Page 187 of Eight Years Gone

Colton swallowed as he held Jagger’s gaze.

Jagger saw the fear in Colton’s eyes, which was exactly what he wanted. “Running away just brings more problems. Trust me, I know. But you didn’t do anything wrong. I can help you fix this.”

“Please don’t leave.” Grace settled her hand on Colton’s shoulder. “I don’t want to wake up one of these mornings and realize you’re gone. We love having you here. You’re building a life here. You’re my brother, and I don’t want you to go.”

Colton nodded as he held Grace’s gaze.

“Look at me.”

Colton’s eyes met Jagger’s next.

“I’m asking you to trust that I’ll take care of this.”

Colton nodded for the second time.

“If you see them around again, I want to know. Immediately. I mean it, Colton.”

“I’ll tell you.”

“That goes for you, too,” Jagger said to Grace.

She nodded as she clutched her hands around her mug again.

Colton stood. “I’m not hungry. I’m going to bed.” He looked at Grace. “I promise I’ll be here when you wake up in the morning.”

Grace sent him a small smile. “Thank you.”

Colton disappeared down the hall.

Grace got to her feet. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said as she walked away.

“Son of a bitch,” Jagger muttered as he sat in the heavy silence.

* * *

Grace hurried to the bathroom, craving the warmth and peace she always found in the shower. For just a few minutes, she wanted a break from her problems.

She yanked her sweatshirt over her head, then unsnapped the front clasp on her bra as she closed her eyes, huffing out a humorless laugh.

Wasn’t it only yesterday that she’d foolishly let herself believe that life was finally settling down again? Hadn’t she shared a wonderful meal with family and friends, then talked about a relaxing weekend with Jagger?

But that wasn’t to be. Everything was a huge mess again. The status quo of late. But somehow, things were worse than ever. Colton was in danger, and Jagger…

She pulled at the snap and unzipped her jeans, taking her panties with them as she let them fall to the floor, remembering how cold his eyes had been—how fast he’d moved as he wrapped the seat belt around the man’s neck and mostly knocked the other unconscious with a vicious blow to the throat.

She’d been curious about Jagger’s mysterious life. She’d been fascinated by his secret career. But tonight, she’d gotten a firsthand look at the violence and danger he often alluded to but so rarely spoke of. Tonight she saw for herself who Jagger had been overseas.

She turned on the water, thinking of how different he’d been when he first came home—of how he’d had an unfamiliar edge. Jagger had been a stranger.

“Hey,” he said as he walked in behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he closed the door with a kick of his foot. “Are you okay?”

She nodded as she stood stiff, studying them in the mirror. He was so much bigger than her—so much more powerful with all his muscles and strength. “Yes.”

He pressed a trail of kisses down her neck as he nuzzled her closer.

She brought her palms up to rest on his forearms. “You’re always so gentle with me. You were a different person in that car.”

He sighed as he turned her to face him, sliding his hands down her arms. “They were following me. They were threatening my family. At that moment, I was who I needed to be. But I’m still me, Grace.”

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