Page 25 of Jacked and Jaded

“But you don’t want to.” His dad read his mind.

“No. I really don’t. I can’t help but think in a day or two, or maybe a week, Clint is going to realize she isn’t in Boulder any longer and that’s not going to sit well with him. He’s not the kind of man who likes to lose. Calliope said that he told her, it was over when he said it was over. As far as that bastard is concerned, it’s not over. And then there’s that whole thing when I had him by the throat and got him arrested again. Knowing I’m the man she called out for in her sleep is going to eat at him. He’s going to need to beat me and that means taking Calliope from me.” He shook his head. “Yeah, it’s not over.”

“Then why don’t you take her to your house and just have Maureen come over there? You’ve got an extra bedroom. I know it’s only a few blocks from her house, but Clint doesn’t know where you live either,.” His dad pointed out as he turned in his seat to check on Calliope.

Jackson liked that idea. He wasn’t sure how her mom was going to like it when he put Calliope in his bed. Once he got her there, he was keeping her there. “Can you call her and tell her I’m bringing her to my house and that she’s more than welcome to stay, too, if she wants?”

“Sure.” His dad pulled out his cell and called Maureen. He passed the message on and smiled as he hung up.

“How’d she take the switch?” Jackson gave turned his signal on and changed lanes.

“She’s fine with it. She was really fine with it when I brought it up that Clint didn’t know where you lived. She’ll go by and pack some things for Calliope and be over as soon as she can. I’ll call your mom and have her come pick me up.”

He waited until his dad got off the phone before he asked, “I guess mom got Ryker back to his mom’s okay?”

“Yeah. No problems. She told him that you would call when you got home.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.” He took the turn off to Redemption, then after another twenty minutes, he was pulling into his drive. He turned in his seat and saw that Calliope was still passed out. He hated to wake her, but knew even if he tried like hell not to jar her, there was no way of avoiding it. He’d have to wake her up and help her down. He got out and opened the driver’s side passenger door.

He reached in and pushed Calliope’s curls from her face. She looked so peaceful sleeping, despite the bruising on her face. Every time he had to look at the damage Clint did to her face, he wanted to kill the man. He leaned in and tried to wake her up. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “Hey, Calliope. We’re home. Let’s get you inside.” When she didn’t seem to hear him, he shook her gently and spoke a little louder. “Calliope. Time to get up so I can get you in the house.”

Calliope started to stir and mumble in her sleep. She tried to open her eyes, but the one was still swollen. He’d have to get ice on that as soon as he got her settled. “Jackson?” The sound of panic in her voice had him leaning in so she could see his face. She settled down once she realized where she was and who she was with. She started to get up only to gasp in pain with the effort. “Hey. Hey. Just relax. I’m going to help you sit up.”

He could hear his dad on the other side of the truck. With the backdoor open, he could hear him saying something about cutting a “motherfucker’s balls off”. Jackson was in full agreement with that idea. He stepped up into the truck and slipped his arms underneath her. “Don’t do anything. Don’t try to help. I’ll do all the work. Understand?”

“Yeah.” Her voice coming out strained and breathless broke his heart.

“Okay. On three. One. Two. Three.” Jackson raised her to a sitting position. Her face instantly paled and he worried that she might throw up. He gave her a few minutes, waiting for her to open her eyes and give him the go ahead to continue. “How’re you doin’ darlin’?”

“Mm. Good. Just give me a minute so I don’t throw up in your truck.” She took a deep breath in through he nose, then released it out her mouth, then she did it again.

“Did I move you too fast?” He sat next to her, allowing her to take her time before they moved anymore.

“No. It’s this stupid pain medicine. It makes me sick to my stomach. That’s why I don’t fight sleeping when I take it.” She rubbed her stomach in small circles as if the motion could keep her from vomiting.

“Okay. If you’re sure. I’m going to get out and come around to help you down. Dad’s right here to make sure you don’t do anything to hurt yourself.” Jackson hopped out and came around. “Here’s the key, dad. Can you go open the door?”

“You got it.” Maverick took the key, got the door open and made sure their path into the house was clear.

Jackson slipped his arms under her legs and behind her back and picked her up as gently as possible. “You want me to carry you or do you want to walk?”

“Walk. I actually feel better when I can walk.”

He gently let her legs down and waited until she was steady on her feet. “Here. Hold onto me.” He held her left hand in his and wrapped his right arm around her back. He wanted to be ready in case she couldn’t make it all the way to the door. She moved surprisingly well. He would’ve expected her to be too sore to make the trip from the truck to his house under her own steam.

“You want to sit on the couch or lay down?” He kept close as she stepped over the threshold, just in case she were to trip. He could see all the movement was taking its toll and she was getting tired from the exertion.

“I just want to sit down on the couch for a little while, if you don’t mind. I’m tired of lying down.”

She took the handful of steps to the couch and eased herself down. It was killing him seeing her in so much pain and being unable do anything to make it go away. He would gladly take her place. He’d do it in a heartbeat. He gave her time to get situated, then pulled a blanket from the back of the couch and spread it out over her lap. “You want your shoes off or on?”

“Off.”

He kneeled next to her, taking one foot and removing her shoe, then the other. He pushed them under the coffee table, making sure her path was clear if she were to get up. He watched Calliope as she took in her surroundings for the first time. She must’ve really been out of it if she was just now noticing that she wasn’t at her mom’s house.

“Why am I at your house? I’m staying at mom’s.” Her brows dipped, clearly confused.

“We decided it would be better for you to be here in case that son of a bitch comes looking for you. You and your mom wouldn’t be able to deal with him if he showed up. Your mom is going by her house to pick up some of your things and pick up your prescription, then she’ll come here. She’s more than welcome to stay as long as she wants.” He was aware that the only reason she wasn’t arguing with him right now was because she was still under the influence of her pain meds. If she was in her right mind, she’d be fighting with him, wanting to go to her mom’s.

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