Page 76 of Jasper

“Well, let’s see if we can’t make him smile a little more today.”

Jasper leaned against the door and simply watched her. He’d panicked when he woke up and she wasn’t there, but then he remembered where he was. They were safe here.

He expected to find her watching TV or something, but she’d been having a food fight in the kitchen instead. The kitchen that was a mess, he noted as he poured himself some coffee.

Joining them in the reception area, he nodded to Lydia, their receptionist. The girl was growing on him. He’d been a bit dubious when Max hired her. She’d looked like she belonged on the set of some gothic movie, but she’d toned it down and at least stopped wearing those weird dresses. Jeans and shirts, mostly black, but it was still better than it had been.

Sloane and Mateo were sitting in front of the tree and going through ornaments while Mason and Jo fought to untangle lights. It reminded him of when he was a kid and they’d all decorated the tree on Christmas Eve. He leaned against the desk and smiled, letting the memories in and embracing the pain so he could appreciate the joy they also held.

He could still miss his brother and live his own life.

He could be happy.

Sloane said something, and Mateo giggled. Mason was right; the kid liked her. That said a lot. He barely tolerated most people, and that included his uncle’s fiancée. Some days, he thought the kid tolerated his parents. He hoped he’d turn out okay, but he kept his doubts to himself. Angel would slit him from balls to eyebrows if he ever told her he though Mateo was too broken.

Times like these, though, he reconsidered his opinion. He was just like any other child enjoying Christmas.

“What can I do to help?” he asked, coming closer.

“Help me move the rest of these bins over.” Mason pointed to the side where no fewer than six massive storage bins sat. “Lily and Angel dragged this shit over here yesterday, claiming we needed it all to make the place look festive.”

Sloane smiled, ignoring Mason’s martyred expression.

“Dude, women and Christmas are beyond trying to explain. Let’s just get it done before they descend and decide we’re free labor for the day.”

“You’re not?” Sloane arched a brow as Jo sat down to untangle lights.

Mateo stood and tried to turn the tree. “It’s crooked.”

“Here, let me help.” Sloane got on her knees and reached in to grasp the tree trunk.

Without warning, the glass imploded all around them, and Jasper dived for Sloane, who had pushed Mateo down and was lying on top of him. Jo screamed, and Mason dragged her down. Lydia ducked beneath the front desk.

“You good?” he asked.

She nodded, and he turned his attention to the assault.

The high-pitched wailing of alarms sounded, and people came running but were forced back as more bullets ripped through the building.

“Catch!”

Jasper looked up to see Max toss him a gun, and he crawled to the window and looked out. Six black SUVs were sitting outside, guns firing from within the vehicles. He didn’t even try to aim, just started shooting. He had to lay down cover fire so everyone else could get into position.

His eyes never left the SUVs, even when he became aware of more people joining him at the windows. He ran out of bullets, and he made a distressed sound.

“I got you.” Max slid him another clip, and he reloaded. Jasper was one of the best shots in the Marines, and he put that skill to use. He studied the vehicles, the wind, the way the bullets were ripping through the brick, wood, and stone facade.

He did all this without actually looking directly out. It wasn’t until he called for Max to cover him that he took aim. He fired eight times. Eight guns fell.

The sound of motorcycles came roaring up the street, and the shooting stopped. The SUVs took off.

Jasper ignored everything else and crawled to Sloane. “It’s okay. They’re gone.”

She didn’t move.

“Sloane?” He gripped her shoulder and pulled her away from Mateo, who lay underneath her, eerily quiet. His gaze met Jasper’s, and he shivered at the coldness there.

“She’s hurt.”

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