to be tension and bad blood between us. I don’t want that because it would fuck with my woman’s head and I want to cushion that for her. But serious as shit, you can hold on and be pissed and it will not make a bit of fucking difference to me.
“But you know what will? If you drag your feet on dealing with Belview. If you make it harder for me to get a lock on him and communicate to him if he so much as glances in my woman’s direction, I’ll slit his throat. The guy is fucked up, he’s dangerous. He hurts Addy again—mentally or physically—and he got his chance because you’re too busy being a dick throwing up roadblocks to keep me from her instead of helping, I swear to God, Jason, I’ll bury you right next to him. Now, I’m gonna go find Addy, make sure she’s okay, get to work, and, Dylan, I’d be obliged you ran those traces. If you don’t, I will.”
I jerked my arm free and gave Matt a lift of my chin. I waited until he dipped his in return before I turned to leave. I appreciated his support, even if he was effectively there to stop me from losing my shit and doing something stupid like actually getting into a fight with Addy’s brother. The momentary pleasure of pounding on a man I considered a loose friend but a good man would be just that—momentary—until the regret set in. Addy didn’t need that kind of trouble.
I was near the door when Jasper stepped in front of me. Hard, cold, calculating familiar green eyes took me in. The green a reminder that this was Adalynn’s father. The color so similar, yet Jasper’s held none of the warmth and beauty his daughter’s did. His jaw was set, his expression furious, his posture un-fucking-happy.
Not good. Particularly not good when I’d planned on having a civil conversation with the man about the relationship I’d entered into with his daughter.
Jasper was a man of integrity, deep loyalty, and honor that was so ingrained into him he wore it like armor. I owed him the truth and he’d get it, but it would have to wait until I sorted through my simmering anger.
Jason’s being a good brother, looking out for his baby sister, I reminded myself to no avail. No good brother would humiliate his sister in front of a room full of men, most of whom she didn’t know very well. Had Jason said what he’d said to Quinn, she would’ve handed her brother his ass. Hadley probably would’ve kicked him in the balls. And Delaney would’ve cut him off at the knees. In her own way, Adalynn had told her brother she was unhappy at his remarks, but she wasn’t as vocal or vicious as her sisters would’ve been. And that pissed me right the fuck off that Jason knew, out of all his siblings, Addy would be the least likely to lash out and more apt to hold in her hurt.
“I’ll come find you after I sort this.”
“Respect, Jasper, but I need some time.”
“I’ll come find you after I sort this,” he repeated heatedly.
Shit, goddamn.
“And I need some time to check on Adalynn.”
“Then you better see to that and I’ll find you after I sort this.”
Unyielding.
There was no budging a Walker. Unless the situation was one where emotional manipulation could be carried out. And somehow, I found it hard to believe anyone, man or woman, could manipulate Jasper.
Except maybe Addy.
She was a daddy’s girl. But I wouldn’t hide behind my woman, it was my job to stand tall so she could use me as the buffer should she need to.
“See you then,” I confirmed, and Jasper stepped aside.
I found Addy, ascertained she was pissed and didn’t want to discuss what happened, and like her father, she was firm. I pushed just enough for her to explain that her feelings were hurt and being that they were she needed to hold onto the anger so she didn’t cry. Something she didn’t want to do at the office where someone could see her, and certainly not right before a patient met her in the Triple Canopy gym for PT.
I walked her to the new building, got her situated, and went back to my office to wait for Jasper. He didn’t make me wait long, but while he did I thought about my future and what it would look like if Jason, Nick, or Carter pushed