Page 23 of Their Virgins Secret

The thought of Jessa in danger turned his stomach. All that amazing food had looked so tempting a moment before, and now he couldn’t stand the thought of it. “I pray he doesn’t know about Jessa, but this guy hasn’t risen to the top of a crime family without being ruthless and smart. I know he’s vetted us already. ”

“Our cover will hold. I put it in place myself. There’s zero chance he can figure out it’s all made up. I’m a damn good hacker. ”

“I know. ” Burke was the best in the business. If he hadn’t gone into the Navy, Burke might have been a fine criminal. Cole stared at the hall where Jessa had disappeared. “He can believe our cover and still have someone watching us. You know he had someone at the airport. He knows where we’re staying. He hasn’t stayed in business for so many years without playing it smart and getting to know his clients. I’m worried that if he has someone watching us who I haven’t made yet, he’s going to find out about Jessa. ”

“I don’t want that any more than you do, man,” Burke replied. “But it’s done now. We can’t go back and undo last night. I wouldn’t want to. All we can do is lay low. If anyone asks, she’s just a nice piece of ass. ”

Cole clenched his fists. Fuck that. She was so much more. Smart and funny, she’d worked hard for her independence and scraped by, upholding a life and a passion she believed in. Despite her youth and inexperience, she’d done her best to tackle the big, bad world her way. She deserved more than a lie, but he couldn’t give her the truth right now. It would put her in too much danger.

Jessa bounced back to the table, her smile vibrant, a plate of food in her hand. “I caught our waitress. I ordered coffee for us all. There’s a juice bar, too. There’s just about everything. I love this place. ”

Her obvious joy brought out his own. He’d always felt like he was simply existing, moving from one job to the next, but Jessa made him want to stop and enjoy life for a change. The world had seemed like a shithole before, but that was because he went to all of its dark, terrible places. Jessa reminded him there was goodness, too. She shined her bright light on all of the reasons he had to fight. For her. For all the girls Delgado had manipulated and abused.

“Then we’ll definitely come back soon. ” Cole put a hand on hers.

God, he loved the way her fingers felt threaded through his. Burke reached for her other hand, and their circle was complete. Jessa accepted them. Her warmth was a balm for all the rejection of the past. His uncle had beaten into his head for years that no woman could ever want someone so guarded and angry. Females had used him before to get closer to Burke, then ditched him like trash once they thought they had his brother’s attention. Jessa simply held on to them both in the golden glow of her adoration.

She squeezed his hand. “If I eat here too often, I might end up weighing four hundred pounds. ”

And he would still love her. Fuck. He was in love with her. He loved her smile and her rich auburn hair and the curve of her hips. He loved her quirky view of the world. Seeing everything through her eyes was a startling revelation. Jessa had been through hell with her parents. They’d rejected her true soul and cut her off when she’d refused to conform. Still, she’d managed to move on without being bitter or vindictive—or letting their crappy games play with her head. When his uncle had died, Cole had spit on his grave and gleefully continued hating the bastard. Now, he winced. Definitely, he could take a lesson or two from Jessa.

He and Burke had been drifting emotionally. And they’d guarded their hearts. Jessa hadn’t. She’d been through hell, yet she had opened her heart and asked for love. Jessa was perfect.

He brought her hand to his mouth, Burke did the same thing, having the same instinct. “Go on, then. Weigh whatever you like. We’ll still want you. ”

She would always look like this to him. His eyes would be broken, lost in this moment. When she was eighty and frail and wrinkled, he would look at her and see her the way she was today. Vibrant. Beautiful. His heart thudded in his chest. He was in love for the first time. The last time. They would never love anyone the way they loved Jessa Wade. She was the end of their journey. His eyes met his brother’s. Not grim this time. Burke was happy and full of love.

A lifetime of joy spread out before Cole when he’d expected so much less. He’d never once thought that he’d have or deserve this sort of devotion. But it was his. Jessa was his.

“Well, I never expected to see the two of you here. ”

Cole looked up, a dark voice yanking him out of his thoughts. He felt his eyes flare as he caught sight of Marco Delgado standing at the end of their table in a perfectly tailored suit. Marco was the picture of a well-groomed businessman, right down to the bodyguard who hovered behind him.

Cole felt his stomach turn. He dropped Jessa’s hand, hating the fact that he had to do it. “Marco. It’s nice to see you. What are you doing in this part of the world?”

He should be in lower Manhattan. There were about a thousand restaurants in the city, but he chose this one?

Burke’s whole frame had stiffened, his hand dropping Jessa’s, too. “Marco. ”

Marco smiled, a reptilian expression. “I have brunch here all the time. ” His eyes went to Jessa. “I find it a good way to restore my energy after a busy night. ”

“We’re doing the same. ” He prayed Jessa would smile and go along with them.

“Hi,” Jessa said brightly, holding out her hand. “I’m Jessa Wade. They have no manners. Oh, well, they have to have some faults. ”

Marco smiled, satisfaction oozing from his pores, as if he’d found a chink he’d thought he’d never find. “I’m glad to hear that, dear Jessa Wade. Such a pretty name. Do you live around here? How did you meet the twins?”

Cole leaned forward, pulling Jessa back. “She’s just in town for the weekend. ”

Jessa’s frowned. “I live here. In Manhattan. I’m an artist. ”

“I live here as well. On the Upper East Side. It is so nice to meet you. I am a business associate of Cole and Burke. How very nice to make your acquaintance. Enjoy your breakfast. ” Marco moved off, his bodyguard moving behind him.

“What’s with you two?” Jessa frowned. “He was nice, and you two were terribly rude. Eat something and feed your inner beasts. ” She picked up her plate. “I’m getting some smoked salmon. ”

The second Jessa strode toward the buffet, her sweet curves swaying, Burke turned to Cole, brows furrowed. “What the fuck just happened?”

“Marco knows Jessa is important. ” There was no denying it. Marco Delgado had just seen into his soul, and there was nothing he could do about it. “Which means Ricardo will know soon, too. ”

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