Page 94 of The Reluctant Siren
Niall cuddled behind her, keeping them all close. “Remindyour dad of that in the morning. I’m worried he’s still got the sniper plan inmind.” He chuckled and nuzzled the back of her neck. “Remind him how much welove you. But maybe don’t mention this part.”
It was her turn to laugh because this moment was perfect.
And she was going to make sure it stayed that way.
ChapterSixteen
Jensen took one last look at the two most importantpeople in his life. Harlow was in the middle of the bed. He’d lain there forhours with her head on his chest. He’d thought about leaving it all up to fate.If she stayed where she was, he couldn’t wake her, and that meant Jack wouldleave and there was nothing he could do about it. He would stay and talk to herparents and do what they wanted him to do. It would be rude to leave without atleast talking to them. Saying good-bye. Of course if they woke up, he likelywouldn’t be able to say good-bye and Jack would leave and he would end upletting her parents take over. If he thought for a second her mom and Ben wouldadvise her to let him go, he would do it.
It was cowardly, but he’d considered it.
When she’d sighed and turned in her sleep and Niall’s armshad gone around her, he’d known he had to get his ass up and do the rightthing.
The right thing was going to kill him. The right thing wasbreaking his heart, and he would never be fucking whole again.
He was turning himself in, and he was going to requestwitness protection, and the next time he would see them would be years fromnow. It would take years for the whole debacle to wind its way through thecourt system, and then he would have to weigh the risks. He couldn’t thinkabout the future. By this time tomorrow he might be in another state. Or on hisway to DC, since this was going to likely be handled by the big guys. The twopeople he loved most in the world wouldn’t be kept informed of his whereabouts.They would be told it was classified and that by all accounts Jensen Wiley nolonger existed.
They would move on without him. Niall would become herhusband, her only Dom. He would be a part of her big family, and he would makehimself important to all of them. Jensen could see his best friend charming NatDawson over brunch and watching football with Ben. Niall’s charm and love forHarlow would eventually bring Chase around.
Would they have kids by the time he was free again? If hewas ever free again.
His gut clenched at the thought. He didn’t want to leavethem. He wanted to stay right here and never leave. He wanted to stay warm andsoft with the family he never actually dreamed of because he’d been so sure hewould be alone.
He hadn’t understood the damn word. Alone meant beingwithout them.
He heard the slight sound of a door opening down the hallwayand knew he had to go. He’d dressed in the bathroom but his boots were in hishands because they would make enough noise to wake Niall, and he couldn’t standa big dramatic scene.
Was he being an asshole? A coward because he wasn’t facingthem? Or was he sparing them a whole lot of heartache by not forcing them towatch him go?
It didn’t matter because there was no longer any time left.
Jensen moved as quietly as he could, easing the door closed.He turned and Jack was standing there, his backpack slung over his leftshoulder.
“You’re up early,” Jack said quietly. “Can’t sleep? Or areyou dreading this morning’s meeting with the family?” He moved toward thekitchen. He looked a bit older in the early morning light, with his grimexpression and tired eyes. This was the real Jack O’Malley. “Here’s the key.Ignore Chase. Talk to Ben and Nat. Especially Nat. You get her on your side andChase will fall in line. There’s a saying in our family. Chase acknowledges noauthority but one.”
“His wife.” Jensen didn’t blame him. He kind of thought hewould be the same way. Would have been if he’d had a real chance with Harlow.
Jack nodded and yawned and moved to the sink. He pulled outa glass and used the tap. After a long drink he turned to Jensen. “Is there aplace that serves coffee at this time of the morning out here? I suspect yessince this is a ranching community and those motherfuckers tend to be upearly.”
“There’s a diner in town, but if you’re in a hurry there isa fast-food place on the highway that serves breakfast, and they have a drivethrough. I can show you,” Jensen offered.
Jack waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll findsomething on the way. At least Nat and Ben showing up with my father last nightmeans I don’t have to wait for Chase before I go back. He can catch a ride withhis family. It’s a long drive back to Dallas, and the man likes to talk, if youknow what I mean. For a guy who claims silence is golden, he likes to hearhimself complain. I won’t even go into the lecture I got on using gas stationrestrooms. Did you know Chase knows all the bacteria? I mean all of them. I’mpretty sure he could list them and what they can do to your junk.”
“I’m coming with you.” Jensen said the words with a quietdetermination.
A brow rose above Jack’s green eyes. “I thought you weregoing to meet with my father and iron out what you want in an immunity deal. Iknow I said he was a corporate attorney, and he is, but he’s also one of thesmartest men I know. He won’t steer you wrong. He annoys the hell out of mefrom time to time but if I was in trouble, he would be my first call.”
Jensen shook his head. “It would take too long, and itwouldn’t solve my main problem.”
“Harlow,” Jack surmised. “You think you’re hurting her ifyou keep her close. You think if you disappear then her family connections cankeep her safe.”
Jensen nodded. “Meeting her parents made me believe they’lldo anything to protect her. She’s better off without me. She’ll be much safer,and it’ll be easier for them to keep her far away from this whole mess if I’mout of the equation.”
The Dawsons weren’t like his or Niall’s parents. WhileJensen knew his mom would have tried, she wasn’t as fierce as Natalie Dawson.She wouldn’t have walked in and taken control of the situation and helped himfigure things out. She would have cried and asked him to tell her what to do.He’d forgotten his father, but he knew damn well he was neither of the Dawsonbrothers. His father had been concerned with nothing but his own comfort.
Jack seemed to consider what to say. “You know she’sactually a smart, competent woman who can make her own decisions.”
She was everything. She was all he wanted in the world, andthis was the only gift he could give her. “She shouldn’t have to make thisdecision. She shouldn’t have to give up her whole life for me. Would she beable to see her family if she has to go into witness protection?”
