Page 38 (1/2)

She paused and sucked in deep, steadying breaths

"Go on, baby," he said gently "I’ can hurt you now"

"When I elve, Jack was fifteen He was big for his age I know he doesn’t look it now He’s too thin, but when he’s healthy and well fed, he’s a big guy Tall and broad shouldered Anyere in a hoether and the father"

Jace tensed, his entire body bristling with rage He didn’t like where she was going with this

"The father used to look at ht or leave me alone with our foster dad It turned out the father didn’t irls or boys"

She shuddered in revulsion, her face going pale Distress radiated frohtly, turning her face so she could continue speaking He stroked her hair, trying to offer her comfort in any way he could

"He took that for le time the father came after me Jack allowed that man to abuse hiet that, Jace I can’t forget it He took that for et away"

"Oh baby I’m so sorry"

"Jack’s always taken care of me When I was in the car accident Before that After that It’s always been him who made sure we had food to eat, clothes to wear When I wasn’t able to get more painso ot the pills for me And then, when I became addicted, he risked arrest and God knohat else to hed It was a sticky situation, no doubt He saw Jack in a new light, but it didn’t s up for Bethany now Jack was into , if not dealing, the hard shit The kind of stuff that could get a person killed or sent to prison for a very long ti to let Bethany be exposed to that

"I understand why you feel the way you do, baby, but listen to one beyond that now He’s in deep and he’s putting you in serious danger I can’t allow that I won’t allow it I’ll never agree to anything that can harm you Do you understand that?"

She shifted and raised her head so she could look hi excuses for hi cold and hungry and in danger himselfit breaks my heart I can’t help but wonder if he’d be like he is if it weren’t forsure she saw his vehemence "You can’t take the blame for this I won’t let you He protected you I’ll always be grateful he did that But baby, even he wouldn’t blame you for what he is now We all make choices He made some bad ones, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay the price"

"But what am I supposed to do? I can’t just walk away fro Not when I have all the things he doesn’t"

Jace stared into her tear-drenched eyes and realized that she wouldn’t be the woman he loved if she could just walk away fro away the da out for Jack But you have to understand if I step in, that means you step away"

Her eyes becaain

"Could he"

She bit into her lip and went silent

"Could he what, baby? You don’t have to be afraid to ask ht to ask this," she said in a low voice "You’ve givenin return"

"You are everything to htly I’ve damn sure never said that to another wo"

She stared at him with such confusion and aer He hauled her into his arht that it was doubtful she could breathe

"Ask, Bethany"

"I was going to ask you if Jack could stay in the apartets on his feet and can afford a place of his own"

Jace carefully extricated Bethany froh away so that she could see him and he could see her His expression was utterly serious as he stared down at her

"If youJack move into your apartment"

She didn’t react to the subtle black whatever et her into his space, in his bed and more firmly entrenched in his life

"You’d do that?" she whispered

Hell yes, he’d do it And not suffer one iota of guilt in the process

"Yes, I would do that"

She threw her ar him backward on the couch "Thank you," she said fiercely "I don’t deserve you, Jace I thank God every day for you, though"

He frowned at her assertion but since she hadn’t balked at the idea ofin with him he didn’t push the matter

"I can’t wait to tell Jack," she said "He won’t believe it"

Jace held up his hands "There are a few conditions, Bethany"

She went silent and looked questioningly at his in that apartment I won’t have them anywhere near you If Kaden or Trevor finds them at any time, he’s out And if you see Jack, you’ll do it with either Kaden or Trevor or myself That I won’t bend on"

Bethany was quiet He could see the wheels turning in herif he’d been too forceful But it ho he was He couldn’t change that, wouldn’t change it for soht," she said quietly "I’ll explain to Jack"

"No"

She lifted her brows and they furrowed in confusion

"I’ll explain to Jack," Jace said grimly "I won’t put you in an uncomfortable situation Let me be the asshole I have no problem with that role when it comes to you"

"You’re not an asshole," she said in a fierce voice that made him smile

"Does that e asshole forin with me?"