Page 5 of Bulletproof Love

I turn my light off and take a quick picture of them, adding it to my text thread with Falin.

Me: You can call me daddy now.

Send.

Don’t care what she has to say. These two babies are all mine.

“You ready to get out of here and get something to eat?” They quiet down like they understand my words. “Me too.”

Without waiting for Falin’s reply, I stick the babies in my hoodie pocket and slink out the door.

CHAPTERTWO

FALIN

My eyes arebleary as hell, but I’m stuck awake at 2 AM, staring at multiple screens while I track Jasper’s movement through a rough part of town. This damn man will be the death of me. Did he actually think he could sneak out to buy pills without my knowledge? He must be dumber than I thought.

At least I know he’s safe in that abandoned storefront—for now. As long as he doesn’t make any stupid moves, everything will work out fine. Well, except me missing out on much needed sleep.

My phone buzzes from its spot on my desk and I roll my eyes, already sure he’ll have some ridiculous comeback for my last burn. What pops up on the screen is entirely unexpected. A photo of two scraggly kittens, small enough to fit in his massive palm. My heart melts for a moment before my brain catches up.Awwswitches tooh noso fast it gives me whiplash. He’s going to bring them back here. To our apartment. Which is already housing five extremely different people despite it being slightly larger than a shoebox. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. It has three closet-sized bedrooms. But the walls are so thin. Way too thin to be sleeping next to my best friend and her obsessive new boyfriend. Where the hell would we put two kittens who probably have a plethora of diseases and parasites?

The text comes through next.

Jasper:You can call me daddy now.

I snort in the most hideously unladylike manor. Not like I’ve ever been much of a lady anyway.Why do I have a soft spot for this buffoon?As I pick up my phone to reply, I get an alert on my screen.Jasper’s on the move.“Is he serious?” I ask out loud to no one at all. I told him to stay put. My palm itches to beat the ever-loving shit out of him—but then that thought has my face flushed and breath quickening.No. You will not get turned on at the thought of punishing Jasper Shea.

I check my screens, showing small images of nearby street light cameras. Making sure he’s not in imminent danger, I call him. It goes to voicemail on the first ring. “Oh, hell no.”

I press call again as my pulse picks up. Fucking voicemail for a second time. I push up from the creaky desk chair we bought at a flea market last week, and pace the three steps of my bedroom. The generic,please leave a messagerecording plays in my ear and I make a split second decision to give him a piece of my mind.

“Do you want to get arrested? Or maybe it’s a death wish, I can’t quite decide. Either way, you’re being stupid. I told you to stay put.” I heave an aggravated sigh and continue in a resigned tone. “If you absolutely have to head home, call me back so I can give you the best route. Oh, and the cats… good luck getting everyone to agree on keeping them.”

I hit end, feeling more frazzled than before I left the message. My muscles ache from being at my uncomfortable desk all day, my feet are ice cubes since the heat in this building is spotty if on at all, and I’m goddamn horny. Add on dealing with Jasper’s incompetence and I’m standing here questioning if leaving my job and life was the right decision.

My life there was put together. I had control of every aspect—where I lived, which projects I worked on, when I traveled, and most importantly, who I slept with.

Ah, the sex was beyond good. Always a new guy to make me come. Love ‘em and leave ‘em. Never get attached and I’d never be hurt or abandoned.

To have every modicum of control slip through my fingers the way it has been this past month has been difficult to say the least. My carefree mask has started to slip. Even Blake’s begun to notice the changes in my mood.

I try to call Jasper again while watching his dot on the screen move from block to block toward the nearest subway entrance. No answer, like I figured. I could go to bed. Force myself to not care.Yeah, right.That’s not who I am.If I was that person, I’d still be in San Francisco, sitting in my office overlooking the bay.

I’m here for Blake. She needs me. Plus, with my help, maybe we can finally find Jasper’s sister and my best friend can get her life back in order.

As the thought leaves my mind, the familiar sound of her bed frame knocking against my wall starts. Just like every other night since we moved here. I swear, I don’t think I’ve known anyone who fucks as much as those two do. I don’t know if I’m jealous, or concerned for her vagina.

Andtheregoes the moaning.

“Christ on a cracker,” I groan. Phone in hand, I make my way to the small open concept kitchen and living area. I almost slam straight into Leon’s shirtless chest, jumping back a step in shock.

“Fuck, sorry I scared you.” He drags a hand over his tired eyes.

“Damon and Blake’s wake up call get you too?” I ask, shuffling past him to the fridge for a bottle of water.

He makes a sound that’s somewhere between a groan and a chuckle. “I don’t think I’ve slept a proper night in weeks.”

“Should we have a family intervention?” I joke, wiping my hand over my wet lips.

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