Page 49 of Property of Bones

“I’m in trouble, huh?” I say, attempting a half-smile.

Because honestly, whatdoesJack do when a woman crosses one of his invisible lines? Yell? Go silent? Storm off and slam doors? Toss her in a van and drive her back to her apartment with a bag of frozen peas and a ‘get well soon’ card?

Feed her to the fish?

I brace myself, waiting for the fallout, the lecture, the scary rage…

But instead… he kneels.

He actuallykneels.One knee to the porch floor, right in front of me. Gently takes my hand like it’s made of something fragile.

And in a voice so soft I barely recognize it, he says, “I’m sorry, baby.”

Wait.What?

“I’m not used to having to tell someone where I’m going or when I’ll be back. I’ll work on that,” he continues, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “I’m not mad at you. I was scared. Scared that something could’ve happened. You could’ve fallen, hurt yourself worse than you already are.”

His eyes meet mine…fierce, pleading.

“Promise me you won’t do that again?”

Oh. My.Stars.

“I promise,” I whisper.

“And I promise,” he says, solemn and so sincere it nearly undoes me, “never to leave you on your own again.”

My breath catches.

“I don’t mind being on my own, Jack,” I say with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “I just didn’t want to pee in your bed or barf on your floor. My stomach was flipping from the meds, and I was trying to avoid making a mess.”

His jaw flexes, but he stays quiet.

“You’re right, though,” I add. “Getting down those stairs was hard. I won’t do it again. Not until I’m healed.”

And then the unspoken truth settles between us like the dust on his boots.

When I’m healed… I won’t be here.

I’ll be back in my apartment. Alone. Safe enough. But not…safe like this.

“I ordered us a TV,” Jack says suddenly. “Was about to head out and grab it. I’ll let Abby and Riley know you’re ready for lunch. If you need to go back upstairs, have the girls get one of my brothers.”

“You didn’t have to get a TV, Jack,” I sigh, though the warmth creeping into my chest betrays me. “I would’ve survived.But sure…I’ll ask one of the many large, heavily armed men wandering around the compound to escort me next time I need to pee.”

His growl is low and immediate.

“I mean it, baby. I don’t want you taking that risk.” His gaze pins me like a nail to a wall. “And when I said ‘brothers,’ I meantSpike.I don’t want any other male wrapping his arms around you.”

My brows lift.

“Just Spike?” I ask, a teasing smile tugging at my lips. “Because he’s your President?”

Jack’s mouth tilts at the corner, slow and dangerous, one of his scars tugging with the motion. It should look menacing.

It doesn’t.

It looks... hot.

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