Page 121 of Jig's Last Dance

Alice: I’m okay

The phone buzzes in my hand, and I give in to my weakness because I almost fucking died. I can be strong and stick to my convictions later.

“Hello,” I say on a shaky breath.

“Where are you? What’s wrong?”

The tears I’ve been holding back for hours overflow, and I cover my mouth and sob before saying, “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Don’t lie to me. Where the fuck are you?” he roars, and I flinch.

“Jig . . .”

“Goddamnit, sunshine. Tell me,” his tone drops to a low exhale, and I sigh.

“I’ll come to you.”

“Fine, but don’t hang up until you’re in my drive.”

Rolling my eyes at his high-handed demeanor, I pull back onto the road and head toward his home.

“You there?”

“Yes. I’m driving,” I say, exasperated.

“Okay.”

We’re quiet for a few moments until he says, “I’m sorry.”

“What? You, Jig Blackstone, are apologizing?”

He huffs but says, “Cyn doesn’t make my decisions for me.”

Tipping my head back and blinking away tears again, I say, “Maybe not. But he was protecting you.”

“I don’t need to be protected,” he growls, and I laugh.

“Jig, you have people that care about you. Be good.”

He’s quiet and then he says softly, “You do, too.”

I turn on my blinker and pull into his drive, spying him standing on the stoop. He hangs up before I can answer, and with a bitter smile, I say, “Maybe you shouldn’t.”

Striding forward, he opens the door before I have it in park, and I jump from the car, wrapping my arms around him.

He hugs me close, and I revel in the feeling. I could have died, and for what? The machinations of men who don’t see the bigger picture. Life is more precious than revenge.

“What happened?” he rumbles, and I inhale his scent. Spicy and sweet and something I can’t define. Like mixing junior mints with popcorn. He’s the perfect combination.

“Sunshine?” He pulls my head back, and his eyes darken as he searches my face.

I forgot about the blood, and I wince when he rasps, “What the fuck?”

“Jig?”

“Yeah,” he says, brushing my hair back from my face.

“Everything is out of control. I’m scared.”

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