Page 111 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

Jess’s hands moved to my chest. “James, you’re right. It doesn’t. He’s been trying to get me to talk to him, but I wouldn’t listen and when I disappeared, he had no way to find me. Lexi was a way to get me out of hiding. A bad idea, I agree but...”

“So you’re just sweeping all of this under the rug?” I couldn’t fathom how she was able to normalize this or how she believed Jareth so wholeheartedly.

“It’s not black and white, James. There’s a lot of fucking gray right now.” Her fingers ran in circles on my chest. “And you don’t know my mom. She’s ruthless and unfortunately, my dad just goes along with whatever she says.”

The sound of tires crunching on gravel outside let me know that Gage was near. I stepped back from Jess. “You have to understand I can’t trust him blindly like you are. He fucking kidnapped my sister to get to you, Jess. He’s lucky I didn’t put a bullet in his head the moment I entered the building.” I let out a frustrated grunt. “How can you just let him get away with all of this?”

“I’m not. It’s just more complicated than we thought.”

I shook my head. “We need to go.”

She turned to look back at Jareth.

I grabbed her chin in my hands. “I don’t fucking care what else he has to say. We’re leaving. I was out of my fucking mind worried about you. I need you out of here. Now.”

Jareth made his way over to us as I pulled Jess to the door.

He handed me a piece of paper with a phone number on it. “This is an associate of mine. I’ve asked him to look into Jess’s kidnapping from the event.”

I took the piece of paper and handed it to Jess.

“I hope we can come to an understanding, Mr. Alden. I’m sure you’d find me a better ally than an adversary.” He smirked.

Fucking asshole.

I clenched my hand into a tight fist and slammed it into the side of his head. “That was for kidnapping my sister and for scaring Jess you fucking asshole.”

Jess gasped.

Jareth’s guys were across the room in seconds. Before they could grab me, Jareth held out his hand. “No, leave him alone.”

I had to give the guy credit. He didn’t move, he didn’t wince, he didn’t stop to rub his jaw.

I had made my fucking point and now it was time to get Jess home.

Chapter Twenty-Five

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