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Ice Man held up a finger for a minute, then finally nodded. “He’s gone.”
Both a sigh of relief and anger consumed me. Relief that he was gone. Anger that he fucked with Jade, kidnapped Maddie, and didn’t live a little longer to endure more wrath. I let my temper get the best of me. My girls fueled my protectiveness, thus feeding my anger.
Ian slipped his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, and put it to his ear. It’s done.
JADE
“Oh, my God!” My heart leaped in my chest when I heard the front door open. I sprang off the den sofa and sprinted to the foyer, my feet barely touching the ground. Luke and Ian entered the Knight’s house, their black duffle bags slung casually over their shoulders. Tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of them both, relieved and grateful that they had made it back home safely. I threw myself into Luke’s arms, feeling his strong embrace wrap around me. Jenna, Giovanna, Chance, and Amber crowded around, greeting them both as well.
Maddie appeared next to Luke and me, wrapping her arms around us tightly, and we pulled her into our hug. Luke winced, gently kissing me on the forehead, then lowered his gaze to Maddie. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she peered up into his eyes in silence.
“Are you okay?” she finally squeaked.
“Yes,” he smiled, “are you?”
She nodded. “I’m okay.”
“Kiddo,” he sighed, “you don’t need to be concerned about me, but know I’m proud of you.”
“I remembered!” she replied proudly, still sniffling. “But I was scared.”
“Sweetheart,” he bent down, kissing her head, “you did amazing.”
“Remembered what?” I asked, darting my eyes back and forth between them.
He stood straight, pulling me into his arms again, pressing his lips to my temple. “I’ll tell you later.”
“You’re so clean,” Amber chimed in, noticing their appearance. “Both of you. What happened?”
“We stopped off at the club to shower and I had to get a few sutures,” Luke muttered. My eyes widened in shock at his casual mention of getting stitches. But true to his nature, he blew it off. “I’m fine.” Half of Luke’s arm could be falling off and he’d still call it a scratch. He scanned the room, then furrowed his brow. “Where’s Ty?”
I sighed. “His father-in-law called, so he might still be on the phone.”
“Okay,” he nodded, his expression serious, “well before he gets out, can I talk to you in private for a minute?”
Arching a brow, I nodded, “Of course,” then lowered my eyes to Maddie. “Are you going to be okay if we step into the other room?”
“I got her,” Giovanna walked over, putting her arm around her. “Chance, Amber, and I will play Jenga with her.” She winked. “Good distraction,” she whispered, “and Chance is obsessed with it.”
I snickered at her words. Nodding in agreement, I smiled at Maddie as they walked back toward the den, followed by Chance and Amber. Ian and Jenna gave us a small smile as Luke took my hand and led me up the front staircase, down the hallway, and into one of the guest rooms.
As we entered the room, I noticed he was acting even stranger than usual. The events of the evening had taken a toll on everyone, including him. It had taken Maddie and I a few hours to calm down enough for Jenna to offer us some homemade cookies, hot chocolate for Maddie, and hot tea for myself.
Closing the door behind us, he leaned against it with an audible sigh, wincing in pain again. “Before you say anything,” he lifted the back of his shirt, displaying a small line with three little sutures over it, “I’m fine, it just feels like a paper cut.”
My fingers gently traced around the wound before lifting my gaze to his neck. Gasping in shock, I exclaimed, “Luke!”
“Oh,” he tilted his head, showing me his neckline, “yeah, after I showered, I got Nico to tat my neck.”
My eyes welled with tears at the sight of Maddie’s name, scripted across the available space. It was beautiful. I was rendered speechless.
“The fact that asshole had her name on him drove me insane and I did cut it off him, by the way.”
I snickered. “Of course, you did.”
“But I put it where it belongs.” His fingers intertwined with mine as he spoke, his eyes locked onto mine. The warmth of his touch and the intensity in his gaze made it hard for me to focus on anything else. “I need you to understand I’m never walking away from either of you.”
My heart swelled at his words, and I nodded, still reeling from the events of the night and now his new tattoo. “Baby, I know.”
