Page 133 of I.S.O Daddy

He turned toward her, his eyes red. “I snapped, Abbie. The man who’d hit Beck—I started with him. I beat the shit out of him, all the while screaming at Beck to take his guitar and make it to that audition. But he didn’t want to leave me. So he fought one of the other guys until I took over.

“It was so bad they were nothing but bloody heaps by the time I was done with them. Then we saw these people at the end of the alley watching. I grabbed the guitar, shoved it in his hand and told him to run. Told him to go to that audition and make it. And he did. Then I was arrested, and, well, you know the rest.”

Jett looked more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him before. He looked raw and open, but also like he was scared of her response.

“So, you did it for your brother?” she said quietly. He swallowed thickly as he nodded. “You didn’t do it because you’re a monster, or any of the other stuff my father said.”

“But he was right,” he said, his voice tight. “I was a monster. The things I did—” He shook his head, cutting himself off.

“Did you enjoy it?”

His expression turned horrified as he stared at her. “What? Did I—did?—”

“Did you enjoy it? Beating those men up?”

“Of course not.” He shook his head firmly, still looking at her like he thought she was crazy. It was a look she was more than used to.

“Then you’re not a monster.”

He blinked. “But I did something awful?—”

“For your brother.”

“I hurt people.”

“For your brother.” He just stared at her and she sighed. “You didn’t do it for some malicious reason. You did it to protect Beck. You did it so he could have a good life. Do you regret it?”

He hesitated like he was weighing his words, then he let out a long breath. “No,” he admitted. “If I hadn’t done it, Beck wouldn’t have made it to that audition and he wouldn’t be where he is now.”

“You did it to protect someone, not because you wanted to do it. I knew you had a reason for whatever you did. I knew you’d never do it just for the fun of it. You’re a protector, Jett.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed thickly. He stared at her like he was letting her words sink in.

“No one’s called me that before,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “I’ve always been a monster. Too big. Too scary. Too intimidating. Never a protector.” Her heart broke at that confession. She scooted closer, still not touching him but wanting him to feel her comfort.

“It’s why I feel so safe with you,” she told him honestly. His jaw clenched, like he was trying to hold in his emotions. “I’ve always felt safe with you. You’ve never scared me—maybe a bit at the shop, but it was just the yelling, not you.”

“I’m so sorry,” he rasped. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby. I’ll never be able to apologize enough for that.”

“It’s okay,” she said, her hand sliding against the couch until her fingertips rested against the side of his hand. “It’s okay.”

He didn’t look like he believed her, and she knew it would take time and a lot of work before he started seeing himself as anything other than what he’d always been told he was. But she’d do it—she’d make him see himself the way she saw him.

“Do you still want to be with me?” she asked quietly, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.

“You still want to be with me?”

“More than anything.” His eyes flicked between hers, like he was weighing the words, seeing if there was any truth to them. Whatever he saw in her face must’ve convinced him, because he slid his hand over hers and squeezed.

She couldn’t take it anymore, she leaned closer and pressed her lips to his. He was stiff for a moment, unsure, then she ran her tongue along the seam of his lips and it snapped him out of it.

Jett took control, like he always did, and she melted into him. Gripping her waist, he pulled her to his lap, and she spread her legs wide to straddle him. His hands dropped to her ass, groping her as he kissed her deeper.

She whimpered into his mouth, grinding against the hardness growing in his jeans. “I love you,” she whispered between kisses, and his grip tightened.

“I love you.”

“Tell me you’re never leaving again,” she breathed. “I thought I was going to die without you.”

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