Page 89 of After Us (Next Generation 6)

“No.” I gently pushed him back, keeping him at a distance so I could get these words out. “We are a couple. That means we worry together. Tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s shit that’s added to the pile, Piper.” Jaron pulled away from me and began pacing. “The mayor said some nasty shit when I saw him weeks ago, but I never told you because I didn’t want to worry you. Now, he’s saying more shit.” He shook his head. “He was a monster before but now, he’s worse.”

“How can someone like him be worse? I’ve heard the rumors.” I shivered at the thought of what that man was capable of.

Jaron stopped pacing, his eyes connecting with mine. “What have you heard?”

“That he had underage girls working at one of his strip clubs. But no one actually knows if it’s his club or not but, come on, the guy is shady as fuck.” I rolled my eyes. “I remember the way he looked at me when I was at your trial.”

“So do I.” Jaron’s hands clenched into fists. “I should kill him just for that.”

“No.” I took a step toward him but the look on his face made me hesitate.

“What?” His tone was short and clipped. There was a battle in him. Stay and keep his family safe or go after those who wronged him and us.

“I don’t want you to lose yourself more than you already have.” I placed my hand on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart beneath my palm.

“I’m fine,” he bit out, covering my hand with his.

“Are you, Jaron? Can you honestly stand there and tell me that you are, in fact, fine?” I searched his face, waiting for a sign that he was going to run. That he was going to fall to his knees and break before me but instead, I got something far more than what I expected.

He pulled me into his arms. Just when I thought he was going to hug me, he cupped my ass and lifted me into his arms. I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding on and waiting for him to tell me what was going on with him. Whatever he needed, I would be there to give it to him.

When he brought me to our bedroom, he gently placed me on the edge of the bed. “Jaron, what is it?”

“I had to kill people while in jail, Piper. I didn’t relish being their Grim Reaper. And maybe they didn’t all deserve a death sentence, but they were also all vile scumbags who would have hurt people again. Not that it makes it right. Nothing does. But that’s it. That’s me. That’s what I did and can’t undo. I couldn’t risk never seeing you again or meeting our daughter, so I did everything I could to survive.”

“You never got in trouble?” I asked, wondering how he wasn’t still in jail, paying for his crimes.

“The guards were paid to look the other way. The system’s corrupt.”

No wonder he was haunted by his demons. “Jaron.”

“No.” He placed his thumb against my lips. “I need to get this out. I should have said all of this a long time ago but to be honest, I’m scared, Piper.”

I ran my hands up his strong arms, reveling in the way he shivered beneath my touch. “Talk to me.”

Before I knew what was happening, he fell to his knees in front of me.

“Jaron,” I gasped, clapping a hand over my mouth.

“I’m here, on my knees, begging you to forgive me.” His eyes held so much sorrow, so much pain. So much agony over something he never had to worry about.

“Baby.” I knelt in front of him, cupped his hands, and brought them up to my mouth. “I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”

“But what I did...”

“Stop.” I straddled his lap. “You don’t have to ask for my forgiveness, Jaron, and I’m not going anywhere. What you went through in jail was so you could get home to me and our daughter. I could never repay you enough for what you did. For us. For me. You saved me and over time, I’ll save you too.”

He blew out a slow breath, leaning his forehead against mine. “You already have, baby.”

Pushing out from under my hold, he rose to his full height. Holding out his hand, he waited.

I slipped my fingers in his, letting him pull me to my feet.

Jaron stripped before helping me out of my clothes until we were both standing naked in front of each other.

“Clothes get in the way,” he murmured.

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