I should have handled Jasper with care, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
The cool night air did nothing to extinguish the burn that had built in my chest. I knew it was going to be bad, both what she had to say and the aftermath. But I hadn’t known how bad. I hadn’t fucking known that the worst was the goddamn worst.
She hadn’t said the word and I couldn’t bring myself to even think it, but I knew.
I knew what that motherfucker had done to her.
The worst.
Fucking shit, I couldn’t breathe.
Sweet, shy, beautiful Addy. So fucking strong thinking she was weak.
“Fuck!”
“Brother.”
Drake.
Of course it would be him. After Carter left our team, Drake had slid in to fill the role of the voice of reason. But the problem was, there was no reason that would quench my thirst for blood.
I turned to tell him I wasn’t ready but stopped when I saw it wasn’t only Drake. Logan, Matt, and Luke had joined him. My gaze went from my brothers to the window and I saw Carter and Brady blocking the stairs. Jasper was pacing, Levi and Clark standing close. I knew if Lenox was in town he’d be there, too.
Brothers.
Closing ranks.
I knew I had to give Jasper what he needed, but first I had to get control. Months ago, I’d forgotten something important. Or maybe I hadn’t forgotten, maybe I’d been too proud and stubborn. But now was not the time for pride. Addy needed me. Jasper had to be briefed and I absolutely had to be ready to take care of my woman when she was done speaking to her mom and sisters.
So I didn’t delay and I didn’t hold back. I told my brothers every last gut-wrenching detail. And when I was done, my heart was pounding in my chest. But I remembered something Addy had said, something important. Something that I couldn’t ignore as badly as I wanted to.
She unequivocally did not want her father to cause bodily harm to Keith. She was terrified of it. That was what had held her back talking about it. And I knew it was going to take an act of God to convince Jasper Walker, a man who took love and protection to such a degree it was unreal, not to hunt down Keith.
I caught sight of Jasper heading toward the back door, Levi and Clark following him. Carter and Brady still at the stairs.
My brothers shifted, making room for the newcomers. I noted Levi and Clark had positioned themselves so they could make a grab for Jasper if necessary and I thought that was smart. Depending on his reaction, they might have to lock him down.
Jasper’s gaze locked onto mine and I broke the silence.
“How straight do you want it?”
His jaw flexed at my question and he grunted his answer, “Straight.”
“No part of this is pretty and it fucks me to say, but there’s no way to cushion this for you.”
“Give it.” I hesitated and Jasper’s already taut body strung tighter and his head dropped forward. “So I know.”
Likely he did, but I still gave him the confirmation he’d requested.
“He physically, mentally, and sexually assaulted her.”
I heard Levi and Clark both growl a few expletives, but I didn’t take my eyes off Jasper so when his head snapped up and his eyes lit with fire, I didn’t miss it.
Shattered.
Then Jasper inhaled so deeply I watched his chest expand.
“Why?” he croaked.
“This is gonna be the harder part,” I told him.
“Harder than learning some fucker took his hands to my little girl and…”
Fucking hell. He couldn’t say it either.
“Yep. Because the why will burn you to ash. But being the father I know you to be, you’ll see your way past it and give Adalynn what she wants.”
Logan and Matt moved closer to me the same way Levi and Clark had crowded Jasper.
Any other time I would’ve let that settle over me—the bonds of brotherhood. But right then I didn’t feel anything other than Addy’s pain.
“She blames herself. And she’s terrified of you.”
“Me?”
Jasper’s torso jerked back and he looked like I’d struck him.
“You. Her fear is two-fold. She’s afraid that once you found out, that it would eat at you until you wouldn’t be able to look at her. But the real fear is that you’ll kill him and she’ll have to live with the guilt of you getting into trouble. She mentioned you going to prison. That’s her fear, losing you.”