Unbreakable (Heart of Stone #7)

by K. M. Scott

“Okay. Someone give me a pen and I’ll sign whatever you want, as long as the next thing I get to do is get on one of those planes. Can you tell me where I’d find it, by the way?”

  Helen handed me a pen and asked, “Do you have somewhere to go, dear?”

  I looked back at her and smiled. “I need to go find the man I love. I need to get to New York City!” I said as I quickly signed my name on every line I was told to.

  Everything seemed to move at light speed when you had money, and within a few hours I had landed at JFK. Luckily, the plane had a bathroom I was able to use to freshen up so I didn’t look like a stray dog when I returned home.

  A driver met me at the gate with a car and a cell phone and was soon waiting outside as I ran up to Gage’s place. Sadly, after knocking on the door and getting no answer, I called his phone yet again, but there was no answer there either. So I tried Nina and hoped someone I cared about still answered my calls. The phone rang and I crossed my fingers hoping she’d answer.

  “Hello?” I heard as I jumped for joy at the sound of her voice.

  “Nina? It’s Jordan! I’m here at Gage’s place, but he’s not here and he hasn’t been answering his phone. Please tell me you heard from Daryl and know something about where he is.”

  “Jordan, oh my God! We thought you were dead. Gage was so worried that awful woman found you and—”

  “Nina, where is he? I can’t get in touch with him because his phone just goes to voicemail and I tried his apartment, but he’s not here. Please tell me you know he’s okay.”

  “Oh, he’s alive and well, but I don’t know where he is now, honey. Call Daryl. He’ll know. He’s been helping Gage look for you.”

  I took Daryl’s number and quickly thanked Nina, promising to see her as soon as I could, before calling my favorite mountain man. Never terribly expressive, Daryl sounded like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders when he heard my voice.

  “Jordan? Christ, it’s good to hear from you. Where are you?”

  I looked up and down the street Gage lived on and smiled. “The greatest city in the world and right where I belong. I’m in front of Gage’s apartment, but there’s no answer. Do you know where he is?”

  Instead of telling me where Gage was, he peppered me with questions. “What happened to you? How did you get back to the city in one piece? What happened to Hailey and the whole Dalton Spear connection?”

  “I promise to tell you everything as soon as I find Gage. Please, I have to find him, Daryl.”

  “Yeah, yeah, of course. I forgot my manners there for a second. He mentioned something this morning about smashing his phone. He’s been pretty upset. I think he’s at his office trying to find someone who can say where you are.”

  Finally, I knew where Gage was. “I have to go Daryl. Thank you so much!” I said hurriedly as I ran to the car.

  I directed the driver exactly where to go, and in a flash, we were heading downtown to Varo Security. When we pulled up, I didn’t even let the car come to a full stop.

  I burst through the door and saw no one around. I raced toward his office, my heart slamming against my chest, and stopped as my hand touched the doorknob. How was I going to explain to him all the changes that had happened in the last few days?

  I didn’t know, but I did know I didn’t want a life without Gage. Slowly, I opened the door and saw him sitting behind his desk. He looked like he hadn’t had a peaceful moment for far too long. I could change that, though. Everything Dalton had given me could be more than just money to buy things.

  It could be peace, once and for all. A peaceful life for both of us, just like Nina had with Tristan and the kids.

  He looked at me with those dark blue eyes so full of pain and sighed for a long moment. I said nothing, not knowing the right words someone should say when everything in the world has changed.

  “Jordan. How? How did you get here?” he asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

  “I thought the same of you too. I’m so happy to see you.”

  He stood and rushed toward me to take me into his arms. “What happened to you? Where did she take you?”

  I pressed my cheek to his chest and breathed in the soft smell of his laundry detergent. It was a small and seemingly meaningless reminder of a simple act that meant so much. “I don’t want to talk about that now. All I want to do is feel your arms around me and know I’m safe again.”

  Gage pulled away from me and hung his head. “I failed, Jordan. I promised you I’d protect you, and when it came time to prove I could, she got you. I failed.”

  Cradling his face, I saw the hurt and disappointment in it. He’d spent days thinking Hailey had killed me because of him. I hated that he’d blamed himself.

  “You didn’t fail, Gage. You were there when I needed you in South Carolina, and you protected me when Justin tried to take me up near the cabin in Wyoming. You made sure we got to New Orleans—”

  He stopped me, shaking his head. “Where she found you and took you away to kill you, Jordan.”

  “Don’t do this, Gage. We have a chance to be happy after everything we went through. Don’t let your past and whatever happened back there ruin what we can have.”

  Looking away, he said, “I’ve spent so long worried that what happened then would happen again with you. I never told you, but I failed before and someone died. A girl who idolized me and believed in me. She thought I’d always be there, and when I had to be to save her, I failed and she died.”

  I took his hands in mine, worried if I didn’t hold onto him that I’d lose him. “I’m not a girl, Gage. I’m a grown woman who doesn’t want a protector more than she wants a man who loves her.”

  He looked down at where I touched him and shook his head. “I was supposed to keep you safe. That’s my job.”

  The heartbreak in his voice tore at me, but I had to show him how wrong he was. “I wasn’t a client, Gage. I’m the woman you say you love. If you do, you’ll listen to me now. Whatever happened in the past, you have to let it go. You didn’t fail with me. You did everything you could to support me, like a man should with the woman he loves. That’s all any woman can ever ask for. We don’t want superheroes, Gage. We just want a man who takes care of us like we take care of them. I want that. That’s you.”

  I waited as he continued to avoid my gaze, hoping that the words that had come from my heart could help him see how wonderful he was because if they didn’t, I wasn’t sure what I could say to convince him how much I loved him.

  When he finally looked up, I knew it hadn’t been enough.

  “I love you, Jordan. I do, but I can’t stand knowing when you needed me most I wasn’t good enough to protect you.”

  “What are you saying? What does that mean, Gage?” I asked, terrified at what his answer would be.

  He sighed and shook his head. “I’m glad you’re okay, Jordan. Have a good life. You deserve it.”

  As he turned away, I grabbed hold of him and cried, “No! Gage, no! Don’t do this! We have our whole future ahead of us. Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I can’t risk failing again!” he bellowed. I stepped back in surprise and he said in a much quieter voice, “You deserve better, Jordan. I hope you find it.”

  After everything we’d been through and all that had changed in my life over the past few days, I stood there with tears rolling down my cheeks as the truth of who Gage had always been finally sunk in. It didn’t matter what I said. Until he believed what I believed, he’d always see himself as a failure and I’d never change that.

  Only he could.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Gage

  The Sunset Park neighborhood looked the same as it had the last time I’d driven through it nearly three months before right after that day I told Jordan I couldn’t be with her. I saw in her eyes she wanted to fight me, to convince me that I was wrong about how big a failure I’d been to her. She couldn’t see it. She wouldn�
��t see it, but I worried what if she did someday? What if I stayed with her and she let herself believe she was safe, and then one day when she needed me, I failed again?

  I knew now I wasn’t that man I’d convinced myself I was. That hadn’t changed anything, though. Every day, I thought about going to her. I thought about finally letting myself go to her apartment and begging her to take me back.

  I never did, though.

  My phone rang and I saw on the screen it was Nina calling. It had been a few months since I talked to her. I’d expected to hear from her after what happened with Jordan, but she never called. I’d seen Tristan a few times since, and he’d been the same man he’d always been toward me.

  “Gage? It’s Nina. How are you?”

  “I’m good,” I lied. “How are things at the Stone house out there? I bet those kids are growing like weeds.”

  She chuckled at my lame comment. “They are! That’s why I’m calling, actually. We’re having a little party for the triplets and hoped you’d come out here to join us.”

  “A party?” I asked as I turned the corner to head for the Taconic. “When?”

  “Well, this afternoon. I know it’s short notice, but I really would love to have you there.”

  Knowing her penchant for matchmaking, I had to ask the obvious question. “Is Jordan going to be there, Nina?”

  There was a long silence before she answered, “Yes, she definitely will be. I hope that won’t stop you from coming.”

  I wanted nothing more than to see Jordan, but what if she’d moved on? “Is she…will she be alone or is she bringing someone?”

  “Bringing someone? No, she won’t be bringing anyone to the party. So will you come?”

  Without hesitating, I said, “I’ll be there. What time?”

  “Two hours from now. Say three o’clock?”

  “I’ll be there, Nina. It’ll be nice to see you and Tristan and the kids again.”

  “Great! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. The party’s at the house next to ours. You remember the one closest to us on the left?”

  I had to smile. The Stones sure did know how to spend money. “You guys bought that house? Planning on making it a playhouse for the kids?”

  “Something like that. See you at three, Gage.”

  At just before three o’clock, I pulled up to the gates of the new Stone house and was let in by a guard. I drove up the long driveway to the home, impressed by the number of cars I saw. Nina and Tristan must have invited ten people for each kid. It seemed like a lot for people not even five years old.

  Two men dressed in all black uniforms waved me on toward the biggest garage I’d ever seen and stopped me in front of the doors. Looking in, I saw six cars parked inside.

  Rolling down my window, I said, “Just park anywhere or are we doing a valet thing today, gentlemen?”

  “We’ll take care of your car, sir,” the one said, so I parked it and got out.

  “Thanks,” I said as I handed him my keys. “I might not be staying too long, so park it somewhere close for a quick getaway.”

  I was hoping to convince Jordan to leave with me after I’d stayed long enough not to offend the Stones. We had a lot to talk about, but first, I’d have to show her I was different from the man who sent her away all those months ago.

  Stopping to look at the house, I couldn’t help but be impressed. Slate steps led to enormous dark brown wooden doors, and the cream and brown colored stone façade of the home screamed money. I’d seen this house many times before while living on the grounds of Tristan and Nina’s home next door, but now that I was up close, I had to say it rivaled the old one. Maybe Tristan was trying to buy up the neighborhood.

  Inside, I passed through a foyer with fifteen foot ceilings, taking a moment to admire the wrought iron and glass light fixture hanging overhead that reminded me of one at Tristan’s Garden District house.

  The guy sure did know how to live.

  Guests mingled in the living room directly ahead of me, so I walked in and looked around for the host and hostess or their children but didn’t see anyone I recognized. I headed toward the fireplace on the far wall with stone that matched the outside of the house and stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out onto a patio and outdoor kitchen area. The barbeque set up alone looked like it cost more than I made in a year, but I had to admit I liked that part of the house.

  “Gage! Thank you for coming! Isn’t the house gorgeous?” Nina said as she walked toward me.

  “It is,” I answered with a smile. “Are you guys planning to buy up the whole county?” I joked.

  She winked at me and shook her head. “Oh, this isn’t our house. It’s Jordan’s. And since I’m being honest, this isn’t a party for the kids. It’s a housewarming party for her. She just bought this place last month and finally moved in the other day. I hope you aren’t mad about the subterfuge.”

  What Nina was saying didn’t make any sense. Jordan couldn’t afford a place like this. A house like this one cost at least a couple million. “Are we talking about the same person, Nina? Jordan’s a school teacher.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jordan walk into the room and knew instantly that Nina hadn’t been joking with me. She looked like the same woman I’d always known, but there was something different about her now. Something about the way she carried herself looked like she’d found the life she’d always dreamed of.

  But who had she found it with? My heart sunk. Nina must have finally matched her up with one of Tristan’s wealthy friends.

  A waiter offered me a drink, but I waved him off. Turning to face Nina, I said, “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you’ve never been cruel before now. I don’t need to see Jordan with some wealthy guy who can give her everything her heart desires to know I fucked up, Nina. I’m out of here.”

  Before she could make some excuse for what was going on, I headed for the door, but just as I made it to the foyer I heard from behind me Jordan say, “I told Nina you wouldn’t be interested, but you know her. Always the matchmaker.”

  I stopped and closed my eyes as she spoke. I didn’t want to go, but I couldn’t stay and watch her with another man.

  Mustering every ounce of courage I had inside me, I turned around and saw her standing there in a black sweater dress that hugged her body perfectly. Her skin was lighter than it had been months ago when we spent those days on the run and her blond hair was longer, but she was still the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. Her green eyes focused on mine like she was searching for something in my face.

  “You and your husband or boyfriend are very lucky. This is a beautiful home,” I finally got out, each word tasting like ash in my mouth as I said it.

  Jordan smiled and looked around at the foyer we stood in. “It is a beautiful home, but I’m afraid you’re wrong about the other part. This place is all mine. No boyfriend and no husband here.”

  A few people walked past me as I stared at her, stunned by what she’d said. As she greeted them, I tried to figure out how this had all happened on an elementary teacher’s salary.

  When her guests had finally left, she took a step toward me. “I guess you’re probably wondering how I could afford something like this, right? Well, when you’re Dalton Spear’s daughter and he leaves you everything, it’s not hard.”

  “His daughter?”

  “Yeah. I only got to spend a few hours with him before he died, but he arranged for me to inherit everything he had. Houses, cars, planes, his business. You name it, I got it.”

  I had to smile. What she always said was true. Good things did happen to good people, and they’d finally happened to her.

  “Sounds like the kind of life you’ve always wanted. I’m happy for you, Jordan.”

  “Thanks. It’s a good life. There’s only one problem with it,” she said with a sigh.

  I looked around and couldn’t imagine what that problem could be. She had everything a person could want. “A problem? Seems like the
kind of problem most people would kill for a chance to have.”

  Nina called for Jordan to come into the living room. Flashing me a smile, she squeezed my hand and said, “Please stay. We can talk after, okay?”

  “Maybe I’ll come back another time. This really isn’t my type of get-together.”

  Her smile faded, but she just turned and left to go into the living room. I walked past a couple as they came through the front door and headed toward my car, disappointed this wasn’t ending like I’d hoped it would. I knew it was my fault. She wanted me to stay, but I didn’t fit in her world now.

  “Gage Varo!”

  I turned around just as I reached the garage and saw Jordan marching toward me. The look on her face told me she had a whole lot more to say.

  She stopped just a few inches in front of me and took a deep breath before saying a word. And then she let me have it. “You know, you’re the most stubborn son of a bitch I’ve ever met. You push me away when you find out I’m alive that day, and now that you find out I’ve got a great life all on my own, you walk away without even considering fighting for me. What the hell is wrong with you, or is it you never really loved me as much as you claimed?”

  “I’ve loved you since the first time I kissed you, Jordan.”

  My answer only served to frustrate her more. Putting her hands on her hips, she twisted her face into an angry grimace. “Then why do you only seem to want to push me away?”

  “For what it’s worth, I came here to see if you would be willing to take me back. I was an ass and I know it now. I know I needed to deal with my past.”

  “So what’s the problem now?”

  “You told me you’re this wealthy woman like the Stones and all I could think was I don’t belong in your world anymore.”

  “Why? What’s different about me now? I’m not the same woman you fell in love with when she lived in that Brooklyn apartment and taught third graders?”

  “It’s not that,” I said, knowing my answer was lame but unable to explain what I meant.

  Pointing her finger at me, she poked me hard in the chest. “You know what you are, Gage Varo? You’re a snob. That’s what the problem is here. You’re a working class snob. I was perfectly fine for you when I was just this struggling school teacher, but now that I’ve been blessed by one of the greatest gifts anyone can ever get, you don’t think you want to be a part of my life anymore, even though you just claimed that’s exactly why you came out here today.”