Page 68 of Jack

Rodeo quickly types a message when he walks back into the room. After sending it, he walks up behind me and glances down at Lily.

I gently run my fingers through her long hair. “She’s my Queen.”

Rodeo chuckles. “Glad you finally caught up with the rest of us, brother.”

“Shut up.”

“It’s crazy out there right now. What do you want to do?” Rodeo leans back against the couch and crosses his arms. “Your dad still wants another Church tonight.”

“Call Mom. See if she or one of the girls can come help out. I’ll let Lily sleep for a little while. When she wakes, as much as I hate doing it tonight, I’ll ask her to walk me through what happened. Let Dad know we can have Church then.”

“He won’t like it.”

No, he won’t. I lean my head back against the couch cushion. “I know. But she’s the best person to describe what happened. She might have information that’ll help us find Clark but might not realize it.”

“Good point, but it’s better to get Worley Bird on our side first. He and your mom are the only ones who can handle the Pres.” Rodeo quickly scrolls through his contact list.

I point toward the kitchen. “Make the call in there or my office. I don’t want her waking up and hearing us talk about all this.”

“Right.” Rodeo heads down the hall to my office. Good choice. Conversations in the kitchen can still be heard from the living room.

My Queen can sleep peacefully in my arms for now. We’ll talk when she wakes up. Then, my family and brothers will help me figure out how to end the nightmare she lives in because of her ex. Once Joel Clark has been stopped and silenced in her mind, I’ll show her how a man is supposed to love and care for his woman.

Chapter 30

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Jack

For over an hour Lily sleeps in my arms. I wish I could say it was a peaceful sleep, but it’s not. The first half was fine. At times, she became restless. I was able to soothe her fears for a while. Her restlessness has increased. The nightmare will wake her soon. My gentle words aren’t getting through this time, but I’ll be here to banish her monsters when she wakes.

With a loud gasp, Lily bolts upright. Her breath comes in short, quick pants. Rodeo looks like he just lost ten years of his life. Hey, it scared me, too, but I don’t show it. She’s battling too much fear. She doesn’t need to see mine.

“It’s okay, angel. It was just a dream. I got you. You’re safe.” I slowly run my hand up and down her back.

“Jack?” Her eyes are lost, searching for recognition.

“Yeah, angel. I’m here.”

She slowly looks around the living room. “Where’s here?”

“My house.”

“Rodeo?” She looks up at Coty. He’s standing next to the arm of the couch. He dips his chin.

Rodeo lifts his phone and looks past Lily to me. “Your mom said someone’s on the way.”

“Who? What?” Who’s on the way?” Lily scrambles backward onto my lap again. She finally uncurled from a fetal position and stretched her legs across the couch before the restlessness began.

“It’s okay.” I lay my palm against her cheek and turn her to face me. “He means one of my sisters, or maybe Nana, is on the way.”

“Why?”

“Dad’s called for Church.” I don’t want to leave her, but I have to take care of this.

“About the library.” She nods, not needing an answer. “Did you catch him?” she asks softly.

I drop my head. “Not yet.”

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