Karlyn was quiet. I hadn’t asked her if I could speak to Jackson alone because, frankly, I knew he’d tell her everything, anyway. She was his Grace. She centered him, gave him peace. I understood their relationship. I’d learned a lot from my little brother in the short time I’d known him. He’d known what had happened to Karlyn before he got involved with her. He didn’t let it stop him from loving her. He saw something in her I assumed most people didn’t.
It was the same with Grace.
Everything she’d been through didn’t mean shit anymore. Who her father was didn’t mean shit either. She was mine. I wasn’t letting her go.
“You should send Jingles,” Karlyn said. “You should all take the night before dealing with any of them. After a good night’s sleep, if you don’t want to talk to any of them, then don’t.” She shrugged. “You don’t owe them anything. They weren’t there for you. You don’t need to bend over backwards for them.”
“It’s not the same thing, baby,” Jackson said. “She didn’t have a choice.”
“For you,” I muttered.
“What?”
“For you, she didn’t have a choice. She either let you go or she died, and I died. Me? I’m the child she gave up. She made the choice to walk away. There was no threat involved.”
“Because your grandfather didn’t know about you. Who knows what he would have done if he had,” Jackson pointed out.
Maybe he was right. But we’d never know because the motherfucker was dead already. Sal killed him. I sent Jingles a text asking him to go pick up Grace and sneak her in through the back.
“Your girl’s right. Let’s take the night and see how things look in the morning. I don’t think I can deal with anything more tonight. I just want to hold my woman in my arms and forget about the fucking world outside.”
“Goodnight, brother.”
“Goodnight.”
Karlyn walked me to the door and followed me into the hall. “King.”
I turned to look at her. She looked back at the door before she spoke.
“Jackson asked me about the video from Trudy’s bakery; he wanted to know what Grace said to upset me. I don’t want to lie to him.”
“You don’t have to lie to him, Karlyn. Grace was hurting badly when she came here. Her mom had passed away not long before; she thought Steele was her father, and he ignored her. Hurt people do hurtful things to others. I’ve forgiven her. If Jackson can’t...” I stared at the door behind her. The one separating me from my brother. “It’s his choice to make.”
Karlyn smiled. “Goodnight, King.”
She slipped behind the door, and I went across the hall to my own room and waited for Grace. We were taking tonight for ourselves. Fuck everyone else.
I left the door cracked open and climbed into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the day. If only it could wash away the shit we were dealing with.
I turned off the water and heard the door close. It took longer than I expected for Jingles to bring Grace back. I walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, and I smiled when I heard Grace gasp.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hi,” she said, her eyes locked onto my chest. “Colleen is here.”
“Why?” I asked as I moved closer. I could grab a pair of boxers and go back to the bathroom and throw them on, but the way Grace was looking at me, like she was starving, had me ready to take a chance. I wouldn’t push. I wouldn’t even make a move, but I would make myself available to her if she wanted to touch me.
“Your mo— I mean, Darcy is staying at Maureen’s tonight. I offered Colleen the room I had been using. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course that’s okay.” She still hadn’t looked up at me, and now she was biting her lip. She was so fucking sexy, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to throw her on the bed and fuck her.
When I stood toe to toe, she reached up and traced the tattoos on my chest. I stood as still as I could, trying not to spook her.
“I want you, King.”
“I’m right here, baby.” My hands went to her hips, but I didn’t pull her close. I let her lead.
“I don’t know if I can.” She finally looked up, her eyes filled with tears.
