Page 22 (1/2)

Jace nodded "Thanks,else you should know Not sure what it et"

Jace’s shoulders sloped doard and he leaned back in his chair "What now?"

"Bethany’s brother? Jack Kingston Not her brother at all No blood whatsoever But they’re tight Been on the streets together ever since they left their last foster home Well, they weren’t even in the same foster home I should say since Bethany left her last foster home, since Jack’s older and he’d been out of the system for a while Apparently he busted her out or at least caether ever since"

Jace frowned "So what are you suggesting?"

Ash held up his hands "I’ you the facts so that you have theht you should know he’s not Now as to what that means, I have no idea But you should be aware of the fact that she could be running a pretty slick scam She milks you for what she can and Jack’s debts are paid"

It pissed him off but he would have to be stupid not to at least consider what Ash was saying

"Thanks," Jace murmured

"Sorry, man Know it sucks May not even be true, but you have to be aware of the possibilities"

Jace nodded "Yeah I know"

Jace’s cell rang and he glanced down to see Kaden’s nuer to Ash and then yanked the phone to his ear

"Yeah?"

He listened a ed in close behind as Kaden related his report

"Stay on it," Jace barked "You find her I’lanced up at Ash, as listening in confusion

"Bethany ditched her security and disappeared"

"Oh shit," Ash oing to walk away, she’s da to say it to my face," Jace bit out "She owes me that damn much"

Chapter nineteen

Bethany pulled her coat tighter around her and walked through Madison Square Park--she’d lost count of the city parks she’d searched--hoping this here she’d find Jack She’d searched all their usual haunts but had come up empty She’d even checked the shelters she and Jack frequented, hoping that ht

She hadn’t intended to be this long Jace would be angry No, he’d be furious She’d snuck away fros, because really, what could she have said? That she planned to go searching the not-so-great parts of the city for her brother because she orried?

They’d have pulled the plug on that idea so fast her head would have spun

"Bethy, what are you doing here?"

Jack’s voice cracked over her like a whip and she spun around, relieved to see hi’s fall

"Jack, thank God," she breathed "I was so worried"

She went to hi his hands to her shoulders His gaze scraped up and down the length of her body, his eyes shrewd

"You’re looking good," he said quietly

He didn’t ask where she’d been Didn’t ask anything at all He just stared at her and told her she looked good like they were old acquaintances who’d bumped into each other on the street

She hastily dug into her pocket for the piece of paper she’d written her address on Then she shoved the folded paper at him

"I have a place, Jack It’s a nice place On the Upper West Side You could come Have a place to stay You’d be safe there"

He stared at the paper for a longit into his pocket without looking at it

"Heard you got hurt," he said, pain creeping into his voice "You have to know I never intended that to happen, Bethy"

She stiffened as anger she didn’t feel she had a right to possess edged over her

"How did they even know about me, Jack? Why would they come to me for money you owed them? Why did you borrow it? How on earth did you plan to pay it back?"

He shook his head, sorrow and fatigue weighting his shoulders until they drooped His expression was gri theered you, Bethy It’s best you aren’t around ood You should stay away fro you down"

She shook her head ada For several long seconds, she held him and his arms remained stiffly at his sides before finally he enfolded her in his eed her back just as fiercely

"It’s always been ainst his tattered jacket "I’ you, Jack You’d never have left me"

He pulled away and touched her cheek "Listen to me, Bethy It’s not safe for you out here It’s never been safe The best thing you can do for o back to your apartood Don’t do anything to mess it up And be happy"

Tears filled her eyes "How can I be happy when you’re out here? A I have a safe place to stay, food to eat and a bed to sleep in when I know you’re out here on the streets?"

He grinned crookedly "I’ll be fine I’ve always got an angle working"