Page 26 of Forgive You

“I’ll be right there with him, big man. Might want to step down,” Ford rumbles.

I’ve met the man once, but he’s standing there with squared shoulders and a look I imagine he normally brings to the ice.

My chest expands at their threats on my behalf, and Jacob slowly turns his head until he’s nose-to-nose with his little brother. They breathe each other down, nostrils flaring, and even though Jordan is a couple of inches shorter than his big brother, he makes up for it with the lethal glint in his eyes.

“Don’t test me, Jacob,” he whispers with an authority I’ve never seen from the kid I’ve known since he was twelve.

Jacob’s grip loosens, and I quickly pull free, stepping backward while I never drop my gaze from the two brothers about to go head-to-head.

Jordan flexes his fingers, drawing them into fists, while Jacob’s steel-blue eyes shift to snakelike slits. I dart my eyes at Jason, his vision planted on his two brothers, matching the rock-hard features they both hold.

My chest tightens. Their mama would whip all three of them over the head if she saw them turning against each other like this. But then again, I wonder if she knows all the shit Jacob has pulled over the years.

“Taxi, miss?” Turning around, I find an older man giving me a friendly expression like he’s my fairy godmother. He glances at the stare-down in front of us, then offers me a look that’s silently asking me to take the escape route he’s providing.

“Yes, please.”

Without a second guess, I turn toward the open car door.

“Julie, don’t,” Jordan calls out, and I meet his worried frown with a reassuring smile. “I’ll drive you home.”

I have no doubt he means every word of it. I also have no doubt the four of them drove up here together, and I can’t handle being cramped up in a car with Jason, the bitch from high school, and my new client. Let’s not make this night any more disastrous than it already is.

I’m about to open my mouth, when Jacob steps away, ready to round the taxi and get in on the other side. Each step is traced by Jason and his eyes grow bigger by the second before Jacob disappears out of sight and his gaze aligns with mine.

Can this night get any worse?

“Thank you.” I smile at Jordan, though the corners of my mouth feel heavy. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

Jason takes a step forward, tension etched in his spine. “You’re seriously leaving with him? Are you out of your mind?”

Jason is ready to murder his brother on the pavement, though he looks like I might be the next best thing. Jordan slaps his palm against his brother’s chest and Jason holds back, fuming.

I hate how they both look at me like they feel a sense of responsibility to keep me safe, while my actions screammind your own business.I appreciate it, but I can’t exactly tell them I don’t have a choice. Jacob’s shit is at my place, and they might not be able to see it, but he’s literally twisting my arm.

“You have my number.” Jordan gives me a pressing gaze, and I give him a curt nod, then get in the car, casting my eyes down as we drive away.

This night can’t get any worse.

“God, those two get on my nerves.”

I whip my head to the side with a glare. He rubs a hand over his puffy face, eyes bored and giving me a look that saysam Iright?This man is the whole reason behind this fucked-up night and he has the balls to sound annoyed.

“Shut up, Jacob.” I pinch the bridge of my nose.

This has to stop, or he will ruin everything.It’s bad enough he destroyed my life in North Carolina; I can’t let him fuck up whatever little life I’m building for myself over here.

I find his gaze, done with his bullshit. “You want a piece of the pie, you made that clear, and the fact that I moved to the other side of the country is proof that I’m giving it to you, right?” My jaw tics as I point my finger at his blank expression. “But if you ever touch me like that again, I will tell them everything, consequences be damned.”

I mean it. I gave him what he wanted, but if he’s going to follow me around, determined to destroy whatever I’m trying to rebuild…well, there is no use. Might as well let it blow up in my face.

“You wouldn’t break my mother’s heart,” Jacob sputters, then chuckles. “Or your dad’s.”

“Don’t fucking test me, Jacob!” I snap.

“Calm the fuck down, Julie.” His eyes narrow, that devilish gleam returning.

“No, I fucking mean it!” I ignore the taxi driver’s worried eyes burning into my cheek from the rearview mirror. “You hurt me once. You will not hurt me again.”

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