Survivor (First to Fight #2)(52)

Sneakers squeak against the hardwood and then I feel his hard chest against my back. “For a second, I thought she was you. I pictured you there at seventeen and alone. Wanting your family to be there. Wanting me to stay with you, fight for you. And I just walked away.”

“Jack—”

“I just left you to deal with it on your own. He hurt you. God only knows how, and I let you go.” His lips course down my hair. “I’ll never forgive myself for abandoning you that way.”

“I’m fine,” I insist, as his hands wrap around my stomach. His heart beats a wild tattoo I can feel in my own chest.

“Because you’re the strongest woman I know.”

Shaking my head, I say, “I’m not. I ran away. From you, from my family. I gave up everything that mattered to me.”

“He took everything that mattered, and you picked up the pieces and fit them back together the best way you knew how.”

“I don’t know where you get this vision of me, but I’m not the person you think I am.”

He starts undressing behind me. I hear the rustle of his clothes as they plop on the tile floor at my feet. “No, you’re not. You’re better.”

He starts undressing me, too. First my prim button-up, then my pencil skirt. I toe out of my heels—for the first time, I don’t care where they land. Then he helps me under the hot spray with him, tucking me under his chin as we stand, locked against each other until the water turns cold.

Jack gets out of the shower first, wrapping a towel around his waist and holding one out for me to step into. He wraps me up like a child and leads us both back to my bedroom, where the curtains blot out the dim evening sunlight, draping the room in shadows. Pulling me to the bed, he drops both of our towels to the floor and wraps us up in blankets until we’re skin against skin in a cocoon.

“I want you to talk to her,” he says, his voice hoarse with sleep and emotion.

“To the girl?”

“Her name’s Emma. She could use the support, I think. I don’t know. Either way, I think it’ll be good for both of you. I want her to file a report.”

I sit straight up in the bed, my heart pumping viciously. “And you want me to what? Provide additional evidence? A key eyewitness?”

“Yes, to all of those. You both need it.”

“And who are you to tell us what we need?”

“I’m the man who’s seen the damage it’s done. To both of you.” He turns flat on his back and runs a hand through his hair. “I just want you to talk to someone. Logan’s still on leave, but we can consult with him to see what steps to take. Emma’s scared, but I think if she had you, she’d be up to visiting the police.”

“There’s nothing they can do to help me now, Jack. Too much time has passed.”

He props himself up on one arm. “Yeah, but there is something you can do to help her. I wasn’t there for you when you were attacked, but I can do this. We can do this.”

I recline on the bed, my arms rigid by my sides as he watches me. “I don’t know. I’m not saying no, I just…can I think about it?”

He presses a kiss to my shoulder. “Of course.”

Silence descends between us until I can’t stand it any longer. “Did you want to go with me to the boys game tomorrow? With everything that happened today, I forgot to mention it.”

“Damn right I will. Who do you think taught Rafe that jump shot?”

Shivering, I give in and burrow into his warmth. “I’m glad you’re here.”

He answers with a kiss against my forehead. “I’m not going anywhere,” he says.





For the first time since Jack started staying over at my house I don’t sleep well. I keep expecting to wake up and find Damian’s haunting face leering over me. We’re both quiet as we make the drive to Ben and Livvie’s house.

He follows close behind me, one hand on my back. I take comfort in that. In knowing he’s right behind me.

Cole opens the door and throws himself into my arms with a screech as soon as I knock. “Auntie Sofie!”

His smiling face puts a grin on my own. “Hi, handsome. Is your mommy home?”

Ben comes around the corner with a hassled look on his face. “Please, dear God tell me you’re here to take one of these runts off of our hands. Seriously, at this point, I’ll pay you if you want one.”

I pat Ben on the face and laugh. “Do you mean this kid or your wife?”

He pauses to consider while Cole frowns at him, looking remarkably like his father. “Well, I was thinking about keeping the older one, but if you’ll take the brat with you, then by all means.”

“Dad!” Cole stomps his foot. “Auntie Sofie is here to take me to the basketball game with Rafe and Donnie.”

“And I’m here to recruit you to help with wrangling the team,” Jack says from beside me. “Apparently, it’s our turn to help out.”

“Ah,” Ben says. “Go get your mom, spawn, and tell her to put a move-on.”

“I’m standing right here, Ben. I’m not deaf.” She rolls her eyes at me as Ben pecks her on the cheek anyway and joins Jack at the truck to finish loading some supplies he’s apparently been keeping in the shed.