by Aliyah Burke
“Vittoria, come meet my friend, Najja.”
As introductions commenced, Jo knew things had to be different now. She had not lied about wishing Najja had been with her. It was the truth. She always felt more confident with her there. But, it was not Najja’s job to keep her safe anymore. Jo knew this, merely had not wanted to accept it until now. She had been childish actually with her expectations.
She observed Najja with Vittoria and marveled at how her friend got the child to open up. Although she was not sure why, Najja was an incredible mother.
Pug paused beside her and she smiled at him. She rose and walked with him a bit to the side.
“Are you sure you are okay, Jo?”
The concern in his voice humbled her. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently.
“I will be. I have wonderful friends.”
He stared at her, his blue eyes a few shades darker than she recalled them being. She brushed some wayward hair back from his face, and ignored the resulting blush.
A noise at the door had her glancing to see Colin without Trystan. Pug left and Jo sat with Vittoria as she filled the Faulkners in on wanting to find the girl’s parents. Even as they conversed, Jo found her gaze continually straying to the door in search of Trystan. Surely, he would not leave without saying farewell.
What difference does it make? You are not what is in his future, her brain reminded her.
It was not so easy as snuffing out a candle, her heart knew. She forced a smile and tried her best to pay attention to what Colin was saying. It was not really making sense but at least Najja was not asking her why Tryst took her to his mistress’ or why she had slept with him. She knew Najja knew but did not think Colin did. However, he was smart. She would prefer to keep it that way if he did not know.
Tryst slowly walked back to Kittle Manor. He worked his jaw trying to erase the sting caused by Colin’s fist. Part of him had expected it but apparently not as much as he should have. Colin had been furious and had not held back with his opinion on it. Knocked him to the ground, lectured him, and walked off without helping him up. All things he deserved.
He rubbed his jaw again and drew up short at the sight of Pug standing there. The boy stood ramrod straight, his expression solemn.
“Pug,” he said with a nod.
“A word.”
My, he was serious. Breathing deep, Trystan gave a nod and gestured for the young man to lead the way. Pug walked to another room and waited for him to pass before shutting the sliding doors behind him.
“Something on your mind, kid?”
Deep blue eyes glared from behind thick lashes. “You do not deserve her!”
Trystan blinked, taken aback by the instant attack. “What are you going on about?” This was not making sense. Pug had always liked him.
“Jo. You are not good enough for her.”
Ahh. Now he understood. Pug was infatuated with Jo. Did not blame the lad. He recalled recognizing this earlier but had put it out of his head with everything that had happened as of late.
“Someone better in mind for her?”
His eyes flashed defensively. “Me.”
“A little young I could say.” He could not help needling the boy.
“Some might say you are too old. I love her. I have always loved her and you…all you do is put her in danger. Hurt her again and you will have to deal with me.”
He delivered the statement cold and sans emotion. By the time he got over the fact he had been dressed down by Pug, the boy had left, the open door proof of his departure.
Then the words sank in. Pug was absolutely right. The right thing, the honorable thing would be for him to let her go. Would he? Not a chance. Jo was his. She had been from the moment he had laid eyes upon her. He was the one who stopped them from being together. Not her.
Her attraction had always been there. He had just been so determined to keep her at a distance, in that vein. He respected her parents and Colin who looked upon her as a little sister. Najja was a force all her own and a woman he wanted on his side. Face it, she had put a blade to his privates and that was before all this.
There would be no more hiding behind his job. He wanted Jo. That was what was important now. Surely her feelings toward him would have only grown after what they shared.
He breathed a bit easier after he made his decision. One step toward the door and he drew up. Najja stood there. Like a ghost, one moment nothing the next there she stood.
“Najja.”
“I believe it prudent we talk, Lord Wilkes.”
He felt it prudent not to piss off a woman who—although pregnant—could kill him before he got closer to her. So he retreated to a chair, seating himself after she did. Najja did not speak, she stared at him until he wanted to shift beneath her penetrating gaze. But did not.
“How do you plan on fixing this?”
He rubbed his palm on his thighs. “She is going to be safe.”
“We both know that I am taking about you having slept with her.”
“Fix it?”
She gave him a baleful look.
He swallowed. “I will tell her father I have compromised her and we are to wed.”
“I see.” She got up gracefully despite her protruding belly. “I hope for your sake. Lord Wilkes, you are smarter than that. Much smarter.” Najja made her way back to the door.
“What are you talking about? Is that not what you all want? Me to admit my mistake of sleeping with her.”
She whirled on him, eyes deadly. “What I want is for her to be safe and happy, well aware her husband loves her. I want him not to think of sleeping with her as a mistake, nor do I wish him to take her to a mistress’ house.”
Najja strode up to him. In a low and fierce voice she added, “Stay away from her, Trystan. If this is how you feel, stay away.”
Then she was gone. He groaned and rubbed his face. Only one person left to talk to. He needed to talk to her. He returned to the room she had been in. Everyone was there and fell silent at his arrival.
“May I have a word, Jo?”
She lifted her head and stared at him with those blue eyes, which haunted his every waking moment. He nearly frowned, something was different about her. Something was missing.
Jo tucked a wayward curl behind her ear, whispered to Vittoria, and got to her feet. He stared at her as she walked. The fall of her dress over curves he knew on an intimate level drove him to distraction. Her hair hung in a braid and he longed to free it from its prison, wrap it around his hands, and hold her head where he wanted while he kissed her until the gnawing need left him. Whenever it happened. If it ever happened.
Hands clasped before her, she halted near him. Gesturing her by him, he followed only to pause and peer over his shoulder. Three of the five in there watched him with warning gazes. Only Vittoria and Alex did not.
He trailed Jo into the same room Pug and Najja had spoken to him in. She sat in a tall wingback, proper like, waiting for him to speak. He took a seat on the loveseat so he could see her.
“Are you okay?”
She did not even hesitate. “I am, thank you.”
He did not buy it. “Talk to me, Jo.”
“I have nothing to say. I am fine. Trying to figure a way to reunite Vittoria with her parents.”
Had he said he was not buying it yet? This woman was not the Jo he had known for the past six years. Not his Jo. There existed no sign of the hellcat within the coolly composed person. He disliked this immensely.
“About what happened between us, Jo.” He paused searching for a reaction. None came. “I just—”
“No need to mention it at all. Forget it as I have. If that is all, I need to return to my guests.” She waited and honestly, he was too shocked not to only stare. When he did not speak, she rose and left him there.
Forget it? As she had? Was she insane? He could not forget what transpired between them anymore he could tell the sun when to rise and set. As long as he lived, their time together
would remain with him.
He lost track of time in his own thoughts until loud voices from the entryway reached him. Hastening to the door, he peered out to see not only Jo, Colin, Pug, and Najja but also Jack and Cam.
“You need to come with us, Miss Adrys,” Jack said. “It is to keep you safe.”
Najja started forward only to be stopped by Colin. He murmured something to her and she left with Jo and Pug. Trystan went to his friend’s side.
“Why are you here, Jack?”
“You ignored my messages. I want Miss Adrys safe.”
Both he and Colin snorted.
“You have used her as an unwilling pawn twice. And she almost died.” Tryst crossed his arms.
“She was taken while under yours,” Cam countered.
“Because of a leak in your team.” He struggled to remain calm but it was not easy.
Cam glowered and Trystan readied himself for any attack, which may come. At his side, he felt Colin’s subtle shift. No matter the differences they may have at the moment, they were always there for one another and if a fight started, there was no other man he wanted at his back.
“This is not productive.” Jack’s voice was too calm.
“You are not getting your hands on her.” It was a promise.
“Are you truly willing to defy me because you feel responsible for her?”
“I am ignoring you because you have one thought. I am not willing to sacrifice another innocent person. I knew what was expected of me when I signed up. I had a decision and I made it. You are risking her without her knowledge. And her family and friends.”
Jack looked nonplussed. “I have my priorities.”
“So do I.”
“As do I.” Colin stated in an uncompromising tone.
The men stared at one another as time ticked past. Tryst sighed, well aware this could go on for a very long time.
“Leave her to me, Jack. I will kill anyone who gets in my way of keeping her safe,” Trystan declared.
“You seem to be under the assumption I answer to you.” Jack arched his brows.
“No assumption, merely telling you how it will be. I am staying with Jo either here or in London and I will protect her.”
“This because I never told you about your half-brother?”
Colin stiffened beside him. “No. Leave Kittle Manor, Jack before it gets ugly. You are not taking her. Not now, not ever.”
“Let me ask her,” Jack requested.
Trystan immediately began to protest only to be overridden by Colin.
“Sounds like a very good idea.” His ex-best friend spoke.
Tryst glared at Colin. What was he thinking? Somewhere he heard a voice saying to trust his friend.
“Jo!” Colin called out.
The women appeared. Najja and Jo. Vittoria, Tryst supposed was with Pug and Alexander. Again, Jo met his gaze but it was fleeting. Not only that but it was also impersonal. He did not like it.
“Yes, Colin?”
“These men want to talk to you.”
She nodded and moved up, standing between Colin and himself. “What was it you needed to say to me?”
“For your safety, Miss Adrys, we would like you to come with us.”
“My safety?”
“Yes.” Jack’s expression was smug.
“Why would I trust you?” She crossed her arms and Tryst bit back a smile. Here was his hellcat. “I had my life in your hands before and I almost died. I was safer on my own until the traitor—in your employ—knocked Tryst out and took me. Duchess Haversham was right in you do not care how many get hurt to obtain your goal. I am not going to be your pawn.”
“How do you know it was not Trystan’s half-brother who sold you out?”
Jo never missed a beat. In fact, she stepped forward as if protecting him. “Leave his family out of this. In fact, leave my house and take Cam with you.”
She whirled on Trystan. “You can see yourself out as well,” she uttered in Najja’s native language. Then she left the room, head high and proud.
Tryst focused on Jack and Cam who did not look very pleased. Najja moved up beside her husband while the door opened and Royce stood there.
“You still have to follow orders,” Jack snapped.
“And you need to understand there are no rules for me when it comes to Jo. I will do whatever it takes to ensure she stays alive.”
“You sound in love,” Cam remarked.
Trystan refused to answer. He gave a pointed look to the door. The duo left followed by Royce, which left him alone with Najja and Colin. Both of whom turned their attention to him the instant the door closed.
“What?” Trystan growled.
Najja held his gaze. He was more concerned she had zero expression and emotion than had she been furious. Right now, he faced a lioness who seemed as yet unsure if her cub was in danger from him or not. When she walked away, he did not feel any better.
Colin stepped into his line of sight. Now, him, Trystan knew was furious. His jaw continued to throb where that iron fist connected with him earlier.
“You better not hurt her again, Tryst.” A pause. “And keep her safe.”
“I will.” While he may not like or appreciate Colin telling him that he overlooked it. Jo for all intents and purposes was his sister.
Trystan retreated to the sitting room where they had all gathered. Jo sat with Vittoria and Najja. Pug stood near, overlooking the women and younger brother in a move that was totally copying his father.
“I am staying here, Jo.” Trystan’s announcement came as he reclaimed a vacant seat.
Pug scowled ever more. Jo, however, barely looked at him and shrugged.
“If you desire.”
That was too easy. His frown went unheeded for she immediately returned her attention to the other women. He decided to hold his tongue until the Faulkners left.
Something which did not happen for a few more hours. Pug refused to talk to him. Najja still retained that blank look and Colin was disappointed and angry. Once they were gone, Trystan turned to see Jo climbing the stairs.
“Jo?”
She paused before rotating to meet his gaze with an inquiring one. Words escaped him. He had not any clue what to say. All he knew was something was wrong. She blinked and continued heading up.
“I will show you to your room, my lord.”
He blew out an exasperated breath and nodded at the man beside him. The thin gentleman passed him and led the way to his temporary room. Second floor, three down and across the hall from Jo.
Once alone, he sank to the bed and groaned. Were they in London this would be another compromising situation. Here too, for that matter if he wanted to be honest.
They were not in London and her staff were well trained enough it would not even become gossip fodder. He did not see her until the last meal of the day. Having been settled in she had taken the time to get some other things accomplished. Even so, he was a bit surprised when he entered the room and found her staff removing dishes.
“Did I miss it?” He posed the question as they paused in their removal.
“Dinner, my lord?” Trystan nodded. “Miss Adrys is eating in the office. Would you like to eat here?”
He pursed his lips while debating. “I will eat with her.”
The men nodded and he followed them down the hallway to the masculine room. The closer he got the more aroused he became.
Chapter Thirteen
Found some old sketches I had done for Papa today. They were old and the paper yellowed, but he had them in a small box of what he calls ‘his treasures’. I miss the days when I would draw beside him as he worked on a book.
~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys
Jo scampered down the stairs cursing her skirts the entire way as she ran for the door. Vittoria was outside somewhere and she wanted to get her the news as fast as possible.
They had been here for over a fortnight now and it did her heart wonders to see how the child w
as coming out of her shell. It had to be a miracle, her having gone through what she did, to be making such progress. There were still times when it was obvious she had been through hell but, for the most part, Vittoria had begun to relax and play a bit. She had definitely begun to fill out having all the food she could hope to eat.
The footman held the door as Jo dashed past with a “thank you” as she continued on her way. Heading in the direction she had seen Vittoria go in earlier, Jo clenched the missive in one hand and held her skirts up with the other.