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“What do you think he’ll do when he finally gets his hands on you?” Jesse leaned closer. “I’ve seen pictures, darling. Pictures that will haunt my fucking dreams. I’m not giving him the chance to get that close if I can help it.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“All you have to do is listen to what you’re told to do.”
I blinked, staring into his blue eyes. They offered comfort instead of judgment. “I guess.”
“I won’t sugarcoat my words just because you don’t want to hear it.” He released my chin but didn’t move away.
The three of us sat there not speaking while I thought about the lack of control currently occurring in my life. Jesse got up, and I heard him opening cabinets in the bathroom. My mother kept enough medical supplies to take care of our entire town so his arms would be fine. The scratches weren’t deep, but it really bothered me. I was lucky to have someone willing to take care of me, but it didn’t mean I was happy with the situation. Leaning my head on my brother’s shoulder, I sighed. I hated having to rely on someone else.
Jesse strode back into the room, his forearms showing a few Band-Aids. He kissed Tate on the cheek before settling on the other side of me. “Do you trust me enough to handle this for you?”
“It’s not about trust.” Jesse had always kept my best interest in mind, but it had been so long since I’ve leaned on anybody. Twirling the water bottle, it gave me a distraction and kept my hands busy. “What would you do if it was Tate in my position?”
“He’d already be in a secure location.”
That wasn’t the answer I wanted. Shifting around to face my brother, I raised both of my eyebrows at him. “What if you didn’t want to go somewhere, even if it was safe?”
“Jesse is extremely convincing.” He shrugged. “I’d have a sore ass and be on my way.”
I hated his answer even more. Returning my attention to Jesse, I stared at him for a solid thirty seconds. No, I would not like his response, but I needed to ask. “What do you want to do to me, Jesse?”
“I’d like to spank some sense into you,” he growled. “But I think you meant to ask how I’m planning on handling the situation if you trust me to do so on your behalf.”
“I trust you and should have said as much.” I thought about his threat. “Are you going to spank me for scratching up your arms?”
“No. I understand why you reacted like that, but this situation is serious.” He let out a breath. “I’ll text Dane and see if he’s open to the idea and go from there. Tanner is at work, or I’d call him.”
“You want to see if they’re open to the idea of spanking me!?”
“Talk some sense into your sister before I do. I won’t just use words.” Jesse rose to his feet and crossed the room. He poured himself a cup of coffee, but kept his eyes on Tate and me.
“Go for it, stud. She’s been poking you for close to fourteen years.” Tatum casually agreed.
I jumped to my feet. “Tatum Francis!”
“Tiana Rochelle.” He threw my middle name back at me as he slowly stood.
“Not fair. You promised not to say it out loud!”
“So did you.”
“Wait.” I pointed my finger at him. “Are you the reason Tanner marched up to my room the other day and offered to sort me out?” I realized a second too late that I’d given away that he and Tanner were together in the middle of the day. Tate shot me a stern look, likely the one he normally reserved for Marissa.Yikes.I must have really messed up for my own brother to let his Dom face show.
“Guess he didn’t follow through or you would be in a much better mood.”
“I’m not ready to fall in love with Tanner all over again.” Mortification burned through my body. Though I shared some of my hesitations with Tanner himself, it cemented them when I voiced them to my brother and Jesse.
“Jesse said he’s up for the task. He already knows our whole town is in love with him, so you don’t have to worry.” Tate smirked.
“Watch it, cowboy.” Jesse threw a heated look in his direction.
“I was attempting to be funny, Sir,” Tatum said plainly. “I don’t like the heaviness in the air. Serious situations that I have no control over bother me.”
“Understood. You don’t have to do anything right now, muffin,” Jesse reassured him. “I’ve got it.”
Ooh!Tate was in trouble if he was calling Jesse a title. He likely crossed a line. I wondered if Tate was picking on Jesse’s reputation of being a playboy, or if it was something else. Tatum explained how hesitant he had been in establishing a relationship with Jesse last night, so I was unsure of the issue.
