I didn't lose time or place; as soon as I opened my eyes to find myself being cradled in Jason's arms, I knew exactly where I was; and she was there. Leaning over me with a look of concern on her face, and those stupid tears started again and that tightness in my chest that I had to fight unless I wanted to make an ass of myself again. Of all the reactions I imagined I'd have upon seeing her, this was not one of them.I grabbed for and gripped her hand as her husband stepped forward. "No, Hank, she's not hurting me. You made the statement that I was real before you fainted, does that mean that you know me?" I read the confusion on her face as I struggled to sit up. "No baby, you need…" Jason started to stop me, but I patted him with my other hand, trying to console him since he sounded like someone was strangling him. I imagine I'd given everyone a good scare, passing out like that. I didn't feel any aches and pains, so my assessment that he'd caught me before I landed face-first

There was still a lot I had left to do; what if I screw up by telling them where I'd come from? My heart felt sick as I realized I was at some sort of crossroads. Honestly, I hadn't thought this far ahead, which is stupid now that I think about it. It would've been my first question had I been the one in her shoes.Jason squeezed me where he was now hugging me around my shoulders, and for some reason, I wanted more than anything to trust him. It's been less than twenty-four hours, and already I find myself wanting to accept that he was genuine, something that scares me more than a little bit. I haven't trusted anyone anywhere for a long-long time. Even uncle Mike has been kept at arm's length since my escape, but that's another story.The look in Jason's eyes was so comforting that I wanted to believe, needed to. For the first time in five years, I realized that I was tired. It felt as if I'd been going on autopilot this whole time, and had they not interrupted me; I'd still be goi

"Come on, Lily Anna, something's wrong." Why does it keep going off? I know I didn't have enough time to plant the device under uncle Hank's desk that first day, but it didn't need that much done to it, and anyway, it had been working just fine when I tested it out at home. Now it keeps going in and out at odd times, so I need to get in there and take care of it, but all of the men are in there still, so nope. Luckily, Bunny's outside the door, where I'd sent him as soon as I knew that's where they were headed, but unless he's inside the room with them, the recording chip in his collar sometimes doesn't pick up everything, and daddy's not about to trust him anywhere near where they're discussing secrets. That's why I don't feel so guilty about playing a trick on uncle Hank because it's his fault daddy found out about Bunny's secret in the first place.I know it's only a matter of time before daddy, uncle Hank or one of the other uncles figures out what I'm doing, but right now, th

I didn't sleep much the night before, too caught up in her, and trying to understand how she could possibly have gotten under my skin so easily without even trying. Maybe it's a combination of knowing some of what she'd been through and feeling compassionate along with her exotic beauty mixed with the fact that just breathing her in makes me hard; I'm still not sure. But I'm guessing Lyon's thunderbolt comment wasn't too far off the mark. "Where are you taking me? And why are you so fond of manhandling me?" I dropped her hand so fast she was startled. It was her words spoken in just that way that freaked me out. I have to keep reminding myself to go slow with her. That she's not one of my jump-offs that I can just do with as I please and walk away when it's over. But my reaction didn't seem to be what she wanted. "Sorry!" I was looking in her eyes when I apologized, and she didn't look overly bothered or like she was having some sort of flashback.I know I was being this way becau

"Right, the idiot boy that you swear is the best thing since sliced bread, and your daughter decided she wants to spend the rest of her life with is whipped as f*ck. He spent the last few days moaning and groaning about her wanting her dress from this place, and that's the only place that'll do. And since my kid wants what she wants, I have to get it for her.""The f*cking pandemic has made it damn near impossible to go anywhere, so the plans I was making to send you and your girls with her to England had to be squashed, so Mancini came up with a plan. I'd go as a surprise and take Caitlin's measurements with me since I'm not about to expose you or my kids to that sh*t .""Oh!" Oh sh*t . I tried smiling once the fear and anger subsided, but the look on his face did not bode well for my ass. He didn't say another word for about two minutes, and I was starting to sweat as I tried to remember all that I'd said in my anger. Then he leaned in close and got right in my face until I could