Page 67 of Confusing Hearts

“I have a question,” Chad asked, raising his hand to the snickers of the others. “Where are we?”

“Yeah, I’ve never heard of this place before,” Neal added.

I couldn’t help but smile, genuinely smile. We were home. Despite everything that happened today, it was still our home, and I had no doubt in my mind that Chase would do everything in his power to ensure that nothing like this ever happened again.

“If everything wasn’t still up in the air with my brothers here and all, I’d invite you in. This is our home. Jenna and I bought it last week, as well as the thirty wooded acres surrounding the house. You guys are welcome to come out for a run anytime,” he told them.

“And we’ll be happy to host a game night soon for any of you who enjoy getting your butt kicked by a girl,” I added.

Smack talk ensued, but in the end, they each in turn hugged me and assured me that a challenge was coming soon. It felt good to talk and joke with the guys. They were important to Chase, and the time I had spent over at the doghouse had been good. They were fun, easygoing, and accepting even before they saw me as Chase’s mate and not just his friend. In some ways I felt more accepted by Chase’s friends than I ever had with my own actual blood.

Chase tossed his keys to Matt as we said goodbye to the others. “I’ll swing by with Anita tomorrow afternoon and drop it back off. Call if you need anything in the meantime.”

“Thanks, Matt,” Chase said. We headed back inside, hand in hand.

The living area was set up much like a courtroom with Jack sitting on one of my kitchen chairs in the center while being grilled by the others. I quickly noticed Maddie and Liam were not present and could only assume they were still in the bedroom. Patrick was talking. I hadn’t noticed him amidst the others before. His Irish accent gave him away even before my eyes found him.

“Jack, why are we to believe you’ve changed? That you’re any different from your brothers?” Patrick asked.

“Look, I’ve kept my nose clean since the escape. I have a job working at the college. I haven’t caused any trouble. Jacob, you know me. Tell them, I’m not like my brothers. Tessa’s sister can confirm it, too.” Looking at me he added, “Sorry, I don’t remember your name.”

“Jenna,” I said.

“Right, Jenna can tell you.”

“Actually, I can’t. I’m sorry. Tessa’s mentioned you a little, but not much. We don’t exactly share things like that.” His eyes were pleading me for help and something in their vulnerability made me want to reach out and help him. “I can tell you all, he warned me to get away from here today. He tried to help.”

“And, when it came down to a fight, he walked away and refused to join his brothers against us,” Chase added.

“He’s never been a problem. Being the youngest, he was prone to following his brothers, but given an option he always chose opposite them. Without their influence I’m confident he won’t be a problem,” Jacob told the group.

Liam walked in and right up to Jack. “I need to know if you raped my mate. I know you were there. I need to know if you participated in it.”

I shivered at the menace in his voice. There was no doubt in my mind that Liam Westin could kill Jack with his bare hands. I had never seen anyone so pissed.

“I’m sorry, man, I don’t know who your mate is,” Jack said, his voice quivering with nerves.

“I am,” Maddie said as she walked into the room. She didn’t need to continue, because the second Jack saw her face, he turned white as a ghost and cowered. “I’m Madilyn Collier. You and your brothers brutally raped me and left me to die in a dumpster eight-and-a-half years ago. We met at a concert. You all lured me upstairs to a private box seat room and drugged me. I couldn’t move, but I was aware of it all. All—Of—It,” she said. There was a deadly silence throughout the room.

Jack started to cry. I’m not sure Maddie was prepared for that as she took a step back and leaned into Liam for support. All eyes were on Jack.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry. If I could take it all back, I would. What we did to you was unspeakable. I was only fifteen years old at the time. I may have looked older, that’s normal for a tiger, but I was just a kid. I had to prove myself to my brothers. They terrorized me about it. Said they had the perfect girl for me to lose my virginity to. I didn’t know what they had planned. They got me just as drunk before it happened. I didn’t want to do it, but they made me.

When it was over, I ran to the corner and threw up. What they did to you afterwards has left me with nightmares. I’ve never even been with another woman since. Not even Tessa, and she’s the only girlfriend I’ve ever had, and I can’t even bring myself to really kiss her,” he confessed.

It was heartbreaking to hear his story and realize he had been almost as much a victim of his brothers, as Maddie had been.

Maddie stared at him. “Why didn’t you stop them?”

“I couldn’t. I wasn’t strong enough to stand up to all of them. You can’t possibly understand,” he told her.

Maddie started crying and Liam wrapped his arms around his mate. The tension was evident in his shoulders.

“I believe him,” Maddie finally said. “I don’t think he’s a threat to society without his brothers. I do have one request before you let him go,” she told the group before turning back to Jack. “I need a vial of your blood.”

“What?” he asked surprised. “Why?”

“It doesn’t matter why,” she said. “A vial of your blood for your freedom today.”

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