“I need to take a leave of absence. There’s a court hearing the day after tomorrow in Valle Perdido, Texas. Maya’s… husband is trying to get custody, but he’s the last person who should be near a child.”
Jason’s jaw tightened. “Should I ask what kind of man we’re talking about?” I knew that look. The one that made my boss appear dangerous because he was… or could be, if someone crossed him.
I hesitated. “Colter Briggs, president of the Grave Sons motorcycle gang. He isolated, controlled, and abused her. I begged her to leave him. She tried numerous times. And now…” I trailed off, shaking my head. “She’s gone, and I’m supposed to fight him for custody of a baby I didn’t even know existed until today.”
“Okay, I’ll get the plane ready. We can be in the air in less than two hours.”
It took a second to register what Jason said. “Wait. What? We?”
He stood and braced his hands on his desk for a brief second before wincing. That shoulder was still bothering him even after all the physical therapy. “Yeah, we,” he said, and crossed his arms over his chest. “You think I’m letting you go to a Texas border town by yourself to face off with the president of a motorcycle gang who abused your sister?”
I came out of the chair. He was being sweet, but… “I can handle it.” Then it dawned on me. “How did you know Valle Perdido was a border town?”
He leveled his gaze at me. “I’ve heard of it before.”
Right. Construction company owner by day, Greek mafia boss by night. Only, I wasn’t supposed to know about the mafia part. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. She named me guardian.”
“And you have a court hearing, which means you need a lawyer too.”
“If I need a lawyer, I’ll get one. But until then, I’ll be fine. I just need maybe a week—” Once I got there, if I needed more time, I’d ask.
He rounded the desk and stopped in front of me. “Cora, you are an incredibly strong woman. I have no doubt you can take care of this yourself. What I’m saying is that you don’t have to. Let me come with you.”
Shaking my head, I said, “No, Jason.” He thought he owed me. “I’m perfectly happy on a commercial flight.”
Anna, his sister, had told him that I’d saved his life. Things had been awkward ever since. This would make it even more so.
“You really want to get custody of your sister’s baby and then drag him through airports where he could get sick?”
My mouth dropped open. If nothing else, I had to give it to him that he was quick on his feet. I hadn’t even thought about that.
“I’m not wrong. Besides, custody and courts always equal complications. If nothing else, at least I can be there in case anything happens.”
I palmed his chest. “Jason, you don’t owe me. I?—”
“Iwantto help you, Cora.”
“I know.” I sighed and dropped my hand from his chest. “But you have enough on your plate. You’re still healing. You run a company. I can’t ask you to drop everything for me.” A weak laugh escaped my lips. “Besides, I can’t exactly afford to drag the head of a construction empire into custody court with me. Judges don’t love drama, and Colter brings enough of that on his own.”
Something dark flickered in Jason’s eyes.
My arms wrapped around myself instinctively. “The last thing I want is to make things worse by pulling you into something messy. He’s dangerous.”
“Please let me do this.”
The words hung between us. Standing there, staring at this man who’d already survived more than most and was still offering to carry someone else’s burden, the answer seemed impossible.
“You aren’t going to take no for an answer, are you?” I might say it again anyway. Jason wants to fix my problems because I saved his life.
“Let me say this in a way you’ll understand. I’m going with you. Either by your side or following behind you. But you are not, and I repeat, not, going alone to a border town with your sister’s psycho husband to fight a custody battle.” He’d moved a little closer with each word and infused them with something more than determination.
Maybe saying no again would be smarter. Perhaps that’s what I’d end up doing if things did get too intense. He couldfollow behind me. Then he’d see everything was fine and realize he could return to Chicago without worrying about me.
But something deep inside refused to form the word.
The truth was brutal and simple: motherhood wasn’t something I felt ready for. Neither was facing Colter. Or dealing with a funeral. Or holding a baby who might look exactly like Maya.
Maybe I could handle all of it, all at once, if I weren’t alone.
