Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63842 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 319(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
“What do you guys recommend us doing to make sure Jade is in a safe environment?” Violet asked. “Haven is completely safe, but I don’t think Jade feels that way right now.” She glanced at Jade, who didn’t look up.
I sighed, wanting to make the decision for her, but knowing I couldn’t. “Well, we’ve got two options. Option one, Jade stays at Haven. We increase security and tighten incoming communications. Knight increases digital surveillance on Eric’s known accounts. No one is getting inside this place without going through the entirety of Kiss of Death. The facility is solid and so are the guys. Haven’s only major weakness is that we’re documented. We have to have a physical address on record so the place is findable in a simple search, and I have no doubt he knows where she’s staying.” I let that sit for a second before I continued. Because I really wanted her to take option two. “Or… we move Jade inside the main MC compound.”
Knight’s face on the screen shifted slightly. “From a pure security standpoint, the compound is the cleaner answer. The exposure risk here is --”
“We present the options,” I interrupted. “She decides.”
Knight’s eyebrows went up by a fraction. He looked at me for a moment, then nodded slowly in understanding. “Yeah. Fair enough.”
“Rip’s right.” Violet didn’t look at me when she spoke. She looked at Jade. “I think Jade knows what she needs.”
I watched Jade. She twisted her hands together in her lap, her nerves clear. She’d been still through most of the meeting. I could tell she was close to her breaking point.
“What would the compound mean for my therapy sessions?” she asked.
“We can transport you,” I said. “We’ve done it before. It’s easily manageable.”
She nodded slowly. “What about Ada’s groups? And the GED work with Mia?”
“All of it can continue,” Hannah said. “Rip is always here during the day. He’s been taking other men’s shifts. The guys have been wanting to help out again, and Rip would be hovering over you anyway.” She gave Jade an encouraging smile. “Besides. I know how much helping out means to you. No one is going to take that away from you.”
Jade was quiet for another moment. Then she lifted her chin and spoke quietly. “I want to stay here. I know that’s not the safest option on paper. But I can’t live the rest of my life hiding out from him.” She paused. “I’m not letting myself be locked away again. Not even to protect myself from him.”
“You’re not going to be locked away, honey.” I should have been at least a little bit sheepish that I’d let my endearment slip, but I only felt a bone-deep possessiveness, which I had to keep tightly leashed so Jade didn’t run.
Ten minutes later, we were all on the same page. Violet walked Jade out of the room with her arm around Jade’s slim shoulders, speaking softly to her.
“She’s going to be all right,” Hannah said, looking at me.
“Yeah,” I said. “She will be.” I planned on making sure she’d be better than all right.
Hannah followed Violet and Jade down the hall. I stood at the table we’d all vacated for a moment, then looked at Knight’s face still on the screen. He’d waited.
“You’re sleeping in the security office,” he said.
“I’m definitely sleeping in the security office.”
“Good.” His expression didn’t change. “I’ll update you the second I hear back from anyone. I expect your brother to be calling you before me, though.”
“Then, if he calls me first, I’ll either call you directly, or have him call you.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Knight reached forward and the screen went dark.
Chapter Eleven
Rip
At two in the morning, I should really have been asleep. I’d refilled my coffee at midnight and worked on the dregs of the bitter stuff. Cold, because I kept forgetting to drink it. I probably should have called in one of the other dozen brothers who’d all signed up for security duty at Haven, but I couldn’t seem to commit. Since I didn’t have the right to barge into Jade’s space and protect her there, keeping watch over her home seemed the only option open to me, so leaving this post felt like deserting Jade.
Knight sent an update several hours ago. My brother had apparently lost his shit in court during the emergency hearing. The judge expressed the same anger as Ethan, but Eric’s charge of Invasion of Privacy, Illegal Distribution of Intimate Images, Unlawful Recording, and a myriad of other charges related to harassment and stalking, didn’t come close to matching the devastation Eric had caused Jade. While the potential for heavy fines and even house arrest or jail had been presented, Eric had the right to a fair trial. My brother had pointed out Jade’s right to privacy had been taken away -- not to mention the fact the video had obviously been of her rape -- and all because Eric was a son of a bitch who thought he got to bully someone he considered weaker than him. Too bad for Eric, because Jade had very, very strong people behind her now. He’d been charged, but left on bail in a frustratingly short period of time.