Page 5 of Darkest Retribution

The other night? What?

Oh.

A few weeks ago, I was about to go to bed when Rosie started pounding on my front door, crying about Jade not breathing right. Turns out, she was having a panic attack.

If it wasn’t for my friend Sophia being there, I wouldn’t’ve known what was going on.She’sthe one who calmed Rosie down. And then told me afterward that, according to Rosie, Jade’s brother is the one who sent her into a state of panic.

It’s not the first time he’s fucked up and hurt one of them. I’ve never met the guy, but if I do, he’ll regret ever being born.

“I’m sorry if I ruined your night with your girlfriend. I haven’t had a panic attack since high school, and I don’t—”

“I don’t have a girlfriend. Haven’t in a while.”

Way to tell her you’re boring as hell.

I need to get the fuck away from this woman.

Some of Jade’s hair falls into her face. Before my brain can remind me that under no circumstances can I get close to this woman, I’m stepping toward her. Then I’m leaning down and tucking the lock behind her ear, my fingers brushing against her cheek as I do.

Fuck.It’s exhilarating.

Jade gives me a startled look. “What...”

I shouldn’t’ve done that.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and stalk down the driveway. Rosie calls after me, and I give her a wave without turning around. It’s not until I’m locked in my house that I let myself breathe again.

Over the years, I’ve been with plenty of women. Beautiful, intelligent, amazing women. But none of them have ever made me lose my head.

So what is it about Jade that has me doing idiotic things like brushing her hair out of her face? Is it that I can’t have her? Or is it something else?

Whatever it is, I need to figure it out and get it under control. If I can’t be around Jade for more than a couple minutes without touching her, I’m in some deep shit.

Maybe a distraction will help.

I pull out my phone, putting my earbuds back in before I even realize who I’m calling.

“I’mfine,Dom. You don’t have to check in on me every day.”

I can’t help but sag with relief at the sound of my brother’s voice, regardless of how annoyed he might be. Barely a week ago, he almost died protecting his childhood best friend—now girlfriend—from our mutual enemy. When I got the call that he was in surgery after almost bleeding out from a gunshot wound, I may have panicked.

Our mom left when we were teens. Our dad has always been supportive—hell, he guided me through taking over Grayson Security for him—but I’m much closer to my younger brother. Losing Blaze isn’t an option.

All I want is for things to go back to normal. I want my family safe and happy and free from worry—Blaze especially.

Maybethat’swhy I want Jade so much. It’s not that it’s her, it’s the idea of stability. Of settling down. And she just happens to be the first woman in my line of sight.

There. You’re not losing your head. You’re just lonely.

. . . Fuck. That’s not better.

“Dude. You there?”

“Right. Sorry. How’re you doing? How’s the pain?”

“Same as yesterday, Dom.”

“And Brooke? How’s she?”

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