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My throat hurt, but I didn t care. Thanks for coming for me.
I would never give up on you, you know that. He sat down on the bed, pulling me with
him, and gently kissed my forehead, my temples, the bridge of my nose, the corners of my lips,
and finally settled on my lips.
The scent of him, his warm body everything was overwhelming. It was too good to be
true. We rested in each other s arms for a long time. Jett pulled back first and tucked a stray
strand of hair behind my ear as he looked deep into my eyes. I could ve been too late, though,
in which case I don t know what I would ve done.
His words touched me to the point tears began to cloud my vision again. I smiled
bitterly. You would have moved on eventually. I knew my attempt to lighten up the
conversation sucked, but I had to give it a shot anyway. You would have met another girl to
replace me.
He laughed darkly. I looked up, surprised.
You ve no idea what you re talking about. Maybe I don t want another girl. When I fell in
love with you, I knew I d love you at your worst. Most of all, I knew you had the power to
destroy me in your absence. His dark green eyes probed mine. You re not just any girl for
me, Brooke. You re the only one who matters to me.
Even if the baby s lost? I whispered. Admitting it to him was painful, but it was a
possibility.
His eyes reflected his emotions as he cupped my face and drew me to him. The baby s
okay, Brooke. I talked with the doctor. His voice trailed off, leaving the magnitude of it
hanging between us. I breathed out, relieved, and nodded as Jett continued, Those men won t
hurt you again. They deserved what they got. His serious tone sent a shiver down my spine. I
didn t need to ask if they were still alive. I d heard the gunshots, and I knew what they meant. I
didn t even care who shot them. I looked through his eyes into the depths of his soul, and that
was enough for me.
What about Liz? I asked.
She ll make it. The nurses put her in room 122.
A dark shadow crossed his features. He was withholding something. I watched him rub
the nape of his neck, a habit he had acquired following his father s feigned death, which in turn
reminded me Jett still might not know the truth. I almost didn t want to break our moment,
but I had to tell him.
We have to talk, Jett, I began, adding softly, about your father.
He s alive. I know. He avoided my gaze. You told me two days ago.
Two days ago? Had I slept that long?
My father will pay for what he did to you. A nerve twitched below his left eye. I
promise you he won t harm you again.
No, Jett. I shook my head vehemently. Strangely, I felt defensive of his father, despite all
he had done. Compared to the men, Robert hadn t tried to kill me, but then again, maybe our
meeting had been nothing but the stunt of a good liar. We don t know if it was him. The men
who captured me killed his driver before taking me to that building. It wouldn t make sense.
Your father wanted me out of your life but promised to keep me safe. He knew about our baby.
I don t think he d break his promise.
Jett nodded, but I could tell by his skeptical expression he wasn t convinced. I was about
to recount the meeting with his father when someone knocked, and a physician walked in
holding a chart. Jett stood and they both exchanged glances, before the doctor turned to me.
I see you re awake, Miss Stewart. He stepped closer, and I realized he was young,
maybe five or six years older than Jett. I m Dr. Barn. How are you feeling?
I ve been better. I returned his smile hesitantly.
He retrieved a penlight from his pocket and shone the beam into my eyes. Is your head
hurting?
A little.
It hurt a lot, but acknowledging it would only alarm Jett.
Dr. Barn pushed the penlight inside the pocket of his robe and checked my vitals.
Eventually his attention focused on the chart in his hand.
You received a blow to the occipital lobe, which is the cause of your headache. Results
show no signs of swelling, though. You have no internal bleeding and no signs of trauma. He
peered from me to Jett, who hadn t moved from the spot, and then back at me. Your blood
test shows you re pregnant. Were you aware of your condition?
Yes. I nodded. First term.
It looks like you were lucky, but I would strongly suggest you see your gynecologist
upon your release, he said.
Why? Jett asked. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, ignoring the sudden need to
groan and slap his arm. I was alive, the baby was okay, Jett and I were reunited. Basically, in
spite of the bruises on my arms and the thudding inside my head, I was having the best day of
my life. Yet he looked like he was about to strap the physician to a chair and commence an
interrogation.
I m sure it s just a precaution. I squeezed Jett s arm gently, silently begging him to stop
his intimidation tactic, but his intense gaze remained fixed on the doctor, staring the poor
man down.
Well. Dr. Barn shifted uncomfortably as he considered his words. As far as I can see
from the tests we ve run, nothing s wrong, but of course the drugs even the brief exposure
could have influenced fetal development. The chance of damage is possible but minimal. To
know for sure, we strongly suggest regular checkups. He let out a breath, as though he had
been holding it.
Thank you, Dr. Barn. I shot Jett a confident smile. His face remained a stony mask.
Intense.
Possessive.
Overprotective.
My smile widened at the words my brain chose to describe Jett. Even though he drove
me crazy at times, I was thankful for the fact he never gave up. It was one of the many things I
loved about him.
You re welcome. Dr. Barn shook my hand and then turned to Jett. She ll be released
today. Take her home, and make sure she sleeps off the headache. Brian is expecting you
tonight. Same place as usual.
There was something strange in the way the doctor s tone had become more intimate,
not to mention it was an odd thing to say. Besides, the name Brian rang familiar. And then I
remembered someone had shouted it before I blacked out.
Dr. Barn wished me well and left.
What was he talking about when he said Brian would be waiting for you? What place? I
asked as soon as the door closed.
Long story. Jett sighed and dropped into the recliner, facing me with an expression
that told me he wasn t keen on elucidating.
I inclined my head, my eyes matching his stubbornness. You re lucky I have all the time
in the world, Mayfield. So start spilling.
Sam Dr. Barn and I go way back. He s the only doctor I trust, which is why I brought
you here. He gestured around him. It s his private clinic, where no one would find you. His
eyes shimmered with hesitation, signaling there was more than he let on.
Okay, but who s Brian? What does this have to do with Sam?
Jett remained silent. I wasn t going to drop it, and he knew it. Finally, he caved in.
When Kenny couldn t track your GPS, we had no other choice but to ask my old gang for
help to find your whereabouts.
My eyes widened. I opened my mouth to ask the million questions ambushing my mind
like wildfire, but Jett s fingers pressed against my lips, stopping me. It was the only way.
Either that or giving up. So I struck a deal with Brian, the leader.
What deal? I whispered.
That I return. He looked away, hesitating.
I took a deep breath, and then another, unable to speak. I remembered the few stories he
had told me and knew that part of his life hadn t been a pleasant experience. After he had left,
he had vowed to never return. Now he would because of me.
I did what I had to do, Brooke. It was the only way to find you. Do you understand? He
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