Remembering how she had flushed and smiled at the other man, Jacob slowly dragged his gaze away from the door to study her face now. She honestly did appear frightened, but he wondered if that fear was more a result of being caught or if she honestly had been terrified to react to Stefan’s sexual advances.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, forcing away his doubts, and took Allison’s hand, pulling her into his embrace. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sorry, darling. I can be a jealous idiot where you’re concerned. And I’m sorry you were forced to endure that son of a bitch’s hands on you. If they ever come here again, I don’t want you to be alone with them. It’s not safe. I worry what he might do to you. And if he touches you again, I will cut his fucking dick off.”
Allison pulled back and peered up at him, her eyes wide with fear. “I don’t want you at odds with those men, Jacob. They’re dangerous. Far more dangerous than your grandfather or anyone in the Alliance. I worry for you if you accept Demetrius’s offer. And yet I worry what will happen if you don’t. They have connections to the men in the shadows, the ones none of the rest of us know—not even your grandfather, Jacob. If they decide to move against you . . .”
Jacob shook his head. “I shouldn’t have called them in the first place. My grandfather was right.”
Her brows lifted. “I never thought I’d hear you saythat.”
“The Shepherd brothers will have to wait,” Jacob told her. “I have other concerns at the moment. Antonovich’s stabbing me in the back being a rather important one.”
“You’ll have to give Demetrius an answer soon,” Allison pointed out. “I wouldn’t keep him waiting on this. He’s not a patient man.”
Jacob shrugged. “I’ll give it a few days, but then I’ll explain to Demetrius that while I appreciate his offer, I can’t possibly accept. I’m sure he’ll understand . . .”
