Chapter Ten #2
She didn’t respond, but she didn’t move her hand away either.
She leaned sideways by degrees until her head came to rest against my shoulder and stayed there.
I sat still and let her weight settle against me and kept my eyes on the door.
She needed to gather her strength. I’d be whatever rock she needed me to be.
When her arms crept around my middle, I took that as my permission to hold her. Slowly, so she could push me away if she wanted, I put an arm around her and pulled her closer to me. When she burrowed closer, her face buried in my chest, I urged her onto my lap and held her while she silently cried.
An hour later we sat around the kitchen table in Jade’s apartment. Jade had changed out of the navy dress into jeans and a sweater, and she sat at the far end of the table with her hands folded in her lap, watching me. Knight’s face filled the laptop screen at the center of the table.
Violet and Hannah sat next to Jade. Violet had an arm around Jade, talking softly to her.
Mia hovered close by but kept her distance, like she didn’t know what to do with herself.
Jade seemed almost like she’d checked out.
She had to be close to her limit. She’d already broken down a few times.
I had to wonder how much more she could take.
“Here’s what we know,” I said. “Eric posted a video approximately four hours ago. The content itself is criminal. Knight is working on that part. Getting the shit taken down will be tough, but he’ll get it done.
Ethan has filed emergency injunctions. Lana is coordinating with the DA’s office.
We don’t know yet if it gets Eric arrested, but he’s handed us significant legal ammunition on top of what the judge already put in his file this morning.
” I paused. “Not really sure I understand the ‘why’ of all this on his part. He had to know everyone would point at him.”
Knight’s voice came through the laptop speaker, smooth and even.
“I’ve slowed the spread but, as I explained to Rip earlier, there’s only so much on the Net I can control.
I’ve got eyes on his digital footprints.
We’ve stepped up security around Haven. I will know if he makes a physical approach and, as I’m sure you know, Jade, Rip’s not going to let anything happen to you.
Neither are the rest of us.” He scrubbed a hand over his face.
“There’s only so much I can do about what he’s already posted, but Ethan is furious.
Which means he’ll make the bastard pay in legal ways I don’t particularly care about.
I’m concerned with the more… vicious kind of paying.
” Knight’s expression remained neutral, but I saw the anger in his eyes.
“We don’t like people messing with our women. ”
“What do you guys recommend us doing to make sure Jade is in a safe environment?” Violet asked. “Haven is completely safe, but I don’t think Jade feels that way right now.” She glanced at Jade, who didn’t look up.
I sighed, wanting to make the decision for her, but knowing I couldn’t.
“Well, we’ve got two options. Option one, Jade stays at Haven.
We increase security and tighten incoming communications.
Knight increases digital surveillance on Eric’s known accounts.
No one is getting inside this place without going through the entirety of Kiss of Death.
The facility is solid and so are the guys.
Haven’s only major weakness is that we’re documented.
We have to have a physical address on record so the place is findable in a simple search, and I have no doubt he knows where she’s staying.
” I let that sit for a second before I continued.
Because I really wanted her to take option two.
“Or… we move Jade inside the main MC compound.”
Knight’s face on the screen shifted slightly. “From a pure security standpoint, the compound is the cleaner answer. The exposure risk here is --”
“We present the options,” I interrupted. “She decides.”
Knight’s eyebrows went up by a fraction. He looked at me for a moment, then nodded slowly in understanding. “Yeah. Fair enough.”
“Rip’s right.” Violet didn’t look at me when she spoke. She looked at Jade. “I think Jade knows what she needs.”
I watched Jade. She twisted her hands together in her lap, her nerves clear. She’d been still through most of the meeting. I could tell she was close to her breaking point.
“What would the compound mean for my therapy sessions?” she asked.
“We can transport you,” I said. “We’ve done it before. It’s easily manageable.”
She nodded slowly. “What about Ada’s groups? And the GED work with Mia?”
“All of it can continue,” Hannah said. “Rip is always here during the day. He’s been taking other men’s shifts.
The guys have been wanting to help out again, and Rip would be hovering over you anyway.
” She gave Jade an encouraging smile. “Besides. I know how much helping out means to you. No one is going to take that away from you.”
Jade was quiet for another moment. Then she lifted her chin and spoke quietly.
“I want to stay here. I know that’s not the safest option on paper.
But I can’t live the rest of my life hiding out from him.
” She paused. “I’m not letting myself be locked away again. Not even to protect myself from him.”
“You’re not going to be locked away, honey.” I should have been at least a little bit sheepish that I’d let my endearment slip, but I only felt a bone-deep possessiveness, which I had to keep tightly leashed so Jade didn’t run.
Ten minutes later, we were all on the same page. Violet walked Jade out of the room with her arm around Jade’s slim shoulders, speaking softly to her.
“She’s going to be all right,” Hannah said, looking at me.
“Yeah,” I said. “She will be.” I planned on making sure she’d be better than all right.
Hannah followed Violet and Jade down the hall. I stood at the table we’d all vacated for a moment, then looked at Knight’s face still on the screen. He’d waited.
“You’re sleeping in the security office,” he said.
“I’m definitely sleeping in the security office.”
“Good.” His expression didn’t change. “I’ll update you the second I hear back from anyone. I expect your brother to be calling you before me, though.”
“Then, if he calls me first, I’ll either call you directly, or have him call you.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Knight reached forward and the screen went dark.