helping close down. However, he was running a business. He needed to be a trainer as well and some things couldn't be done with Abel strapped to his chest.

Donovan grabbed a full bottle for Abel and he knew after this that the baby would be ready for his afternoon nap. It also meant Gemma was going to come by and pick up all these little rascals. He eyed the kids that were all too busy stuffing their faces with their lunches. So far it was a good day. Ellie and Kenny were distracted by coming and goings of the gym to focus on their grief. As he eyed his small gym, he thought he may need to think about moving the business to somewhere bigger. Maybe make a small franchise of it. He may have to talk to Delilah how that would work. If anything he was about to invest in a goddamn daycare.

Donovan walked to the entrance of the gym. He grabbed Abel's little bucket hat before he went and stood out on the sidewalk. He noticed a moving truck was across the street where Sherman's used to be. He frowned as he didn't know any new business was moving into town. His attention was taken by Gemma pulling up in her black Cadillac.

"You know this is why Abel likes to be held so much," Gemma quipped as she got out of her vehicle.

Don snorted. "By the way, I need you to take Piper too. Lyla got stuck behind."

Gemma pursed her lips. "So Lip and her are getting serious."

Don shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't really that concerned with his nephew's dating life. He knew Lip liked the girl, but as far as he knew they were still circling around each other. Isla didn't mention anything about a date going down. "Think they are just friends."

Gemma rolled her eyes. "You think you would be more concerned since you're watching her kid."

"If Lip feels the need to tell me something he will. Besides, the girl is Delilah's friend." Don said with a frown.

"I haven't seen you around the clubhouse lately."

Don eyed the biker matriarch. He grabbed the empty baby bottle from Abel. The boy was now clapping his hands at his grandmother. "You could be way more subtle than that Gem."

"There is no being subtle with you, Don. We both know that."

"You don't need to worry about Lip," Don stated ominously. "Come on. The kids should be almost done with their lunch."

. . .

Delilah sighed as she sunk into her desk chair. She was no longer able to avoid the unavoidable. They had lost three girls this week and she thought she underestimated what the federal seizure had done to the studio.

"You're going to have to talk to Jax, Del." Luann pressed.

Delilah wanted to snap that Luann should have never made the executive decision to give the club the money, to begin with. Even with a federal raid, that 50 k that Luann gave the club would have been enough cushion to keep the studio afloat.

"I know you were skimming from them, Luann."

She watched as Luann went wide-eyed. Her mouth gaped open before she closed it.

Delilah played with the end of her braid. "You don't need to explain yourself, but was that why you gave them the money?"

"No, no," Luann answered. "I did it to help the club. I can't ignore the fact that Otto and the club helped get my ass from the front of the camera to behind it."