Page 143 of Saved By My Buyers

“Oh hell yeah. That’s one of the best parts,” Isaac says with a nod.

Jack introduces us, and Isaac grins as he shakes our hand. He’s huge, with tree trunks for thighs, as well as being six-foot-four.

“It’s good to meet you two. I’ve met Bowen at a charity game or two, but wondered who's been keeping him busy,” Isaac teases. “Between the both of you, I’m glad you’re making this guy happy. I can see it, you know?”

Reaching out, I squeeze Bee’s hand because in a lot of ways, I wish she’d been enough for him. I also know that her heart was crushed when I left, and she was looking for a way to fill the void.

There’s so many things I wish I’d done differently, but all I had going for me was a sixteen-year-old girl’s instinct to find safety far away from Gareth Davies.

Bee’s face is open and happy as she chats, helping me relax that she didn’t take it badly. Together, we explore as Jack chats with Isaac, having fun making S’mores with other kids and adults, listening to the full bands that are set up in driveways, and enjoying everything.

Bee has her phone in her pocket for when Jack starts to worry, but it’s so nice not to feel fear because we went too far from a guard or him.

It’s been an adjustment to get used to it all. Even when I was in hiding, I wasn’t this restricted. I’m hoping whatever Jack and his team have been doing will help end Gareth’s obsession with me, the only way he’ll be able to understand.

By fucking dying.

Bee and I are singing a really ridiculous rendition of Jingle Bell Rock with a group of people a few houses away when Jack finally catches up to us.

“You guys really traveled,” he says, breathless. Jack sounds as if he’s been trying to find us for a while, but doesn’t make us feel badly about it. “Have you eaten anything yet?

Grinning, I loop my arm through his as Bee does the same, continuing to sing. Shaking his head, he relaxes, and finds the thread of the song to sing with us.

The organized chaos and happiness of people is exactly what I needed tonight. Real food can wait, I have more things to experience before I can unwind enough to stand still to eat.

Jack goes with it, which I love, content to be with his girls.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

New Years Eve

Jack

Dolly has been pacing, muttering to herself, and checking their music score over and over today and I’m about to snap. She’s anxious, which is making me feel the same.

We had a really good Christmas holiday, and I spoiled the fuck out of both of them. Christmas Eve sex will also live on in infamy, since I spanked Bee for the first time, while telling her she couldn’t come, while Dolly tortured her with toys and her tongue. It was exactly what we all needed.

Now, we’re back to normal, and all I want is for today to be over, so we can shelve it as done.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I say, “Dolly, go get ready, love. We’re leaving soon. You’re going to be amazing. I promise you’ve all practiced until you can perform it in your sleep.”

Bee glances up from where she’s reading, snickering. “I think she has been!”

Dolly ignores us all, mumbling to herself as she walks to the bathroom to shower. Blowing out a breath, I answer my phone to find that it’s Lorrie.

“Hey, Lorrie. Talk to me,” I say, leaning against the wall in the kitchen.

“Hey boss, I have some news,” she says. “The bugs in Gareth’s house came back with something. There’s a lag since it goes through Greg first, but Gareth destroyed his office over Christmas. He hasn’t said a peep about the missing money until now.”

“You think it’s because the Boxley’s asked him about the money and he couldn’t tell them where it was?” I ask. Gareth was probably trying to figure out a way to fix it before they found out.

“Is it just audio, or is there also video so I can watch the fucker suffer?”

“Ha, there’s both. I’ll send it to your laptop. Did you see that Dee’s recital was in the morning paper? They didn’t use her name, but the school was mentioned,” Lorrie says worriedly. “We’ve pulled in a lot of people to secure the mansion, but there’s a wooded area that’s going to be difficult to patrol, because it’s all open forest.”

I’ve never wanted to kill my friend more than right now. I know there are some things he can’t get around with his investors, but goddamn, if he gets my girlfriend killed, I’m going to lose my mind.

“Fuck,” I mutter, stalking to my bedroom to get my laptop. I can feel Bee’s worried gaze on me and I raise my hand toward her to let her know I’m working on it. I know she trusts me to figure it out, but there are so many variables that need to happen for that to be true.

---