He shrugs. “I need a new one anyway. Sit.”
I sit as carefully as I can and try to explain what happened, aware that he’s holding my hand. He gives me his focused attention, but it’s intimidating. His pupils dilate, and the veins in his neck bulge, but he conceals his expression. He rubs his thumb over my hand and listens to every detail, and I almost forget he’s my neighbor and not my friend.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
I jump, and my entire body starts shaking. My gaze lasers on the door.Who’s out there?
Jack stands in front of me, his stance as rigid as an attack dog’s. “Go into the kitchen and wait for me,” he says.
I silently agree and leave the room. I watch from around a corner as Jack grabs something from a table near the door before he whips it open.
Austin’s face appears. “Jack, did Jessi come over here? She freaked out on my buddy and ran out of the house. She fucked him up good. What the fuck is wrong with her? I swear when I get my hands on the bitch, I’ll make her pay.”
Jack moves toward my stepbrother, and Austin stumbles backward. Wow. Austin actually looks scared. “Austin, yourbuddy,” Jack spits, “tried to sexually assault your sister.”
Austin gapes at our neighbor. “No way. David wouldn’t do that, bro. He has girls all over him. He doesn’t need to force someone to fuck him. Jessi freaked out on him. She’s a spoiled brat.”
Jack has Austin’s shirt fisted now, holding him two inches from his face—with a gun to his head. My mind reels.Why does Jack have a gun, and what is he thinking pointing it at Austin’s head? He could go to jail for something like this.I glance at thefloor, sure I’m wearing a hole in the carpet as I shift my weight from one foot to the other, watching everything unfold.
“Austin, listen here. Your friends are dirtbags, and if you were any sort of brother, you wouldn’t put your sister in this situation. But you’re no better than them, are you?”
Austin cuts him off, seething. “She isn’t my sister. She is nothing to me.”
When Jack continues, his voice is eerily calm. “I have heard the things you and your buddies have said to her. So here’s how it will go. You will walk back to your house and tell every single one of your fuckboy friends to stay the hell away from Jessi. If they don’t, they’ll have to deal with me. I can promise they don’t want that. You will also stay the fuck away from her. Do you understand? If you come near her or say anything remotely insulting to her, it will be the last words you say. Got it?” He lets go of Austin and pushes him toward our house.
“What the fuck, dude!” Austin screeches.
“Don’t try me, Austin,” Jack warns.
“Okay. Okay. So, how will that work since Jessi lives with me?”
Jack shoves the gun into his waistband. “That’s easy. She’ll stay here until your parents are back.” Austin stares with shock, confusion, and red-hot rage.
“I wasn’t kidding,” Jack says. “Let every single one of them know not to speak to or look at her or I will be the last person they see on this good earth.”
The door slams shut before Austin can reply.
“Jack,” I hiss in the stillness that follows, not believing the authority in my voice. “What the hell?”
Jack’s stance softens the moment his eyes meet mine. “Jessi. I told you to stay in the kitchen.”
“I can’t live with you. This’s crazy. You threatened Austin with a gun! Are you insane? What are you thinking? What if he calls the cops?”
Jack towers over me. A mix of emotions flashes in his eyes, despite his poker face. His blood-covered chest heaves up and down, and the veins in his neck and arms shift as he moves. “They are lucky that’s all I did. Let them call the cops, but you’ll live with me for now, and that’s the end of it.”
“What about my parents?” I say.
“I’ll take care of it, Jessi. I’ll take care of you.”
CHAPTER 14
JACK
Irun my hands through my hair and pace around my room. What was I thinking, pulling a gun on that kid in the middle of our neighborhood? The MC has the local cops on our payroll to turn a blind eye when needed, but they won’t overlook something like this when it’s not the club’s business. What got into me? I’m never this reckless.
I toss my gun into the drawer and slam it closed. To make matters worse, I told Jessi she’s living with me now. Granted, it will be a night or two until things smooth over with Austin. I’m sure everyone will calm the fuck down and grow up, especially if Jeremy comes back early, like I’m hoping he will. Jessi needs him. He should’ve never left her like this.
The minute I tell him what went down tonight, I hope he’ll make the smart choice and come home.
