Page 113 of Surrender

I move around Jack and drag her into my arms. “Shh, it’s okay.”

Jack shuts the door behind her. Her sobs swallow the sound.

“Is everyone alright?” She hiccups into my shoulder.

I rub her back with soothing strokes. “Everyone is safe.”

“I got a call from him this morning. Can you believe that? He used his one phone call on me,” she scoffs and scrubs at her eyes. Alice hates to cry. “I told him the prosecution would have my full cooperation. I’m done with him and my mother. Maybe I’ll move here and leave it all behind.”

“It’s not the worst idea.”

“Worked out pretty well for you.” She jerks out of my arms and holds me at the shoulders, searching my face with red-rimmed eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“With Devon in custody, I’ve never been safer.”

“And this is him? The blizzard hottie?”

Jack chokes on a startled laugh.

“Yep, this is Jack.”

“Nice to meet you.” She roves her eyes over him and gives his hand a quick shake before shoving into the room. “Now, I’m sure you’re all tired, and I gave you a hell of a wake-up call, so I’m going to start breakfast, and then we can all celebrate my asshole brother finally going to jail where he belongs over some eggs and bacon. Do you have eggs and bacon?”

As she practically skips her way across the room, Jack cuts a sharp glance to me.

“She always like this?”

“Yep. Her humor’s always been a bit morbid, and she pretty much does what she wants.”

“Great,” he mutters, but the corners of his lips twitch.

I lean closer. “Don’t worry. She’s only staying the weekend.”

Jack presses a kiss on my forehead. “She’s welcome to stay as long as you need her to.”

“I love you.” I twist my fingers into the fabric at his waist, tugging him closer.

His eyes soften into molten steel. He dips his head, his mouth an inch from mine. “I love you too, pretty girl.”

Another round of banging echoes through the living room. My flinch has Jack yanking open the door again with stiff shoulders.

“Sutton,” he rumbles.

“Jack. Whitney. Got a minute?”

Jack wraps his hand around my hip and tugs me close. His thumb strokes a patch of bare skin between the hem of my sweatshirt and leggings, eliciting a round of shivers. “Come in.”

Sutton crosses the threshold and pulls the winter cap off his head. He runs his fingers through his thick brown hair.

“How are the kids?”

“They’re getting much-needed rest,” I say softly.

Sutton Stone might have made my return to Fairview Valley an anxious nightmare, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s a decent man and a good officer.

And his brother, Silas…

I can’t bear to imagine what would have happened to Bennett without him.

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