Chapter 25

Like Lucas and Tristan,Jacob was tall, muscled, and rugged. He was wearing jeans, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and sunglasses.

As Maddie stepped around Lucas, he pulled off his sunglasses and removed his hat, giving her a clear view of his face. His eyes were dark, intense, with long, dark lashes.

He was a man, not the fifteen-year-old boy she"d last seen so long ago…and she didn"t recognize him at all.

Both relief and sadness rushed through her. Relief that no memories were triggered by him, but also a weird emptiness that this man who had loved her for so long was nothing to her.

His face morphed into emotion, and he took a step back. "Sienna."

Sienna.The name went right to her core, right to her heart, and suddenly, she knew him. She"d heard him say Sienna before, laughing while he said it, crying while he said it, raging while he said it. "Jacob."

They both suddenly reached for each other, and she flung her arms around his neck, holding him so close, while he did the same. His arms were locked around her back, and she buried her face in his neck. Memories came tumbling back, but they were memories of him.

Of him sitting with her when she couldn't sleep. Of him stealing food for her. Of him hiding her under the bed. Of him taking blows to protect her. Of him making her laugh when she didn"t feel like laughing but desperately needed to.

She pulled back. "Jacob," she whispered. "Thank you for all the times you protected me. I remember now. Not the rest of it, but I remember you."

He nodded, tears forming on his cheeks. "Fuck, I"m so glad you got out of there, Sienna. I mean, Maddie." He gave a half smile. "You"ve always been Sienna to me, but I know that"s not who you are."

"Using that name made me remember you." She didn"t want to let him go. She couldn"t pry her hands off his jacket, and he didn"t release her. "I"m so sorry I was afraid to meet you. I just?—"

He laughed softly. "Trust me, Maddie, I know that things like this take time. Whenever you were ready, if ever, was fine. I was just happy to know you were all right." He pulled her in for a fierce hug again, and she hugged him back.

The bond between them was so strong. She could feel it humming between them. A powerful connection of love and acceptance and survival. How had she forgotten him? How was it possible? "Thanks for not forgetting me," she whispered. "I"m glad to have you back."

"Hell, Maddie, I"d never forget you."

They held each other for what felt like forever. It reminded her of the countless times she"d sat in the corner on his lap, burying herself in his arms, hiding from the noises downstairs. "You were the reason I got through that time," she said slowly, knowing it was true.

Her whole body felt safe. Her soul felt safe. She felt like she was home again, home in a way that she"d never felt before. "Are you my biological brother?" He must be. The way she felt with him was too strong.

"It doesn"t matter," he said, pulling back. "You"re my sister. Blood doesn"t make a difference." His gaze went to her dad. "You know that, Maddie."

She smiled through her tears and looked back at her dad. "I do know that."

Huck was openly crying, and she held out her arm to him. "Dad. Come in."

He practically sprinted over and locked his arms around both of them, gripping them tightly and fiercely. "I love you both," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "I will protect you both with my life for as long as I live."

Jacob"s arms tightened around them in response, and Maddie realized that her dad and Jacob had solved their issues. Were they a family now, in a weird sort of way? "I want you guys to meet my wife and daughter," Jacob said. "I want this circle complete."

Maddie nodded, no longer afraid, her heart aching with emotion. "All right."

But her dad shook his head. "Not if it endangers them. We know Les is still out there."

Maddie smiled. Her dad was himself again. Meeting Jacob had healed a huge hole in his heart. She could see it in his eyes.

Jacob nodded. "I appreciate that, but we"re good here. I"ll bring them by later today." He hugged Maddie again, then her dad. "I"ll see you later."

And then, without another word, he jogged off to his truck, hopped in, and drove down the dirt road, heading into the depths of the ranch.

Maddie let out her breath, watching him go. "Wow."

Her dad tucked his arm through hers.

They said nothing. Simply stood there watching until Jacob"s truck vanished from sight.

After he was gone, Maddie looked around to find Lucas. He was standing with Tristan, and they were both frowning at her. "What?"

Lucas looked at her dad. "Did you see it?"

Her dad took a breath. "Yeah. I thought I was imagining it. No?"

"I saw it, too," Tristan said.

"What?" Maddie turned toward them and put her hands on her hips. "What are you talking about?"

Lucas eyed her cautiously. "I don"t know how you"ll feel about this, but you and Jacob look very similar. I think you could be biologically related to him."

She was stunned by the news. "Really?"

Lucas nodded. "That might mean you"re biologically related to his dad, Ivan, or Ivan"s half-brother, Les."

Understanding crept in. "Which would mean his hunting me is personal."

"Yeah." Lucas didn"t say more, because he didn"t need to.

They all knew that if it was about her specifically, and not just payback for Jacob killing Ivan, the stakes just went up. Way, way up.

Les might think he owned her, and that gave him license to think in ways that were terrifying.

But today, for the first time, fear didn"t paralyze her. Meeting Jacob, the Harts, and having the frank discussion with her dad had unlocked the courage she"d been wanting her whole life.

Because instead of having a panic attack, she put her hands on her hips. "Well, then, we need a plan, don"t we?"