Page 49 of Saving Jared

Jared’s gaze slid to Willa coming up behind the other man and tracked the tears coursing down her cheeks. His jaw tightened. Macy had cried too. She’d…

Willa isn’t Macy.

That abrupt, unbidden truth barreled through his mind, nearly taking his breath. It was a truth deep down he’d known but hadn’t wanted to accept in his anger. Because, no, Willa was nothing like Macy. And while Macy had been defiant about her innocence, Willa just seemed…

Broken.

God, what if I’m wrong? What if—

"I know enough about her." Jared dragged his attention back to Russ whose jaw had tensed while his dark brown eyes blazed with rage. "And I’ll be damned if you’re going to make her cry."

And Jared knew enough about her too. Knew enough he’d just made a mistake he might not be able to come back from. Not if the grief and defeat radiating out from Willa was any indication—from her dull gaze to the way her normally proud, confident stance had almost withered.

I’ve done that to her.

"Willa, I need—"

"Jared." Willa held up her hand. "I don’t… No, I can’t listen to any more."

"What you need, young man, is to do what I’ve said." Anger poured off the other man, his words coming between clenched teeth.

"Why do you care?"

"Russ," Willa choked out, her hand going to his shoulder. "You don’t—"

"I care because she’s my daughter!"

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