Page 109 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

“I’ve got her,” Gage responded, his voice raspy, his eyes fixated on my sister.

I made my way back to the side window and peeked into the bathroom to verify no one was using it before I pried it open. Once I slipped inside, I drew out my gun and quietly made my way to the door, listening for signs there was anyone beyond it.

Voices filtered into the bathroom from a nearby room. I easily picked out the asshole, Jareth, another male, and Jess. There was just one guy not accounted for. I eased open the bathroom door and checked to be sure the hallway was clear before I stepped into it.

With my back to the wall I watched the hallway in front and behind me and slowly moved toward the open doorway at the end. The voices from earlier getting louder as I inched my way closer.

From my position just inside the doorway I could see Jess standing far too close to Jareth. His hired help stood off to my right. Both men were large, seemingly hired for their muscle in addition to their firearm capability. I noticed they each had a gun strapped to their waist and likely one by their ankle. No matter how I tried to work out the scenario, they could reach and fire their guns just as fast as I could.

One thing going my way is that no one had noticed me.

“You have a day, two max.” Jareth informed her, his gaze flickered to me then back to Jess.

Wrong.Heknew I was here.

“Then what?” Jess responded, sounding annoyed.

“Jess, once your parents realize you know they’ve been lying about your inheritance they’re going to hide things even further. You’ll have a vested interest in questioning what they do at thirty percent.”

What the hell had I missed?

“So nice of you to join us, Mr. Alden,” Jareth stood, moving closer to Jess.

“Don’t move one step closer to her,” I growled. We were similar in height and build, but I was the only one holding a gun. I stepped out from my position in the hallway.

“I suggest you put that away. You might get a shot off at me, but one of them will kill you once you’ve fired.” He waved his hand toward the two guys at the back of the room.

I knew they each had a gun, and I had no doubt they already had them directed at me. It didn’t matter because until I knew Jess was safe by my side, Jareth and his friends could fuck themselves.

“Alden, I’m okay,” Jess turned to face me, her face streaked with tears.

“Are you?” I glared at Jareth, wanting to wrap my hands around his neck for making my girl cry. “So help me if you’ve laid a fucking finger on her. I’ll find a way to cut all of yours off.”

Jareth chuckled. “I have no doubt that you’d try.”

“Jess,” I called out to her. “Come here.” I slowly made my way closer to her, keeping one eye on the two guys in the back and one on Jareth.

Once I reached her, I banded my arm around her waist and pulled her tight against me. “Do I need to hurt anyone?” She knew what I was asking.

She lifted her hand and touched the side of my face. “James, look at me.”

I didn’t take my eyes off the other two guys in the room.

“Oh for fuck’s sake put your damn weapons away.” Jareth spoke sharply to his men. “No one is going to get anything done with the three of you at a standoff. And I’m not about to deal with someone getting shot. We don’t have time for that shit.”

Jess snorted.

I looked down at her. Her face was drawn, and lines etched around her eyes and in her forehead, but she didn’t appear to be hurt.

“It’s okay, James. Put your gun away.” Her hand stroked my beard, her eyes never leaving mine.

I stared down the other two guys in the room, waiting for them to put their guns away before I did the same. “What the fuck is happening right now?”

“You don’t need your cloak and dagger stuff. We’re safe,” Jess assured me.

There was no way I’d let my guard down until we were out of this building away from this fucking monster. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that.”

“He’s not going to hurt us.” She grabbed one of my hands.

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