JESSI
“Wait there”? Where else would I go? Oh shit. Jack must have talked to Kade. Shit.
I pop off a text to Kade to confirm.
Me
Did you happen to see Jack today?
Kade
Are you mad? He made me tell him what happened. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad.
Oh shit. This isn’t good. I’m pacing the floor when the familiar sound of Jack’s bike roars into the drive. I hear his riding boots stomp to the front door. He didn’t even get into the garage before jumping off. I brace myself, unsure of what is about to happen. He almost rips the door off its hinges as he enters.
He stands in front of me in three enormous strides, picking me up and carrying me into the kitchen. He places me on the island moving himself between my legs. His arms are on either side of me, caging me in.
His veins bulge from his neck and his eyes are black, but his expression remains neutral. “Why didn’t you tell me what happened when you got home? You need to tell me when someone hurts you.”
I calmly place my hands on his chest, trying to ground him. “I couldn’t. You were drunk and could barely talk. Then this morning I was too upset—upset with you because you hurt me.”
He freezes, recoiling like I shot him. “Baby.”
“No!” I try sliding off the island to get away from him. “You don’t get to call me baby! You don’t get to send me mixed signals. It isn’t fair.”
He grabs the back of my head and holds it. “I know. I’m an ass. I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I’m so sorry. I’m not good with this stuff. I never cared to be, but I want to be good for you.” He rubs my head and kisses the top of it. “Tell me what happened last night,” he says, cradling my head with his large hands and leaving me no choice but to look him straight in the eyes.
I cringe, the memory washing over me. “I get the feeling that you know the gist of it.”
He sighs. “Baby, tell me what they said.”
He lets his hands fall to my thighs and softly squeezes them. I take a deep breath, finding comfort in his touch. “They said I was a tease. That Kade wasn’t going to get laid. He wasted his money on me because I only like old guys. The only reason you are letting me stay here is because I have sex with you.”
His grip tightens on my thighs. “Is that it?”
“Yeah, that’s about it.”
He hauls me into him again. “That’s the last time they will say anything to you. I have given them chances, but those are over now.”
I push back from him. “I don’t want you to hurt them. I don’t want you to go to jail. They’ll press charges to get to me. I just want to move forward.”
Jack paces the kitchen. “They will not stop unless I stop them. Do you understand? I need to do something about this mess.”
“Jack, what are you going to do? I deserve to know since it’s all to do with me.” I round on him and force him to stand still.
“Jessi, you know how this goes. Not only does me saying anything put the club at risk, but it puts you at risk. It’s not important for you to know the details. Just know that I will take care of it.”
“Jack, I don’t want you doing something that can get you in trouble and put you in jail. It’s not worth it—nothing is worth that. Can’t you stop the illegal stuff all together? I’m not saying leave the club or the shop, but stop putting yourself in the middle of everything. It’s not worth it. Please.”
Jack gives me a smile that doesn’t meet his eyes. “I knew this conversation would come at some point, but this is not the time. It’s a much bigger discussion than this.” He holds me tight against him for a beat. “Trust me, Jessi. Please.”
“I’ll try.”
His smile widens and he doesn’t seem as wild as he did a second ago. “Let’s get you settled and comfortable for the night. You’ve had to deal with your fair share of assholes the last twenty-four hours. Fair enough?”
“Sure. Fair enough.”
Jack draws me a bath. The tension in my muscles washes away the second the warm water engulfs me. In my head, I replay the conversation I had with Sonny. I planned to lay everything out on the table for Jack, but can I handle being with someone who is so deep in the club? There is a high likelihoodthat he’s much more involved in dealings than I thought. Who knows what he’s capable of.
