you love her. She knows the man you are, the father you are, so she knew the second you caught the scent something was wrong you’d make moves to protect her. That is exactly what she doesn’t want. She expressly stated she was not going into lockdown. It took Hadley guilting her for Addy to take Jake’s threat seriously. Which, I know Jason thinks I’m blowing smoke, because he has it in his head I’m jacking his sister around, but I’m telling you, Jasper, the motherfucker is deranged. I cannot put into words what I saw in him, except to say he’s vacant. He will not get another shot at ripping Addy apart. She’s agreed to stay with me so that’s where she’s staying. I’ve also asked her to change all of her PT appointments to the Triple Canopy gym, which she’s done. She also agreed she won’t be going near the VA until Jake is dealt with.
“One last thing—this morning on the way over here, Addy was struggling. To ease that I promised her I wouldn’t let anyone make her do something she didn’t want to do. The same way I will not lie to her, I sure as fuck will not break that promise.”
“That a threat or a warning?” Jasper grunted.
Mother fuck, the Walkers and their goddamn stubbornness.
“Wouldn’t dream of doing either of those two things to you.”
“But you have no problem threatening to bury my son?”
“Nope,” I told him honestly. “Tell me something, Jasper, you heard a man talking ugly shit to Emily, you wouldn’t make your displeasure known?” Considering the question was not one I needed an answer to, I didn’t wait for one. “Actually, you wouldn’t have bothered with a warning, you simply would’ve buried him. Brother or not, I got a serious issue with my woman’s face turning red with embarrassment, her body strung tight, and her eyes full of hurt. All of that caused by a man who has her love and trust, one that should always handle her with care. Jason doesn’t like me, doesn’t want me with Addy, then he should’ve found the time to have a quiet word with me like you did. He shouldn’t have done what he did.”
Jasper sat back in the chair, and knowing turned into unease. Normally upon seeing Jasper’s jaw set, eyes glittering, his muscles coiled tight, I’d beat a hasty retreat, not wanting to be in the firing line. But considering I was the one who put him on-edge, I didn’t move.
“And now that I’ve had my quiet word?”
“By that, you mean now that you’ve made it known you agree with Jason and you think I’m not good enough for Addy?”
Jasper dipped his chin and there was more confirmation. I wasn’t good enough, and that didn’t sting, it fucking hurt.
Never good enough.
Not for my dad. Not for Addy’s family. Not even good enough for my little brother.
“Now nothing,” I returned.
“Nothing?” Jasper asked.
“What were you expecting? Respect, Jasper, but Adalynn is a grown woman. For her sake, I hoped this would go smoothly and you’d give me an honest shot at proving to you I love your daughter. But she’s not of an age where I need to ask your permission to date her. As much as I respect you, Emily, Jason, and the rest of your family, I’d be a punk ass bitch if a few words and a scowl veered me off-course and made me break my promises to Addy. We both know I’m not that. And we both fucking know that you being the type of father you are, it hasn’t escaped you that your other daughters didn’t choose punk bitches to spend their lives with, so it baffles me as to why you’d think Adalynn would.”
Something passed over Jasper’s expression, but like the master he was, a nanosecond later it was clear.
“Adalynn is not like her sisters. She’s special—”
“She sure as fuck is. But what she absolutely is not, is naïve. Your girl knows her mind and has no issue communicating exactly what she wants and doesn’t want. She might be the youngest but she’s not a baby. And she might be shy but she sure as fuck isn’t stupid. I’ll give you this and hopefully, it will give you a sliver of peace. I know how special Addy is. I know the beauty she brings to my life and I’ll do everything in my power to protect it. What I will not do is give her up because her brother