The line cuts.
I calm myself down enough that I can stand without crumpling to the floor a second later. Mike is helping Jack. He knows a lot more than I do about . . . well, everything, so I have to think . . . No. I need to save Jack.
I pack up as much as I can, my stomach writhing like a snake’s nest the whole time. I know Jack may want nothing to do with me after this, but I can’t risk him going to jail because of me. I can’t. If having sex with David frees Jack, I’ll do it.
The thought sends me running to the toilet. I barely lift the lid before vomiting. Afterward, I wash my face and hands and peer into Jack’s room. How was it that twelve hours ago I was the happiest I’ve ever been right there on his mattress?
I turn out the lights and leave Jack’s room forever.
After locking up the house, I shuffle across the lawn to my house, carrying a few bags of the things I accumulated in the few short months I stayed with Jack. A rumble comes down the road. I whip my head to see who it is.
Kade parks and staggers off his bike, then sprints toward me. “Jessi, what’s going on? Mike sent me to pick you up and bring you to the club. Where are you going?”
“I—”
He catches me as I collapse, sobs racking my body again. Through my tears, I sniffle. “Austin said that if I come home and give in to David, they’ll drop the charges. I can’t let Jack go to jail because of me. I can’t, Kade.”
Kade holds me. “Shh. Jack’s going to be fine. We have an attorney on retainer. This shit happens all the time. I promise you that Jack will be fine. That’s why Mike sent me to get you, so you could be there when Jack is released.”
He shifts his grip on me and rubs my back. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume Jack doesn’t care if I explain. We have a few people in high places on retainer as well.”
“You do?”
“Jessi, you are not a dumb girl . . . you see things, and I’m sure you can put together why we have an attorney and the police on retainer. We try not to push our luck or rub anything we do in their faces, but nine times out of ten, when we alert them, our problems go away. This thing with Jack, it’s going to go away.”
“I don’t know. Austin and David are working with Tim’s club. What if they aren’t bluffing and come up with something that could put Jack away?—”
Kade flashes his teeth then sobers. “Jessi, I promise they can’t touch him. Our club knows all about Austin and David’s schemes. They’re connected with a sister club, the one Tanner took you to. We made a deal with Tim to use some of his new prospects on a job, and they get a piece of the profit. But now the deal is on thin ice.”
“Because of Austin and David? They’re the new guys, aren’t they?”
“Yep. And everything those two do, we know about, and so does Tim. One call and they get cut off. They won’t try anything if they know what’s good for them.”
My heart flutters at Kade’s words. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Kade ruffles my hair. “Let’s take your shit back to Jack’s. Get cleaned up and we’ll head to the club. Deal?”
“Deal.” I scroll through Jack’s phone and make another call. To Becky.
“What’s up?” she says. “How’s my big brother? Miss me so soon? Or are you in need of some relationship advice?”
Shakily, I respond, “Becky, it’s Jessi. I really hate that this is our first conversation, but your brother has been arrested.”
“Jesus Christ. I thought he was over his shit,” Becky responds.
“It wasn’t his fault. He was protecting me. Jack told me to call Mike. He’s calling their attorney. I know I don’t really know you, and I hate this is how we are meeting, but do you think you can come to town sooner?”
“Girl, I’ll be there ASAP. Booking a flight right now. Text me from your phone so I have your number. I’ll text you as soon as I land. Thank you for letting me know. Jack is a dumbass and a hothead at times, but he’ll be okay. Don’t worry. You’re new to the club. This shit literally happens all the time. I thought my older and wiser brother was done with it. Sorry he’s not.”
I let out a long breath. “Okay. Becky, thank you. I’ll fill you in when you get here.”
“Of course. Thank you for looking out for Jack. He deserves to have someone there for him after all these years of him always being there for everyone else.”
CHAPTER 57
JESSI
Kade stands guard behind me as I push open the club doors. His need to glance at me every two seconds drives me crazy. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
