JACK: Las Vegas Bad Boys(57)

“She’s a survivor. Like all of us.” Emmy pulls me into another hug, and Claire and JoJo wrap their arms around us too.

I wish I could close my eyes and make time stop, that I could stay in this loft, with these people, forever. It feels like the peak moment of my life. The pinnacle. Like nothing will ever be better than this.

But Jack is ushering people out before I can press pause, so I try to memorize the hugs of congratulation from Teri and Jeb. I try to say the right words when they dial up their other son, my other brother, on FaceTime and have me introduce myself, with McQueen by my side, smiling with tears in the corner of his his eyes.

McQueen may be a foul-mouthed asshole, but damn, I can tell that he’s going to be a really good brother.

Jack’s parents kiss my cheeks and squeeze my hands tight and whisper words of affirmation in my ear.

“Tess, remember in my kitchen, when you told me the memories of a woman who took care of you, who sang you lullabies?”

“I remember,” I tell her, so grateful that I felt safe enough with her to tell her those memories. “It was my mother, all along. She was right in my heart.”

The door finally closes, and Jack and I are alone in the loft. The security detail is still out front, and Jack has texted Kirby telling him he’s turning off his phone for the night. No one needs to bother us, not now.

Right now there is only one thing I need in the entire world.

Jack.

The man who picks me up and carries me to bed.





Chapter Twenty-Three





JACK


All I want is to show her how badly I want her, for-fucking-ever. I want to exhaust her so she has the best night’s sleep of her life. I want to take her in my arms and hold her, until she closes her eyes and dreams only of good things.

“You think they liked me?” Tess asks as I place her on my bed. I pull my shirt over my head, and lay down beside her. This conversation is not the prelude to let’s get naked and fuck, this is a let’s get heavy and real talk.

Which is pretty much the truth of Tess. If she has something she needs to say—something true—she’s gonna tell me.

And I’m fucking lucky to be the man she feels safe enough to tell everything to.

“Who?” I ask.

“Teri and Jeb. I mean, I know McQueen likes me enough, because we’ve hung out, but ... his parents—my parents—do you think they’re disappointed in who I’ve become? I mean, they don’t even know the half of it.”

“What do you mean, baby?” I ask, looking into her eyes. “Why would they ever be disappointed in you?”

“Jack,” Tess sighs, trying to roll over, to hide her face. I pull her back. “You might not understand, because you had this idyllic life with gardens and chicken coops and homemade whatever, and then you went to college, and now you have this successful career—I mean, you are the complete package, the absolute dream. You’re literally on the cover of magazines and on billboards. The fact that you’ve chosen me is bonkers. You get that, right?” She shakes her head. “But, like, the difference between you and them is that you chose me, mess and all.”

I try to cut her off, but she doesn’t let me.

“Listen, Jack, just hear me out, okay?”

I nod silently, knowing she needs to speak her mind.

“The thing is, Teri and Jeb didn’t get to pick. I’m this girl who used to be whored out by her father, who murdered her mother, and who’s currently rocking a job as a cocktail waitress in fishnets and pleather. Not exactly daddy’s little girl.”

“Tess, no one sees you that way.” I stroke her hair, tuck strands behind her ear, cup her cheek with my palm.

“But they should. Because that is literally who I am.”

“A part of you, sure. But not all of you.” I want her to see herself as I see her: strong and resilient and not at all swayed by the world. She’s steady, even though she has every reason to falter.

“What if it’s not enough for them?”

“You are the bravest woman I know. Your father—your kidnapper—was slowly killing you. Breaking you. Destroying every good thing about you. And you know what?”

I sit up, and pull her up, too, because I need to say this with her eyes on mine, with my hands in hers. With my shoulders squared to this woman I get to live my life with.

“Tess, you saved yourself from a monster. You fought the fucking dragon. You might think you need a man like me to protect you—and, fuck, I will protect you. I will keep you safe. But for two long years you’ve kept yourself safe, and you’ve kept yourself whole. You’ve worked your ass off, and fought for every good thing you have. You won this battle. And, sure, the man who raised you may be out in Vegas right now, looking for you, but fuck him. You’ve beat him before. This time, if that dragon crosses your path, you’re gonna fucking slay him.”