Part 14 (1/2)

”You stay with Jaxon, okay? Or with Mac once he gets back. Don't go anywhere without either of them until I get there. Understand?” Jase tells Chris, his expression stern.

He looks at Jaxon to make sure he's fine with that. Jaxon, of course, nods in understanding. ”You have my word she'll be safe.”

”Thank you.” Turning back to Chris, he says, ”I'll be home in a couple of days. You need me or if anything else happens, call me or Andrew.” The look he gives her says she better do as he says.

After the rest of us say good-bye, Jase and I get in my car, with Mac following us in his, and head to the hotel. Although it wouldn't make a difference, because no matter the outcome, these f.u.c.kers are going to pay, I hope Jase's phone call to this Emilio guy proves Damien is working of his own accord. I know Jase can take care of himself, but d.a.m.n if I'm going to let him.

Damien is going down, and I'm the man who's going to take him there.

Jase I'm sitting on the couch in our hotel room with my elbows resting on my knees. My head is bent, my loose hair falling around my face. I have my phone gripped in my hand. I really don't want to make this phone call. It's not that I'm scared, it's just that when I left Georgia, I had no intention of ever going back or a.s.sociating with anyone I left behind, except maybe my parents, if they ever came around and accepted that I am the way I am. I knew Damien would never let it slide that I killed his brother; Damien is very protective of his family. But I had hoped he wouldn't find me. It was a foolish hope.

I look over at Andrew, who is leaning against the dresser with his arms crossed over his chest, showing off muscle and tattoos. He's angry, and I can't say I blame him, but he understands the importance of finding out what we're dealing with. Even if Emilio says Damien is working of his own accord, we still need to be careful and vigilant. Emilio isn't normally the type to lie, unless he has something to gain. I don't really see him gaining anything from taking me out, but I still wouldn't put it past him.

Mac is sitting across from me in another chair. He runs his hands through his hair, something I noticed he does when he's agitated. I know the feeling. This s.h.i.+t is getting old, and I'm ready for it to be done with.

A small part of me wishes Damien would just go ahead and come for me. I wouldn't give in easily, and at least Chris would be out of danger. If Damien is alone, I'm not really worried-we're evenly matched-but if he has the help of Emilio and his men, then I'm pretty much screwed.

I release the tight grip I have on my phone. Another shattered one is the last thing I need. I scroll through the contacts I had to retrieve from the hard drive of my old phone, and find Emilio's number. It rings four times before he picks up.

”Well, h.e.l.lo, Jase, it's been too long,” Emilio says smoothly, his Spanish accent barely distinguishable.

I'm not surprised he knew it was me. Emilio is the type of gang leader who keeps tabs on all his men, including the people they a.s.sociate with. I'm sure he logged my number the first week Damien and I started seeing each other.

”Emilio,” I mutter into the receiver.

”I must admit, I'm a bit surprised you called me after the way you left town. Bad business there.”

I find that hard to believe. Emilio isn't easily taken off guard. He expects the unexpected and looks at s.h.i.+t from all angles. Nothing surprises him.

Not willing to p.u.s.s.y foot around, I get straight to the point. ”We both know you're smarter than that, Emilio. I know you're smarter than that, and you know I'm smarter than that. I'm sure you've been waiting on my call. What I want to know is, are you behind Damien and his vengeance to take me down?”

There's silence for a few seconds, before I hear Emilio laughing on the other end of the line. I grit my teeth, and choke back my retort. It's best to not p.i.s.s him off too much. I need information only he can give me. We need to find out where he stands.

”Boy, you've got big b.a.l.l.s calling me and demanding s.h.i.+t. Fortunately for you, I've always liked you. Damien has gone off the f.u.c.king deep end. I never agreed with what that bratty little brother of his was doing, but I kept my mouth shut because it didn't affect me. Now though, I have no idea what that b.a.s.t.a.r.d will do next, and that's something that can affect me. You know I don't like being left in the dark.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. I have no doubt Emilio would lie, but through his tone and words, I don't believe he is. The last several months of my and Damien's relations.h.i.+p, I noticed Damien acting strangely. He seemed to be more secretive. There were several times he came home angry with Emilio. He never showed his anger to him directly; he wasn't stupid and knew that s.h.i.+t would land him in a world of pain. But he'd stomp around the house, and I'd hear him cursing him under his breath. I never asked what the problem was; I didn't want to be involved.

”Did you know he's looking for me?” I ask.

Emilio releases a breath and it whooshes across the line. ”I do. He came to me wanting my help. When I told him no, he stormed out, and I haven't seen him since. Good riddance to the little s.h.i.+t. I was about to cut him loose anyway. Too much drama. I don't need attention drawn to me and he was becoming reckless.”

”f.u.c.k!” I hiss over the receiver. ”No one on the street has seen him? Do you know what man power he has?”

”No, Jase, I don't. All I know is he came to me wanting to use some of my men. He's lost his mind if he thought I was going to allow him to use me or what's mine for his own gain. My men are loyal to me and many others out on the street don't much care for Damien, so whatever he has can't be much.”

Well, that's good at least. Knowing Emilio isn't part of this sends relief through me. But then again, Damien is unpredictable and there's no telling what he might do.

”Thanks, Emilio,” I grind out between my teeth. It bites my b.a.l.l.s to be grateful to the man, but he's actually made this situation a tiny bit better by answering my questions. Emilio is a hard-a.s.s and rules his streets with an iron fist, but I've never had any personal beef with him. It still doesn't make me like him any more, though. I've heard some s.h.i.+t about him that's made me cringe. If I never hear from or see him again, it'll be too soon.

”Don't sound so enthusiastic in your gratefulness,” he chuckles, but then sobers. ”I've never had any problems with you, Jase. You always stayed out of my business. That's the only reason I've left you alone. A bit of advice: watch your back. You know how crazy Damien is when it comes to his family. He's out for blood and it won't be pretty.”

His words ring true. Damien is extremely protective of his family, willing to do anything to protect them, even taking things to the extreme. There was a time his little sister, Marie, was having problems with a boy in school. They were in tenth grade. He'd pick on her, nothing excessive, just name calling and other stupid s.h.i.+t kids do at school. Damien found out and beat the s.h.i.+t out of the kid. He ended up with a broken jaw and arm. I didn't find out about it until weeks later, when his punk little brother was bragging to some guys at a party.

We hang up a few minutes later, after Emilio tells me to contact him if I'm ever in town. Yeah, like that s.h.i.+t will ever happen.

I get up and pocket my phone, only then bringing my eyes to Mac and Andrew.

”He says he has no idea where Damien is. Damien came to him asking for some men, but he refused,” I tell them.

”Thank f.u.c.k for that,” Andrew mutters.

”Do you believe him?” asks Mac.

”Normally I wouldn't trust Emilio, but this time I think he's telling the truth. He's got nothing to gain by putting himself and his men in the middle of this. Emilio only does s.h.i.+t if he gets something out of it. There's nothing Damien can offer him that he wants or doesn't already have. So, yes, I believe him.”

”Well, at least we have a better picture of what we're dealing with,” Mac says, and stands. ”I need to get home. There's not much more we can do until Damien shows us his next move.”

I understand his words, but they still p.i.s.s me off. With us not having a clue where Damien is or what he's planning next, we have no idea what to plan for. It just feels wrong sitting around doing nothing. Damien could show his face at any moment and this time he could actually hurt Chris, not just scare her. My body vibrates with anger at the thought.

”We'll be home day after tomorrow,” Andrew tells Mac, then looks at me. ”I just want one more day here while Ally has the transplant done.”

I nod, letting him know I understand the importance of him being here. His kid was on the verge of dying, no way would I let him leave before he deems it safe enough. This is where he needs to be at the moment, and I need to be with him. I honestly believe Chris is safe where she is. I may not know Jaxon well, but he's a brick house, and I realize he knows how to keep her safe. If I thought for one second Jaxon wasn't capable of watching out for Chris, I'd be back in Jaded Hollow in a heartbeat.

Even so, I still turn to Mac. ”You keep my sister safe.” It comes out more as a demand than a request, but I know Mac will do what I said. He's another person I trust with Chris's life.

”Alright, you two stay safe. And you take care of that little girl of yours, Andrew.” With a nod, he leaves me and Andrew standing in the hotel room.

”If you need to head back now, I'll understand,” Andrew says, coming toward me.

I watch as he crosses the room, his strong legs eating up the s.p.a.ce between us. He's wearing a pair of gray sweats, recommended by the doctor because they're soft and won't press against the site where the bone marrow was drawn, and a black s.h.i.+rt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. His dark hair is a mess and the scruff on his jaw brings my body to life. This man gets my blood pumping like no other.

When he's standing in front of me, he lays one arm on my shoulder, and I feel him fiddle with my hair. He's watching me, waiting for my answer.

”No, I'm staying. I know Jaxon and Mac will keep Chris safe until I get back. You need me here.”

I know it's not the others' responsibility to watch after Chris and make sure nothing happens to her, but I also know Jaxon and Mac are friends and they understand the need for me to be here. It doesn't mean I care for Chris less than Andrew, it just means Chris doesn't need me as much as Andrew does because she has people there for her who can protect her.

As selfless as Andrew's offer was, I still see relief flicker in his eyes. He's torn between the s.h.i.+t that's going down with Damien and being here for Ally. I know Andrew loves Chris, but his love for Ally is stronger. She's a child and she needs all the support and love she can get right now.

”You sure?” At my nod, he grips my hair and pulls my head back for a bruising kiss. I noticed he likes doing that; controlling me for his kiss by my hair. I have no problem with it; it's hot as f.u.c.k.

Our tongues plunder each other's mouths. The grip he has on my hair tightens when I nip his bottom lip, which only spurs me on more. I like rough s.e.x and Andrew gives just the amount of roughness I need.

He pulls my head back and attacks my neck. I feel him sucking, and I know there will be a mark left behind.

Grabbing the hip that didn't have a needle poked in it, I grind my rock-hard d.i.c.k into his. He growls against my throat and takes a bite, causing me to hiss in pleasure.

He releases my hair and takes a small step back. Planting his hand on my chest and looking at me with scorching heat in his eyes, he shoves me backward, until my back hits the wall. He stalks forward, taking his s.h.i.+rt off as he goes, and doesn't stop until we're lined up, touching from head to toe. He grips the bottom of my s.h.i.+rt, yanks the material over my head, and slams his mouth back on mine.

I run my fingers through his hair and yank him closer. Our chests meet, and I feel the rapid beat of his heart, just like mine.