“We should get going,” Heather said, though her eyes held regret.
“Thanks for letting me come here to recover. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Stay here as long as you want. My folks never use this place anymore and it’s far too rustic for my sister, Charlotte. There’s no one nearby. You’d be safe here.”
Could he do that? Stay here indefinitely? Would Callie and Jonathan come visit him every so often? Would it be enough for them? It wouldn’t solve the immediate problem of Jonathan talking about his father. Plus, there weren’t a whole lot of jobs in this remote location and he sure as hell wouldn’t allow his cousin to send him money to live on.
“I might stay a few more days but not too long. I have to get back to work.”
Heather nodded and grabbed her last bag then walked down the stairs. Scott followed. Jack stepped toward Callie whose eyes filled with tears.
“We’ll talk to you soon, right?”
He took a deep breath and let it out slow. “That might not be a good idea anymore, Calico. This little guy is talking more and more lately. I’d never forgive myself if Cabrini did something to hurt you or our son.”
Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes. He wiped one away then leaned in for a kiss. Jonathan twisted in his arms.
“So, what was that last night and all week?” Her voice trembled with hurt. “Was it good-bye or simply convenient sex?”
Damn. He shouldn’t have come here. Touched her. It had complicated matters more.
“Never.” Stroking her cheek with his thumb, he said, “It was me letting you know how I felt. Wanting something decent in my life for even a short time. Maybe we shouldn’t have but I don’t regret it. I hope you don’t either.”
Closing her eyes, she leaned into his hand. “I hate this, Jack. I want it to be over. I want to stop being afraid all the time.”
“Me too. I promise you, Calico, I’ll never stop trying. Even if it kills me, I’ll find a way to get you out of Victor’s reach.”
The fear in Callie’s eyes shook him to his soul. He kissed her one more time them led her down the stairs and outside. Shuffling Jonathan in his arms, he kissed his son’s cheek.
“I love you, pal. Don’t ever forget it, please.”
The child snapped into awareness and his eyes grew wary.
“You tum a us, daddy.” It wasn’t a question. It was a demand.
“I can’t. I need to stay here and you need to go with Mommy.”
Jonathan wrapped his arms tighter around Jack’s neck. “No, you tum home.”
“I wish I could, pal. But you have to go with your mom and I can’t.”
The arms clenched even more as the boy dug his face into Jack’s neck. Sobs floated out. His stomach flipped and tightened at the sound.Screw Cabrini and go with them.But that wasn’t a viable option.
“I’ll put you in your car seat and you can play with the new truck I got you.”
The distraction didn’t work and Jonathan’s arms strangled him as he walked toward the vehicle, rubbing the boy’s back. He wasn’t sure who he was trying to soothe. His child or himself. Scott opened the door but Jonathan’s wails rose in volume.
“No, daddy, pease. You tum home.”
“Jonathan,” Callie scolded though her voice held her pain. “It’s time to go home. Please sit in your seat so we can leave.”
He wanted to promise the child he’d see him soon. But he’d never give a promise he couldn’t keep. Hugging the boy close, he kissed his tear-stained cheeks.
Jonathan struggled in his arms and his injuries reminded him he hadn’t fully healed yet. Glancing at Scott, he tilted his head.
As Scott lifted Jonathan from his arms, the child let out a high-pitched screech. Jack took a few steps back, the agony of his son’s cries piercing through him. Shit, this wasn’t right. How could he have spent the week here, leading Jonathan to think he’d be around always?
“I love you, pal. Don’t ever forget that, please. I love you.” He touched his son’s head as Scott pulled him away. Callie stepped back allowing Scott to put Jonathan in his car seat. It wasn’t easy with the boy twisting around and yelling. She looked back at Jack then ran to him for one last kiss. He didn’t want to let her go either. Jonathan’s screams broke them apart.
