Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Jump knew things like this happened. He was just surprised to have someone sitting in his kitchen—well, Wave’s kitchen—telling him that she had grown up in a cult.
He needed to send a text to Tex or Thario.
Tex was busy with some other stuff, but someone needed to see if they could track down this Grayson dude and see if they could do something about him.
“So I need all the information you have on Grayson. His last name, middle if you have it. Does he have a social security number?”
“Wait, why? Why do you need information on Grayson?”
T spoke before he could get a word out. “Because that bastard is a thorn in your side, and Jump isn’t going to stand for that.”
Blakely squinted at him. “Why would you help me?”
Jump took a step closer to her but paused. Though he’d asked her to sleep at his place the night before, he didn’t really know her and couldn’t pull her into a hug, though he wanted to.
“Listen, I know you don’t know me, and you don’t know how I do things. But I’m not letting some idiot who has issues with being a decent citizen of this country bully you. We’ll stop him.”
She blinked at him like she didn’t believe his words. “Really?”
“Yes. Really. I’m not letting some jerk get away with trying to kill you. Plus he burned down my home. He has to be stopped.”
Tears filled her eyes and he couldn’t stand by. He moved to her and pulled her into a hug. She felt good in his arms. She fit well against him with her head tucked right under his chin.
Her shoulders shook as she sobbed. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted from her. Her fingers clutched his shirt, and he could feel the tears soaking him. He would have to change his shirt, but he didn’t mind.
He rubbed her back, hoping to sooth her. She had been through a lot since he’d met her. This Grayson guy was bad news, and he hoped he could give her some peace.
Blakely hated that she was making a mess of Jump’s shirt. He probably would toss her out for being so emotional. She’d done a good job holding things together until now. This was the first real breakdown she’d had in a long time.
She tried to get it together before she stepped back, but gathering her emotions proved difficult. Her life had been difficult, filled with pain and suffering. When she’d grown older, manipulation had been used when they realized pain wasn’t enough of a motivation to keep her in line.
After escaping, she’d been surviving, not really living. She had only spent a small amount of the money, because she honestly wasn’t sure how she would ever get more money.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. Like really, don’t apologize for this. You did nothing wrong.”
A bark of laughter escaped her lips. “They’ll tell you a different story if they ever talk to you.”
Jump shook his head. “I wouldn’t believe them. Besides, he tried to kill a bunch of people by burning down our apartment building.”
She let go a heavy sigh. “I lost everything. Not that I had much.”
“We can help you fix that,” T said.
“About that store. I’d like to get some clothes. I don’t need much.”
“We’ll get you set up.” Jump glanced at his phone, then back at her. “In fact, one of the other wives is going to drop off some clothes for you.”
“She doesn’t know my size.”
“I told her what size you wore.”
“What?” How had he known what size she wore. She didn’t always get it right. “How did you know my size?”
“You’re size eight for most stuff. Some things you wear a medium other stuff you wear a small. Am I right?”
She stared at him in wonder. “Yeah, you got it right.”
“Good. Willa will be here in a bit. She lives a few blocks away. I think Pen is coming with her, but I’m not sure.”
Blakely tried not to be too surprised, but he’d thrown her for a loop. How had he guessed her size correctly, and he’d paid enough attention to know she needed fresh clothes?
“I’m not used to people being this nice.”
“Hopefully it will be something you get used to.”
There had been times after she’d left the cult that she wondered if she’d messed up by leaving. Many people she met after leaving had been awful. She’d learned not to trust and to keep to herself. Now these men wanted to help her.
Trusting people was tough. But Jump was different. Maybe things were looking up for her, or maybe she was stepping into a huge trap that would make her life that much more difficult.