Trinity(16)

“Jenn?”

“Mmm?” I slide my eyes up.

“What were you just thinking about?”

I shamelessly blush. “Nothing?”

Chase cocks his eyebrow. “You sure about that?” He locks me in his iron embrace and brushes his lips against my ear.

“Mmm hmm,” I squeak.

“Want to know what I’m thinking about?” Sex. Please lord let it be nail me right to this table sex.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask huskily.

“Breakfast,” he drawls.

“Breakfast?” I jerk my head back.

He chuckles, the thick black glasses sliding down his nose. “Yes, breakfast. Mainly those waffles you made us the other morning. I’ve been fantasizing about eating them just about as much as I fantasize about eating your pussy.”

“Chase.” I hit his solid chest. “For a refined lawyer, you’re naughty.”

“That’s what you do to me.”

“I have a feeling you were naughty way before I met you.”

“Maybe,” he teases.

“Definitely. You can’t fool me.”

“Can I persuade you to feed me?”

“What time is it?” I tap the button on his phone. I gasp when I see it’s eleven-thirty. “Why did you let me sleep so late?”

“You had a long day and an even longer night. We thought you could use the rest.”

“I appreciate that.” I scramble off his lap. “But I need to get going.”

“Why are you always running out on us?” Chase snatches my hand before I get too far.

I stop, appreciating his striking features—his strong jawline, thick black eyelashes, straight nose, and disappointed expression. I run my fingertip down his cheek lovingly. “I don’t mean to. It’s just Pops has so little time. I need to be there for him when I can. Please say you understand.”

Chase sighs, leaning into my touch. “I do. We both do. We’re just selfish and want you all to ourselves.”

“You have me. All of me,” I bravely admit.

“Do we really?” he asks with a hopeful look in his chocolate eyes.

“Yes. Mind, body, and soul, I swear.” His dark brown irises sparkle. “And when I get back, I’ll cook you and Shane all the waffles you can eat, and we can talk about what that means.”

Love. It means love. That I love you both. I’m committed to you both.

We found our holy trinity.

“Deal. Try not to be too long,” he requests selfishly.

“I can’t make any promises, except for waffles.” I drop a kiss on his lips.

“We’ll take what we can get.” Chase traps my face and claims my mouth fiercely, absorbingly.

The exact same way he kissed me last night while he came inside me. I shudder from crown to core.

“I’ll be fast.”

I grab my bridesmaid dress and sparkly high heels off the floor and stuff them into my overnight bag, then throw on a pair of jeans and ballet flats. My hair is a freaking mess. I finger comb it into submission before grabbing my purse. Checking my phone, I find that it’s dead. No wonder I slept so late. No alarm.

“Bye, Chase!” I scurry out of the door. “Give Shane a kiss for me!” I run outside and down the front steps.

“Jenn!” Chase follows me as I open my driver’s side door. “Jenn, wait!”

“I have to go! I’ll see you later!” I blow him one last kiss, start my car, and drive away.

I race home to wash up and change, wanting to get over to see Pops before he passes out for the day. Afterward, I’ll check in at the restaurant since I wasn’t there at all yesterday.

God knows what kind of shape it’s in after Shayna was left in charge.

I plug in my phone and hop in a steaming hot shower. My sore muscles are in desperate need of the reprieve.

Once I turn the water off, I hear the piercing ring of my cell. “Shit.” I grab a towel, draping it over my dripping body as I race to answer it. I nearly break my neck on the slippery linoleum as I pick up on the last ring. “Hello?”

“Hello,” a woman responds evenly. “Is this Jennifer Reeves?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Evelyn Summers. I’m the medical director here at Magnolia Nursing Home.”

My stomach drops. Just completely bottoms out.

“Mmm hmm,” I barely squeak out, squeezing my teary eyes shut.

“Ms. Reeves, I’m calling on behalf of a Mr. Nathanial Jones.”

Pops.

“Yes?” I grab the counter to brace myself for what’s coming.

“I’m sorry to have to inform you that Mr. Jones passed away early this morning.” I cover my mouth to conceal the sob. It’s too soon. I wasn’t ready. “You were listed as his next of kin.”

“Yes, I am. I’m all he has.”

He’s all I have.

“He’s already been moved to Emerson Funeral Home. It says in his paperwork he wished to be cremated.”

“When is it scheduled to happen?” I can barely whisper the words.

“They won’t schedule it until they hear from you. In case you want to see him one final time,” she informs me clinically.

“Okay, yes, thank you.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss, Ms. Reeves.”

Me too. “Thank you.” I compulsively wipe my leaking eyes.

“Ms. Summers?”

“Yes, Ms. Reeves?”

“Did he go peacefully?”

“In his sleep.”

I sag with relief. The thought of Pops suffering any more than he had to . . . I just couldn’t bear it.

“Thank you, again.” I hang up and weakly slide down my kitchen cabinet to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. The pain, the loss, the sense of abandonment quickly destroys me. I bawl right there on the cold vinyl. Naked, alone, and inconsolable. For a prolonged moment, I feel like I’m twelve years old again and a neglected, forlorn child.

That same child Pops scooped up and molded into a woman.

I don’t know how long I lie there, but when I can finally move, I numbly get dressed, wanting to go to the only place that will bring me solace. A late September breeze ruffles my wet hair, sending a frigid chill through my whole body. The entire world looks bleak, colorless, as I walk the three block trail to the Corkscrew. A trek I’ve made thousands of times. A trek that will never be the same after today.

As I come to the front door, I pull the keys from my pocket before I notice something strange.

Chains?

I tug on the thick lock with a fresh swell of tears swimming in my eyes. It jingles securely as I yank. What the fuck is going on? Through my wet, blurry vision, I notice the sign posted above my head.

CONDEMNED by order of the town of Newhaven Beach.

I lose it. Screaming bloody murder at the flat, inanimate piece of paper.

In a fit of rage, I race home, knowing exactly where I have to go. I drive to Ty Winters satellite office in a blur. That piece of shit is definitely behind this.

I slam on the brakes, the tires screeching, as I pull up to the glass building. Storming to the front door, I wrench the handle and nearly rip my arm out of my socket. I scream and bang on the glass, demanding to see him. I continue for what feels like hours until I’m too tired to raise my arms, and I have no breath left to bellow.

It’s Sunday. No one’s there. My logical, rational side realizes that. But the part of me that’s dying wants to hurl rocks through every single window. Wants to smash and shatter the whole building so Ty fucking Winters knows exactly what it feels like to lose something important to him.

“I hate you!” I erupt. “I hate you, you son of a bitch, and every goddamn thing you stand for!” I pound my fists on the smoky glass until they hurt. Until I have nothing left inside.

I slink down to the ground defeated. I lost.

Everything.

A new shot of anger suddenly skyrockets inside me.

Did they know? Was that the plan all along? Distract me with sweet words and touches and promises as their boss steals my whole life right out from under me?

Another fit has me running. Driving like a maniac several blocks down to a place I left happy from this morning.

I careen up the front stairs and barrel through the door. Before I can blow my stack, I come face to face with the devil himself. Ty Winters standing casually in Chase and Shane’s living room. Smug in Khaki pants, a polo shirt, and tousled copper hair. In an act of blind fury, I launch myself at him.

“Son of a bitch!” My fist connects with his chest as Shane and Chase attempt to subdue me.

Hot tears start again. Buckets this time as I throw verbal daggers at Ty.

“You piece of shit! What did you do?” I scream, flailing like hell to climb out of their hold.

“Jenn, calm down!” Chase hooks his arms around my waist as Shane stands directly in front of me. He traps my face, forcing me to look him dead in the eyes.

“Did you know? Did you fucking know?” I demand, my cheeks on fire and soaked with tears. His fingers slipping from the moisture.

“They didn’t know,” Ty speaks. “Not until today. I had a courier send the paperwork over for the sale this morning.”

“Sale? What sale? I never authorized a sale!” I swipe at him.

“You didn’t have to. I paid off the liens on the restaurant. It became mine. I tried to warn you, Ms. Reeves. I made you a very generous offer,” he reminds me callously. A pillar of indifference. “You forced my hand.” I stare blankly at the coldest man on the planet. Winters suits him perfectly because his heart is made of pure fucking ice. “Pride is an ugly thing.”