Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Did Jack think he hadn’t taken her feelings into consideration? He had, but her life was more important. “She’ll still have Niall. He won’t leave her. Fuck, man, I’m doing this for her. I wish I had another option, but I don’t. Meeting with your dad in the morning still leads into witness protection, or if I refuse, it leads Hamilton right to Harlow and Niall. I do not see a scenario in which I live with them and they’re not in danger.”
“And what happens when she gets called into another case like this one? Do you think she’s going to stop working?” Jack seemed determined to play devil’s advocate. “Even if we put Hamilton away someone will move to fill in the space and more young women will get pulled in. Harlow won’t stop being the warrior she is. Even if you’re no longer around to watch her back.”
The thought made his stomach turn. Not because of her work. She would always do that, but he wouldn’t be there to help her. But then had he ever? She’d helped him in LA. His “help” had gotten her assaulted and arrested and took years to recover from.
He never deserved her. “I have to hope her family will look after her. If Hamilton ever figures out how much she means to me, he’ll know how to shut me up. But if I walk away, he doesn’t have any reason to believe she’s anything but a pretty girl I followed around one night.”
“I want to argue with you,” Jack said.
“But you can’t. So take me back to Dallas and we’ll get to my apartment and I’ll give you what I have. We can meet with your boss and maybe you don’t have to be a bartender anymore. It seems like you could use some time off,” Jensen pointed out.
Jack huffed. “I could use a vacation, but I suspect I’ll pull desk duty for a while and then go back into the field. I’m good at it. For the most part I like it. Hell, I was okay with this assignment until I realized it was going to break my cousin’s heart and probably turn my whole family against me.”
He did feel for the guy. It was obvious there were some serious family dynamics at work. “I’m not trying to cause trouble.”
Jack sighed. “I know, but it’s coming for both of us, and I won’t be under a protective order. I know you think I’m being overly dramatic, but you didn’t grow up with a romance-writing momma who will have her happily ever after if she has to kill everyone to get it. I’m lucky it was Papa who showed up. My mother will be on my doorstep when Nat calls her and tells her what happened here. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t walk into the middle of an undercover assignment to give me a lecture and then walk around asking all the criminals questions so she can better write their points of view.”
For a moment he worried Jack would refuse him. A bit of panic set in because he couldn’t take Niall’s car and leave them out here. And there was no such thing as ride share in this rural part of the state. If Jack decided he couldn’t take the heat with his family, Jensen was going to be in trouble.
“We should get going.” Jack set his glass in the sink and made for the front door, his keys now in hand. “If I know my uncles, they’ll be here earlier than you would think. You don’t want to get caught fleeing the scene of the crime.”
A sigh of relief went through him. “The crime would be drawing her further into my life.”
Jack frowned his way. “Then why did you sleep with her last night? Or rather keep her up for a long time. These walls are thin, brother. Why did you give her hope that you would stay this time? Don’t give me some bullshit. We both know the answer. You were selfish because you think she’s going to shrug it off eventually and you’ll be the only one to pay. Because for some damn reason you think you love her more than she loves you, but I’m going to tell you you’re wrong. She might move on, but this will kill a part of her.”
Jensen tensed at the accusation. He was in a trap, and any way he went he hurt someone. “What the fuck do you think I should do?”
“I think you should have been a damn man and come with me last night. You would have pissed her off, but she wouldn’t have felt used.” Jack’s head shook. “I don’t know why I’m arguing with you. I’m going to get what I need, and there’s obviously no talking you out of it. Hell, I don’t know if there is another way. I’m tired and feeling guilty, and I don’t handle either well. Let’s go, and maybe we can leave them behind with all the people I care about.”