“That wasn’t as much fun as I thought it would be,” Shawn said. “Maybe we should go into the kitchen, make breakfast, and talk about something else.”
Jason nodded. “Get started without us.”
Shawn’s face twisted into a look that said he didn’t take orders from anyone. But he must have decided to let it slide and was out of sight a moment later.
Even with his brother gone, the atmosphere in the room was still tense and Jason’s posture was awkward.
“You’re right,” he said. “It doesn’t change your situation.” He placed his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but it’s not something I like to talk about, and we’re not supposed to share personal information with a witness. It’s easier to transition into the program that way, for both sides. Neither of us is supposed to develop personal attachments.”
The absurdity of his statement made a ridiculous laugh burst from me. “Okay, I’ll try my best not to.”
“Yeah, that ship has sailed,” he said, grim.
“Is it safe with Shawn here?”
“As long as we’re not crushed by his enormous ego.” He glanced down the hall. “I’ll go grab a shirt. Don’t go in there without me.”
“You just said?—”
“His second wife was an American. He’s got a thing for American women, and I suspect blondes, too.”
I thought he was joking, but he looked entirely serious right before he turned and started down the hall. My focus zeroed in on the ugly, purple knot on his skin.
“What is it?” he asked, concerned when he heard my sharp intake of breath.
“Your back looks awful.” I set a gentle hand on his shoulder blade, a few inches away from the wound. “How bad did it hurt when it happened?”
“I don’t remember.” There was no emotion in his voice.
“Because it knocked you out?”
“No.” He struggled to find the answer. “Because that was when he was dragging you away and you were screaming my name.”
28
JASON
Just the memorynow filled my stomach with bile. I’d woken with my face pushed into the disgusting motel carpet, my back on fire and every breath full of stabbing pain. The last thing I’d seen before the bullet slammed into me was Frey taking Laurel away.
I shouldn’t say anything else.
I didn’t trust myself and couldn’t get ahold of these foreign feelings pumping through me. It left me off kilter, yet I only wanted more. Wanted her, even when I knew I shouldn’t. Weren’t we past the point of no return?
So, fuck it. I shut down the protest in my brain and reached out, bringing her close.
“I thought I’d lost you.” I was a damn fool because she wasn’t mine to lose.
Her hands gripped my face to bring it down to hers, and she kissed me with so much passion it was thrilling and terrifying. When it ended, I put my forehead against hers, closing my eyes.
“Jason,” her voice was breathless, “what are we doing?”
“I don’t know.” I pressed my lips to hers softly.
I wished Shawn wasn’t in the other room, banging around in the kitchen, putting pans on the stovetop. We had less than two days left together, and the asshole in me didn’t want to spend them with my brother hanging around.
“Once Bill finds the leak, will it lead him to Frey?”
“I don’t know,” I said again. “Don’t think about it.”
