Page 28 of Mountain Man Santa

“That’s right! Thank you,” I say, feeling validated. “It never made sense. It still doesn’t make sense, and yet here I am walking around with a massive hole in my heart.”

She presses her lips tightly together, her face conflicted.

“At this point, I just want to know if he’s okay. Anything…”

Delilah shakes her head. “And your brothers haven’t said a word?”

The room grows silent.

“My brothers? What do they have to do with this?”

She presses her lips firmly together. “Everything.”

How in the world does Delilah know my brothers?I shake my head, throughly confused.

The redhead continues, “I’m not supposed to tell you any of what I’m about to say. But I can’t live with this secret any longer. It’s killing me…”

I swallow hard. “What?”

“After the blizzard, Jerry got word that his brother Szymon was coming into town. He was terrified of his past catching up with him and even more worried about how it could affect you. I don’t know how much Jerry told you. But these are highly violent men…totally depraved and very happy to harm a man’s loved ones to make their point. So, he made a deal with your brothers to go undercover and infiltrate the Greenpoint Crew back East. Apparently, Szymon and those loyal to him were trying to make a resurgence despite their father, Casimir’s imprisonment. And they wanted Jerry back in their ranks…no options given.”

My face shatters with shock. “What?”

“That’s why he ended everything so abruptly. Because your brothers made him promise to break it off with you and never have contact with you again.”

I shake my head in disbelief, rage taking hold. “Wait, how do you know about this?” I ask, confused.

“Because Jerry may have agreed to their terms, but that hasn’t stopped him from keeping an eye on you through me… It’s why I insisted you come to work at the cafe immediately…even though no one knew whether the Silver Fork would reopen or where Jerry was. And while I can’t say I hear from him often, when he reaches out, he always asks about you first.”

“But why would my brothers do this to us?”

She shrugs. “Out of a misplaced sense of protection. What they don’t understand is that Jerry can protect you better than anybody. And he loves you so much, Stacey. It would be one thing if he moved on and didn’t mention you, or you got on with your life. But knowing the two of you are completely miserable has been so tough to watch… I can’t take it anymore.”

I ask breathlessly, “Is Jerry safe? When’s the last time you heard from him?”

“Fifteen minutes ago. He’s at Sacramento International Airport about to catch a flight back to New York City to deal with his mother now that arrests have been made.”

I shake my head. “Is he okay? How long was he undercover for?”

She shrugs. “He’s definitely been through the wringer. I don’t know how badly because he’s not one to complain. But I don’t know where he’s planning on going after this, and I’m afraid this may be your last chance to see him.”

“I have to go,” I say desperately. “Do you know when he’s flying out or which airline?”

“I didn’t ask about a time. But he said American Airlines. I’ll try to call him back and let him know you’re on your way. He doesn’t answer unsolicited calls these days, though.”

“Thank you.” I step forward, offering my hand, but she pulls me into a hug instead.

“Make sure your brothers understand I’m the one to blame for this. I can’t stand seeing you two apart like this any longer. Even if all you get is the final goodbye both of you deserve and need.”

“Thank you.” My heart feels more alive than it has in the past five days, and the thought of seeing Jerry again has my whole body buzzing.

She calls after me, “He really loves you, Stacey. So, please promise you’ll be careful with his heart.”

Turning around, I feel lighter and more free than I have in ages as I confess, “And I love him, too, more than I’ve ever loved anybody on the face of this Earth.”

Chapter

Seventeen

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