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“Oh, I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Jace says before I can reply.
We all turn to him. He has already finished all the food on his plate, while I haven’t even started eating yet. Jace notices this, and points towards my plate.
“You need to eat,” he announces.
“I’m not sure if I can eat after everything that happened today,” I reply, temporarily thrown off by the change in topic.
“That’s exactly why you need to eat. Food is good for the soul. Our bodies are genetically wired to connect food with a feeling of safety. Because no one sat down on the savannah to eat while being chased by a lion. We only ate when we knew that we were safe. And that genetic wiring still remains. So when we eat, our body interprets that to mean that we are safe, and responds accordingly.” Jace points to my plate again. “So, eating will make you feel better.”
A stunned laugh rips from my chest. With both mirth and astonishment swirling inside me, I smile and shake my head at Jace. “Oh look, Mr. Public Service Announcement is back again.”
He laughs and shakes his head at me as well. Then he leans in and steals a quick kiss from my lips. “Just eat.”
“Alright, I will,” I reply as he pulls back again. “If you explain what you meant by your ‘I don’t think you need to worry about that’ comment.”
A scheming glint shines in his eyes as he meets my gaze. “You won’t be needing a bodyguard anymore. Not ever.” Leaning back nonchalantly in his seat, he glances to my parents as well. “In fact, come tomorrow, none of you will be needing a bodyguard.”
Confusion pulses across my parents’ features. The same confusion swirls inside my chest as well, and I frown at Jace.
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“It means?—”
His phone rings, cutting off his words.
With that sly smile still on his lips, he pulls out his phone and answers the call.
“Eli,” he says.
Surprise pulses through me.
“You’re all here?” he says into the phone. “Great, I’ll be right down.”
After ending the call, he abruptly stands up and pushes his chair back in. I scramble to my feet as well. My parents do the same.
“Wait,” I blurt out. “Where are you going?”
He pauses. Sliding a hand through my hair, he leans down and slants his lips over mine. I can feel the wicked smile that spreads across his mouth as he whispers a sentence that makes my soul flutter.
“I’m going to show people what happens when they dare to touch something that belongs to me.”
46
JACE
Blood runs down the side of my bat and drips on the ground as I walk. My hands and forearms are stained red, and blood is splattered across my face as well.
My brothers flank me as we stride out of the building that used to be Gregor Doyle’s headquarters. Kaden is casually twirling a knife in his hand while Rico is still holding a gun. Eli’s hands look like they have been dipped in red. I spin my bat, resting it against my shoulder as we walk.
Behind us, the building is on fire.
“Well, that should do it,” I comment.
Eli and Rico chuckle while Kaden flashes me a wicked smirk.
I slide my free hand into my pocket and pull out my phone. Then I call our father. He answers after only two signals.
“You’re done?” he asks by way of greeting.
