Chapter 28

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Nia

I wake to find that it's dark outside. Jake is next to me in the bed, and I smile to see him. Somehow, him being here, next to me, is some confirmation that everything he said is true.

I stretch and push up. There is a bathroom attached to the bedroom, so I slip out of the bed, toss my clothes on the bathroom floor, and go to turn on the shower spray. Sliding open the glass door, I do a quick check.

Then I smile. That snake sure left an impression.

I let out the tiniest laugh because…well…I smiled. Today is un unlikely day to be happy, but all those tears have cleared out my soul.

And Jake stayed by my side all through the crying and after too.

I wash my hair and soap up my body, feeling a million times better as I turn the spray to cold and plunge my swollen face under.

Finally, feeling like myself, I step out and wrap up in a towel.

But that's when I notice, my clothes are gone.

"Jake?" I call out, my brow furrowed. "Did you take my clothes?"

"They were disgusting," he answers, poking his head into the bathroom with a half-smile. "Tomorrow, I'll get you more clothes but I thought for tonight, you could use my shirt and I could get your stuff clean."

"Your shirt?" I quirk a brow. "I suppose that will work. I can't walk around your family in nothing but a towel. It's weird enough…"

He pulls off his shirt, abs rippling as he pulls the white cotton over my head. It falls down to my mid thighs, completely covering my towel.

He tugs at the hem of the shirt and then reaches under, giving the towel one swift tug as it falls to the floor.

I let out a little gasp, mostly from surprise as a bit of heat fills my cheeks. "You didn't have to do that."

"Oh, I did. I like you in my shirt and only my shirt."

The warmth spreads down my neck. I like it too. It smells like him as it caresses my skin. "Just so long as no one sees me. This is not exactly how I want to greet your family."

"I don't care if they see you in my shirt," he murmurs, hooking a hand around my waist and pulling me close. "I want them to know you're mine."

My brows raise. "I don't think any of them are going to try and steal me away."

He dips his nose into my wet hair, rubbing the tip close to my ear. "They just need to understand what position you hold in this family."

"And what is that?"

"You're a queen, Nia."

I tip back to look at him, and he kisses my lips.

A knock sounds on the door. "Jake?"

"Yeah?" he calls back.

"We've got food. You both must be starving."

I haven't really been hungry, but his words spark my appetite. "Can we eat in here?"

"Why?"

A million reasons. "I'm not even wearing underwear."

He laughs and then lets me go and leaves the bathroom. I follow, watching him open the bedroom door just long enough to whisper to the person on the other side. A minute later Luke appears with a pair of basketball shorts in hand.

He gives me a small smile as he hands them to Jake. "For the lady."

I blink at them. "Are those shorts or capris?"

Both of them chuckle at that. All of these men are well over six feet and long shorts on me are practically going to be pants.

But I'd rather have my skin covered. Luke leaves again and I pull on the shorts, wrinkling my nose. "I don't think they're going to stay up."

"I'll roll the top."

"Or…" I give him my best smile. "We could just bring food back here."

He gives me a small smile. "I know it's been the longest day ever, but I really need them to hear some truths, and several can only be said by you."

I let out a deep sigh as I roll the shorts waistband one more time and then straighten my shoulders. "We really have to do this?"

He pulls me close. "We have all the fire power you'll ever need, sweetheart. I just need to make certain my family is on the same page."

I give a terse nod. He's right.

"I also want you to know, I've told them almost nothing that you shared with me about your cousins or your family. It's all information for you to dole out as you see fit."

My eyes go wide because it's never felt more like Jake is on my side. Fighting for me, even with his family.

And I do have a lot of valuable knowledge. As soon as my family finds out Toni is in prison, vying for his position will begin. And that means that I shouldn't delay either. With a sigh, I slip my hand into his and let him lead me down the hall.

But I nearly lose my nerve when we enter the kitchen and they're all standing around the island with drinks in hand.

Luke is the first to turn and greet us. "Hey, you two want a drink?"

"Bourbon," Jake answers.

"Shocking," Leo answers.

But I shake my head. "Just water. "

"Water?"

"Nia's not much of a drinker," Jake says.

"And my head still hurts," I add with a deep breath, though that might have been a mistake. Reminding them of how I cracked up one of their cars, seems like a poor strategy.

"Water it is," Luke answers, opening up the fridge and pulling out a bottle of Evian.

I take it and the glass of ice, pouring myself a glass even as he hands me a wedge of lemon.

"Thank you," I say automatically, dropping the citrus into the beverage.

"You're welcome," Luke answers.

Mason is at the stove, stirring some rice dish, the smell of roasting meat coming from the oven. It smells amazing and my stomach rumbles.

"Have you eaten at all today?" Jake asks and I softly shake my head as several sets of dark eyes glance our way.

I squeeze his hand tighter.

"Get some sleep?" Mason asks his tone light and amicable.

"I did. Thank you."

A minute later, the meat comes out and plates are served, everyone settling around the massive island.

The food does wonders for my head and for my nerves as people push their plates back and I know the conversation I really don't want to have, but I'm far more prepared for, is about to start.

My hands are folded in my lap and as Mason clears his throat, Jake places his palm over both of mine. I unlace mine to grasp his and take a deep breath.

This isn't just about the Kincaids' support for me going forward. It's about what they need me to share, and this time, I understand my value.

But it's also about their original intentions, and that includes Jake. If they want me to share, they'll tell me the truth.

With my free hand, I fiddle with the basketball shorts skimming my knees .

"Nia," Mason says in his deep rumble that reverberates through me. "Why don't you start by telling us?—"

My chin lifts and I look at the man who runs Kincaid operations. He is power and success, but I am forged from fire. I see it now. "Actually," my voice is only the smallest bit unsteady. "I think it's time that you all told me what you had planned for me."

"I don't—" Roman starts and my gaze shifts to his.

"Just so that we're clear, you people took me without permission. I could have told the police today. I didn't."

Silence meets my words.

My shoulders pull straighter. "The only person in this room, who has not broken several laws, is me."

More silence. I slide my hand out of Jake's. My feelings for him are real. But his are still a mystery to me, and this moment is about making sure the Kincaids do not chew me up and spit me out.

"Which means, we're going to start by you explaining why you have upended my entire life."

"Your father," Luke starts, and my gaze meets his, my defiance flashing in my eyes. "He deserved…" but Luke's voice tapers off.

"I am not just Toni's daughter," I answer quietly. "I am a person and however you justify what you did to me," and that's the moment I look at Jake, "it was wrong."

Jake's mouth pulls into a tight line. "You're right. It was."

"I've been a victim my whole life," I say to him. "I won't be yours."

He touches my shoulder, his fingers light. "They don't understand what you mean by that."

My brows draw together as I look back at Jake. "Don't understand what?"

"How you are a victim, sweetheart? I promised you I wouldn't share your secrets, and I didn't."

I swallow down a lump. It makes me feel so much better to know that he didn't tell them what I'd shared in confidence. "Did you tell me the truth about your father?"

"Every word," he answers back, with a wince.

I nod, some of my bravado whooshing out of me. His fingers slide down my arm, reaching for my hand, and pulling me lightly from the chair. "May I please share some of the things you told me?"

Shame pierces my gut. "I want to know first, what your intentions were. You never planned to help me, did you?"

I don't know why, but I need to hear him say it. That Roman's text this morning was true, and he always planned to dump me. That the ring still on my finger is a lie.

"Before I met you," he answers with a grimace, "I intended to use you as a way to get information on Toni."

I pull my hand from his. I appreciate the truth, but it hurts even more than I thought it would.

But he reaches for my fingers again. "But that plan changed very quickly, Nia. You have to know that."

I shake my head. "I'm not sure…"

He moves close enough that I can feel his heat. "I'm going to say this to you, in front of them. I've done my duty to my family. Fulfilled my promises to them. The rest of the promises are yours, sweetheart."

My throat closes as I swallow several times. "You mean that?"

"Every word I've said." He touches my face, and I can't believe it, but there are some tears left in my eyes. "We are forged…"

"…in the fire," I reply with a shaky breath. "Jake…"

"Yeah, baby girl?"

"I think I might love you," I whisper as his forehead comes to meet mine.

"I love you too," he answers, kissing me in front of his whole family. I breathe him in, closing my eyes.

"Where does that leave us?" I hate the question, or maybe I'm just worried I'll hate the answers.

His arms come around me, gently pulling me close. "I'll tell you whatever you need to know about us. But we need you to do some sharing too. It's time for truth and for a new plan."