Page 82 of Wicked Attraction

“So, what else did I miss?”

“Beck is no longer a problem for us.”

Sadie smiled. “Is she in the desert?”

“No, Ma. She’s not in the desert. She’s leaving Nevada as we speak, a whole lot richer and looking forward to a family reunion.”

The whole family didn’t know about Jack Beck, but I hoped her memory was well enough to understand my vague words.

“Now, thatisexcellent news.” Sadie patted the seat Thomas had vacated, and when I joined her, she put one small hand on top of mine.

“Thank you, Jasper, for everything.” She smiled up at me, looking just like the woman I remembered. “I’m…I’m proud of you.”

I shrugged off the compliment. “Well, there’s only one of me, and Thomas was eager to keep Lucky Lopez running smoothly until you were on your feet again, so I let him. The help was much appreciated.”

“It’s nice to have a man who has your back.”

“Amen,” Maisie, Kat and Vanessa answered in unison before a fit of laughter erupted around the room.

“And the person who shot me? Did you find him?”

The air in the room went still. Virgil’s smile darkened into a scowl. Cal froze with fear burning up his eyes. Everyone else just wanted an update.

“Yeah. Three of them are rotting in the ground, and the last one turned himself in before we got to him.”

Another smile lit up her face, and she brushed a finger across my cheek, an uncharacteristic move on her part. “Thank you, Jas. I knew you would make this right.”

I nodded. “That’s my job. To protect this family, and all the people in it.”

That was my purpose in life, and I was fine with it. Kat was happy and safe with Terry; they would probably expand the Ashby family soon.

Maisie and Virgil were bringing another Ashby into the world, and Cal, well, his pardon had given him a renewed purpose in life and in this family. Eventually, Calvin would find another woman to help him raise Ava Rose, and I would still keep them all safe and protected.

Just like Sadie taught me. But even with all the family here, one person was missing. One person who needed my protection, my understanding, and my comfort. And I’d failed her.

Badly.

Looking around the room, my siblings all had a purpose outside the family, separate from the Ashby Organization. For me, it was all I had.

And suddenly, I asked myself, was it enough?

No.

The answer came swiftly from somewhere deep, and like one of those dumb fuck moments of epiphany people were always talking about, I knew what I had to do.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Mo

I spent the evening curled up on the sofa in silk pajamas, scarfing down buttery popcorn and lemonade while binge-watching my third straight romance movie.

The streaming service originals were my favorite not-so-guilty pleasure to watch on my days off, and today I planned to get my fill of them.

This particular movie was the ultimate fantasy. A relatively plain girl who was nice and sweet with all the qualities girls like Molly possessed in spades falls for a rich and gorgeous prince.

She was unassuming, completely unaware of her charms, which, of course, charmed the good prince. Best of all, she did absolutely nothing to draw his interest other than be herself.

It was the ultimate fantasy. It was also bullshit.

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