“They will be fine, Jack. They know Hank and I are divorcing.” I picked up the gun, squirting a small dot onto the back of the leaf. “Besides, it doesn’t have to be a formal introduction. I’m bringing them to the festival. I thought it would be a good way for them to get to know you. Even if it’s just as the guy who volunteers.”
The corner of his lip shifted up. “Okay,” he said. “I think I can manage that.”
I let out a small sigh. “Good.”
When Saturday rolled around, Ciana was helping me string up the leaf banner Jack and I had made as Nic helped Jack set up the tables. The introduction had gone easier than I expected. Nic and Ciana said hi, and then moved straight to their tasks, anxious to finish so they could enjoy the festival.
“That was easy,” I said as they wandered away into the crowd.
“They want to explore,” Jack said, chuckling. “You remember what it was like being at a festival. All the games and prizes and rides.”
“Yeah.” I nudged him. “And here I was up all night worrying what I’d say and how I’d say it.”
“You have good kids, Jess.”
I watched them split their tickets in half as they walked up to a ride. “I do, don’t I?”
The morning rush passed by in a flurry. Our ciders were selling faster than I could make them, each cup labeled with information about the ice cream project for the shelter. Ciana and Nic returned near noon, begging for more money right in the middle of the biggest rush.
“I need your help,” I said the moment they appeared. “Nic, help me with cider. Ciana, please see what Jack needs.”
She rolled her eyes, but didn’t protest.
Nic stirred the ingredients in the pot, while I continued filling the cups as they were ordered. Occasionally, I’d turn when I caught wind of the magical sounds of laughter sputtering past Ciana’s lips. Jack was leaned toward her, saying something with a haughty smirk to his lips. I couldn’t remember the last time I heard her laugh like that. Carefree and spirited as she smiled at the customers, taking their change for the drinks.
An hour had passed, and they were still in the booth, working alongside us. Ciana sang to herself as Jack made the beat with his mouth. Nic’s head bobbed side to side while I hummed along with her. We’d found a rhythm. A new cadence.
As the day shifted to night, we packed away the supplies and put them into the back of the van Alma sent. Once everything was loaded, we headed back into the festival to ride a few more rides before it was time to go home.
“This one!” Nic called, pointing to a swirling rollercoaster that looked like a sure way to get sick.
My hand reflexively clutched my stomach. “I can’t, Nic. You know I get nauseous easily.”
“I want to go over here.” Ciana tugged on my arm. She was pointing to the face painting booth.
“I’ll take him.” Jack squatted down a little. “That is, if you’re okay with it, little dude.”
Nic shrugged. “Why not?”
Jack looked to me, smiling. I whispered a thank you.
Ciana pulled me over to the booth, her words fluttering past her lips.
“How about this, Mom?” Ciana pointed to a rainbow cat face.
“I love it.”
“And this for you? It’ll match your tattoo.”
She was pointing to a raven’s beak.
“You want me to get my face painted?”
She tugged on me. “Please, oh, please.”
I patted her arm. “Okay.” My heart expanded when I caught the sparkle in her eye. The same sparkle I used to love when she was younger. When the world hadn’t touched her just yet, and her haven was in my arms.
Ciana went first, and I watched as Nic and Jack boarded the ride. Jack’s face was lit up as he patted Nic’s knee, screaming out, hyping him up. Nic was giggling, and then they took off in the sky.
“Mom.” Ciana directed me toward the chair.
I brushed my fingers under her chin. “My beautiful rainbow kitty.”
Sitting, I lifted my face for the painter. Minutes later, we headed to meet the boys, carrying tubs of cotton candy.
Nic high-fived Jack as they exited the ride. Jumped up and down, laughing.
“How was it?” I asked as Jack put his arm around me.
“Crazy but fun.” He paused, eying my face. “A blackbird, eh?”
“You know me.”
He kissed me then. Small and sweet.
“Now I can say I’ve kissed a bird.”
When a shifted giggle swirled behind me, I turned. Nic and Ciana were watching us with curious eyes. Bright and welcoming.
I blushed a little, realizing it was the first time they’d ever seen me kiss someone other than them.
“Why did he kiss you, Mom?” Questions wove in Nic’s words.
Ciana ruffled his hair. “Because that’s what people do when they like each other. Like really like each other.”
She gave me a knowing wink that rattled my instincts awake. The look one woman gave another when they could sense real happiness.
“Come on.” Ciana put her arm around Nic’s neck. “Let’s walk ahead so we don’t catch their cooties.”
I was left with questions. So many questions I needed to take up with her later. She was a growing girl. Nearly fifteen with a great smile and beautiful face.
Whoever she’d been kissing better watch out.
The next hour was filled with greasy fair food and barrels of laughter. Bumper cars, which Ciana and I won against Nic and Jack, and then a lovely stroll through the hay maze.
When I realized it was time to head back, the kids groaned, wanting to continue exploring.
“You know it’s your dad’s night. He’ll be waiting,” I said, laughing at their incessant pleading.
“Ugh,” Ciana said. “Fine.”
We headed down the sidewalk toward my apartment. Jack’s arm around my neck. Nic reaching across Ciana into what was left of the cotton candy.
Jack told us a silly story about a boy and a wolf that had both kids giggling. Ciana so hard she snorted, which erupted another bout of laughter at the pure shock on her face.
“Go on.” I tried to contain my amusement. “Go upstairs and get your stuff. Dad should be here any moment.”
Ciana turned to Jack, her eyes a little shy. “Umm… you’re cool, Jack. We had fun.”
He smirked. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
“Well, uh. Bye.”
She disappeared inside.
Nic hesitated for a moment, and then stuck his hand out. “What she said,” he said, shaking Jack’s hand. And then he followed her.
Jack pulled me into his arms as the kids headed into the apartment. Kissed me deeply, his hand weaving through the back of my hair.
“Today was fun.”
His chin rose, hands wrapped around me. “I think they like me.”
I kissed the tip of his nose. “You made Ciana laugh. That never happens.”
He jerked his head back. “Really?”
Happiness upturned my cheeks. “Yes.”
“Maybe I’m not so bad with kids after all.”
“You were great.”
He kissed me again, releasing me with a little groan that told me he didn’t want to let me go. “Pick you up in the morning?”
“Duh.” I playfully shoved his shoulder.
“Call me when you’re inside.”
“I will.”
After one more kiss, he turned and headed down the sidewalk.
I watched as he disappeared, smiling as my heart threatened to burst. Today was more than great. It was perfect. I knew Jack would be good with them, but I didn’t expect everyone to click as well as we did. It was a blessing. Something I needed.
I turned, about to head upstairs, when someone appeared around the corner to my building.
“Playing the happy family?”
I jumped at the sound of Hank’s voice. He was dressed in a leather jacket and jeans, his eyes as dark as
ever.
“Jesus, Hank. You scared me.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “Why were you over there?”
He pointed his chin in Jack’s direction. “Who’s the chump playing daddy?”
“He’s not playing—”
Hank came so close I tensed. “You think I’m going to allow you to bring another guy into their lives to try to replace me?”
“Hank, that’s not—”
Grabbing me, he pulled me around the corner of the building. He shoved me back against the wall, and then his hand clenched against my throat, squeezing.
“You don’t want to fuck with me, Jessi. We never agreed on bringing outsiders into the kids’ lives. You want to be a fucking slut, fine. But don’t drag the kids into your dirty shit.”
I pushed against his chest. Writhed underneath him. “Let me go!”
Lifting my leg, I aimed to knee him in the balls, but he expected the move and dodged.
A second later, his hand smacked hard across my cheek and everything went spinning.
I hit the wall with a rough thud. Air sputtered out of my lungs like a popped balloon. Shock spilled ice into my veins. My hand jerked to my face, a flimsy, trembling shield.
“We’re still married, Jessi. I could pin you for adultery.”
Run! The lone word zipped across my mind, but my legs were filled with quicksand. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.
“I’ll take them from you. I swear it.”
A fire struck deep in the pit of my belly. “You wouldn’t fucking dare.”
He pulled out his phone. On it were pictures of Jack and me kissing. Some of the window of Jack’s apartment, with us standing in the center behind curtains.
A sickness slugged through my veins, inky and dark. He’d been watching us. Keeping tabs on me.
His grin was wicked when I glared at him. “You end it, or this goes to court. Do you hear me?” A sickening grin crossed his lips. “With that booming business of yours, I bet I could get a nice chunk of alimony.”
I shoved past him, seeing red. “You won’t get a single dime. You just fucking assaulted me.” I pulled out my phone, hands trembling as I went to dial nine-one-one.
“Mom?” Ciana said from around the corner.
My head snapped up.
“Mom?” Her voice grew closer.
“Make your choice,” Hank said, the threat clear in his eyes. A hidden smirk calling my bluff.
And then he walked away from me, opening his arms to her as he rounded the corner.
Hot, angry tears threatened to spill as my fists balled. Banging them against my thighs, I stifled a scream. I was caught, stuck, trapped in his web. Imprisoned to my need to protect my children. To keep their innocence intact.
With a shuddering breath, I licked my lip, sucking it in, hoping the cut wasn’t noticeable as I appeared around the corner. Felt a cramp forming in my chest, spreading across like a heatwave.
“You guys ready to go?” Hank said, brushing them along.
Nic ran over to me. Hugged me tight. “Bye, Momma.”
I kissed his head. Moved to hug Ciana, who gave me a strange look.
“See you soon,” I said, and then I went straight inside before I lost the battle with my tear ducts. I ran up the stairs, the tears already spilling as I pulled my phone out and dialed Jack.
“Hey, you,” he said as soon as he answered. “I was beginning to think you forgot.”
“Can you come over?” I hugged my arms around myself. The ground had shifted from underneath me. A fissure cracked down the middle of my brain, pulling me into its darkness.
The alert was immediate in his voice. “What’s wrong?”
“Please,” I begged in between sobs, gripping the wall, trying to keep my balance.
“Right away.”
I collapsed by the door, pulling my knees to my face as I let the tears fall.
Chapter 18
Jack
I rushed up the stairs to Jess’ apartment, breaths sawing in and out as every nightmarish thought plundered through my mind. The crazed cracking of her voice beat against my skull. The panic clinging to her words.
But all thoughts came to a staggering halt when I reached the top of the stairs.
I stilled, blood heavy and thick like tar. A small beam of light splintered the air. The front door was cracked open. I pushed, slowly. “Jess?” I called out, heart sputtering as I stepped inside. “Jess, oh my God.”
She was underneath the console table, shivering from head to toe. Face bleeding tears as she rocked back and forth.
Lightly, I slid my fingers under her chin, trying to get her to look at me. To tell her she was safe.
A rich shade of red trickled past the corner of her lips.
That motherfucker.
It was the same cut she had years ago when she called me, asking me to meet her. A sharp line of blood trailed from the corner of her mouth. A deep reddish purple already forming across her cheek.
“Jess, I’m here, baby.” I pulled her onto my lap. “Please, talk to me.”
I’d never seen her like this before. Her body was wracked with shivers. My pulse pounded in my ears, lips curling in as I pulled her closer.
“He wants to take me to court.” Even her words shook.
I brushed her hair aside, forcing a confident smile to my lips. “He’d be stupid to.”
When she finally brought her gaze to mine, it was like a swift punch to the gut. Her wide eyes were spooked and distraught. A frown had attached itself to her lips, and it split my fucking heart in half. “He has pictures of us, Jack. He said he’ll go after adultery in the divorce. Do you know what that could do to my career? To the business?”
“Jess…” I ran my hand down her arm. Reached into my back pocket, then pulled out my phone. “Remember?” I brought up the photo from the last time he put hands on her.
She curled even more into herself, and it instantly made me regret bringing it up. Seeing her like this, her fight and her grit torn down, made my blood boil.
“We have evidence, Jess. I know you don’t want to, but maybe you should call the police. Especially now. He can’t keep getting away with it.”
She tugged on my shirt. “And have my children witness their father being arrested for assaulting their mother? Ciana’s only just beginning to trust him again. If I do this, it will shatter everything for them.”
I pulled in a small breath, softening my tone. “But what kind of example is that, Jess?”
She shook her head. “Nic doesn’t know.”
I stilled at the comment. At the unspoken. “But Ciana does?”
Her gaze dropped.
My teeth ground together as I fastened my gaze on the wall. “Jess, you don’t want her thinking it’s okay.”
Hurt coursed through her eyes. “You think I don’t know that? You think I don’t kick myself over and over with indecision? This isn’t easy, Jack. None of this.”
I pulled her against me as she broke into sobs again. “I’m sorry.” I rocked her in my arms. “Come on. Let me help you get cleaned up.”
Lifting her in my arms, I held her against my chest as I carried her to the bathroom. Sat her on edge of the tub. Reached for the hand towel. After running it under cool water, I patted gently against her lip, picturing myself ripping Hank’s head clean off every time she winced.
Once the blood was gone, I went to the kitchen and found a small bag of frozen peas. Tucked them inside a clean cloth. She was sitting on her bed when I brought it to her, seeming broken and lost.
“Can you stay tonight?”
“Of course.” She relaxed a little against me. “I’ll stay as long as you need me to.”
I leaned back, pulling her with me, my hands never leaving her skin. Not long after, she fell asleep inside my arms. I laid there, listening to the soft sounds of her sleep with my arm on my forehead, trying to find a solution to help her with Hank. All I could come up with was beating the fucking crap out of him. Making him feel every
ounce, and then some, of the hurt he’d put her through.
I didn’t drift off until sometime later, and soon woke to the sound of feet shuffling.
I jerked awake, heart pounding as the edges of a dream whirled in a foggy wisp around my mind.
“Jess!” I called out, panic needling through my blood.
“I’m okay.” Her voice was softer. More like her own.
She was standing in front of the window, watching the streets below. There was a calm in the air that wasn’t there the night before. A settling sigh slowing my heart.
I studied her for a moment. The way the light bathed her in a sheen of gold. It was as if morning had chased away all the rotten remnants of last night.
Sliding out of bed, I came up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“Morning.” The lone word was delicate. Cottony.
She reached behind her, fingers weaving through my hair. Leaned back against my chest. I kissed the side of her neck. Her hair smelled sweet like ice cream, and it made my mouth water. Every inhale I stole smelled like happiness and summer days.
“I love you like this.” I nibbled on the lobe of her ear. Wanting to keep her in this state.
She let out a small noise, the soft air swelling with a sugary sweetness. “Like what?”
“Smiling,” I said against her skin. “Happy. The morning sun kissing your shoulders.”
I parted my lips. Touched them softly against her shoulder where the sun lazily loitered in silken hues. “I want to live right here.” I ran a finger over the delicate hollow of her collarbone. “Where the shadows dwell.”
She turned around, felicity swirling around her irises. “And where shall I live?”
A small bruise had formed in a jagged streak across her cheek, and my stomach knotted and twisted, acid rising.
I cleared my throat and blinked, tucking away my feelings. Wanting to keep her smiling.
I pointed to my heart. “Right here. Yours to protect.”
She stared at me for a moment, and then her mouth spread apart with a springy smile. “I think I’m bringing out the romantic in you.”
She had no idea.
Five Reasons To Go (The Risky Hearts Duet Book 2) Page 14
