Page 63 of Jase
“You don’t understand what you’re asking. I said think on it. Heal. I’m not adding to David’s bruises. I’m too greedy for that. When I put ones on you, I want us both to know who they came from. For now,we wait.”
Chapter 23
Jase
Try. Try?Kody was most definitely not ready to see what I had in store for her. For days I couldn’t get her overeager words out of my head.Try. Try.Ten minutes with a flogger, I’d knock her right back into the victim mindset she had been in after her rescue.Try.No way in hell I was going to risk damaging her more. The woman needed to work out her trauma; not stare at me like I was the bad guy. Damn those sad eyes and silent treatments. I wanted to spank her. I’d crop the hell out of her ass for putting me through this hell. I’d show her she shouldn’t be afraid of it. It wasn’t the cat-o-nine. I wouldn’t hurt her like David did. Couldn’t she see I was trying to do the right thing? Brat. She was definitely a brat. That attitude in the last few days was nearly my undoing. She was goading and pushing me to my limit. Was I frustrated? I was well past that. I was drowning in this forbidden lust. And that’s exactly what it was, forbidden. It had to be hero worship. I saved her, so now she was willing to fulfil my every desire to show her appreciation. Or was she really this submissive? I couldn’t think straight. I was trying to twist her into what I wanted. That was making me question everything. It’s all I could do. Between tracking down the emails, deciphering codes, getting barely any sleep, and trying to figure her out…my brain was shot.
“Do I get to come over and help or are we going to continue working through video calls? I’m starting to think your protection of her is an excuse. You just don’t want me stealing her away because I’m so darn good looking. Admit it.”
“Fuck off, Rian. Tell me what you’ve found.”
“This would be a hell of a lot more convenient if I was there in person.”
I glanced to the table where Kody was picking at a fruit tray. She had her back to me, but I knew she was listening, even if she couldn’t hear the other end of my conversation.
“You only want to come over because I said no. Now it’s a challenge. You won’t win. Speak. What’d you find?”
“You’re such an ass. Fine. I got zip. I was routed, rerouted, and ran into nothing but blocks. It was all dead ends. These people are good. And I say people because there’s no way a handful of fuck-jobs are doing this. This is deep, Jase. Deeper than I’m comfortable meddling in without a plan. You got me watching my back constantly. I hate paranoia. You know that. I thought we were finished with this shit.”
“We were. Things change. Feel free to stop at any time. You don’t have to do this.”
“Bullshit. You know I do. We’re brothers. We stand together; we fall together. That’s the way it is. Now invite me to dinner so I can meet this girl of yours.”
Again, my eyes lifted to the table.
“I’m not sure it’s time.”
“It’ll never be time until you allow it. Do you plan to keep her locked up inside that fortress of yours forever? You do realize, danger or not, you’re using it as an excuse to keep her.”
“Have I already told you to fuck off?”
“Hey, I’m just keeping it real, and we’ve talked about this. You never leave that place anymore. Now you got her stuck there too? I don’t like it. She at least needs to see other people besides you.”
I lowered my voice. “She does. We’ve gone out a few times. Besides, she can come and go as she pleases.”
“Now, who’s lying? You can let a bird out of its cage as much as you want, but as long as it’s still within the walls of your home, the bird is still captive. She may believe she has the option to leave, but we both know you’re those walls. No illusion can change that. You’re not letting her go. Not while there’s a risk. And brother, with what I’ve seen, that risk will never end. This is beyond us.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, I do. Let’s be honest here, Jase. Even you can’t bring this underground network down. You have to let Kody go back home. Hire someone to keep her safe if that makes you feel better. Just…distance yourself before you’re the one who gets hurt. This won’t end well if you keep this up.”
“Are you finished? Where’s Rush?”
Rian shook his head. “Busy. Are you listening to me? The girl went through hell. That’s not over for her. Now she has to face herself. We’ve been there. You know what’s going to happen, and you can’t save her from that part. That’s all her. I know she’s beautiful, and you want to help however you can, but don’t trap her for the wrong reasons. She’s not—”
“You best stop while you’re ahead.”
“Jase, we’re too much alike. I see right through you. No one knows you better than me.”
“I’m starting to wish you didn’t.”
“Invite me to dinner.”
“It’s already four. It’s too late. We’re on a five o’clock schedule.”
He winked. “I better leave the office now. See you soon.”
“Rian.Rian.”
