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My skull instantly felt ten times heavier. That information, tied with Jack’s reasoning was making my skin prick with fear. Whoever burned my house down had thought I’d been home sleeping. Doused my bed with lighter fluid? And if I had been home? I didn’t want to think of that. But reality refused to be ignored, and the notion that the car accident Bea and I were in looked more and more like an attempt to injure us on purpose came into focus. Bea was in X-ray right now, in pain. Because of me.
I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to piece out every emotion rolling through me. I was afraid. Trying so hard not to be…but I was. And it sickened me. I was tired of facing this alone.
The men before me were a special kind of danger all their own and the exact worst thing for me. Yet I craved them. The warmth of Cal and the heat of Jack. But it was time I used my own logic before emotion. I thought of Bea’s words. Thought of what Harper told me.
Do whatever it takes to get through this.
“I don’t want to put anyone else in danger.”
“Good,” Jack said. “Then you’ll stay at my house.”
Cal laughed. The deep chuckle would have been comforting if a stiff glare aimed at Jack didn’t accompany it. “Your house, huh? No. She’s more comfortable at my house.” Cal looked at me.
“Comfortable?” Jack’s voice was cool and challenging. “That’s a large assumption.”
“Not assumption. I know for a fact she likes my bed.”
Jack’s lips pulled back from his teeth on a pissed off exhale. “My security system is better than yours,” he stated sharply. “Lana’s safety is first and foremost. And I have no doubt I can make her perfectly comfortable in my home.”
“Enough!” I broke in. “This bickering is ridiculous. I didn’t even say I’d stay with either of you.”
“It’s the only logical solution,” Jack said.
Cal took a deep breath and clenched his jaw. “Jack does have a good alarm system. You’ll be safe there.”
I could have sworn I heard Cal’s teeth snap around that statement. Jack was satisfied and nodded once. And my options were limited to…zero. The risk had heightened after this car accident and the thought of going back to the hotel, or anywhere, alone made dread stream through my muscles.
They both stared at me. Waiting.
With a shallow inhale, I said, “Okay.”
“Good.” Jack turned to Cal, about to say something, but he was cut off by the doctor approaching.
“I’m looking for Beatrice’s nephew?” the doctor asked, looking between Cal and Jack.
“That’s me,” Cal said and stepped toward the doctor.
When the doctor nodded and started walking away with Cal by his side, Jack said, “I’d like to know what’s going on with Bea.”
“Are you family?” the doctor asked quickly.
A muscle ticked in Jack’s jaw. He shook his head once and the doctor just gave an uncomfortable smile. After an explanation about HIPA and privacy, he went back to talking with Cal, leaving Jack and me behind to watch their backs.
I looked at Jack. Power and strength in a suit ready to bend the world to his will. And he could. But there, in a poorly lit hospital hallway, he stared in the direction of Cal and the doctor with a look of pain on his face.
Jack Powell was all things powerful…and the only family he had in the world were Cal and Bea. A family that biologically wasn’t his, so he stood there, waiting.
It was a terrible feeling. One I recognized well. In that moment, I decided to put all the anger aside and deal with it later. Deal with all my feelings for Jack later. Because, right then, he was hurting in his own way. He needed control. Needed to protect just like Cal did, he just went about it in his own way. And he loved Bea. Very much.
I slipped my hand into his.
He looked at me, then at our hands, but said nothing.
I didn’t say anything either. Just stood there, trying this time, to be his wall…one he could lean against.
He gave my hand a squeeze, those dark eyes searching my face like I’d just given him the answer to the universe.
“Doc says she’ll be okay. They’re going to cast her, but I can take her home here shortly,” Cal said, coming to stand in front of us. When he looked at mine and Jack’s hands intertwined, he raised a brow.
