Fallen Woman(70)

Hart seemed to appear out of nowhere. “That’s never a question to ask in current company. And unfortunately, the answer is yes.” He shook Jase’s hand as he addressed me. “Why don’t you two follow me and we can talk privately.”

Jase ushered me into the conference room by the small of my back and pulled out my chair before taking a seat next. The grave look on Hart’s face didn’t sit well with me, but I wasn’t running this show and didn’t feel it was my place to ask what had him so grim.

“Holland wants to play hardball with you two. He’s now gone beyond pressing charges to suing Jase for medical expenses, lost time from work, and mental anguish.”

My eyes rolled involuntarily at the stupidity of all this. I’d love to know the date Holland relinquished his man card.

“How about I write him a check for an office visit, and when he removes his tampon, we can talk about what a dipshit he’s being?”

I saw this same look in Jase’s eyes the night I told him what happened. Unbridled anger. “Jase…” I tried to talk him down, but he wasn’t having any of it.

“No, Gia. Don’t Jase me. That piece of shit knows why I beat his ass to a pulp, and he knows he deserved it. Now he wants to act like a damn pussy after he took advantage of you in who knows what way. Fuck that!” He turned his attention back to Hart. “Tell him to bring all he’s got. I’m not backing down.”

He put his hand on my leg. I covered it with my own and squeezed his fingers. He was fiercely protective—something I’d missed for years. We made eye contact briefly. I loved the way he softened every time he took me in.

Hart stole our moment, bringing us back to the present. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Jase, unless you can convince Gianna to share her story, you beat up an innocent man. And even if she does share it, you still violated the law.” The look he gave me meant he wanted me to comply.

Jase never batted an eye and didn’t consider what his lawyer was asking him to do. “Find another solution, Hart. That’s not an option.”

“Then get out your checkbook because he’s not going away silently.”

“What does he want? Surely his lawyer has given you a settlement offer of some sort.”

“As of right now, he’s unwilling to settle and wants to take you to court.”

I couldn’t stand listening to this. Knowing Jase was about to commit career and social suicide over me was more than I could stand. Jase kept talking, but all I could think of was his demise because of me. Ryan lost himself trying to protect me, and it cost him his life. “Can you threaten to use the information about the rape kit without actually releasing it?” I asked, interrupting their conversation.

“No, Gia. There has to be another option.”

“Like what, Jase? He doesn’t want your money. He wants your reputation. He’s trying to take you down. He doesn’t need you to pay those bills; he wants a public assassination.”

“She’s right.” Hart stared Jase down. “He’s out for blood, and I don’t think there’s enough money in the world to get him to step back. He wants to humiliate you.”

His steely gray eyes turned to me, the pain in them evident. He didn't want to do this, but more importantly, he didn’t want me to, either. “Gia, I’ll fight it to keep you safe and out of the spotlight.”

“Negotiations can be kept quiet, Jase. This can all be done behind the scenes. At this point, he hasn’t gone public, but it’s just a matter of time before the press finds out and splashes it on the front page. The two of you are highbrow in this town and well known.”

Reluctantly, he conceded with the understanding it was to be used as a threat only. Hart was to do whatever he had to in order to keep the rape kit and my name from going public. I wished I could say I felt good about this, but everything in me told me we just started a war—a war I didn’t have the resources to fight, and one in which Jase could lose everything.

Hand in hand, we left Hart Linland’s office. I’m sure he could sense my apprehension, but instead of mentioning it, he opened the car door to let me in. But before I could take a seat, he pulled me into his chest, squeezing me tightly to him. “I promise you. I will protect you at all costs. I won’t let anything else happen to you, Gia.”

It was a nice sentiment, but not one he could honor. Unfortunately, life throws curves you can’t anticipate, and Jase couldn’t control the world or those in it. I’d lived through those nasty twists and just prayed this didn’t turn into another one. Instead of responding, I offered him my mouth, which he freely took, moving his hand to cup my jaw. Before it got out of control, he pecked me one last time, and then we got in the car.

“Are we going to work?” I stared at him dreamily, wanting to be lost in him for hours, days…as long as the universe would allow it.

“No. I’m exhausted and just want to go home and hang out.”

I opened my mouth to protest and even started to speak, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears, so I closed my trap, grabbed my man’s hand, and allowed a hint of a smile to linger on my lips. I loved him, more so than I should. I’d never know how I got lucky enough for him to return those feelings.

Jase and I spent the remainder of the day, before we went to pick up the kids, wrapped up in each other. Naked bliss. Connected intimately. Every time he touched me, his hands carved affection into my skin—mentally, he caressed my spirit. He made sure to make love to me every time we were close, not just when we had sex. The more time I spent with him, the more lost in him I became. The feeling of total abandon I felt in his arms was magical and more than I could have ever asked for. I never thought I’d love a man the way I did Ryan, but that was only because I didn’t know Jase existed.