“What the fuck, man?” Dean took one of the bags from Jagger’s shoulder and helped him into his house. “You kidnapped a woman? Can’t you just date like a regular fucking person?”
Jagger laughed and pulled his friend in for a side hug. “It’s a long fucking story, man. But I think I’m going to need your help.” Jagger walked into the cabin and dropped his gear, looking around the place. He hadn’t been home in over a year, and damn it felt good to be there. He looked over to where Justice was making herself at home in his small kitchen, rummaging through the refrigerator and cabinets for something to eat. He suddenly realized that he hadn’t stopped for food and felt a pang of regret for letting her go hungry.
“I stocked everything like you asked, and you are set for firewood. As for the help, just name it.” Jagger nodded his thanks, not sure if he wanted to get into everything with Justice listening on. “It’s Jules. I think she might be in trouble, and I don’t know what to do.” Jagger looked over to where Justice was making herself a sandwich and knew she was eavesdropping. She looked up to find him watching her and gave him a saucy smile.
“Oh, please don’t stop on my account, Jag. I’d love to hear how you explain knocking me out in an alley, shoving my lifeless body into my pickup truck, and dragging me off to God only knows where to your old friend—Dean, was it?” Dean nodded and smiled at Justice. Jagger knew exactly what his friend was thinking, and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Don’t even fucking think about it, man,” Jagger warned. Dean held his hands up in mock surrender.
“I get it, man, hands-off. But you have to admit, she’s quite the spitfire.” Dean eyed her again, and Jagger groaned.
“Yeah, and my balls have the bruises to show from her little outburst in the alley.” Dean laughed at Jagger’s admission. “You wouldn’t laugh if we were talking about your balls, man. It’s not funny.” His friend covered his smile, trying to will himself to stop laughing but failing miserably. “And for the record, honey, I didn’t knock you out. You kneed me in the balls, and I hit the ground. You tripped over me, and I grabbed your ankle. That’s when you fell and hit your head on the pavement. I’d never hit a woman.” Jagger watched as she took a big bite of her sandwich, and his stomach growled.
“Good to know,” she said around a mouthful of food. “Because I’d totally hit a man.” Dean stood next to him, laughing again, and he suddenly felt the urge to punch his best friend. Jagger turned and opened his front door.
“Out!” he barked. Dean started the door and turned to face Jagger again, his expression serious.
“I’ll be back in the morning, and we can talk about Jules. If she’s in trouble, you know I’ll do whatever I can to help.” Jagger nodded at his friend, knowing he could count on Dean for anything.
“Thanks, man, I appreciate that,” Jagger slapped his friend's shoulder, pulling him in for a quick hug.
“It was nice to meet you, Justice,” Dean said. Justice held up her sandwich in a mock wave, and he laughed again, disappearing into the darkness that surrounded the cabin. Jagger could hear the roar of Dean’s snowmobile and watched as his friend spun circles in his front yard and disappeared down the hidden path to his adjoining property. It was a path Jagger knew well, having traveled back and forth between their twohouses as kids, and he smiled at the memory. He shut the door and turned to find Justice sitting on the sofa that filled the small front room next to the fireplace.
“You have me here, Jag—so now what?” Justice took the last bite of her sandwich and shoved her plate onto the coffee table. Jagger wasn’t sure how to answer her question. A part of him was still trying to wrap his head around the crazy day he just had. He knew that sooner or later, he would need to get some sleep, but leaving Justice unsupervised would only allow her to run. He was beginning to see how determined she was to get away from her father, and if that meant going through him, she would have no problem doing that. He couldn’t blame her; heck, he even admired her fighting spirit. Justice Hobbs was probably the toughest woman he ever met, and that turned him on. Fuck, everything about her turned him on, and he wasn’t sure what he was going to do about that.
“Now we find a way to get my sister free from your asshole father,” he growled. Justice didn’t seem pleased with his answer, pressing her lips together and nodding. She turned to face the fire, and he wasn’t sure if the next part he was about to say was the smartest or dumbest thing to ever come out of his mouth, but he felt the need to be honest with her.
Jagger sighed, “And we find a way to keep you safe from him and Wolf. I won’t turn you over, Justice.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Justice couldn’t believe Jagger wasn’t going to hand her over to her father and Jordan the first chance he got. She had no reason to believe that the same man who kidnapped her in the alley now had a change of heart and was going to just let her go. She stood and picked up her bag and her jacket, holding out her hand to Jagger. If he were being honest, he wouldn’t try to stop her from leaving.
“Keys?” She cocked her eyebrow at him and waited. He reluctantly handed them over and sighed. “I won’t try to keep you here, Justice. But I could use your help.” His hand brushed over hers, sending chills down her spine. She closed her fingers, her keys, and nodded.
“I appreciate you letting me go, Jag. I do, but I can’t take the chance that you’ll change your mind and turn me over to my father, or worse—Wolf.” Justice headed for the front door, and she could almost feel his desperation.
“He’ll kill Jules if I don’t deliver you to him. Please.” Justice turned to face him—her first mistake. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the pleading look on his face nearly did her in.
“I’m not sure what you think I can do for you, Jagger. If you want your sister back, you’re going to have to deliver me to my father. You just promised me you would let me go, yet here we are, you begging me to help you free Jules.” Justice shook her head, trying to decide what to do. If she helped him, she would be getting herself tangled up with her father again, and the thought of having Jordan Wolf anywhere near her made her physically sick.
“If you walk out that door right now, she’s as good as dead. What I did today, kidnapping you and dragging you into my mess, I did save my sister. Please believe that I had no choice. She’s all I’ve got, and I’d do anything to help her.” Jagger wiped at the tears that were freely falling down his face.
“See Jag, I believe you, and that’s why I can’t stay. You admit that you’d do anything to save Jules, and I’m pretty sure that includes trading my life for hers.” Justice turned to leave again, and Jagger grabbed her arm, stopping her. She wanted to pull free from his hold, but she found herself being drawn into his desperation.
“Just give me a day or two to come up with a plan. Dean will be back in the morning, and he knows Jules. If anyone can come up with an idea to help, he can. Please, Justice.” She knew she was being a fool. If she had any sense left, she would turn tail and run, but what kind of person would that make her? She knew firsthand exactly what her father was capable of, and she couldn’t let him destroy another young woman’s life because she refused to help.
“I keep my keys, and I can leave any time I want?” She took a step towards Jagger, who was still holding her arm.
“Absolutely,” he whispered. “You call all the shots from here on out, Justice.” He took a step towards her, and she could have sworn that she could hear his heart beating. “You are free to gowhenever you’d like,” he promised. Justice could feel his breath on her cheek like a warm caress, and she leaned into him.
“Fine,” she said, pulling her arm free and taking a step back from him. She wasn’t sure what just happened, but she knew she couldn’t let it happen again. She needed to remember that Jagger had abducted her just that morning. She needed to remember that he had been planning on delivering her to her father just hours ago.
And she needed to remember that letting her traitorous body do the thinking for her was a bad idea.
Jagger showed Justice to his sister’s childhood bedroom. They have since turned it into a regular spare room, but he still thought of it as Jules’ room. Justice put her bag and jacket at the end of the bed and sat down.
“I hope this is okay,” Jagger said, looking around the room. “If you need anything, I’ll be just next door.” He nodded over to his room. A part of him worried that if he left her there, she would change her mind and leave. He also knew he had no choice but to trust Justice and hope that she lived up to her word.
