Life of a Fool (London Brothers Book 2) (18 page)

Jason cupped my face.  “Legs, I would love to take you
anywhere you want to go.  I’m just a little nervous to stray too far from the
safety of this place until we know where Antonio and his men have gone.”

“What do you mean?”  I had a sick feeling in the pit of my
stomach. 

Jason sighed, and I immediately knew he’d been keeping
something from me.  “John—the guy we had watching Antonio?”

“Yeah, I heard you mention him.”

“He was jumped a few days ago.  Someone beat the holy shit
out of him.  He’s in bad shape.”  I gasped.  “We can’t be sure it was Antonio
or his guys, but the facts around it are just too coincidental to have nothing
to do with The Italian.”

“What’s John saying?”  My question came out like a whisper
as I felt a tear run down my face.  Another person was hurt because of me.  I
could never let Antonio get near Jason or Craig.  If he beat up some private
investigator that was just following him, I can’t imagine what he would do to
Craig or to my sweet Jace. 

“Hey, don’t worry.”  Jason wiped the tear off of my cheek.  “Craig
and I are being safe, working under the assumption that Antonio is behind this,
but John’s not an idiot, baby.  He’s done jobs like this for me a hundred times
and never gets noticed.  Ever.”

“Okay, then what is he saying?”

“John is unconscious.  He’s in a coma.  Doctors said he’d be
okay, but he’s got a pretty nasty head injury, among other things.” 

“Jace…what if Antonio finds you?”

“Don’t worry about me or Craig.  We will be okay.  It’s you
he wants, and I’ll never let that happen.”  He kissed my forehead.  “So, if it’s
okay with you, I’d prefer to stay here a few more days.  I know you have a
doctor’s appointment tomorrow.  We’re
definitely
making that.”  He
smiled and winked, helping me to relax. 

“I agree.” 

“How about we order some food and see if Craig and Keri want
to come over?  Sound okay?”

“Yes.  That sounds really nice.”  I paused, then wrapped my
arms, cast and all, around his neck.  “I love you, Jace.  Please don’t keep
things from me.  You hate it when I do that to you, so give me the same
courtesy.  I need to know what is going on every step of the way.  I know you
don’t want to scare me, but I’ve lived with the man all these years, and this
last year was pretty awful.  But I always managed to stay just a step ahead and
anticipate his moves.  It’s what kept me safe—up until that one night.”

Jason abruptly leaned back and stared into my eyes.  His jaw
ticked with anger.  “I would love a few minutes alone with him…beat him into a
coma for what he did.” 

“I know.”

“I’m sorry.  I’ll try my best to keep you up to date.  I
just didn’t want to set off alarms until we knew something more.”

“I understand that, but I still need to be prepared.  I
have
to know.”  I kissed his lips.

“Done.”  He pressed his forehead against mine.  “This scares
me to death, baby.”

“What does?”

“Not knowing, not being able to anticipate his next move—and
you and I know he has one or he wouldn’t be in the States.  I’m torn up with
anger and fear.”

Jason’s admission had me speechless.  I’d never seen him so
vulnerable.  I gripped my fingers into his hair and held him close.  “I need
you to know that I’ll never leave you.  Never again.  Walking away from you all
those years ago was the biggest mistake of my life.  No matter what happens, I
won’t
willingly
leave you, Jason.”

“But that’s what I’m most afraid of, Legs.  That he will
sneak in here and steal you away.  And I won’t have a clue as to where you are
or if you’re okay.  The thought paralyzes me.  I won’t rest until he’s in jail
or dead.”

“Did you tell this to Craig?”

“Yes, he knows.  Why?”

“What did he say?”  I already knew the answer.

“Why are you asking that?”

“Tell me.”

Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath.  “He said he
felt the same way—could see the scenario playing out in his head.”

I closed my eyes and said, “That’s what I thought.”

“Lori Ann, listen…”

“No.  It’s okay.  You and Craig have always had incredible
instincts.  That’s what makes you both great at your jobs.  And as much as I
hate to admit it, I feel the same way.  It sucks that we all see it coming, but
I’ll fight.  I promise I will.  I’ll fight to never let him take me.”

I pulled back to look into Jason’s eyes, but he wouldn’t
open them.  Instead, I saw tears—yes, tears were falling from my strong man’s
eyes.

“Hey, look at me, Jace.”  He opened his eyes, and I smiled
before leaning in and kissing the tears on both of his cheeks.  “This is a good
thing.  We’re all on the same page and can anticipate what Antonio might do. 
Now, let’s start a plan to stop him.  Okay?”  I was grasping at straws to help
not only my beautiful friend and lover, but to help me too.  There was no good
ending to my husband getting his hands on me.

Jason laid his head against my chest, and it broke my
heart.  This wasn’t my fearless man.  He was scared.  “I’ll stop him, baby.  I
promise.”

“I know.”  I rubbed my right hand through his short hair.  “Let’s
not think about it right now.  Go call Craig and Keri, and let’s enjoy our day
and look forward to getting the ‘all clear’ from my doctor tomorrow.”

He leaned up and smiled.  “Thank you.  Now that is exactly
what I needed to hear.”  He kissed me tenderly as he slowly pulled me up to
standing and cupped my ass.  “I’ll go make the call.  You go change and put on
a bra—now.” 

I laughed.  “Okay.  Jeez.”  As I turned, he smacked me on
the ass, causing me to jump and laugh even louder. 

I went into the bedroom, found a pair of jeans and tee
shirt, then went into the bathroom and climbed into the shower.  I’d gotten
much more proficient at putting the plastic sleeve on my casted arm, but could
easily whine about it just to get Jace to help me.  I loved how he wanted to
take care of me. 

After cleaning my whole body, I climbed out, toweled off,
and started to get dressed.  The second I slipped on my jeans, I screamed. 
This could not be happening.  Not. Yet.  I wasn’t ready.

Panic.

That was what I felt.  I dropped my cell phone even as Craig
was yelling my name and asking what was wrong.  My legs wouldn’t move fast
enough.  I was already on edge, and hearing her scream was torture.

I ran through the bedroom and kicked the bathroom door open,
looking for
him
.  Thoughts flooded my mind of how he got inside our
home, but as soon as I saw Lori Ann curled up on the floor, crying, I knew it
was something else.  I still took a long look around the bathroom, but saw no
threat.  I sat on the floor next to her.

“What is it, baby?  What’s wrong?”

“I don’t want this to happen.  Not yet.”

“What?  I don’t understand.  Please tell me what’s wrong.”

She sobbed as she moved over and slid into my lap, letting
me cradle her.  She was dressed in her bra, tee shirt, and panties.  “They…”
she sobbed “…they won’t button.” 
What in the hell?

“What are you talking about?”  I ran my fingers up and down
her back. 

“My jeans…” Her sobs were so heartbreaking.  “I can’t button
them.  What happened?  I just wore them last week.” 

Ahh…
“Shit, you scared me to death.  This is about
your jeans?  Really?  What the…”  Then my brain kicked in, and I felt like an
ass.  “Oh, baby.”  I kissed her forehead.

“No.  I don’t want this yet.”

“I know, but it’s going to happen.  You’ve been avoiding the
whole subject of this baby for two weeks.”  I placed my hand on her stomach,
and even though I couldn’t see a difference, apparently her body was changing. 
“I just hope you’re not avoiding talking about it because of me.”

“Oh, Jason,” she cried.  “I don’t know how to feel.  This
baby wasn’t made out of love.” 

I felt my whole body stiffen and tried like hell to rein in
my emotions.  “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.  It wasn’t like he raped me, but…”

“Stop.  I get it.”  I didn’t want to think about that
asshole
taking
from her, but it was obvious that he did.  “Tell me about
the good times.  I need to hear something that won’t make me go insane with
anger.”

She took a deep breath and thought for a long time.  Not a
good sign.  “When we first met and even through the first few years we were
together, he was so attentive and loving.  My needs and wants were all he
seemed to care about.  He’d taken over his family’s business just the year
before we met and was happy and enthusiastic about the future.  I know he loved
me, Jace.  But things just changed.”

“How so?”

“I think he got greedy.  I didn’t put it together until
later, but I think he wanted to impress the ‘nay-sayers’ so he sought out money
opportunities from the wrong people.”

“Is that when you think he changed?  Became a ruthless
bastard?” 

“I guess.  It was gradual, though, until the last few years.”

“It’s not your fault.  And this?”  I laid my hand back on
her stomach.  “This may not have been created out of love…”  I had to stop and
really think about my words because the thought of The Italian forcing himself
on her made me so fucking mad I didn’t know how to handle it.  “…but this is
part of you, and that’s all that matters.”

“I’m trying really hard to accept that, but it’s tough.”

“It will be okay.  Come on.  Let’s get you dressed.  I need
to call Craig back.  He’s probably freaking out.  When I heard you scream, I
dropped the phone and ran.  Shit…the whole fucking calvary is probably on its
way.” 

Lori Ann laughed.  “You’re right.”  She seemed better, so I
helped us stand and led her to the bedroom to find clothes as I hustled to the
living room and called Craig.

“What the fuck is going on, Jason?”  He was pissed.  I
filled him in on the details and he huffed out an annoyed curse, but I heard
Keri in the background say, “Don’t you dare.  Lori Ann is going through more
than just a crazy-ass ex husband.”  I knew I liked that woman!  “Well, shit! 
Okay, we’re on our way.  I need to call off the squad.  Bye.”

He hung up abruptly, but I understood why.  He’d called in
backup and needed to tell them it was nothing…well, nothing they needed to be
involved in.

Lori Ann emerged from the bedroom, eyes puffy, but dressed
in yoga-type pants.  “Hi, beautiful.”  That didn’t help.  She burst into
tears.  I walked to her and wrapped my arms around her.  “Stop, please.  You’re
mine.  Both of you.  So stop.  Now.”  I was commanding and she obeyed, looking
up at me with questioning eyes before standing tall and slightly nodding her
head.  “Good.  Now, what should we order for dinner?  Craig and Keri are on
their way here.”

“Can we have pizza?” she asked sheepishly. 

“If that’s what you want, then yes.  Absolutely!”  I saw the
sad look in her eyes that told me all I needed to know.  I wrapped my arms
around her waist and said, “Is that something you’re craving, baby?”  She
buried her face into my chest and cried.  “Shh…”  I didn’t want to push her,
but reality was what it was.  We both had to start accepting it.  And it was my
job to help her.

“Jace, why?”

“I don’t know, but we are going to be just fine.  Now, dry
it up and let’s enjoy our night.” 

Without a word, my brave girl stood tall and walked into the
living room and sat on the couch as I made the call to a great local pizza
place just down the road.  I even ordered an extra for the guys downstairs. 

By the time Craig and Keri arrived, Lori Ann was better. 
She was happy to see them and find some sense of normalcy.  “Hey.”

Craig kissed her cheek and winked at me just to be a prick
before Keri hugged her tightly and whispered something in her ear that had my
girl tearing up and reaching for another hug.  The girls were bonding rapidly,
and it made me happy for Lori Ann.

“So, what’s for dinner, man?”  Craig asked. 

“Pizza from that local place on the next street over.” 
Craig started to protest, but I quickly cut in with, “Lori Ann thought it
sounded good.”  It only took a second for Craig and Keri to register what I was
saying, but it didn’t matter.  My girl didn’t want any secrets.

“He’s trying to be nice.  I just had a major meltdown about
my jeans not zipping and then had a craving for pizza.”  She wiped a tear and
looked down at her feet.  I hated how she felt. 

I stepped beside Lori Ann just as her head came up, and she
said, “But you know what?”  She leaned into me.  “I can’t do anything about
it.  And I wouldn’t do anything about this baby.  I just need some time to
accept it.  I’m sorry.  If you don’t want pizza, it’s okay.  We can order
something else.”

“No.  Pizza is great!”  Keri immediately said as she stepped
up to hug Lori Ann.  The two exchanged a look, and I glanced at Craig who
shrugged his shoulders in confusion. 
Girls…

“Well, let’s grab some drinks and head out to the balcony
while we wait.”  As the girls walked away, whispering their weird girly talk,
Craig sat on a barstool and asked, “So, did you tell her about losing The
Italian’s whereabouts?  Is that part of the reason for all the tears?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.  I did tell her.”  I handed him a
bottle of beer and watched as he took a long pull on it.  “She was a little
freaked out, but we talked a lot about it, and she understands.  We need to
keep her up to date.”  I took a drink of my own beer, then said, “Man, she
feels it too.”

Craig nearly choked as he swallowed.  “You mean, she thinks
he’s going to take her?”

“Yes.  She feels the same sinking feeling you and I both
have, and it has me scared to death.”

“Oh fuck!”

“Yeah.”

“So what are we planning?”  Craig asked.