Page 34 of Exhale
Staring out the window, he tried to gather his thoughts, wondering just how much he should tell.
Jordan seemed closed off, and regret filled Owen.
“You don’t need to tell me if it’s uncomfortable,” Owen said and squeezed Jordan’s hand.
“I was thirteen when my foster father broke my arm,” the whisper came suddenly.
With his free hand, Owen gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He held back the rage that threatened to consume him and waited for Jordan to go on.
“It was the second time that year,” Jordan said softly, unconsciously rubbing at his right forearm.
Owen clenched his teeth and quietly released the breath he was holding.
“He wasn’t going to stop. He was a cop and had friends on the force. So, I left. I ran away and lived in a homeless camp. They don’t call them homeless anymore, but that’s all I knew back then.” Jordan’s voice was pensive and withdrawn.
Owen waited even though he wanted to pull Jordan into his arms. Right then, the younger man was lost in the past, and Owen needed to know the whole story.
“I disappeared, but when I went to work for Phoenix, I looked up Jerome Cox and kept tabs on his whereabouts. I hadto do something to bring that man’s actions to the attention of the authorities.”
“And did you?” Owen asked.
“I did.” Jordan nodded.
“Who did you tell?”
Jordan gave him a quick smile.
“I told Seth, and he said that Noah would take care of it.”
Owen snorted.
Yeah, that was one way to end that fucker. Owen doubted that this Jerome Cox was still breathing. Noah was one badass son of a bitch. The operative worked for their sister site, Phoenix, stationed out of Northern California.
“Why didn’t you tell Pegasus?” Owen asked, curious.
“I didn’t work for Pegasus back then.”
“Ah yeah, that’s right. So, is he dead?” Owen asked flatly.
“Yeah…and that’s it,” Jordan said as if that explained his whole childhood.
“I doubt that’s all. And just so you know, if that son of a bitch was alive, I’d fucking kill him,” Owen snarled.
Jordan laughed, actually freaking laughed, and reached over to rub his arm.
“I would let you, but he’s dead,” Jordan said again.
Well, okay… that saved him from committing murder, Owen thought, but his anger lingered. He cleared his throat and probed a bit.
“I’m glad he’s dead, you know,” Jordan added.
Owen stayed quiet, letting Jordan vent—it was good for the soul to get the anger out, and he’d gladly be Jordan’s sounding board forever.
“You think I’m a bad person?” Jordan asked, taking his silence for disapproval.
“Hell no, I think you’re one of the best people I know.”
Jordan gaped at him, his big blue eyes filled his face, and that gorgeous dark hair fell over his forehead, curling in disarray.
