Fever (Breathless #2)(30)

“There’s only one world,” Jace said, anger tightening his voice. “We live in the same goddamn world, Bethany. More important, you’re there. I see you. I want you. You’re here in front of me. If that doesn’t put you solidly in my f**king world, then I don’t know what does.”

Her pulse accelerated until she was lightheaded and working to squeeze air into her lungs.

“Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, you’re finally going to tell me who the f**k put their hands on you and why.”

He sounded super pissed off again, only this time she knew he was in no way angry with her. He was furious, yes. No doubt there. There was a blackness and rage in his eyes that made her shiver.

She bit her lips and looked away, her stomach bottoming out. He’d never understand. So far, she’d left out a lot of her relationship with Jack, revealing only that he was her brother and that they were close. Jace would never ever understand. Not in a million years. He wouldn’t care what Jack had done for her or that she owed him so damn much that she’d do anything—anything at all—to repay that debt. Even go to hell and back.

“Bethany.”

Her name came out in a warning growl. He was losing his patience, and so far he’d displayed a remarkable amount of said patience. She was lucky he hadn’t throttled her by now. She got from him that he wasn’t used to being denied anything. He was a man who got what he wanted. People didn’t tell him no. Not if they valued their skin.

She let out a forlorn-sounding sigh.

“What are you into?” he asked softly.

Her eyes flew open and she whirled to meet his gaze, her own earnest and imploring. “I’m not into anything.”

Her response was so vehement that it was obvious he accepted it as truth. He relaxed only the slightest bit, but there was still fire in his eyes.

“Tell me, Bethany. Don’t make me ask again.”

The authority in his voice made her pulse react. Power emanated from him. Her heart thudded painfully against her chest wall and she licked her lips repeatedly as she worked up the courage to tell him the last of it.

“Jack owes money,” she whispered.

Jace’s gaze narrowed instantly. “Say that again?”

She cleared her throat. “Jack owes money. They want it. He can’t repay it. They threatened me. Said I had a week to come up with it.”

She rushed on, not allowing Jace to respond. She was afraid of his response and so she recklessly surged forward, talking fast. She was probably incomprehensible, but at the moment she didn’t care.

“I can’t come up with that kind of money in a month, much less a week! Jobs are hard to find right now. Everyone picks up odd jobs during the holidays. And I don’t look the part to do the better stuff. They took all the cash I had. It was all I had to eat with. To survive on until the next job comes through. I don’t know what to do, Jace. I’m terrified for Jack.”

Jace’s mouth gaped open and he stared incredulously at her. “You’re scared for Jack.”

She nodded.

“You’re scared for Jack,” he said again, with more emphasis.

Again she nodded.

“God-f*cking-damn. Those bastards came at you. They hurt you. They f**king threatened you! And you’re scared for Jack.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

He exploded in a litany of eyebrow-scorching curses that had her wincing. He turned, letting her loose as he sat forward on the couch, his hands clenched together between his thighs.

“Son of a bitch,” he snapped. “Did it ever occur to you to be scared for yourself?”

She swallowed and nodded. “After today, yeah.”

He turned swiftly back to her. His eyes sparked with anger.

“What I want to know is how they even knew about you,” he said in a soft, furious voice.

It was a question Bethany had asked herself. Repeatedly. Ever since they’d shoved her to the ground, stolen her money and kicked her in the ribs. Why had they come after her? How did they even know of her existence?

Jack wouldn’t . . . She shook her head, because she was being stupid. How else would they have known? How would they have known how to find her? Jack had to have told someone. And that broke her heart.

Tears pricked her eyelids and they stung. It was like having acid in her eyes.

“Tell me what happened, Bethany,” Jace said in a more gentle tone. He was holding her again. She was against his chest, cradled in his arms. His lips pressed to her hair and his tone was soothing and infinitely tender.

She closed her eyes as her warm tears collided with Jace’s shirt.

“They knew how to find me,” she choked out. “I don’t know how.” Liar. She knew. It was the first lie she’d offered Jace, but somehow admitting the truth made it irrevocably so. And she couldn’t deal with that right now. Denial was kinder.

“They shoved me to the ground. It’s how I got the scrapes and cuts. They told me I had a week to get the money Jack owed them. Then they stole the cash I had out of my pocket. They left and said they’d look me up in a week and that there was nowhere I could hide from them. They told me they’d find me. No matter what.”

“Fucking bastards,” Jace spat. “Goddamn chickenshit sons of bitches. Preying on a defenseless woman instead of the prick who borrowed the money in the first place. And Jack let them.”