Jethro steps inside. He looks drained. His black henley is rumpled; he needs a shave, and his hazel eyes are shadowed with exhaustion.
He stops the second he sees me standing there. He leaves his hand on the doorknob, his gaze sweeping over me to make sure I’m okay. “Sandra.” His voice comes out rough.
He takes a step toward me, opening his arms like he expects me to just fall into them.
I don’t move. I just stare at him. “Don’t.”
“I had to do it.” He drops his hands, a pleading look crossing his face. “I had to make sure—“
“Save it.” I step forward, grabbing his hand; his fingers shake a little. I pull him toward the hallway. “We’re going to the study. And you are going to listen to me.”
I pull him into the small, wood-paneled room and shut the door behind us, flipping the lock.
He stands in the center of the room, running a hand through his messy hair. He looks like he’s bracing for a fight, and I don’t give him a chance to catch his breath.
“Who gave you the right?” I keep my voice low, but the anger sharpens every word. “Who gave you the right to walk out of this house and gamble with your life without talking to me first?”
“I was protecting my family.” Jethro’s voice rises slightly. “I saw Nero yesterday, Sandra. I saw him sitting outside that boutique waiting for you. I wasn’t going to sit around and wait for them to snatch you.”
“So you walked right into their headquarters instead?” I throw my hands up. “You walked into a warehouse with an envelope of cash and just hoped for the best? You think I want to be safe if it means you get yourself killed?”
“It wasn’t a blind gamble.” Jethro steps closer, his size making the study feel tiny. “I know how to handle guys like Sergio. I know Alpha Law would hold up. I cleared the debt so they literally had no excuse to start a war with us.”
“You paid off my father’s debt.” I let out a frustrated breath. “You paid off the guy who sold me.”
“I didn’t do it for him.” Jethro grabs my shoulders. His grip is firm, but his thumbs rub soothing circles against my sweater. “I would let that man rot in a cell for the rest of his life and I wouldn’t lose a second of sleep. I did it for you. I did it so you never have to look over your shoulder again. So our kid never has to worry about the mafia showing up at the front door.”
“If you had asked me, I would have said no.” I pull away, pacing a few steps away from him. “I would have told you to let Sergio hunt him down. I would have rather stayed locked in this house than give that man one more cent of your money. You rewarded my father for what he did to me.”
“I know.” Jethro’s tone drops, turning raw and exhausted. “And I hate that part of it. But I couldn’t live knowing there was a price tag on your head. I don’t care about the money or the pride. I just want you to be able to walk down the street and breathe. If paying off your father’s mess was the only way to get them to back off, then it was worth it. And our money is yours as well. You’re family now. We take care of our own.”
He watches me, leaning back against the edge of his desk. The anger in the room is still there, but the sharp edges are dulling. Seeing him standing here, safe and whole, overrides the panic I’ve been holding onto all morning.
“You’re an idiot, Jethro.” I wipe my eyes, the fight draining out of me.
“I know.” He pushes off the desk, closing the distance between us. “But I’m your idiot.”
“I’m still mad at you.” I rest my hands on his chest, feeling the steady thump of his heart.
“I know you are.” He reaches up, his fingers brushing the mark on my neck. “But you’re safe now. They recognized the bond. The debt is zeroed out. It’s over. You’re free.”
I look up at him, and my throat tightens. I drop my head against his chest, breathing in the familiar scent of smoke and marshmallow. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me flush against him. I just stand there, letting the adrenaline of the last few hours finally crash.
Deep in my chest, a soft purr starts up. A second later, Jethro’s chest rumbles against my cheek as he joins in, his deep, heavy purr vibrates in perfect sync with mine.
As we stand there purring together, the last of my anger dissolves. The air in the study shifts. It feels lighter. The heavy, suffocating anxiety is gone, replaced by a quiet, grounding warmth.
I pull back just enough to look at his face. His hazel eyes are dark and tired, but there’s a satisfaction in them.
“You really cleared it.” I trace the line of his jaw.
“Every cent.” Jethro covers my hand with his. “Sergio accepted it. Under Alpha Law, you’re officially ours. And I made sure he understood that the bank is permanently closed. If your dad racks up more debt, he’s on his own. We’re done with him.”
Jethro leans down, pressing his lips to the side of my neck. He kisses the skin right below my ear, his scruff scratching pleasantly against my jaw. A warm shiver runs down my spine. The anger gone now, replaced by a sudden, intense need to just feel him. To reassure myself that he’s here, for real.
I grab the hem of his henley and pull. Jethro gets the hint, pulling the shirt over his head and tossing it onto the leather armchair. The scars from his time in Iraq pale against his skin in the dim afternoon light.
His hands move to the oversized flannel I’m wearing. He makes quick work of the buttons, pushing the heavy fabric off my shoulders and letting it drop to the floor. He reaches for the waistband of my leggings, pushing them down along with my panties.
