Rev (Jack 'Em Up #4) (26 page)

Fresh tears filled her eyes. “The rest of your life?”

“And then some.” I spun her around and kissed the tears from her cheeks, wishing I could fill her with even a fraction of this love that was overflowing from my soul. This was a gift I never thought I’d get, yet here she was, in my arms, loving me back.

Jewel

O
nce again I woke up in Micah’s arms. His soft breathing was rhythmic against my neck, his forearm snug around my waist as if he’d never let me go. Disoriented, I peered around my still dark bedroom. The clock read 3:13 a.m.

I squeezed my eyes shut as memories of the day before flashed through my mind like a rogue bolt of lightning. I’d almost died. But I hadn’t. I wasn’t sure how to process it all, I only knew it would take some time.

Micah shifted behind me, drawing me closer, as if he could sense my turmoil even in sleep. He’d been nothing but wonderful and supportive, though I knew he carried his own wounds.

And he loved me.

That was just . . . too much. Unbelievable, except he’d done everything to make me believe it. And, God, I loved him, too. So much, there weren’t words. It was like my heart had found its home in him and was now so full, it wanted to burst in my chest.

He was everything a man should be.

He was everything.

I shifted slightly, groaning as the bruises on my ribs protested. My head ached and my split lip felt like it was on fire, but I felt strangely exhilarated. Alive.

Micah’s fingers reflexively gripped my waist tighter. “You okay, baby?” His voice was sleepy sexy.

“I’m fine,” I whispered. “Just sore.”

Without a word, he rolled out of bed and padded to the bathroom. He returned a minute later. “Here.”

I sat up and took the pain pills and water he offered. “Thank you.”

He sat next to me and took the glass away to set it on my nightstand. He brushed the hair from my face. “You gonna call your family before we go down to the station? They should know what happened.”

I cringed. I knew I should fill my parents and brothers in on the truth about Nolan, but I’d hidden it so long, I was ashamed. Reluctantly, I nodded. “I will.”

The exhilaration I’d felt mere moments before shattered into a shower of shame and pain. Suddenly, I found myself wrapped in strong, warm arms.

I hadn’t even realized I was crying. Again. Micah let me cry it out in his arms, but it felt like I was never going to stop. Every fear, every emotion, everything I’d hidden, came bursting out of me like a geyser.

“How can you love me?” I cried.

“How can I not?”

His answer was so matter-of-fact, so simple, I was stunned. I hiccupped against his chest, my tears finally drying. “Sometimes, all I can hear is Nolan in my head. It drowns out everything else that matters.”

He kissed me gently. “I know. Sometimes all I can hear is war.”

This only made me sadder. We were so broken, the two of us. Yet, somehow, together, we made each other whole.

I traced a tiny scar on his shoulder. “I don’t deserve you.”

“That’s true . . .” I lifted my eyes to his. “You deserve better.”

Emotion crowded my chest. “There is no better.”

His face filled with pain and I found myself comforting him now. We laid back together and I rested my head on his chest, running my fingertips across his chest, his belly. His body was so familiar, yet so foreign at the same time. I’d never felt closer to anyone, more intimate, yet we hadn’t even made love. I could only imagine what that would be like. I did know, whenever that did happen, that there would be no going back for my heart. I would be his, body and soul, until my last breath.

After a late breakfast, Micah drove me down to the police station. I walked in the doors of the place I’d worked for months, but today it felt different. I kept my head up as I strode through the lobby and by offices and cubicles, ignoring everyone’s subtle stares at my bruised face.

Micah kept his hand at the small of my back, his warm fingers offering all the support I needed.

We found Det. Rawlins in his office, his head bent over a stack of papers on his desk, his hair unusually disheveled. Micah cleared his throat and his head popped up. Pity filled his eyes, but he quickly banked it. “Jewel.” He glanced at Micah. “Mr. Christian. Come sit down, guys.”

We sat and Micah took my hand.

Det. Rawlins’ eyes took that in briefly before meeting my gaze. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Jewel. I’m sorry we couldn’t have done more to protect you.”

“It’s nobody’s fault, sir. He would’ve hunted me down no matter what anybody did.” Micah’s hand reflexively squeezed mine. I squeezed back. “But I’m not the woman he remembers anymore. I’m stronger now. There was no way he was going to win. Never again.”

Det. Rawlins’ eyes filled with pride and he nodded once. “Shall we get the official stuff out of the way, then?”

“Absolutely.” I glanced over to Micah. “Then we have to go. We have plans today.”

Micah’s brows puckered in confusion and I smiled, despite my split lip. He had no idea of my plans, but I’d given it careful thought last night after something Delilah once said to me popped into my head. We needed a breather and I was going to make sure we got one.

I ignored his puzzled expression and stood to follow Det. Rawlins. Micah took up the rear as we moved to a back room. The stark interior was cold and clinical. I’d worked here long enough to know the drill.

As the photographer took photos of all of my injuries, I tried to ignore Micah’s pale face. He sat quietly in the corner and let me do what I needed to do, but I could feel his discomfort at seeing me exposed this way. I refused to think that way. I focused on the fact that Nolan would pay for all he’d done and this information would help.

My only regret was that he’d taken out his anger at me on all those other women. I swallowed my guilt and moved with Det. Rawlins and Micah back to his office, where I answered all his questions as methodically and unemotionally as possible, then filled out an official statement.

I scrawled my signature to the bottom of the page then set the pen down. “Is that all?”

The detective nodded. “Yes. Thank you for coming in.”

I stood and grabbed Micah’s hand.

“Jewel?” Det. Rawlins’ voice stopped me at the door. I peered over my shoulder. “Take as much time as you need off work. Come back when you’re ready. We want you back, but we want you healthy.”

“Thank you.” I faced Micah. “Ready to go?”

His pinched expression told me how hard today had been for him, too. “More than ready.”

The warm late summer air hit us full force as we walked outside. He helped me into the Jeep then cranked the engine. “So, what are these plans we have?”

I studied his profile as he adjusted the AC and radio and it occurred to me how thoughtless I’d been. “I’m sorry. You have to get back to work, don’t you?”

His dark eyes met mine. “Baby, nobody’s expecting me at work. The guys know I’m taking care of you.”

I dropped my head, overcome. He made his love seem so simple, but it felt anything but simple to me. I’d never had anything like this in my life and I was afraid to believe it.

“So . . . ?” He waited quietly for me to answer.

I smiled, letting myself feel every emotion he created cascade through me. “Home first. We’ve gotta pack.”

“Pack?”

My grin grew. “Yes. Pack.”

“For what?”

“A girl’s gotta have a couple secrets, Micah. Just drive.”

His own grin lifted his lips, making my heart stumble at the rare sight. “Yes, ma’am.”

We drove back to my place first, where I stuffed a duffel full of the clothes and personal items I’d need for a few days. He said nothing, just watching me, his black eyes thoughtful as always.

Next, we went to his place, where I instructed him to pack his things, including his camping gear. His eyes glinted with understanding, but he complied without protest.

While he disappeared to do my bidding, I sat on his couch and toyed with my cell phone. I peered down the hall. He was busy. With a deep breath, I dialed my parents.

“Jewel?” My mother’s voice was so comforting, tears filled my eyes.

“Hi, Mom.”

“What’s wrong?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Alarm filled her voice. “What is it?”

I realized my fist was clenched in my lap. I relaxed my body, trusting that Micah would catch me at the end of all of this. Then I told her everything. Every horrible, embarrassing truth.

She was sobbing by the time I was done. “Oh, God, sweetie. John told us he thought something seemed off with you when he was there, but we all figured it was stress from work or whatever. I never imagined . . .”

“It’s okay, Mom. I hid it on purpose. I was ashamed.”

She sniffled. “But he’s in jail now, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you promise you’re okay?”

“Yes, Mom. I’m fine. Or I will be once these bruises heal.”

“Do you need me to come? I could take care of things for you until you get back on your feet.”

I glanced up and met Micah’s concerned gaze. “No, Mom. I’ve actually got all the help I need.”

She paused. “Delilah?”

I smiled. “Well, yeah . . . but I’ve got someone else, too. A special someone.”

Micah’s face melted so he looked almost childlike.

My mother’s silence was palpable. Finally, she choked out, “Someone like a boyfriend?”

I gripped Micah’s hand as he sat next to me. “I guess you could call him that.”

“Who is it? Should I worry?”

I swallowed my kneejerk reaction to curl in on myself. “His name is Micah. He was a Marine and now he works with Blake at the shop.” I met his eyes. “And he’s wonderful.”

“Do you think it’s a good idea to date so soon after all of this? You’re vulnerable, honey. I’d hate for someone to take advantage of you.”

“I’m not as vulnerable as you think, Mom, and he’d never take advantage of me. He’s taking care of me.”

A beat of thoughtful quiet. “He’s there with you now?”

“He is.”

“May I speak with him?”

I covered the mouthpiece. “She wants to talk to you.”

He opened his hand for the phone.

“You’re sure?”

He rolled his eyes. “Gimme the phone.”

I did then fidgeted, not sure what to do with myself. This whole situation felt unreal.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his voice deep and reassuring. “I understand.” His body tensed, then relaxed a moment later as he listened. “I do know . . .”

I frowned at him.

He ignored me.

“Of course . . . never . . .” He listened some more then his dark gaze met mine, intense and full of something I’d never seen before. “Let me reassure you, Mrs. Jackson, that I love your daughter. I have for a very long time, even though she didn’t know it, and as long as there’s breath in my body, I will do everything within my power to take care of her and protect her. You have my word on that.”

Mom said a few more words then they hung up. He set the phone back in my limp hand. “She wants you to call her in a few days.”