Jared (The Protectors #2)(43)

“Gramps!” Tessa cried out seeing her grandfather sitting at the table like he had never left. His worried eyes stared at her as he started to get agitated. She reached over grabbing his hand before glancing up at Jared. “Thank you.”

He gave her a nod before bending down in front of her. “Adam!” He called out.

“Yeah?” Adam walked into the kitchen holding hands with a beautiful girl. When he saw his sister his eyes widened. “What happened to you?”

“Had a fight with the woods and lost.” She snorted, looking at Angelina Harris with a grin. “Hey Angelina. How you doing?”

“Good.” She grinned, her cheeks flushed.

“Get me some water in a large bowl, some Peroxide and anything else you got for cuts.” Jared ordered Adam as he examined Tessa’s battered feet.

Tessa watched Adam head upstairs with Angelina following close behind. She smiled. Angelina was a nice girl. Glancing at Gramps she saw he wore a half grin. “What are you smiling at Gramps?”

“He’s happy Adam finally got that girl to go out with him.” Jared replied standing with a large frown. “You really did a number on your feet Red.”

Tessa’s head tilted as she looked up at Jared. “How do you know why he’s smiling?”

Jared leaned against the counter not answering her. Then looked at her grandfather. “She threw her shoes at one of the half-breeds.” Jared shook his head, then laughed. “Yeah, I totally agree sir.”

Her hand flew to her mouth in shock. “You can communicate with him?” Then she frowned. It was too good to be true. “Don’t play with me about this Jared.”

His eyes narrowed in anger. “You really don’t think much of me do you Tessa?”

“I’m sorry, it’s just….” Tessa looked at her grandfather who was frowning at her.

“I’m not cruel.” Jared shook his head at her before answering his phone walking out of the room.

Watching him go Tessa then looked at her grandfather who wore a disappointed look on his weathered face. Suddenly everything was too much and she felt awful for what she just said to Jared who had done nothing but help them.

Standing slowly, she walked to her grandfather giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. “It’s so good to see you sitting where you belong.” She whispered before limping out of the room.

“Where you going?” Adam and Angelina met her on the stairs.

“I have to get something.” Tessa passed them trying not to winch at the pain. “I’ll be right back.”

Making it to her room Tessa looked at her reflection in the mirror and sighed. Scratches and dried blood streaked her face. She was a mess. Grabbing a shirt out of her drawer she took off Jared’s shirt which smelled so much like him and slipped the other one on. Taking the few steps to her bed was excruciating. Reaching under her mattress Tessa pulled out the small vial she had stolen the night they had escaped their nightmare. Holding it up she stared at the dark amber liquid that had changed their lives.

“What the hell are you doing?” Jared’s voice echoed in her room.

Fumbling the vial Tessa caught it before it hit the ground. Clutching it to her chest before turning around quickly, so quickly it sent pain radiating from her feet up her legs making her nauseous, she moaned. Now face to face with him after saying what she did Tessa looked away. She was ashamed of herself.

“Here.” She stuck her arm straight out holding the vial tightly in her hands. “I shouldn’t have kept it from you. I’m sorry.” When he didn’t take it, just stood with his arms crossed Tessa wiggled her hand, but his gorgeous golden eyes stayed on hers.

Without looking away he reached back and closed the door.

Ah, okay. Tessa felt like an idiot holding her arm out so she dropped it to her side. “Don’t you want it?”

“What I wanted was for you to stay in that chair so I could take care of you.” Jared’s deep voice finally filled the room.

Oh how good that sounded. Someone to take care of her, but wasn’t that what he had been doing all along and she kept throwing it back in his face. “I just wanted to make sure I gave this to you.” She held it out again, but he still didn’t take it.

“It’s not really about the vial Tessa.” Jared walked up standing in front of her, still ignoring the vial in her outstretched hand. “I want your trust.”

Tessa swallowed visibly. Trust was something she didn’t do well. “It’s not you Jared.” Tessa wanted to reassure him, but didn’t know how. “Every male I have ever known, other than my grandfather and brother, has thrown my trust back in my face.”

“I’m not other men.” Jared cocked his eyebrow. “And didn’t your best friend also misuse your trust. Your best friend was a woman right. Oat isn’t gay is he?”

A grin slipped across her face. How could he take a serious situation like this and make her smile. No one had ever been able to do that. “No he’s not gay.” She laughed lightly. Looking into his eyes Tessa wanted to confide in him so badly the words just burst from her mouth. “My father beat me.” There, she said it. Otis wasn’t really the problem when it came to trust. It was her father.

Jared’s eyes turned black before he could even blink. “I would never lay a hand on you.” His voice was as harsh as his expression.