I have so many questions about what happened that night, but his eyelids are already drooping again. I know that if he knew who did this, he would tell me straight away. That doesn’t mean he can’t point me in the right direction, but I guess I can wait a few more hours.
I take a deep breath before I speak. “I did think you were drinking,” I admit. “It was the first thing I thought when they told me you’d been at that bar.”
“I know.”
“I know why you were really there though. To buy that crib?”
“Yeah,” he nods as his eyes flutter closed. “Was gonna fix it up real nice for them babies of yours.”
“I’ll find you another one to fix up if you’d like?”
“Uh-huh,” he murmurs.
“Maybe one day you can rock your grand-babies to sleep in it too?”
His eyes are closed and he doesn’t speak, but a single tear rolls down his cheek. My hand is on his bed and he reaches for it, curling his fingers around mine. I don’t think I’ve allowed him to touch me since I was a little kid, but I hold his hand in mine until he drifts back off to sleep.
* * *
“Didyou mean what you said in there?” Lucia asks as we walk down the hallway to the parking lot. My father is asleep and we’ll call back to see him in the morning. “About your dad and our babies?”
“Yes,” I say, lifting her hand to my lips and kissing her knuckles.
“You’ll really let him be a part of our lives, Jax?” she asks, her eyes shining with happiness.
“Yes. As long as he stays sober and that’s okay with you.”
She throws her arms around my neck. “It’s better than okay,” she squeals, peppering my jaw with kisses and earning us a stern glare from one of the passing nurses.
Which reminds me of our other problem. The fact that someone has videos of my wife being fucked makes my blood boil. But, just for tonight I want to forget about all of our problems. She’s right here in my arms and she’s mine.
I pick her up and toss her over my shoulder caveman style before I slap her ass, making the disapproving nurse’s eyes almost roll out of her head.
Chapter24
Lucia
As the main house comes into view, I can’t help but smile. Even after all that’s happened, I do love this place. This ranch has always felt like home to me, from the first moment I stepped foot on the soil here. I can see two of my father’s security personnel are stationed outside the house, and I know there are at least two more on watch nearby.
“A guy I know has a security company in the city. I have two men patrolling the ranch perimeter at night until I get a better security system set up. We’re getting some more ranch hands in during the day too, to make sure all the fences are properly maintained. The barn is secure, angel. It always has been as long as we’re inside it,” Jax says to me, his face full of concern. “But I understand if you’d rather stay at the main house for now.”
I reach for his hand and lace my fingers through his. “I love our barn. Even after what happened there. It’s ours and it always will be. Besides, I feel safe anywhere with you, Jax.”
“You want to go home then, angel?”
“Yes, please,” I say with a smile and the way he smiles back at me makes me almost melt into a puddle on the seat.
As soon as the truck comes to a stop outside the barn, Jax jumps out and runs to the passenger side, opening the door for me. Taking his hand, I step out and as soon as I do, he hoists me over his shoulder like he did at the hospital.
“Hey,” I giggle as I beat my fists against his fine ass. “I can walk.”
He ignores me and carries me straight into the house, locks the door behind us and takes me up the stairs, flicking on the light switch before he sets me down on my feet. I look into his deep brown eyes, but suddenly an image of Shannon’s legs wrapped around his waist and his head buried in her neck while he was fucking her invades my thoughts and it makes me falter.
He sees it too. He slides a hand to the back of my neck. “What is it, angel?”
“I can’t stop picturing you with her… with Shannon,” my voice trembles.
I feel the deep sigh rolling through his chest.