Page 91 of First Surrender

“Like be boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“Yeah, like that. I’d take her to dinner sometimes and we’d share a room so you can have the bigger one down the hall. Would that be okay?”

“I guess so, but only if you aren’t gross in front of me. Kissing is disgusting.” I hear Dec’s facial expression through his words. I would laugh if I wasn’t supposed to be sleeping.

“I’ll try to keep it to a minimum but no promises.” Jackson laughs and I feel the bed shake as if Dec tried to bump him with his elbow.

“Are we staying here forever then?” Dec asks seriously, sobering the atmosphere.

“Yeah, you can stay forever. I’d like it if you did,” Jackson responds just as seriously. It isn’t until I bite my lip that I realize my jaw is quivering. It’s not even about me. He’s giving my brother so much with that response. It means everything.

“Okay, we’ll stay then,” Dec says definitively and it makes Jackson laugh softly.

“Good. It’s settled then. You can tell your sister though, I’m afraid of her,” he teases.

“She’s not scary. She can be pretty mushy.” Dec snickers.

“I know, she has a big heart thanks to you. You’re her favorite person ever.” The bed jiggles again as Jackson presumably starts tickling Dec and then shushing him as they both laugh.

He has to realize I’m awake because there is no way anyone could sleep through their commotion, but I’m enjoying being a fly on the wall.

“I’m her favorite kid. You can be her favorite grown-up,” Dec suggests when his giggles cease. There’s a silent pause while Jackson contemplates that.

“Deal.” The bed shakes again and I think it’s because they shook hands—my two favorite men.

Chapter Forty-One

Jackson

Declan Randolph is hiding something. I’ve been following him all day, watching where he’s going and who he’s with. He’s been looking over his shoulder the entire time because he already suspects someone might be watching him.

Except, he hasn’t spotted me yet and I don’t think I’m the one he’s worried about. Although I should be. I’m going to make sure this bastard never enters Natalie and Dec’s life again.

When Declan emerges from a gas station, I follow him back to his apartment. It’s the one that Natalie’s mom lived in when she died, where Dec lived. When he gets out of his car, I pull up right behind him and jump out.

“Declan.”

“What do you want?” The disgust is clear on his face but I don’t give a shit.

“I’m giving you a warning. Don’t come near Dec again. Don’t go to his school,” I state cooly even though I want to yank him around by his shirt collar.

“He’s my son. I don’t care what the fucking judge will decide.” He spits on the ground only a few inches from my boot.

“You didn’t treat him like your son before, don’t act like you’re a father now. Consider this your notice that an Order ofProtection has been filed. If I see you near him or Natalie, I’ll throw your ass in jail.”

“You’re letting that piece of ass drag you around by the balls? You’re dumber than I thought. That girl is worthless.” He steps through a chain link gate to separate us as I step toward him, barely containing myself enough to stop from throwing him to the ground.

“It’ll only be a matter of time before she ends up like her mother. I’ll get my boy back,” he states boldly.

“What the hell did you just say?” I shout at him as he turns toward his apartment.

“Have a good day, Sheriff.” He smirks as he walks away from me because he can. I have no legal standing to arrest him, not for a vague statement like that.

I hate when I can’t protect people because of the black-and-white nature of the legal code. This is one of those moments I resent the laws I’ve sworn to enforce.

* * *

“Why don’t you drink?” Natalie asks after dinner, interrupting my thoughts about work. I’ve been a little more distracted since the incident with Declan. With all of the other unanswered questions about the crimes in Rollins, the pressure is building.

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