Love Required (24 page)

Hanging up the call, she closed her eyes and let her head fall back. Jason didn’t waste any time getting into her space. He quickly lifted her into his arms and took her seat on the couch. Pulling her tightly against him, he cradled her body, infusing it with warmth and strength, fighting off the paralyzing fear she could easily get lost in. Jason was her rock, her anchor in the storm, and she held onto him knowing the waters were about to get rougher. She knew he needed information, he deserved to hear the whole story. He deserved to know what he was getting into just by being with her, just because he loved her. It was time for Jason to learn about Victoria.

JASON felt like his heart might explode in his chest. The pain he saw etched on Tori’s face gutted him. But there was fear, too. Instinct to protect and destroy whatever caused her that pain overwhelmed him and threatened his capacity to breathe. Now that he held her tightly in his embrace, he calmed a little, but not by much. He needed to know what was wrong, so he could fix it and prevent it from putting that look on her face again. So he could destroy it if necessary—all she had to do was tell him.

Tori clung to him, her arms wrapped firmly around his neck. Little sobs escaped periodically, and the shoulder of his shirt was wet against his skin. He knew she had to let it out, so he let her do it silence, content just holding her for now. Noticing Lexi wasn’t in the room, he spied the baby monitor and figured she was napping in her room. Well, it wasn’t her room, yet. But if he had his way, it would be.

When Tori’s sobs relented and her body relaxed under the soothing strokes of his hand down her back, he kissed the top of her head. A few minutes later, she pulled her head from his neck and found his eyes. Red, puffy eyes stared back at him as she sniffled.

He smoothed her hair out of her face and waited for her to talk to him. Fortunately, she didn’t make him wait much longer. With a hitch in her voice, she told him that Mack was her old neighbor, that he was the one to save her from Damien. She explained about the scar on her stomach and how she thought it had ended Lexi’s life before it even began.

Tori explained how Damien threatened to ‘take care of the problem’ because her body belonged to him. Tori told him how her full name was Victoria, but she went by Tori now because her full name reminded her too much of Damien. Also hoping it made it harder for him to find her. Then she told him that she’d understand if all of this was too much to take on, and that if he chose to be without her, she would let him. But he had heard enough.

In a stern voice, he silenced her, “I’ve heard all I need to hear, Tori.” He paused and watched as her eyes widened at his words, so he continued, “Out of everything you just said to me, do you want to know what pisses me off the most?”

A tear slipped from the corner of her right eye, crossing over her scar. Unconsciously, his hand sought out her cheek, and his thumb gently ran over its path. She hadn’t answered him, and she didn’t need to, because he would tell her anyway. “It was the part where you said that if I wanted to go, you would let me. Now I can’t say for sure which is worse. The fact that you think I would want to go, or that you would let me go.”

“Jason …” Her voice came out choked and pleading. He hushed her with a finger to her lips.

“Tori, did you believe me last night when I told you I loved you?” he asked, hoping she couldn’t tell how scared he was she’d say no. So when she answered with a nod, the tightness in his chest released. Pushing forward, he asked, “Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”

She wrapped her hand around the finger he still had pressed against her lips and pulled it away. She cleared her throat and swept her tongue across her bottom lip before saying, “Yes, I love you very much.”

Again, his chest tightened as her words washed over him. Never before had he felt so vulnerable at the hands of another. Yes, she’d said it before, but in the shadow of her fears, it had a more profound meaning to him. Leaning his forehead against hers, he sighed her name.

“I love you, Tori. You and Lexi are mine, and I vow to do whatever is necessary to make you understand that. We can handle whatever the future—or your past—hurls at us. You understand that? You and Lexi are
mine
. Mine to protect. Mine to keep.”

Another tear escaped when she nodded, her eyes holding his. “I understand … we’re yours.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JASON knew Logan would be arriving shortly. Standing up, he pulled Tori with him. After giving her another hug, he kissed her forehead, and said, “Why don’t you take a minute to freshen up before Logan gets here.”

Her puffy eyes widened. “Oh, I must look terrible. I should just go home.” She wiped at her cheeks, blindly looking for evidence of her makeup.

“Sorry, baby, but you’re not going home tonight. Until we know more details, you and Lexi are safer here,” Jason said, as sternly as he could. He didn’t want to come across as a controlling asshole, but there wasn’t going to be any give on this. She and Lexi were staying there, end of story. When she tried to speak up, he silenced her with a finger to her lips. “Don’t even try to argue with me about it. We have spent most nights together at your house, so now we’ll just spend them here. I’m not budging on this.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

“Now, I’d like to call that Mack guy back. Can I have your phone?” he asked, putting his hand out for it. She handed it to him without question. He was happy she was letting him take the lead on this. “Thank you. Go ahead and freshen up, take your time, and I’ll listen for Lexi.”

She nodded and gave him a weak smile before turning and heading for the stairs. Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to control the roll of emotions that were beating at his insides. He fell onto the couch, and his head dropped to his hands. Between the new information he got from Tori about her marriage and the actual threat of knowing her ex-husband was being released, he thought he might lose it. His heart hammered in his chest as he recalled her entire story. As if he didn’t already have a mountain of respect for Tori, it had increased exponentially with the new details.

Jason also realized what a sadistic bastard Damien really was. He needed to come up with a game plan to make sure she wasn’t in any danger. He needed details.

Dialing the last number that called her phone, it rang three times before a man’s voice came across the line. “Victoria, are you okay?”

Jason didn’t like this guy calling her that. She was Tori. Not only was that the name of the woman he met and fell in love with, but Jason also knew she didn’t want to be called Victoria any longer. Without coming across as rude, he said, “Tori is fine. She’s a little upset, as I’m sure you can understand, but she’ll be all right.”

“Who I am speaking with?” Mack asked.

“My name is Jason Michaels. I’m the reason Tori isn’t alone anymore,” Jason said. He wasn’t sure why he said it like that, but just calling himself her ‘boyfriend’ didn’t seem to sound important enough. He felt like more, because she was more than a ‘girlfriend’ to him.

“Good, I’m glad she isn’t alone. I was worried about calling her, but knew I had to find her. She didn’t leave any information with the officer that handled her case so I knew she wouldn’t have known otherwise,” Mack offered.

Jason nodded to himself. This man seemed like a good guy, and Jason appreciated that he took the time to find her. “Thank you for tracking her down. She not only has to worry about herself, but her daughter, so I’m grateful you did.”

“I couldn’t sleep thinking of her out there somewhere, unprotected. I was there when her ex went to court. I saw how he manipulated a deal out of them, saying she assaulted him in his own kitchen. Though I will say, I was pleased to see she’d permanently injured him.”

Jason’s curiosity got the best of him. “Oh really. I don’t have all the details, and I know she didn’t see him after he was taken away. What did she do to him?”

“She flung a pan full of boiling sauce over her shoulder and into his face. Pretty sure she was burned on the back of her shoulder in the process. Last time I saw him, it looked mighty painful. One whole side of his face was scarred,” Mack said with satisfaction. It made Jason like the guy even more.

“Well, considering I’ve never seen the man before, it’s good to know he has identifiable marks. Should make it easier to spot him should he show up here.” Jason made a mental note to examine her shoulder later in bed.

“It certainly should,” Mack agreed. Jason set about asking Mack questions, in order to get the information he needed. What he knew about Damien. What he was told when he got the call informing him about Damien’s release. He asked for whatever information he could think of, knowing he would get together with Sean and figure out how best to ensure Tori and Lexi were protected. Before getting off the phone, he asked Mack if he could keep an eye on the house. Jason wanted to know if Damien was there on a daily basis, because if he was in Idaho, there was no way he could be a threat to Tori in San Diego.

He knew it was probably a lot to ask a man who really didn’t have any obligation to Tori. But the fact that he tracked her down, gave Jason hope. Before they hung up, Jason made sure they both had all the information they needed to contact each other, then agreed to check in daily via text. It was a bit extreme, but Jason didn’t care; he had to do what he could and felt he had an ally with Mack.

Standing from the couch, he was making his way toward the stairs to check on Tori when Logan walked in. Holding up the six-pack he was carrying, he said, “Sorry I’m late, but I come bearing gifts.”

Jason’s mood must have been obvious because Logan’s smile instantly faded. “What’s wrong man?”

“A lot. I’ll explain in little while, but can you do me a favor and call Sean. It’s important that I talk with him. Tori and I need his advice,” Jason explained. His mood was somber but determined.

“Sean doesn’t like me too much, but I’m sure he’ll come over. You need him now?” Logan asked, pulling out his phone to dial.

“Yeah, we need him now,” Jason said as he turned to climb the stairs. Tori had been upstairs for too long, and he needed to see she was okay. Taking the stairs two at a time, he was in his room seconds later. When he found it empty, he had a moment of panic before finding her in the room where Lexi was sleeping. He used the room when any of his nieces or nephews stayed with him so there was a playpen, a bed, and a couch. There were toys piled in a basket, sporting equipment standing in a corner and a gaming system set up opposite the bed.

Tori was sitting on the couch, her legs stretched across the length of it, with Lexi asleep on her chest. Her eyes were closed so he approached with caution in case she didn’t know he was there. Whether she knew she needed him or not, she had him, and he was going to make sure she realized it. Positioning his hip on the edge of the couch beside her legs, he rested one hand on Lexi and the other stroked Tori’s tear-streaked cheek. She opened her eyes, and another tear escaped. He caught it with his thumb and wiped it away. Taking in a shaky breath, she whispered words that gutted him to his core. "He can’t know about her. I’ll do whatever I have to, but he will never get his hands on my daughter.”

TORI watched as anger washed over Jason’s face. “You’re fucking right he’ll never lay his hands on her. I told you, she’s mine, and I’d kill for her.”

She believed him; there was no way she couldn’t. The look on his face said it all. Lexi deserved to have a man like Jason caring for her. Tilting her head and giving him a knowing smile, she agreed, “I know you would, and I’m beyond grateful for that.”

Lexi stirred in her arms but didn’t wake up. When Tori came upstairs to freshen up, she gravitated to Lexi immediately. Holding her daughter infused her with peace, almost making her feel stronger than she was. She was terrified of the fact Damien was being set out in the world again. Whether his sights would be set on finding her, or on another woman, she didn’t know. But she knew she wasn’t his victim anymore, and just like the day she got away from him, she had more to fight for than herself.

With a kiss to Lexi’s head, she stood before placing her gently back in the playpen. Smiling, she took in how big Lexi was getting and couldn’t help but marvel at the fact that her first birthday was only a week away. Standing over her, she felt Jason’s arms wrap around her from behind and his chin rest on her shoulder. He, too, gave her strength, and she leaned into him, seeking more of it.

After a few silent moments, Jason said, “I called Sean over to talk. He can help us figure out how best to protect you and Lexi. I’m not taking any chances knowing that bastard is out there.”

Turning in the circle of his arms, she wrapped her own around him. Pressing her face into his chest, she inhaled his scent. As it washed over her, she calmed a little before placing a kiss there. Looking up, she captured his lips for soft kiss and said, “Let’s go talk then.”

~*~*~*~

It was several hours, a couple six-packs, and two pizzas later before Sean and Logan left. Tori was mentally exhausted, and though she knew they were helping, she was ready to stop talking about her drama for the night. Lexi’s bedtime was approaching, and a bath was in order. Jason returned from walking the guys out, Lexi in his arms, as Tori was cleaning up the remnants of dinner. When she went to take her from him, he pulled Tori into his embrace.

Kissing her on the forehead, he said, “Why don’t you go take a bath and relax. I’ll take care of Lex.”

A bath did sound like a great idea. With all the tension coursing through her body, she could use a little relaxation. Hugging the two of them, she asked, “You don’t mind?”

“Not at all. Do you have another change of clothes for both of you?” he asked. She nodded and he added, “Good. Tomorrow we’ll make sure to grab more stuff for you to bring here.”

He must’ve seen the reluctance in her eyes because he pushed on, “It’s not up for discussion, Tori. You and Lexi are not safe at your place. This house has an alarm, and not to mention, me. It’s better for you to be here, and you know that, so you should just accept it.”