Chapter 36

PREVIOUSLY ON HEAT VOL 2

Jake was awake the entire night after putting Ashley to sleep. She clings to him trying to reassure herself that he wasn't going to leave, which broke Jake's heart. Although it was Ashley's idea, he was angry at himself for being away from her. He had this incredibly annoying gut feeling the night before meeting Melissa. Instead of following his gut, he delayed himself and left her alone to deal with this horrifying misfortune.

It broke his heart to lose one of his children but he was grateful because he was given another chance to continue to be a father and now, he was going to do everything in his power to protect his family.

~~~

3:45 a.m

"Thought you stopped smoking," Ashley's sleepy voice filled the balcony as Jake turned to look at her before chuckling, "Can you blame me, it's been a pretty messed up week," he said, flickering away the cigarette as Ashley came over to sit on his lap.

"It has been a rough week, hasn't it, too bad I can't smoke," she