AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Course not,” Jesse said, dredging up a smile.
“But what if they do?”
“I’ve made this place very, very safe,” Jesse said, patting her arm. “Tell you what… Why don’t I take you around the gardens later? Show you just how safe it is?” A small smile brightened her face, and she nodded. Jesse patted her cheek. “I’ll see you later then, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she said with a brighter smile. “And we’llbothsee Daddy later, right? Once it’s dark.”
Jesse swallowed. “I’m sure we will.”
“Jesse,” Tom said. Jesse managed a reassuring smile for Dimity then followed him out into the hall.
“What the hell?” Tom said as soon as the door was shut. “Dimity’shere?”
“Youknewabout her?”
“Of course I knew,” Tom said in a harsh whisper. “How doessheknowyou?” Jesse stared at him, wondering where to start. Tom took in his expression and waved his hand impatiently. “Forget that for now. Just tell me, what is shedoinghere? The custody battle can’t be over. We’d’ve known.”
“Why was she a secret, huh?” Jesse asked. “Why did no one tell me about her?”
“Because it’s a delicate situation.”
“Not as delicate as me breaking into the fucking mayor’s house to bust her out.”
Tom’s eyes widened. “You didwhat?”
“He wanted me to,” Jess said, running his hands through his hair. “Said legally that Helena woman had no right to have her.”
“Emoryaskedyou to steal Dimity back?”
Jesse dropped his hands with a sigh. “Yes.”
“Jesus.” Tom put a hand to his head.
“This is bad, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know,” Tom said carefully. “It wasn’t clever, that’s for sure. And he’s usually clever.”
“Was he right?” Jesse asked quietly. “When he said Helena wasn’t supposed to have Dimity in the first place?”
“Technically,” Tom said, gesturing wearily. “But now he’s essentially kidnapped her—”
“But he’s her legal guardian,” Jesse said, not unaware they were having the same argument he and Emory had already had. “So it’s not kidnapping. Right?”
“Well, I just hope Darragh can prove that,” Tom said, looking worried. “Otherwise, Emory just hammered a nail into the coffin of his custody case.”
“You mean I have.”
Tom examined for a moment then sighed. “You were just doing what he asked you to do. Hey…” His expression hardened. “Was this why he hired you?”
Jesse winced and looked at the floor. “To begin with, yeah. But it’s more than that now.”
“More?” Tom paled. He stared at Jesse for a long moment and the silence grew loaded around them. When he spoke again it was in a hoarse whisper. “Jesse, are you two…?”
Jesse felt like the floor had disappeared from under him. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Tom blinked. Several questions flickered through his eyes then back out again.
“He can hurt you, you know—and I meanreallyhurt you.”
