AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bryan
I stare at the smoke as it billows from the end of the pistol Jack is holding. He’s a big man. He’s as big as Liam… maybe larger. Something about him always intimidated me.
At first, I thought it was his size. If it’s true, that men are still predators deep down, then it makes sense that I view him as a hazard. It’s the same way I view Liam and Dex. So far, they haven’t proved me wrong.
Getting to know Jack was something I had no choice in. The man is close to Beth, and I want Beth to be happy. So, I pushed past initial reactions and got to know the man better. Turns out, he’s more than a giant. He’s also a headcase. Not the kind that lives in a mansion in the English countryside like Liam, but the type of man that runs his land like a small country. And out here, in Montana, there isn’t much law to govern anything differently.
Liam pulls his gun and aims. The first shot is a warning and lands on the frame of the door. The next three, landing lower on the frame, are to show how good a shot he is. He doesn’t speak. He only waits.
Beth screams and there’s a commotion in the hall with Dex. I can’t see what’s happening, but I can tell from the sounds that he’s trying to hold her back. She calls out for Liam.
Liam.The man whokidnappedher. She calls out tohimfor help. I suppose she’s going to need more therapy than I thought to recover from all this.
Surprisingly, he’s attentive to her, calling back with a firm tone. “Princess, come here.”
Princess.At first, I thought it was something he was annoying her with. Now I think she might like it.
She rushes down the hall and buries herself in his arms, as thoughhe’sher safe place. Part of me doesn’t blame her. The man exudes confidence, dominance, supremacy, and power. Hell, she’s even wearing his t-shirt.
What were they doing?For a second, I imagine him on top of her, making her smile, making her come. It’s a disturbing thought, and it flees my mind nearly as fast as it comes, but for that brief second, I’m aroused.
“Beth!” Jack growls. “You said you were in trouble.”
She glances up for the first time at the man in the doorway. “Jack?What the hell? How did you find me?”
“Brian has that tracking app on his phone. So, I followed it here. You’re only an hour away from the mountain.”
“The mountain?We’re surrounded by mountains,” Liam notes.
Does he feel threatened by Jack?
“He owns five hundred acres on Jasper Pass.” Beth speaks of the place positively like he’s re-homing lost puppies, but Jack’s mountain is nothing of the sort.
“How nice for him,” Liam chides with sarcasm. “And what do you do on your cozy, little mountain?”
Jack steps forward, his large frame meeting Liam’s stare. “If you don’t kindly return my sister, you’ll find out.”
I glance toward Beth, expecting her to be outraged, but she shrinks and quiets, sliding into the background as though she’s trying to disappear.
Liam narrows his gaze. “You have a lot of balls showing up here unannounced. So, I’m going to assume you have answers as well?”
Jack glances toward Beth who’s thumbing through a book from the shelf on the back corner. He stays fixed on her for a long minute until she meets his gaze. They’re talking the way they do. In this weird all-knowing way that only requires eyes. I’ve always been a bit envious of it. “I took them.” Jack’s jaw tightens and his fists clench as he looks toward Liam. “The jewels have been sold.”
“You’re lying.” Liam twists toward Beth with a beastly growl. “Why is he lying?”
She doesn’t respond.
Liam barks, “Beth!”
She jumps in place, then slides the book back onto the shelf before slowly making her way back to Liam’s side. She looks up at him, guilty. Like she’s done something wrong, and she can’t hide it any longer.
Jack reaches out for her. “Let’s go.”
Liam’s brows narrow as he laughs, his gaze toward Beth. “Let me guess. You, the girl voted most likely to end up in a psych ward, took the gems for yourself, in hopes of selling them to solve all your problems.” He clears his throat as he says, “Am I right, Beth?”
She looks up at Jack, then Liam and Dex, before landing on me. Her gaze has changed, her veil has fallen, and I see her for the woman that she is.
Broken.
