Jackson
I wait while Harper disappears down the hallway. I'm shocked she didn’t put up a fight when Maddox told her to go pack while he talked to me, but I think she’s terrified and is willing to do whatever keeps her safe at this point.
“She’s gone,” I say softly.
“What am I really dealing with here?” Maddox cuts the crap and goes straight into police mode. He walked away from the force years ago, but once a cop always a cop.
“Evan was off when I met him two days ago. I didn’t even know he existed before he walked into the bar.
He made sure to make a big show about being with Harper, yet he went off and was kissing another woman a few minutes later.
I don’t understand it. He doesn’t seem like he wants to be with her…
it’s almost like he has to be with her. Like he has no choice. ”
My brows furrow as my mind begins piecing things together. Things that haven’t made sense. I'm not sure how I didn’t see it before.
“What’s going through your head, Romeo? You just pieced something together.” Mason arches a brow. The man picks up on every little detail.
“When Evan proposed, Harper said he called her Harper Stone. What if her biological father has something to do with this?”
Mason and Maddox glance towards Pecker. He grins and cracks his knuckles.
“I'm on it. I’ll know everything there is to know about the sperm donor by this evening.” He types away on the computer, ignoring us for the most part, but I know he’s listening to everything going on.
“How do you feel about Harper staying at your house for a while?” Mason asks.
Maddox’s gaze snaps over to him, but he holds his hand up.
“Before you go all papa bear on me, think this through. Evan’s been to your house.
He knows where you live and he’s going to assume Harper went there.
If she stays with Jackson, not only does he not know where Jackson lives, but our guys are the guards for his development. Evan wouldn’t be able to get in.”
“Jude got in,” I growl.
“Yeah, but that was before we revamped the security. We tightened up everything and installed more cameras, fixing the gate and the fences. It’s as secure as you can make a development at this point.” Mason waves me off.
“Can she stay with you, Jacks?” Maddox stares at me as a terrified father and not the tough police officer I’ve always known.
“For as long as she needs to.”
“Don’t let anything happen to her,” Maddox says softly.
“I won't, Sir. I’d never let anything happen to her.”
As soon as I end the call, I glance around Harper’s living room. I can’t imagine having to pack up everything that matters to me within two hours, but I’m going to help her do it.
“Tell me what to do,” I say as I enter her bedroom. I find a massive pile of clothes on her bed and dried tears on her cheeks.
“I don’t know. I don’t know how to do this,” she whispers, tears already gathering in her eyes again.
“Come here.” I hold my arms open and breathe a sigh of relief when she doesn’t hesitate to step into my embrace.
“How about I throw your clothes in trash bags? We’ll be able to pack them into the back of the SUV a little bit easier if they’re not in boxes.
I know they’ll get wrinkled, but we can wash everything later on. ”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
“Ok. So, let me handle the clothes. I’ll get everything in the car, then I’ll check with you before I do anything else. Deal?”
“Yes… thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“No, really. Thank you for everything.”
“You don’t need to keep thanking me, Boots. You know I’d do anything for you.”
It only takes me twenty minutes to get all of Harper’s clothes and shoes into my car. She didn’t look happy when I was doing it, but time is not our friend right now. Every second counts and we need to be smart.
After I pull her car into the garage, I head back inside to see what she wants me to do next.
“Do I pack dishes and stuff like that?” She nibbles on her bottom lip as she glances around the living room and kitchen.
“How attached to the dishes are you? Like if you lost them all, would you even care?”
“I like them, but I wouldn’t be devastated if I lost them.”
“Then I’d leave them. Get picture frames and anything else that matters to you.”
I gather a handful of pictures she has scattered around the living room, placing them all in a box I found in the garage.
We pack a few more boxes and I load them all into the car. Harper keeps glancing at her watch and I know she’s getting more and more anxious the longer we’re here.
“We can leave whenever you’re ready.” I take her hand in mine and wait for her to meet my gaze. “If we have to stay another hour, we can. Getting a little bit less sleep tonight won't kill me.”
“I think I have everything I need.” She’s still nibbling on her lip and I know her mind is all over the place.
“Do you mind if I do a quick sweep of the house and see if there’s anything else?”
“I don’t mind at all… Is it weird if I follow you around? I feel uncomfortable being alone.”
“Not at all.” I intertwine our fingers and smile as we search the living room. I’d be happy to stay by her side for the rest of her life if she feels better with me there.