Allen nods, and I shove him against the nearest brick wall, smirking when he crumples to the ground in a bloody heap. It’s a brutal scene, and I wish Jaylin didn’t have to witness it, but at least I didn’t shoot him in front of her.
“Let’s go home,” my love whispers, taking my hand once again. I lift it to my lips and press a kiss to her knuckles, showing her that even though I’m a ruthless animal, I’ll always be gentle with her.
I gather up Jaylin in my arms and carefully get her settled in the front seat of my car. Once we’re on the road heading back to the compound, I finally feel the band of anxiety loosen around my chest. I take a full breath for the first time since realizing Jaylin was missing.
I was waiting at the coffee shop for her to finish up with Rita. I’m glad I could connect those two. Rita is the mother I never had, and I have a feeling she’ll fill the same role for Jaylin.
When I got a text from Rita saying Jaylin just left and that she’s lovely, I knew something was wrong. It only takes two, maybe three minutes to get to the coffee shop from Rita’s. It had already been close to ten minutes at that point.
I raced outside just in time to see Allen drag his daughter into a car. Fuck, I’ll never get that horrific image out of my mind. I’mglad I got to Jaylin before Allen took her to a second location, but I’ll never forgive myself for letting him take her in the first place.
“Hey,” Jaylin says softly, her hand finding mine once more. “I’m right here. I’m okay.”
“You’re bleeding,” I mutter.
“But not dead!”
I growl and cut my eyes over to her smiling face. “Don’t joke about that. If anything happened to you…” Every muscle in my body tenses, but Jaylin squeezes my hand to calm me down. How can she do that with just a simple touch?
“You won’t let it,” she tells me with all the confidence in the world. I don’t deserve her loyalty after today, but fuck if I’m not going to do everything in my power to make sure she never regrets it.
“That’s right, angel.”
I pull into the compound and park in front of my mansion, eager to get Jaylin inside. I lead her to the bathroom, half walking, half carrying her down the hall. Keeping her close, I turn on the hot water and start filling the massive clawfoot tub.
Gently, so damn gently, I begin removing her clothes, taking note of every scratch on her delicate skin. Jaylin leans into my touch, surrendering herself to my care. I guide her into the tub and begin washing the dirt and grime off of my beautiful angel.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, drawing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. I glide the washcloth down her spine, then massage the muscles on the way back up.
“Never thank me for taking care of you, sweet girl.” I concentrate on her head wound, dabbing the dried blood away and wincing at the knot already forming. I take a close-up picture of her wound, and she gives me a questioning look. “Stay right here for me, okay? Just relax in the bath. I’m going to call one of our doctors.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Really, it’s not that bad.”
“Baby, I take your health very seriously. There’s no way in hell I’m not calling a doctor.”
She tries pouting, but I see the sweet, caring smile underneath. She likes being taken care of. Good. She’ll have to get used to it.
I slip out of the bathroom and lean against the hallway wall, wiping a hand down my face. It’s been a long fucking day, but it’s almost over. The most important thing is that Jaylin is back home.
After sharing the picture with one of the family’s trusted doctors, we agreed it’s likely a concussion, but nothing more serious. Jaylin is lucid, speaking in full sentences, and doesn’t have dilated pupils. If there is any concern or odd behavior in the next day or so, I’m to bring her to the hospital right away.
Taking another deep breath, I gather my thoughts enough to change out of my dirty clothes. Right before heading back to the bathroom, I get a call from Reaper. I’ve basically been no-contact for the last day while smoothing things over with Jaylin, so I’m sure he’s chomping at the bit to check in with me.
I peer into the bathroom and see Jaylin stretched out in the warm water, her head leaning against the back of the tub as a small smile graces her features. She’s content for now, so I decide to take the call.
“Reaper,” I answer.
“Jesus, where have you been? I thought you died.”
“You have that little faith in me, huh?”
“When you run in the kinds of circles we do, death isn’t uncommon,” he counters.
“Fair enough. But don’t you worry. I have more reason than ever to stay alive. She’s actually the reason I’ve been missing.”
“She?”
“I know, I know. How the mighty have fallen. Go ahead, make fun of me.”
