Chapter Fifteen #2
“Just like that,” he confirmed. “But I don’t know about his guards,” he admitted.
“Dean had a man on the inside, but I don’t know if they got all of Wolf’s guards.
” He grabbed Justice’s hand and led her out of her mother’s room.
She took one last look back and hoped that someday she could call herself as good a mother as her mom was.
“There you two are,” Dean said, bursting into the room.
“I was beginning to worry, man.” Dean pulled Justice in for a hug.
“It’s so good to see you in one piece, Justice,” he whispered.
“Are you all right?” Justice wasn’t sure how to answer Dean’s question.
Sure, she was physically all right except for some leftover nausea, but that could be the morning sickness she was experiencing lately and not the remaining drugs in her system.
Mentally, she felt like she could sleep for days, and she had a feeling it would take a long time before she would feel completely safe.
“I think so,” she stuttered. Jagger pulled her back to his side and wrapped her in his arms. She smiled up at him. “Jag is alive and I’m still kicking, so I’d say we’re doing fine.” Jagger pulled her up for a kiss, and Dean groaned in disgust.
“Jag and I have some paperwork to do, and then we should head over to your grandmother’s ranch. She can’t wait to see you. One thing I’ve learned about Norma Jeane Hobbs is that she shouldn’t be kept waiting,” Dean grumbled, causing them all to laugh.
“I need to see Granny Norma. There is so much I need to talk to her about.” She couldn’t wait for her grandmother to wrap her in one of her famous hugs.
“I’d also like to go to Harvest Ridge in the next day or so to see Sunny and Aaron.
I need to meet the newest Steele baby and catch up with them.
I’ve missed so much. I can’t believe I missed being there for Sunny after everything she’s done for me.
” Sunny was like an older sister to her, a part of her family, and she missed her so much since being away.
Justice was thankful to Dean for getting messages to her friends in Harvest Ridge, letting them know that she was alive and well with Jagger.
Still, she owed them all a visit and explanations.
“Sure, honey. We can go back anytime you’re ready.
” Jagger offered. She saw a sadness in his eyes and knew he was worried that she would want to stay in Harvest Ridge.
They needed to discuss her place being with him, but first, she needed to see her grandmother and have a hot shower, a meal, and a good night’s sleep.
Then, she would sit her husband down and tell him about their baby, and she would explain exactly where she wanted to be—which was by his side.
Jagger didn’t want to let Justice out of his sight, too afraid that she would disappear again.
He knew it was going to take some time for things to feel “normal” again, but he was willing to give her all the time she needed.
Norma Jeane lived up to being just as vivacious as Justice had described her.
He couldn’t believe that she single-handedly ran that big ranch since Justice’s grandfather died.
She was truly a remarkable woman, and he appreciated her offer to let them all stay there for a few days.
Dean refused to be away from Jules any longer than he needed to be and headed back to Dove Creek.
Even though they didn’t have their come-to-Jesus talk yet, Jagger could see just how much Dean loved his little sister.
He would deal with that mess later. Right now, he needed to concentrate on Justice and their future together.
Norma let him and Justice stay in one of her rental cabins, and he appreciated the privacy.
He and Justice needed to have a long talk about their future together now that she was finally free from her father’s control and the threat of having to marry Wolf.
He knew they started their lives together as a way to keep her safe, but he wanted everything that they promised to each other on the day they exchanged their vows.
Jagger wanted forever with Justice, and almost losing her had only driven that point home for him.
They had a big dinner, and Justice looked about ready to collapse.
He wanted to get them back to their cabin and hold her in his arms all night long.
Everything else could wait until tomorrow, when they both had clear heads and a good night’s sleep behind them.
They said their goodbyes, and he wrapped his arm protectively around Justice’s waist and pulled her into his side.
He kissed the top of her head, loving the way she felt against his body.
When Jagger woke up after the explosion, he was sure he would never see Justice again.
Hearing his worst fears confirmed by Dean—that Wolf had her and had dragged her back to Goose Creek- nearly gutted him.
The thought of Wolf putting his hands on Justice made him want to tear him apart.
Today, he regretted not getting the chance to do that, but Wolf would suffer so much more behind bars.
Dean got an update that Wolf and his men were booked and facing enough charges to keep them behind bars for a very long time, and Jagger felt some relief knowing that this whole nightmare was behind them.
“We need to talk,” Justice croaked.
“I have a better idea, honey. How about a hot shower, and then we get a good night’s sleep? Whatever you want to talk about will keep until tomorrow.” He unlocked the cabin door and waited for Justice to enter. She hesitated on her way through the front door.
“It feels like just yesterday that you were carrying me over the threshold on our first night together. So much has happened since then,” she whispered.
“My news will keep.” She paused and looked up at him, her smile nearly lit up the tiny cabin.
“For another seven months or so.” She walked into their cabin, leaving Jagger standing on the porch, dumbfounded.
Had she just said what he thought? Was she pregnant?
How was that even possible? He followed her into the small cabin and walked back to the bathroom, where he found Justice stripping out of her clothes as she turned on the shower.
He looked her up and down, noticing some of the subtle differences in her body that he had missed days before.
“Are you saying that we’re going to—” Jagger swallowed hard, not able to speak past the lump in his throat.
Justice nodded and stepped into the shower, letting the spray wash over her body.
He wasn’t sure what his next move should be.
The only thing he was sure of was the fact that he wanted Justice and this baby.
Nothing else mattered. He stripped out of his clothes and joined her in the shower, wrapping his arms around her to let his hand rest on her flat belly.
“So, a baby?” He asked again. Justice giggled against him, and he thought he had never heard a sweeter sound.
He didn’t know what he did to deserve her or their new little family.
He didn’t know if he would ever be worthy of Justice, but he wanted to spend the rest of his life trying to prove he was.
“I love you, Justice,” he whispered, turning her in his arms.
“I love you too, Jagger, so much.” She went up on her tiptoes and kissed his mouth.
“I’m so happy that you kidnapped me and changed my life, Jag.
You fought for me and saved me. I couldn’t imagine my life without you or this little one.
” She rubbed her belly. His hand followed hers, and he smiled down at Justice.
“Well, Mrs. James, you are welcome, and I’d happily kidnap you all over again. You are worth fighting for, Justice.”
The End
Don’t know what to read next? How about Jules Jagger’s story? You can find it in the first book of the Mountain Men Mercenaries Series, Eagle Eye. Here’s a sneak peek!