Page 102 of A Bond Beyond Blood
Jackie wasn’t the kind of girl who could be caged.This shit with Vinny wouldn’t last long, but it wouldn’t bemein her bed—where I belonged—until I apologized.
But,fuck me, man...where to start?
I breathed deeply as she poured herself a cup of coffee.Turning around, she leaned her hips against the kitchen counter and lifted the mug.“Did you do this?”
I nodded.“How’d you know?Your boy doesn’t make coffee for you?”
Jackie’s eyes narrowed and I realized talking shit on that dude would only push her further away.
“Sorry.I, uh...”I dragged my hand through my hair and leaned against the opposite counter.“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, I know that, but...”
She sighed.“Everyone deserves forgiveness, Gannon.Even you.”She took a sip of her coffee, eyes rolling back as the liquid hit her tongue.God, she was even hotter than I remembered.This past year had changed her into someone stronger, confident in her own skin.She’d always been a bit of a badass, but this woman looked forged from steel.
I swallowed hard as lust and hunger began to build inside me, heating my veins and burning up the back of my throat.
“Gannon, your eyes.”
“Sorry.Fuck.”I closed them and breathed deeply.
“This is a bad idea.”She started to move for the door.“You’re still new—”
My arm shot out, startling her when I grabbed her wrist.The coffee splashed out from the mug onto her robe, and she yelped.
And Vinny, as promised, was standing between us a second later.I hadn’t even heard the door open and close.Teeth bared, he stared me down.
“I’m fine,” she said, wrapping her hand around his bicep to pull him backwards.“We’re good, Vinny.”
His eyes narrowed as he held my gaze, then he closed his mouth, but he didn’t move to leave.
I raised my hands and backed out of the kitchen.“I didn’t mean to startle her, man.I just...”I shook my head.“I’ll go.”
“No,” Jackie said.“Stay.We need to talk.”
“Really?”
With a quick scowl meant only for me, Vinny turned around to face her, keeping himself positioned between us so I couldn’t see her face.“You sure about this?”
She laughed softly, but it was a nervous sound.As well as I knew this girl, it was impossible to miss the hint of fear in her voice.She was afraid of me.I closed my eyes and bit back a roar of anguish.My girl, the love of my life, the only woman who had ever meant anything to me—aside from my ma—was afraid of me.
Maybe letting Vinny rip me apart was the way to go after all.
“I’m sure.Give us a few minutes, please.”They were quiet for a moment, then she added, “I know I’m safe with you here.”
What was left of my heart shattered at that.She was safe because he was here.A fuckingRicci.Safebecauseof him.Safefromme.
I had to fix the damage leaving her had caused, and I had to do it soon.I wouldn’t be able to live in a world where my Jackie was afraid of me.
Vinny didn’t even look at me when he left, but I swear there was more threat in his silence than anything he could have put into words.When the door closed behind him, I sank down onto the couch, wishing briefly it would just swallow me whole.“I’m sorry, Jackie, so fucking sorry.”
“It’s okay.I know you didn’t mean to scare me.”
“No, baby, listen—”
“Don’t call me that, Gannon.You lost the right.”
I closed my eyes and nodded.“I know I did.And I have so much to make up for.”Shaking my head, I motioned toward her.“You deserved so much more from me.”
Jackie nodded.“You’re right.I did.You...”Her breath caught, her face briefly twisting in pain.“You destroyed me.”
