Page 48 of Black Bay Protector
While Paige blinked at the unexpected question, Jace growled and demanded, “What’s your interest in her?”
Unaffected by the ferocity behind that question, Grady turned his head to look at Jace. “At the moment, my interest is in learning her name.”
“Lark,” Paige announced in an attempt to keep the conversation from devolving into a brawl. “Her name is Lark.”
With a nod, Grady returned his attention to his food.
Paige sat there in disbelief. That was it? Was that all he was going to ask? He wasn’t at all curious about her? Or their family? Their shared past?
“Is there anything else you’d like to know?” she asked when he showed no sign of speaking or adding to the conversation.
Once again, he paused the methodical consumption of food as he thought over her question. “No. Not at the moment.”
A hard lump of regret filled her throat. This was nothing like she’d imagined. In her head, she’d pictured their reunion so differently. With hugging, tears of joy, and questions asked and answered on both sides. This… was terrible.
Somehow, Paige was able to choke down her food – though she tasted none of it – until General Davies arrived to inform Grady that they had prepared quarters for him. Without a word, not even a ‘See you later’, her brother stood from the table and followed the General out. The teams departed with them leaving Jace and Paige alone. Immediately, she burst into tears.
Wrapping his arms around her, Jace hauled her into his lap and held her tightly, murmuring soft, soothing words against her hair. Holding onto him like a lifeline, she managed to get out between choked sobs, “That’s n-not my brother.”
Tenderly, Jace wiped the wetness from her cheeks and smoothed his hands through her hair. “You’ll get him back, love. Give it time. He’s not going anywhere.”
Her tears still streaming, Paige nodded and took strength in Jace’s confidence because hers was all gone.
As Jace held Paige, he glared at the door through which her brother had disappeared. Christ, that had been hard to watch, and had taken teeth-gritted effort not to punch that Terminator mother fucker right in the face. She’d been so hopeful, his strong Paige, wearing her heart on her sleeve for all to see, and the asshole couldn’t even spare the tiniest crumb of affection for the sister who had grieved for him. Not even a, hey, I’m happy to see you, or better yet, an apology for pointing a fucking gun in her face.
He was tempted to go after the bastard and beat the shit out of him, but Paige needed him. “What can I do?”
With a sniffle, she lifted her head from his shoulder, her eyes still swimming with tears and the sight nearly drove him over the edge. Her expression was so heartrendingly bleak. “Take me home.”
With a nod, he picked her up and carried her out of the mess hall. When they got to the Jeep, he didn’t want to set her down, hated her being even that small distance away while she was hurting, but thankfully, the drive to their place was short, and as soon as he was able, he took her back into his arms once more.
When they were behind closed doors, he sat down on the couch with her on his lap and quietly told her, “Let it out, love. Cry, scream, vent, whatever it takes. I’m here for you.”
She nodded. “I know you are.” Looking up at him, her chin trembled as her lips pinched tightly together. On a soft keening cry, she asked, “What did they do to him?”
It galled him to defend the asshole, but his Paige needed to hear it and he’d do anything for her. “They reprogrammed him. He’s fighting it, fighting to come back, but it’ll take time.”
She nodded again before letting out an adorable little human growl. “I’d like to kill those scientists with my bare hands.”
In hopes of cheering her, Jace offered, “Should I get you that stick the General offered your brother? You can poke Doc Dietrich until you feel better. We can even record it so you can watch it over and over again.”
Jace’s heart soared when he heard a snort of choked laughter. Good. Laughter was the best medicine.
Paige plucked at the damp spots on the shoulder of his T-shirt. “Sorry, I cried all over you.”
Cupping the nape of her neck in his hand, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Whatever you need. Whenever you need it. I’m here for you. Always.”
Her breathing hitched as she gazed back at him. Raising her hands, she took his face between her palms, her thumbs stroking over his lips, and he kissed them almost reverently.
“You are the most amazing man I’ve ever met,” she told him. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too, Paige Carter. Whatever it takes, we’ll get through this. Together.” On that vow, he sealed his lips to hers and made love to his woman with all the tenderness in his heart.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Overtheensuingweeks,Paige settled fully into life at Black Bay. Her things had arrived, and with Jace’s blessing, she’d turned their sparsely furnished apartment into a home. Her favorite part was now the once bare wall over the couch. Every time she saw it, she couldn’t help but smile. What had started as a canvas of uninterrupted white now held framed pictures of not only her family but the family she was creating here at Black Bay. There were pictures of her and Jace together, some posed, some candid shots. Pictures of the General with his son, Lark, and Kong, with their arms slung around each other, making goofy faces at the camera, as well as images of the other Beasts that had welcomed her to their island.
Work was going well, and while Black Bay’s infirmary was nothing like the bustle of the ER she’d worked in for so many years, she enjoyed her time there and got along well with the doctor as well as the other nurses.
