Page 33 of Darkest Retribution

“And?”

She gestures to Rosie. “So why are you always trying to be there for her? Again, I’m really grateful, but I can’t let her get—” With a frustrated noise, she rubs her face. “What’s your motive here?”

That pain returns to my chest as I glance at Rosie. I don’t like talking about it, but Jade deserves answers. It’s probably not normal for a neighbor to do the shit I do for Jade and Rosie.

“My mom left when I was a teenager,” I say quietly. “It fucked me up, I guess. But my brother... it absolutely destroyed Blaze. Every time I see Rosie, I see him, I guess.”

A sympathetic look crosses Jade’s face. “I’m sorry, Dom.”

“I know I can’t change the past,” I murmur. “And I know I can’t replace her dad. But if I can help Rosie feel more loved, then I refuse to pass up that chance. Watching Blaze hurt so much as a kid tore me apart more than my mom leaving, I think. I promised myself that when I grew up, I’d be the adult Blaze needed but never had.”

For a minute, we stand in silence, and I wonder if I’ve said too much. But then Jade’s voice fills my ears, soft and quiet.

“I lost my mom when I was a kid, too. Cancer. Sometimes I wonder how different things would be if she was still around. She tried to protect me from... things.” Jade bites her lip, her gaze fixed on my chest but unfocused. She shrugs. “It hurt a lot. Still does. My brother was closer to my dad, so maybe it didn’t affect him as much, but I hate the way he abandoned Rosie.”

“At least she has you.”

Jade’s shoulders sag. “I just hope she understands what I have to do.”

I don’t know what she means, but she doesn’t elaborate. Pushing her to open up more doesn’t sound like the right move—not when she’s usually so guarded.

But when she gives me a sad smile, it tugs at something in my chest. Being caught in her gaze feels warm, like coming home and curling up under a blanket. It’s the exact thing I’ve been craving since I realized I wanted more than shallow relationships.

I’m not sure if it’s instinct or habit or me allowing myself a small indulgence, but I slide an arm around Jade’s waist. The movement brings her closer to me—so close that when I look down at her, there are only a few inches between us.

If Jade is alarmed or put off, she doesn’t show it. Instead, she relaxes into me, her hands coming to rest on my chest. Maybe she’s allowing herself a small indulgence, too. “I haven’t told anyone about my mom in... god, it was before high school.”

“I don’t like talking about mine, either.”

She looks up at me. Her brown eyes are tinged with sadness, but what has me catching my breath is the softness in them, too. I see it from her all the time, but it’s always directed at Rosie, not me.

My gaze flits to her lips. They look perfect, small and pink and begging me to kiss them. When they part slightly, I have to stop myself from running my tongue over her bottom lip.

I think she feels it, too—the pull to erase the distance between us. To fall into each other. Maybe it’s the wave of emotions we brought on ourselves by revealing parts of ourselves that normally stay locked up tight. I know for me, it’s been years since I’ve talked about that shit. But for some reason, telling Jade felt... right.

Doesn’t matter, though. Kissing her is a step farther than I can take this. Something is stopping Jade, too, but I’m not sure what. Maybe because Rosie is in the other room.

I push her hair from her face, and my lips just barely ghost over her forehead. She smells sweet, like vanilla and jasmine, and I inhale deeply.

“Dom . . .”

“I know. I should go.”

It’s not what I want. I want to stay, to make them dinner, to put Rosie to bed, and to hold Jade close all night. And it’s too intimate, too real. Lust I can deal with. But wanting more? Wanting... closeness? That’s dangerous territory. So I let my arm fall from her waist, shoving my hands into my pockets to stop myself from touching her again.

Jade looks like she’s going to say something, but she clamps her mouth shut and steps back. “Thanks again, Dom. For everything.”

I nod. “Have a good shift tonight.”

Leaving feels wrong, but I do it anyway, and I do it without looking back at either Jade or Rosie.

I’ve been with plenty of women, and I cared about them, sure. But not like this. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m older and more mature, or if it’sher,but I want more of tonight. More of thedepth.

As I lock myself into my house, bitterness coils around my heart. If it wasn’t for David coming after my family, I’d be free to do whatever I wanted. Jade and Rosie could be mine.

Who knows how long I’m going to be stuck in this weird limbo of wanting to move forward but not being able to? God, I hate it.

No,I realize.I hatehim.

---