Page 83 of Master of My Heart

Jayson stabbed at the food on his plate, then took a deep breath. “I didn’t know who she was at first. Martin asked me and Liz to look after her and, well... She has nightmares. Really bad ones. She sometimes wakes up screaming.”

Chase winced at the thought. “And?”

“Well, the first night, I... I just meant to stay with her until she fell asleep. Honestly.” Jayson gave him a sad look. “Geez, I got a hard-on because she’s... She’s fucking hot.”

Chase’s hand clenched around his fork.

Jayson held his hands in the air. “You know what she said when she felt it?”

He didn’t respond, aside from glowering at his friend.

“She said... She asked, ‘Do you want me to help?’” Jayson said in a sad voice. “She said that’s what she’s supposed to do.”

Chase’s anger vaporized at Jayson’s words. “She really said that?” he asked softly.

Jayson nodded. “Yeah.” He frowned. “Course, that took care of my dick.” He stabbed at his food again. Chase wondered if something else had happened. After a few minutes, he cleared his throat. “I didn’t mean to sleep with her.” Jayson looked up, his brown eyes wide. “Honestly, I didn’t. I thought it was a dream until I opened my eyes and... and realized it wasn’t.”

Chase stared, not having a clue as to what to say. His best friend had slept with the girl he intended to marry. The girl he’d barely kissed before being separated for five years. The girl he didn’t even know was still alive until a few days ago. He took a deep breath. “How could you not mean to, but do it anyway?” he asked slowly, trying to stay calm.

“She started things while I was still asleep, and...” Jayson ran his hands through his hair. “Fuck, man. I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to. We talked after. Chase, she’s been told some really fucked-up stuff. She thought it was her job to please me. She wasn’t allowed to say no to any man.” He shook his head. “She had bruises on her arms. Something happened on the train. She said she didn’t remember what, though. I dunno. Maybe she was drugged. Or maybe she just didn’t want to tell me. She doesn’t open up very easily. But she didn’t think it was a big deal.” Jayson’s expression was a mix of bewilderment and sadness. “How fucked up is that?”

Chase stared out the window, trying to digest everything. “Anything else I should know?” he asked evenly.

Jayson proceeded to tell him everything he knew about Sabrina. Chase tried to keep his temper at bay when he admitted to starting things again, but was relieved when Jayson assured him he’d told her it couldn’t happen again.

When he finished speaking, Chase stared out the window. “I can hardly believe it.” How could anyone survive something like that?

“It’s awful,” Jayson agreed. “But even after all that, she’s really an amazing woman.”

Chase looked back at Jayson when he heard the admiration in his friend’s voice.

“She’s an amazing dancer. She’s so sweet and kind, even after living in hell for so long.” Jayson shrugged. “I can see why you fell for her.”

“Do you like her?”

“How could I not? But you’ve been searching for her for years. You can protect her from whatever or whoever is after her. I can’t.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “She remembers you.” Jayson blew out a long breath, and Chase wondered what he wasn’t saying.

“What?” Chase prompted.

“She thinks you’re gonna reject her because of what happened to her.”

Chase stared at him in disbelief. “Why on earth would she think that?”

“I have no idea. It’s not like she asked to be kidnapped and abused. I don’t understand her thinking sometimes. She won’t open up to me. Or anyone else, for that matter.”

Chase tapped his fist on his mouth as he stared out the window again, thinking about everything he’d learned. Was he up to the challenge of a really messed-up girl? Was it even possible to get through to her?

He had to try. He’d waited too long to see her again to walk away without even trying. “When do you think would be a good time to see her?”

Jayson frowned. “She’s doing something tonight. Maybe you can convince her to not go.”

“Why?”

“Because, before I came to meet you, I asked her about what she was doing, figuring you’d probably want to stop by, and she wouldn’t look me in the eye when she said she was busy. She’s been out almost every night, coming home exhausted in the morning. I don’t know what’s going on, but she doesn’t look thrilled about it.” He stabbed at his food again and shoved a forkful into his mouth.

“Have you seen her with Aiden Lang?” Chase asked, remembering what Richard had said on the phone.

Jayson chewed and swallowed. “Aiden? What do you mean?”

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