Page 143 of ICED
I snatch it back. “You don’t understand. He… he took everything from me once. I can’t let him do it again.”
Jacko crouches in front of me. Not to block the door. Just to be close. “He won’t. Not this time.”
My throat tightens. “You don’t know him.”
“No. But I knowyou.And I know you don’t want to live in fear anymore.”
“I want Lila to be safe.”
“Sheissafe. With us. With the team.”
I blink at him. “What?”
He offers a small, fierce smile. “They’re downstairs. Already running interference. Daz is scanning IPs. Coach has security watching your flat and this place. Murphy’s callingsomeone at the league for digital takedown. Ollie’s threatening to sit outside your bakery every morning with a cricket bat.”
A stunned laugh escapes me.
Jacko reaches for my hand. “We’re not going anywhere. Neither are you.”
I start to cry. Not loud, gulping sobs. Just quiet tears that slide down my face and drip onto the suitcase. “I was so stupid to think we were safe.”
“No.” Jacko’s voice is steel. “You were brave enough to build something good.That’swhat’s scaring him. He’s losing the power he had over you. He sees you happy and strong and loved and he hates it.”
He brushes a tear from my cheek.
“He doesn’t get to take this from you.”
I nod, slowly. “Okay.”
Jacko looks me in the eye. “Okay?”
I take a shaky breath. “Okay.”
He presses his forehead to mine.
“I’ve got you.”
Downstairs, the living room is full of Raptors.
Murphy’s on the phone. Dylan’s pacing. Ollie’s flipping through a spiral notebook withSECURITY PLANscrawled across the front in pink gel pen.
I pause at the edge of the stairs, stunned by the scene. By the sheerpresenceof them.
These big, loud, ridiculous men with hearts like fortresses.
Jacko reaches for my hand. “Told you.”
Murphy glances up. “Hey, Maya.”
“Hi,” I croak.
Dylan offers a half-smile. “We’re sorting this.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
Ollie shrugs. “Say thank you with cake later.”
Jacko squeezes my hand. “You okay if we loop Sophie in?”
