Page 42 of Jase
“Nothing. It’s best you stay out of this for now. Just watch her account. Track anyone who views or searches her name. Call me if you get any hits. I gotta go.”
“Jase.”
“I’m fine, Rian.”
“Be safe.”
“You know it.”
I hit end, turning to Kody.
“Listen—”
“You2 is yours? You made that site?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes lowered, and I knew she was searching for where she knew me. She may have not remembered, but I did. It was the entire reason I never really went anywhere anymore. I’d been living the high life, thriving in my new wealth. My face was everywhere. I hadn’t minded it so much back then, until the media had a change in heart, and I became the bad guy.
“I lost it about three years back. You2 was just blowing up. I was stupid. Partying, dating, trying to be anyone but me. The paper wanted to do this big story on who I was. My rise to fame.” I shrugged. “They kept bringing up when I’d been taken in war. They wanted to know details I wasn’t about to share. This one reporter kept pushing and pushing. I was drunk. I pretty much stayed wasted back then.” I leaned against my desk, still feeling my hands around his throat. “He wouldn’t stop, so I made him.”
“Did you kill him?”
“No, no.” My head shook.” I just lost it. I punched him a few times. We were fighting pretty good, but he got me square in the mouth. I guess the fighting was more fun up until that point. The moment I tasted blood, the rage I had hidden erupted like a bomb. Next thing I knew, I was choking him. He’s lucky. It could have been a lot worse with the training I had. Anyway, I haven’t really left here much since then. All work meetings are via this.” I gestured around. “I trust no one. Last time I did, they told that reporter information I never wanted anyone to know. Things that happened to me and others that were private.”
“I understand. I’m sorry. I really am.”
“I know. Now go relax. Drink your tea. It’s time I find out what I can on these men.”
Kody nodded as I returned to my desk. As I disappeared down the numerous sites, searching for Kody’s intruder, I made sure to cover my trail. I was as much a ghost as he was. Picture upon picture shuffled out. If the man had ever existed in the system, I was bound to find him.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed. I held the back of my neck, pacing in front of my laptop. Frustration was at an all-time high. He shouldn’t have been this hard to find. That didn’t sit well. It was Kody’s whimper that drew my stare from the screen. I couldn’t see her, but I could hear her.
Walking over, I peered over the back of the sofa. She was curled into a ball, fast asleep. Her biceps were level with her face and her wrists were up over her head. Seeing her in person like this was enough to have me reaching forward to trace over her healing wounds on her good arm. She’d been so brave. Strong. She was a fighter, and I needed one of those.
“J?”
My name was nothing more than a whisper. I glanced up, my lips parting at the time. Was it almost midnight, already?
Back I went to watching her and tracing the indents. We’d completely missed dinner. I was used to leading odd hours, but not her. Kody was routine. She had a time for things, and she stuck with them. Even if she didn’t eat. How many times had she made herself food, or ordered in, and not touched it? I’d completely lost track of her needs. I didn’t want to do that. I knew how one could spiral if routine was the only thing holding them together.
Another whimper. Her lips trembled, and I walked around the sofa, easing her into my arms. Her dress slid up to her hips, exposing scars and brands I hadn’t seen yet. The damage stopped me dead in my tracks. She never dressed in her room. She’d always been covered since her rescue. They were all over then, but it was dark. In the light, I saw just how bad she was.
“J?”
“Shh. It’s okay, doll. I’m taking you to bed.”
Kody sighed, moving her head more into my neck as I made our way into her bedroom. If I could just stop and keep her like this. Keepmelike this. There was a calming amongst the storm. A heat in the ice cold inside of me. My eyes closed. Her smell. The warm breath against my neck.
“You smell good.”
My eyes opened, and I eased her to the comforter. It was still pulled down from where she’d been asleep earlier. As if it were automatic, her good arm went up towards the headboard, and she turned on her side. Dammit. I’d have to get her restraints from her house too. Or…
I lowered, sitting on the edge. The shift had Kody’s arm lifting so she could peek out from behind her bicep at me.
“Wait, are you leaving to go to my place now? I should stay awake.”
“No. We’re not going to worry about that right now. I want you to go back to sleep. Kody…” My mind went back to how I’d meant to set this up as a playroom. I’d never gotten that far, but I still had what she needed the most. “How would you feel about the real thing. Real cuffs. Not shackles that will cut into you, but something softer yet more secure than silk?”
