Fever (Breathless #2)(128)

Jack’s face grew grim and regret haunted his eyes. Then he stared directly into Jace’s eyes.

“Take care of her for me.”

“I will,” Jace said shortly.

“And tell her I’m sorry,” he added quietly. “Tell her I love her. I’ll always love her.”

“If you love her, you’ll take this opportunity to straighten your life out,” Jace said. “If you’ll stick it out, I’ll hire a lawyer for you. Try to work out a deal where you go to rehab and get probation as opposed to a jail sentence. Can’t guarantee anything. I don’t want you anywhere near Bethany. She’s been hurt enough. If things work out, I wouldn’t be opposed to you keeping in touch with her.”

Jack stared at Jace for a long moment. “You’d do that for me?”

“I’m doing it for Bethany,” Jace said stiffly. “Only for her.”

Jack nodded. “Thanks, then. I’ll do it. It’s time to do something . . . different. Better. I almost killed the person who means the most to me. Can’t even say what that does to a man. I won’t touch that shit again. Ever.”

“I hope you’re telling the truth. I hope you straighten up and get clean.”

“Time’s up,” the officer said, moving forward to guide Jack out.

“I’ll have a lawyer come see you,” Jace said.

It went against every instinct not to let them make Jack rot in jail. Not that he’d probably do any time anyway. But he was doing this for Bethany, because it would be her who’d be hurt knowing Jack had gone to jail for his foolish actions. And he’d do anything at all to spare her more pain. Even if it meant helping the man who’d nearly ended her life.

It was twisted and f**ked up in every way. His gut screamed to take revenge. To make Jack suffer for what he’d done. But Bethany would suffer the most and Jace couldn’t bear that.

“You’re a good man,” Jack said. “You’ll be good for my Bethy. I want her to be happy.”

“She’s mine,” Jace corrected.

“But she was mine first,” Jack said softly.

And then the officer led him away and Jace stood staring after him as he shuffled like a man much older than his twentysomething years.

“Jace?”

He turned to see Mia standing a short distance away, flanked by Gabe and Ash.

“Is it true? She’s awake? I heard you talking to Jack.”

Jace relaxed and then smiled at his family. “Yeah, she woke up a while ago. We talked. She was disoriented. Had no idea what happened.” His smile faded. “Had to tell her about Jack.”

Sympathy brimmed in Mia’s eyes.

“How’d she take it?” Gabe asked gruffly.

“Not very well. She’s upset,” Jace said with a sigh. “But she’s tough and she realizes she’s done all she can do for him.”

“Can we see her?” Mia asked.

“Yeah, baby girl. But first I need to see if they’ll let her eat something. She’s hungry and I promised her a good meal if they’ll let her have it. None of this hospital shit.”

“I’ll run out and get us all something,” Ash offered.

“That would be great. Thanks. I’m sure you’re all starving. You’ve been here all damn night. You should probably all go home and get some rest.”

“We’ll go home after we see Bethany. I want her to know she has people here who love her,” Mia said.

Jace pulled her into a hug. “Thanks, baby girl.”

She squeezed him back, then pushed away. “Go see if they’ll let her eat. I for one am starving and would love part of this fantastic meal you’ve promised her.”

• • •

Bethany glanced up when her door opened and Gabe, Mia and Ash walked in, relieved smiles on their faces when they saw her sitting up in bed. Jace squeezed her hand and smiled.

“Looks like dinner is here.”

Ash walked forward, several takeout bags and carry-out boxes in his hands. He spread them over the end of the bed and then walked up the other side of her bed and leaned over to give her a kiss.

“Scared the shit out of us, sweetheart.”

She smiled up at him and then he enfolded her in a fierce hug.

As soon as Ash let her go, Gabe pressed in with a ferocious hug of his own and then Mia latched on to her, hugging and babbling a nonstop stream that had Bethany’s head spinning.

“Brought you supper. Well, brought it for all of us. Haven’t had much to eat during our vigil,” Ash said.

“Thank you all for being here,” she said softly. “It means a lot to have people who care. I’ve never had that before.”

Jace tightened his hold on her hand, giving her a fierce squeeze. Ash’s gaze softened while Mia looked as though she was going to cry. Gabe gave her another quick hug and then kissed the top of her head.

“You’re family,” Gabe declared. “Maybe not the most normal family in the world, but you’re stuck with us now.”

She grinned. “Can’t think of a better family to belong to.”

Ash brought her a foam container filled with wonderful-smelling food. She peeked inside to see he’d loaded it down with finger foods. Fried cheese, crab wontons, barbecue riblets, French fries, Asian noodles and an eggroll. It was so unbelievably perfect that she could only stare as her stomach protested the fact she hadn’t dug in yet.