Page 61 of Alluring

"What will I do when you're gone? I've grown so dependent on you."

"I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."

"You can't predict the future, Jack."

"There is no future I see, that you aren't in."

Alexis just sighed. There was no talking to Jack when he got into one of his moods. He saw things one way.Hisway. He never took into account all the variables that could happen along the way.

Stan made it to the elevator, cutting off further conversation. They made the ride up in silence. When they arrived, Jack told Stan to help himself to anything in the kitchen, and to make himself comfortable in the living room. He carried Alexis to their bedroom and deposited her on the bathroom counter.

"I'm going to grab you something clean to change into." He kissed her on the forehead. "Be right back."

He came back a few minutes later with a pair of black, cuff shorts and a lilac, V-neck T-shirt. He squatted, opened the under-the-counter cabinet, and took out a small first-aid kit.

"I need to call in to work."

"I'll do it in a minute, baby. I want to get these cuts cleaned first." He pulled out and opened an alcohol swab.

Alexis hissed out a breath when it hit her raw knee. Jack blew lightly after each swipe.

"Sorry baby, I know it stings." After cleaning each wound, he applied antibiotic cream and adhesive bandages to her knees and palms.

He soaked a washcloth, washed her face, then the blood from her legs. "Let's get you changed, then we'll go talk to Stan."

They made their way downstairs, Jack on the phone with her boss. She went into the kitchen, got a bottle of water out of the fridge, then proceeded to the living room.

Stan sat on the couch, and Jack sat 0n one of the wing-back chairs. He patted his lap. "Come sit here." Once she was settled, he whispered, "I'm not done holding you yet."

Alexis was extremely drowsy all of a sudden, and she just wanted Stan to ask his questions, so he would leave, and Jack could snuggle with her as she took a nap.

Stan cleared his throat. "So, Ms. Taft, did you get a look at the driver?"

"Alexis."

Stan looked perplexed. "Pardon?"

"Please call me Alexis, not Ms. Taft."

"Very well, Alexis, did you get a look at the driver?"

"No." She shook her head. "It was dark in the garage and she was coming at me so fast." Alexis shivered and Jack held on tighter. "I didn't even get a good look at the car. I know it was dark, navy blue or black. But by the time I got my bearings back, it was already so far away. I know it was a nice car, quite possibly a Mercedes," she shook her head again, "but other than that, I'm not sure."

"Okay, I'm gonna take this new information along with the photos of your car to the police. They may call you to verify information. In the meantime, I suggest you don't go anywhere alone. She seems to have stepped up her game and doesn't seem opposed to harming you or at the very least, scaring you."

He stood from the couch and made his way to the elevator. He stopped, halfway, and turned back to them. He had a look on his face that Alexis had never seen before. He was always so composed. Now he looked worried.

He stared right at Jack when he spoke. "I've seen some serious shit go down, and the outcome was not always how we hoped. Take this lady seriously. At this point, she is a threat."

She felt Jack give Stan a curt nod before he turned and walked the rest of the way to the elevator. She snuggled closer to Jack, breathing in his scent. She let out a shaky sigh.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Jack asked softly, stroking her hair.

His touch relaxed her, and she felt her eyes drift closed. "Nothing to talk about," she mumbled, against his chest. "It was scary, but it's over now."

"My brave, brave girl," he said, soothingly. Alexis fell asleep with Jack's heat, scent, and arms wrapped around her.

Alexis awoke alone in bed. She rolled over and looked at the clock. She'd only been asleep a few hours. She saw her phone on the nightstand and picked it up. Two missed texts, one from Jack and one from Steph. She opened the one from Jack first.

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