might actually be hurt.
I’m a stupid fuck for not realizing it. I’m a stupid fuck for not telling her the truth sooner. In hindsight, I see exactly how stupid I truly was, even though I had Anna and Bodie urging me to come clean time and time again. The only excuse I had was the fear she’d cut me loose immediately, and I was selfishly hoping for one more day or one more week with her.
Ladd, Jackson, and I clear out long before the other FBI agents haul off the kidnappers. Brian wasn’t arrested as his crimes were on a state level, but I’m sure he’ll be answering to those at some point. Clay took Brian, along with his sister, to their FBI offices for interviews. I’m weighing whether I should go there after a quick debrief at headquarters to offer her a ride home. My gut says it’s a bad idea, and she needs a little space.
The drive back to Jameson isn’t quiet. Ladd and Jackson, riding high on the adrenaline of storming a kidnappers’ stronghold—which wasn’t all that strong—has them sharing some moments that were pulse-pounding and others that were hysterical.
Like the look on Glen’s face when I came crashing through the wood-and-glass window, which was clearly a diversionary tactic that let Ladd and Jackson deploy flash bangs to stun the others into capitulation. It worked like a dream. The kidnappers were so startled Ladd and Jackson had them down on their knees with their hands behind their heads in mere seconds.
I’m quiet on the ride back and it’s not long before they notice.
“You don’t look too happy for someone who just saved their wife,” Ladd comments as he drives one of the company vans to headquarters.
“Just mulling over the best way to win her back,” I admit.
“You mean saving her life didn’t do the trick?” Jackson laughs from the rear seat. I turn my head over my shoulder to look at him, and his laughter dies a sudden death.
“Unfortunately, saving her in the manner we did revealed the real truth of who I am in a way that was so shocking, I think she’s more angry and hurt than I could have imagined.”
The other two men are silent for a moment, then Ladd offers, “Lots and lots of groveling and apologies?”
“Figured that much,” I mutter.
“Get in good with her parents,” Jackson says, and that gets my attention.
I shift in my seat to look at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, get them on your side. They’ve got to be thinking you’re a hero right now.”
“Right,” Ladd drawls. “Hit them first before she can. Let them know how sorry you are and that you want to fix it, but you’re not sure how. Casually remind them, of course, that you saved their daughter’s life, and you’d be appreciative of any help you can get.”
I ponder that. “So you’re both advising me to use her parents against her.”
“Pretty much,” Jackson says with a grin. “But dude… you lied to her not only for weeks, but you married her without telling her the truth. You need all the help you can get.”
That would be true, and they both make great points. But ultimately, the problem may be that her parents don’t think I’m worthy of their daughter. That my lies trump any good deeds I’ve done by bringing her home safely.
Christ, this is a cluster fuck, and it’s of my own making.
No one to get me out of it but myself.
♦
The first opportunity to make headway with Jaime’s parents comes when I return to Jameson. They’re still there on the fourth floor in the communal area, along with Laney. Kynan had obviously kept them apprised of everything, including her rescue. When I arrived, intending to head straight to my apartment for a shower, I was surprised to see them still there with Joslyn and Kynan.
“They’re hanging out here until Jaime and Brian finish up with the FBI, then they’re going to go pick them up,” Kynan explains.
I nod, giving them a smile. There goes any hope of me trying to see Jaime tonight, but that’s probably for the best. Like I said… she might need a little space before I put on a hard press to win her back.
Her parents and Laney stand from the couch, her dad’s expression saying he’s not sure what to make of me. It’s part reserved and part distasteful. I see no gratitude for what I’ve done.
Laney does give me a small smile, but she