“Look, I was doing you a favor,” Jack said angrily. “You should be glad that I’m out of the picture.”“You disgust me,” Jace seethed. “Unbelievable. This isn’t about me. I don’t have to like you, but Bethany loves you and I love her. I want her happy. That’s all I care about. And you dead would not make her happy.”Pain and regret filled Jack’s eyes. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. You have to know I’d never do anything to hurt her.”“You fucking offered her drugs before!”“That was different. She wouldn’t overdose on them. She never did. She only took them when she needed them. I just wanted to make sure she had what she needed.”“She doesn’t need that shit. Ever,” Jace snapped.“Is she going to make it?” Jack asked fearfully.“Jace, man, you need to come,” Gabe said from the door. “She coded, man. They’re trying to get her back now.”Jace fell to his knees, grief crushing through his heart. “No!” he roared. “No! I can’t lose her! Goddamn it, no!”Ash looked stricken and pale. Mia w
“Of course. You told me you didn’t so I knew you hadn’t.”She sagged, going limp against the pillow. Relief, sweet and heady, rushed through her veins. He believed her.“You believe me,” she whispered, relief making her light-headed. Then she frowned, her lips pursing in confusion. “But how then? I don’t understand.”“How much do you remember?” Jace asked gently.Her brow furrowed and she tried to concentrate but her head hurt too badly. “I don’t know. I went to Jack’s. Kaden called me. Said he was back. I went over, but I made sure Kaden was with me,” she rushed to say.Jace’s hand tightened around hers. “I know, baby. You did fine. You did everything right.”“I was so angry with Jack. I was yelling at him. Asking him why he was so determined to fuck things up. He said he wanted to say good-bye and when I asked him where he was going he just said ‘away.’”A scowl darkened Jace’s face.“He made me hot chocolate. That’s all I remember,” she said faintly.“It’s all right, baby. You’re g
Jack’s face grew grim and regret haunted his eyes. Then he stared directly into Jace’s eyes.“Take care of her for me.”“I will,” Jace said shortly.“And tell her I’m sorry,” he added quietly. “Tell her I love her. I’ll always love her.”“If you love her, you’ll take this opportunity to straighten your life out,” Jace said. “If you’ll stick it out, I’ll hire a lawyer for you. Try to work out a deal where you go to rehab and get probation as opposed to a jail sentence. Can’t guarantee anything. I don’t want you anywhere near Bethany. She’s been hurt enough. If things work out, I wouldn’t be opposed to you keeping in touch with her.”Jack stared at Jace for a long moment. “You’d do that for me?”“I’m doing it for Bethany,” Jace said stiffly. “Only for her.”Jack nodded. “Thanks, then. I’ll do it. It’s time to do something . . . different. Better. I almost killed the person who means the most to me. Can’t even say what that does to a man. I won’t touch that shit again. Ever.”“I hope you
Then he leaned down and pulled her into a scorching, toe-curling kiss. Complete with tongue and hoots and hollers from the others.When he finally released her, she was dazed and wore a stupid grin. She turned to the others with that goofy smile, joy filling every part of her heart.“You guys! I can’t believe this!” she exclaimed.“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Ash said, coming forward to hug her.One by one, all the others came to wish her a happy birthday, hugging and kissing her until she was aglow with happiness.Jace caught her hand and tugged her toward the table.“There’s another reason to celebrate at this party, but first you have to open your present from me so we can get to that part,” Jace said with a huge grin.There was a mischievous glint in his eyes and he looked excited and . . . happy. Then he handed her a square wrapped present with a gorgeous ribbon and bow arrangement.“Open it!” Chessy squealed. “Oh my God, I can’t wait to see what you got!”The others chimed in w
She took a step back, her frown deepening. “Your Dom waiting for you?” Her eyes widened and her fingers automatically went to the collar where his fingers had been just seconds before. “What’s your name?” he asked, when she remained silent. “I gave you mine. The polite thing to do is return the favor.” “Josie,” she said barely above a whisper. “Josie Carlysle.” “And who owns you, Josie?” Her eyes narrowed then and she clutched her bag, shoving the remainder of her pencils into it. “Nobody owns me.” “Then did I misunderstand the significance of that collar you’re wearing?” Her fingers brushed over it again, and it made him itchy. He wanted to remove it. It wasn’t right for her. A collar should be carefully chosen for a submissive. Something that matched her personality. Something made especially for her. And not just any woman. “You didn’t misunderstand,” she said in a husky voice that sent shivers down his spine. Her voice alone would seduce a man in a matter of seconds. “But
After a few minutes, the man had taken down the last painting and started toward the desk in front of the gallery. Then he paused and turned, a thoughtful look on his face.“I have one more. In the back. She just brought it in two days ago. I didn’t have the space to hang it, but I didn’t have the heart to tell her no. Not when I’d already told her I wouldn’t be able to take anything else until I sold something.”“I want it too,” Ash clipped out.“Sight unseen?”Ash nodded. “If she did it, I want it. I want every piece of hers you have.”The man’s expression brightened. “Well, then. Perfect. She’ll be thrilled! I can’t wait to tell her.”Ash held up his hand, halting the man before he went to the back to retrieve the painting.“You tell her whatever you want, but you do not give her my name or any information about me. I want complete anonymity or the deal is off. Understand? Furthermore, I’m going to leave you my card. If she brings in anything else, you call me. I want whatever she
Jace frowned. It was evident he didn’t quite swallow Gabe’s explanation. It didn’t wash with Ash either, but Gabe’s face was implacable. And him saying it was a business decision was bullshit. It was personal. Ash didn’t know what the hell had gone on in Paris, but whatever it was had turned Gabe solidly against Charles Willis. The man had dropped off the face of the earth after being cut loose from HCM’s operations.Ash shrugged. All he cared was that they’d salvaged the whole bloody mess. He wasn’t going to get into what had gotten Gabe’s underwear in a knot over the whole thing. It was behind them. No harm, no foul.“Now if we’re done, I’d really like to get home to my future wife,” Gabe drawled.Gabe rose and Jace followed suit. Christ, they really were getting old. It wasn’t even ten yet, and they were already folding up the tent for the night and schlepping home. But then, they had women to go home to. In their position, he wouldn’t be so eager to spend a night out with friends
Surprise gripped him at the earnestness and urgency in her tone. He leaned forward, his gaze narrowing at her.“You want out. What does that mean exactly, Brittany?”“I want away from them,” she said shakily. “All of them.”“What the hell did they do to you?” Ash demanded.She shook her head. “Nothing. I mean nothing more than usual. You know how they are, Ash. I’ve always envied you so much. You tell them to fuck off and you’ve made your own way. All I’ve done is marry a man my mother wanted me to, try to make the best of a bad situation and fail miserably. I got nothing in the divorce and I was okay with that. I just wanted out. But I have nothing without Mom and Dad’s help. And I don’t want it anymore. Because their help comes with strings. I’m thirty years old and what do I have to show for my life? No life, no money. Nothing.”The desolation in her voice hit Ash deep. He knew exactly what she meant. It could have easily been him in this same situation. His brothers certainly were