Jeremy cheered and shouted, “Crispy duck. Crispy duck!”
I turned to Dean and whispered, “You do realize this is all you fault, right?” I raised my eyebrow at him and Dean smiled.
“And you do realize that it was all your fault to begin with. If you didn’t look so fucking sexy all the time, I wouldn’t have felt the need to have you right then. In fact, looking at you now with your hair all tousled makes me want to take you again.”
My eyes widened and I leaned back to look into the mirrored oven door. I gasped. My hair was more than just tousled. I looked like I had been dragged through a hedge backwards. No wonder Jimmy was smiling at me the way he was.
Quickly running my fingers through my hair, I got it a bit more under control. Dean just stood there, laughing. “Oh, shut up!” I growled as I passed him. I couldn’t help the smile that crept up on my face, though.
Once the Chinese arrived, we all ate right out of the boxes, which was something we weren’t used to doing in England. It was marvelous how eating Chinese food in a small box could make it taste better. I couldn’t get enough of it. I had certainly worked up an appetite.
It was after nine now. Jeremy was safely tucked in bed and I still hadn’t heard from Tara. I kept noticing Jimmy fidgeting and checking his phone every five minutes with a frown on his face. He looked really worried and if I wasn’t worried myself, I would think it adorable.
In the end, I thought I’d text her.
Where are you, babes? Your significant other is looking paler by the minute. Please put him out of his misery. xx
Twenty minutes went by and I still hadn’t heard from her. By now, Jimmy was practically chewing his nails. In the end, I got up and placed my hand on his shoulder. “I’m going to call her.” He exhaled and gave me an appreciative smile.
Walking towards the phone, I was about to pick it up when it rang. “Oh, maybe this is her!” I practically danced the rest of the way, making both Dean and Jimmy laugh.
“Hello, this is the Mad residence. Mrs. Mad speaking.” I looked over at the men and winked.
I heard a whispered sob, “Jessica…”
My heart rammed up to my mouth as my smile vanished. “Tara? Tara, is that you?” The urgency in my voice had both Dean and Jimmy scrambling to get up. She said something, but I couldn’t make out what it was. All I could hear was her rapid breathing.
“Tara, I can’t hear you. What’s the matter? Tell me.” She said something again, but I couldn’t make it out. She sounded so scared. “Tara, please…”
“He’s here,” she hissed into the phone. “Jessica, he’s here. He’s in my house. Mark’s found me.”
The color drained from my face as I heard a thud, then a strangled scream. “Who are you talking to, bitch?!” Tara screamed again and the phone went dead.
I gripped the phone tightly and I could feel myself shaking violently. I looked towards Jimmy and his face was a mixture of terror and rage.
“I need to ring the police. Tara’s ex-husband’s found her.” I shook as I tried to dial the number.
Jimmy stopped me. “Don’t involve the police. I’ll take care of it.” I nodded. His face looked like thunder as he headed for the door.
Dean looked at me. “I have to go with him, Tyler.”
I didn’t want him to, but I knew Dean wouldn’t feel right about it if he didn’t. I simply nodded. “Please, be careful.”
Dean smiled and kissed my head. “I promise. I’ll be back in no time.” With a kiss to my lips, he turned and walked out the door.
Chapter 14
Jimmy
Tara never told me much about her ex-husband, but what I did know of him made my fucking blood boil. The mere mention of his name and she would clam up. No woman should ever go through an abusive relationship. Ever. Hearing about any woman being violated had my fucking radar up, but when it was someone I loved? You’d better fucking run and hide because I would do more than kill your arse.
And that was exactly what I was going to do to Mark.
The moment I knew it was Tara on the line, I also knew she was in trouble. When I heard her scream, that was it. I was off. Dean came running after me as I scrambled out of the house as quickly as possible.
The minute I got in the car and fired it up, I turned to him as he was opening the passenger door. “You don’t need to come with me, Dean. I got this. I don’t need your help.”
Dean got in the car and grabbed my shoulder. “Tara’s part of our family now. If somebody hurts are family, they pay, Jimmy. It’s a simple as that. You’ve been there for me. Now it’s time I be there for you.”