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“Now it will be easier to say,” Finn said calmly. “Especially knowing that we both love you.” Finn glanced at Michael. “And each other.”
Michael warmed from the inside out. He’d been brave, just like he’d sworn he would be, and now both men knew that he loved them. And they loved him in return.
“Here, take a drink. You still have something to tell Michael.” Finn held up a bottle of water to Jackson’s lips.
The happiness inside Michael vaporized. Jackson was still tied to a chair. He was still in trouble. There was something that Michael didn’t know. He hated being the last to know anything.
Finn helped Jackson drink slowly before he nodded.
Jackson wasn’t looking at either of them.
Finn walked over to the couch and sat close to Michael. He handed Michael a sippy cup and Michael accepted it gratefully. He took a drink and sweet apple juice filled his mouth.
Mm, Michael loved apple juice. He knew it had too much sugar and he didn’t often indulge, but if Daddy Finn handed it to him, then it had to be okay.
“Whenever you’re ready, boy.”
Michael grabbed Finn’s hand, suspecting that he would need the support.
Jackson took a deep breath before blowing it out slowly. “I was leaving. Again. This time I didn’t have any intention of returning. I packed up my motel room, dropped a few things at Lance’s house, bought the Harley, and drove off.”
The pain coursing from his heart throughout his body was harsher than Michael expected. He’d already suspected that Jackson had been running off. The knowledge that he was right was no comfort.
“I didn’t get far before I had to pull over,” Jackson continued. “I know it doesn’t mean much but I felt physically ill at the thought of leaving you two.”
“But you still wanted to?” Michael questioned.
“No,” Jackson replied quickly. “I didn’t want to. I thought it was what I needed to do. For you. For both of you.”
“Explain,” Finn demanded.
Jackson gave a half smile. “I was trying to be a decent man for once in my life.”
Michael started to protest but Finn gave Michael’s hand a firm squeeze. Okay, so Michael needed to sit there and listen. He could probably do that. Maybe.
“I’m selfish,” Jackson declared. “I could give you a bunch of shit reasons like my childhood and all that, but the truth is I was raised to be look out for only myself, and even though I knew as an adult that it was wrong, I continued to do what I wanted and fuck everyone else. Even with my team, I have a habit of going off and doing what suits me.”
It killed Michael to remain silent, but Finn was still squeezing his fingers.
“I didn’t want to change. Not until I met you guys,” Jackson said. “I’ve cared about people. Don’t get me wrong. I care about my friends and am rather fond of their partners, but if push came to shove, I would have always saved myself first.”
“Most people would,” Finn said when Jackson didn’t continue.
Jackson nodded. “Sure. I think so too. Although I’m kind of in the business to help people.”
Wait! Jackson did good things? Why did everyone act like Jackson and his friends were criminals? Not that Michael cared but…he was confused.
“Do you want to talk about your job?” Finn asked.
“Fuck no!” Jackson looked quickly at Michael. “Do I have to?”
Michael shook his head. “Not if you don’t want to. If you do, then we’ll listen.” It was the least they could do for a partner. “But you said that you were trying to be decent? What’s that mean?”
Jackson looked like he’d swallowed glass or something. “You know,” he said quietly.
Uh, Michael really didn’t. “I don’t actually.”
Jackson huffed. “With me around, your life will be more difficult. You and Finn can have something real. Something important.”
