Page 69 of Jasper

Stunned, Jasper gaped at the man.

Utterly stunned.

“You were worried about me, not blaming me?”

“I really fucked up if you thought I held any grudges toward you over my wife. She’ll kick my ass if she ever finds out, and then she’ll worry she did something to make you feel like that. That woman adores you.”

“You were giving the majority of the work to Daniels. I thought you not only blamed me, but you’d lost confidence in me.”

“Never. You’re still the only person I’d trust my wife and my children’s safety to outside of my brothers. I was worried about you, that you were dealing with shit and not telling anyone. I wanted to give you time to heal and open up to one of us so we could help. I screwed up. I should have just called you out on it.”

“Yeah, you should have, but it wouldn’t have done a damn bit of good. One thing I’ve learned from Sloane is that a person has to come to terms with shit on their own and in their own time. She even suggested I talk to someone.”

Kade cocked his head. “Is there more to it than just Angel?”

“There’s a shit ton more to it, but I’ve been able to understand it more.”

“Sloane help you with that too?”

“She’s a little psychoanalyst in hiding. She’s been through some shit and got therapy. She used it on me and basically forced me to talk about things I didn’t want to. I’m glad she did, though. It led to a conversation with someone that was a long time coming, and it helped me more than anything else.”

“Do you still need time off?”

Jasper thought about it for several minutes as he and Kade sat there drinking shots. Kade didn’t push him to talk, just filled his shot glass a few more times.

Was he ready to come back?

No.

“Being here pisses me off right now, and that’s not a good place to be, Kade. I need time to get my head straight.”

“As long as I know you’re not going to go somewhere, get depressed, and eat your gun, you can have all the time you need.”

“I won’t. Suicide isn’t in the cards for me.”

“Then once we get your woman taken care of, you have our full support, Jasper. Whatever you need, you’ve got it.”

Jasper stood, his anger drained away by vodka and Kade’s revelations. “I appreciate it.”

“Next time you’re feeling pissed, tell me. Don’t bottle that shit up until it explodes like it just did.”

Jasper nodded, more tired than he’d been in a long time. He was exhausted.

“Go get some sleep. You and Sloane are safe. I have extra men on the grounds to keep watch.”

“Extra men?”

“We called in a few bikers.”

“Bikers?”

“We needed added firepower, and with the holiday season, it’s hard to find extra security. Dimitri’s wife, Becca, said to ask her brother’s MC. The ones here all have carry permits. It’s the only stipulation I had.”

Fucking motorcycle clubs were backing them up now? It must have really been slim pickings for Kade to agree to that. Kade used to be FBI, and MCs were notoriously criminal.

“What time is it?” he asked.

Kade glanced at his watch. “Ten to one.”

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