Page 99 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

“I can’t believe she fucking did this.” Jaxon was pissed. “Why doesn’t she ever ask for help?”

I gave a wry laugh. “You know as well as I do that you would’ve tried to stop her. And she knows it too.”

He sighed. “True.”

“Jaxon, I can’t thank you enough—”

“When you find her, you tell Jess she’s on my shit list,” he grumbled.

“Jaxon Beast,” I heard his girlfriend, Lily admonish him in the background.

“Will do.” I hung up and looked at Paul.

Paul grabbed my keys and tossed me my wallet. “Let’s go. I’m driving you to the airport. I’m sure you’ll have plenty to do logistically on the way there.”

I gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

He shook his head. “None needed. Now let’s go get your girl.”

***

IHAD A FEW MINUTESuntil the plane took off. Every call I made to Jess had gone unanswered and I was ready to burn the world down around me to find her. Last I talked to Gage, we still didn’t have her final destination in New York yet.

I’d thrown my phone onto the seat beside me when it started to ring with an incoming call. Expecting it to be Gage my eyes widened when the number of the phone I’d given Jess popped up on the screen.

I grabbed it. “Jess, baby, are you okay?”

“Hi James. I’m okay.” Her voice was tense.

My body slumped in my seat. I’d been terrified that by the time I got to her it’d be too late. “Jess, please tell me where you are.”

“I don’t have a lot of time.”

My breath caught in my lungs. “You said you were all right.”

“I am. Right now I am. I’m on my way to Lexi.”

“Give me the address. I’m on my way now. Dean’s pilot is about to take off. I’ll be there and we can do this together.”

“She doesn’t have that much time. They gave me two hours, James. Two fucking hours, those bastards. If I didn’t leave when I did there was no way I’d make it in time.”

“Jess, I can’t have you put yourself in that kind of danger.” It was killing me inside to think of anything happening to either her or Lexi.

“They want me. Not her,” her voice trembled. “It’s my fault she’s in this mess. I need to get her out of it.”

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t force someone to take Lexi.” I needed her to stand down.

“I’m going to text you the address.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “You’ll wait for me. We’ll get her together.”

“No, but I’m counting on you to be there in case something goes wrong. You need to get Lexi out first.”

“Fuck that, Jess. I can’t lose you.” It was true. I was tired of fighting my feelings for her. I’d always loved her.

A muffled sob sounded. “I’ll be careful, but just in case, I wanted to tell you that I love you.”

This woman was the only one that could bring me to my knees. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Jess. Wait for me. Don’t go in there.”

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