After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,41
into the mayor?”
“No. I haven’t seen him since your trial.” I shivered, remembering the way he looked at my pregnant body. I was huge and he looked at me like I was a piece of steak and he was the dog who wanted to rip me apart.
Jaron released me and started pacing back and forth. “I had an unexpected meeting with the good mayor at the grocery store.”
“The fuck? Why? Doesn’t he have people who do that shit for him?” As soon as the question left Sammy’s mouth, a cry sounded from the baby monitor I kept on the kitchen counter. “I got her.” He left, heading to Brynn’s room.
Jaron stared after him, his jaw ticking.
My chest tightened. I knew that tick. I knew what it meant. He was pissed and he was going to blow. On his cousins. On me. On someone. I wasn’t sure who, but I had a feeling that before the night ended, I would find out.
“This little one wanted to come and see what all the fuss was about,” Sammy said, holding Brynn in his arms. She had her arms wrapped around her stuffed pig, sucking on her favorite soother.
I passed a glance at Jaron. He didn’t budge. No emotion splayed on his face. “Um…can you guys give us a moment?”
“Of course.” Cyrus clapped Jaron’s shoulder, leaning down to his ear and whispering something I couldn’t hear.
Jaron’s gaze flicked to mine.
My heart jumped, the blood pounding in my ears.
Cyrus released him, gave me a small smile, and headed out to the backyard with Sammy following behind him.
When the patio door closed, leaving Jaron and I alone, I was expecting him to blow up. But when he only remained silent, it made the nerves fluttering through me that much more pronounced.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, needing to break the silence. I stepped in front of him, placing my hand on his chest. Expecting his heart to be thumping hard like mine, I was surprised when it was calm. My eyes popped to his, finding him staring down at me. “Jaron.”
“How long has he been helping you with Brynn?”
My throat went dry. I went to pull my hand away but in a quick move, Jaron grabbed a hold of my wrist and pushed me into the kitchen out of view.
“I…” He took a deep inhale and blew it out slowly. “I know I asked them to help you, but I don’t like that they know Brynn better than I do. I don’t like that she knows them better than she knows me. Her father. And I especially don’t like that they know you better than I do.”
“No.” I cupped his face. “They don’t. No one knows me like you know me. I haven’t slept with anyone since you, I wouldn’t do that. I’m not in…I don’t like them like that. I don’t…” My throat worked hard over a lump that suddenly lodged its way inside. “Jaron, please trust me. Nothing’s happened. I promise.”
“Fuck.” He cupped my nape, leaning his forehead against mine. “I know you haven’t slept with them. I trust you, baby. And I trust them. I wouldn’t be with you…I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. And I wouldn’t have asked them to help you and watch out for you, if I thought something could happen.”
“You’ll get to know Brynn and she’ll get to know you, but I talked about you constantly. You have to know that I did. Please believe me. And this past week with you has been amazing. It’s a start, Jaron.”
“I know.” He cupped my face, kissing my forehead. “I have to tell you something. I don’t know what it means. People are trying to cause shit and I don’t like it. It’s pissing me off.”
“What’s going on?”
“I ran into this woman at the grocery store. It was harmless but she’s seen you around.”
“Oh…” I thought back to my times at the grocery store. I never noticed anything out of the ordinary, but it didn’t mean anything when I was stuck in my own head for the most part. “What do you think she wanted?”
“I’m not sure.” Jaron ran a hand through his hair. “But I don’t give a shit about her or the mayor or any of them. Working through us, is the most important thing right now.”
My heart jumped to my throat. “I agree.”
He titled his head, his eyes, eyes that I had fallen in love with so long ago, searched my face. “You better.”