by dlady
Coop put a firm hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go in the house. We’ll wait for word from there.” He tightened his grip and steered Jared down the stairs, almost as if he expected him to bolt any second.
Reluctantly, Jared allowed himself to be led into the big house, and before long it was overflowing with his teammates and friends as they held vigil. Otto lay at his feet. Riley helped Izzy serve pizza, but it was far from a festive mood. Mostly everyone was quiet, waiting for another phone call. Drew was absent, and Jared wasn’t sure what that meant. He tried calling both Bronson and Drew. Their phones went to voicemail.
Jared closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer. All he wanted was to hold Steph, tell her he loved her, and for everything to be all right. Hadn’t she had enough shit in her life? She deserved to be happy, and he wanted to be the one who made her happy.
* * * *
Steph sat quietly, huddled in the corner of the truck. Gino would assume she was frozen in fear, but her mind was going a mile a minute. Her ex’s Achilles heel was his arrogant belief he was smarter than everyone else. She’d use his ego against him the first chance she got.
He drove the back streets of a sketchy neighborhood, obviously having a destination in mind. All the while, he kept checking his rearview mirror. She’d noticed headlights behind them on several occasions, but she couldn’t tell if they were being followed.
She didn’t know who was driving the car, but it couldn’t be one of Gino’s associates. If it had been, they would be more open about tailing Gino. No, it had to be her savior. In a perfect world, Jared would rescue her and declare his undying love, but there were no perfect worlds. Jared wouldn’t be off the plane yet.
She’d expected Gino to pull over in front of one of the many houses or down an alley, but instead he kept driving until residential neighborhood transitioned into an area of shoddy businesses and warehouses. Here and there was a stray house. Finally, he pulled into a weed-engulfed driveway of a shack of a house. There was a single light on somewhere inside. He drove the truck behind the ramshackle building then turned off the headlights and the engine.
Gino stalked around to the other side of the truck and yanked open her door.
“Get the fuck out and don’t try anything, bitch.” He waved the gun at her.
Steph didn’t struggle. She lowered her eyes demurely and climbed out of the big truck as if she were resigned to her fate. She wasn’t, but Gino wouldn’t know that. Based on past experience, he’d expect her to cave to his every whim, but he didn’t know this Steph, which gave her an advantage, however slight.
She pretended to stagger, walking slowly and stalling. The second she was in that house, it’d be harder to escape. She stumbled and fell, and he cussed at her. After giving her swift kick in the ribs, he jerked her to her feet and dropped his keys. Now he was really pissed. Holding the gun on her, he looked around in the darkness for the keys.
“Don’t try anything, bitch, understood?”
She hurt, but she didn’t care. The pain didn’t matter. She leaned against the truck and watched him search. In the darkness with tall grass, he’d never find those keys. Finally, he straightened.
“I should shoot you right now, but that’d be too easy. You need to pay.”
She wanted to point out he was the one dumb enough to lose his keys but held her tongue. She knew what kind of payment he’d exact from her, which made her more determined not to go into that house.
“I have some buddies coming over. They’ll be taking turns tonight. I told them you liked it rough, the rougher the better.”
Steph’s courage wavered, and bile coated her throat and tongue. She began to retch, and before he could jump clear, she vomited all over his shoes.
“You’re going to be sorry you did that.”
She was doubled over and trying to get herself under control when she saw a slight movement in the bushes behind Gino. Someone was there. She kept her gaze on Gino. Even the slightest flick of her gaze in that direction would clue him into something being amiss behind him.
She had to create a distraction, give her rescuer something to work with. Steph was not going into that house. She’d rather die.
Gino gripped her arm painfully and dragged her toward the back door. Lined against a concrete block wall were three metal garbage cans. Steph eyed them, and an idea came to her. She prayed to God the guy behind her was quick on his feet.
Just before Gino could force her inside the dark tomb of a building, Steph wrenched out of his grasp, kicked him in the groin, and threw herself between two of the garbage cans. She ignored the pain igniting her hip as she hit the ground. Kicking fiercely, she sent the garbage cans flying in all directions. Noise erupted all around her, as she ignored the searing agony in her side and scrambled behind the concrete block wall into the dark shadows of an alley.
Chapter 19—Final Period
Jared paced the hallway of the hospital while his entourage hung out nearby in the waiting room. Bronson sat in one corner talking to a detective.
The doctor came out of the room where Steph was, and Jared rushed to intercept him. “Are you Stephanie’s family?”
“Yes,” he lied—though it wasn’t really a lie. He was her family. He indicated the others sitting in the waiting room with worried expressions. “They are, too.”
“Large family,” the doctor quipped.
Jared scowled. He wasn’t in the mood for a physician moonlighting as a comedian. “Can I see her? How is she? Is she going to be all right?”
The doctor sighed. “Yes, she’ll be fine. Some bruising and a concussion. We’ll keep her overnight for observation, but she should be able to go home in the morning.”
“Thank God.”
“You can go in if you’d like, but only two at a time.”
Jared didn’t wait to hear more; he hurried into the hospital room. Steph’s face was pale against the white pillow. She had a bruise on her cheek and one on her forehead. She smiled feebly as he entered. He pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down, grasping both her hands.
“Bronson told us what happened. You were brave, Steph.”
“I don’t feel brave. What happened after I kicked him in the nuts?”
Jared chuckled. “God, I wish I’d seen that. I guess you incapacitated the bastard. Bronson took him to the ground and held him until the cops got there.”
“I was so worried about you.”
“I should’ve stayed with Vi. What I did was stupid. I only wanted to talk privately, explain everything.”
“I know most of it, sweetheart, and all I care about is that you’re okay. What happened in your past doesn’t matter. I know you would’ve told me when the time was right.”
“I’m really tired. I—”
Steph’s eyes fluttered shut, and Jared laid his head on the side of her bed. He wasn’t going anywhere until she could go with him.
* * * *
Steph left the hospital the next morning. She wasn’t any worse for wear, but she was sore and exhausted. She didn’t remember much other than Jared carrying her in his arms and putting her in bed, and then she slept.
When she woke, it was already dark out. She’d slept the entire day. She glanced around at the strange room. The furniture was nothing special. Clothes were thrown about on the floor, the dresser, and the chair in the corner. This had to be Jared’s place.
Steph struggled to sit up in bed and survey her surroundings. The room was small, and far from the elegant master bedroom she’d have pictured as part of a wealthy hockey player’s home, though the mess was pure Jared.
Hearing the click of a door opening, she turned to see him standing in the doorway. He wore faded jeans and an equally worn T-shirt.
“How you feeling?”
“Okay. Is this your place?”
“Yeah, this is my apartment.” He seemed embarrassed. He crossed the room then sat down next to her and pulled her close but was careful not to touch her injuries.
Steph surveyed the r
oom once again, not asking the obvious question, but she could tell by the sheepish look on Jared’s face that she didn’t need to.
“You’re not the only one who was hiding something. I’m broke, Steph. It’ll be a few years before I recover financially from the divorce. I can explain the legal details later when you’re feeling better, but suffice it to say that Candy bled me dry. It’s temporary, though. I do make a good income.”
“Do you think I care?”
“No, actually, I don’t. I was a fool, and I should’ve told you earlier about my financial situation, but it’s hard to admit what an idiot I was.”
Steph nodded slowly. “I know how you feel. It doesn’t matter to me if you live in a mansion and drive a Mercedes or live here and drive a Toyota.”
“And I don’t care that you were a stripper.”
“You really don’t?”
“No. I had a tough time at first, knowing my teammates had seen you naked, but I don’t care. It’s not who you are and has nothing to do with the beautiful woman I fell in love with.” He met her gaze. “I love you, Steph.”
“You love me?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Jared.”
He hugged her tight, drew back, and kissed her with the power of a man in love with the woman of his destiny. She kissed him right back.
“One more thing,” he said.
“What’s that?”
“When you’re ready, tell me about the baby.”
“You know about my baby?”
He nodded and rubbed his thumb over the point of her shoulder. “You can't keep secrets among our friends. If one knows, we all know.”
“It was a sad time, but I’m better now.” The pain of losing her child didn't hurt as much as it once did. There would always be scars, but Jared had helped heal those wounds.
“I’m glad, because someday I’d like to have children and grow old with you—if you’re willing?”
“Yes to the children. Do you want to get married?” she blurted before thinking.
He grinned, showing both dimples. “Are you asking me to marry you? Because if you are, the answer is yes.”
Steph kissed him. She never thought she’d be the one to propose, but, hey, it worked for her.
“What happened to Gino?” she asked.
“He’s in jail for kidnapping, and all sorts of other legal and criminal crap I can’t recall. He should be put away for a long time.”
“Good. I need a little less drama in my life.”
“So do I, sweetheart. So do I.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “You missed one other bit of news.”
“What’s that?”
“Giles proposed to Agnes.”
Steph laughed and squeezed Jared hard. “I knew it.”
He gazed into her eyes and kissed her again. “Just like I knew you were the one the moment I saw you.”
Epilogue
Jared took Steph’s hand and squeezed it.
“I have to do this alone. You understand, don’t you?”
He nodded and let go of her. “I’ll be right behind you.”
She walked slowly up the sidewalk. The door on the immaculate little cottage opened wide, and a conservative-looking couple stepped onto the porch. They froze and stared at Steph as if they couldn’t believe their eyes.
Steph hesitated at the bottom of the steps, gazing up at them. Jared fretted behind her, wanting to hug her close, but she had to do this on her own without his interference. He had her back, and she knew that.
Her parents studied her, their faces expressionless, while Steph didn’t move. She just waited. Her emotions were out there for them to see.
Jared didn’t know if they’d reject her or welcome her.
After what seemed like an eternity, her mother emitted a mournful cry, so deeply emotional that it was almost inhuman. Her father, the more stoic of the two, gulped and bit back tears. A second later, they were hugging each other.
Jared stood back and watched, not wanting to interrupt the reunion. When they finally turned their tear-streaked faces toward him, he stepped forward.
“I’m Jared. Steph’s fiancé.”
“Welcome. Thank you for bringing our daughter back to us,” said her father, while her mother smiled the smile of a million angels. She reminded him of Steph.
Jared shook the father’s hand and hugged her mother.
“Won’t you come inside? We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” her mother said.
Jared put his arm around Steph’s waist, and together they followed her parents into their home.
~ THE END ~
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Complete Booklist
The following Jami Davenport titles are available in digital and many are available as trade paperbacks.
Gone Missing
New Romantic Suspense Series debuting late 2018
Evergreen Nights Series
Save the Last Dance
Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?
The Gift Horse
Madrona Sunset
Game On in Seattle
Skating on Thin Ice (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Crashing the Net (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Love at First Snow (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Melting Ice (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Blindsided (Seattle Steelheads Football)
Hearts on Ice (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Bodychecking (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Bottom of the Ninth (Seattle Skookums Baseball)
Game Changer (Seattle Steelheads Football)
Goaltending (Seattle Sockeyes Hockey)
Penalty Play
Shutdown Player
Shot on Goal (Summer 2018)
Men of Tyee
Sacked in Seattle
Tackled in Seattle (Mid 2018)
Seattle Lumberjacks Football Series
Fourth and Goal
Forward Passes
Down by Contact
Backfield in Motion
Time of Possession
Roughing the Passer
Standalone Books
Christmas Break
Daring to Win (Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love Kindle World)
Game for You (Bella Andre’s Game for Love Kindle World)
About the Author
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USA Today bestselling author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary, new adult, and sports romances, including her two new indie endeavors: the Game On in Seattle Series and the Men of Tyee Series. Jami's new releases consistently rank in the top fifty on the sports romance and sports genre lists on Amazon, and she has hit the Amazon top hundred authors list in both contemporary romance and genre fiction multiple times.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Green Beret-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland drool monster, and a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat.
Jami works in IT for her day job and is a former high school business teacher. She's a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan, is waiting for the day professional hockey comes to Seattle, and still misses her SuperSonics. An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it's the most beautiful place on earth.
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