Redemption(76)

“I know and I’m sorry.”

I sighed. “Don’t ever apologize. Are you okay? Are you in pain? Do you need me to get you anything?”

She laughed. “No, just you being here is all I need. Tyler took really good care of me tonight. She nursed my bruises, ran me a bath, and poured me a glass of Prosecco as she listened to my shit. She’s the best friend I could ever wish for. She was a better nurse than I was tonight.” I felt her laugh against my chest and pulled her gently towards me I inhaled her beautiful scent and sighed.

“I doubt that very much,” I breathed. “Besides, sometimes nurses need looking after, too. I just wished it had been me to nurse you tonight.”

Tara trailed a finger along my arm, making me shudder. “What happened tonight, Jimmy?”

I tensed and I knew she felt it. “I can’t tell you.” I had to protect her. If I ever got caught for what I did tonight, I had to make sure Tara was safe. And to keep her safe, I had to leave her in ignorance. I could only tell her what she needed to know. “But what I will say is this. You’ll never have to worry about him again.” I kissed her head and tenderly stroked her face. “I promise you that you’re safe. Do you understand, Tara?”

I felt her nod her head against me. “I understand, Jimmy. Perfectly.” She sighed and I hated that I couldn’t see her face.

She began trailing her finger along my arm and I knew we were okay. “So, what was it you wanted to tell me? You have me in your arms now, Jimmy. You wanted to say something, so spill it.”

I laughed a little and trailed my nose against the base of her neck. I loved her smell. She always smelled so clean and fresh.

“I wanted to let you know that I need you in my arms forever, Tara. I want to take care of you and protect you with everything I have left in me. Why? Because I love you. I never thought I would say those words again, but it’s true. I love you so fucking much, it hurts, Tara Becksworth.”

For a moment she fell silent and I lay there, my breath caught violently in my chest. Waiting for her response was agonizing. For a moment, I thought she wasn’t going to say anything, or that she would simply fob me off. But then I heard her sniffle a little as she gripped my hand.

“I love you, too, Jimmy.”

Music to my fucking ears.





Chapter 15



Dean



How did you know that what you sought was redemption

And not righteous vengeance?

Pete Abrams



I placed Jimmy’s and my clothes in the laundry. I was spent, truly fucking knackered, and the only thing that kept me alert was knowing Tyler was upstairs. Alone. Possibly naked. Also possibly disappointed with her Dean. The Dean she always knew was her safe haven. The Dean she now quickly learned was not the boy she always thought he was. I didn’t know whether Tyler would throw me out. She must know by now that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, but I couldn’t help myself. I consider Jimmy family and when he hurts, I hurt. It was pure instinct that drove me tonight, making me go along with Jimmy and hatch out the plans that were needed. If Jimmy had gone on his own, it probably would have resulted in a lot of shouting, a lot of beating, a murder, then a police car taking Jimmy away. I couldn’t let him go alone knowing his feelings for Tara would ultimately lead to his downfall. He needed someone on the outside looking in. He needed someone to rein him in and let him know that lashing out would never lead to the best outcome. I wanted revenge just as much as he did. The guy was a scumbag. He hit a woman. Above all else, that should never be tolerated, but the way Jimmy would have gone about it would have ended up with him in jail. I could never let that happen.

So, with the clothes in the wash and my tail between my legs, I went upstairs and quietly walked inside Tyler’s room. I looked over to where she lay on the bed and took in her beauty for a moment. She lay on her side, her hand underneath her pillow as her slow, dreamless breaths escaped her lips. Her hair was cascading down her back, exposing her sculptured shoulder blade that ached to be touched. That ached to be kissed.

Fuck me, I had it bad. I had it bad for Tyler like Jimmy had it bad for Tara, but I knew something that would completely contradict what I said to Jimmy tonight. Jimmy thought he had found his one in Grace, but then he met Tara. With me, Tyler was my one and only. She always had been. If Tyler ceased to exist, nothing else in this world would matter anymore. It was a simple fact I could never ignore. Tyler was and always would be my one.

Sighing to myself, I reluctantly turned and headed for the en suite shower. I had blood on my hands. Evidence which I need to wash away. Again, Tyler was my purity. Her innocence washed away all my sins. I need to make sure she never saw that part of me. The part she was so frightened of.