Chapter Eight

Jack

I step closer, giving her no space, partially to stop her from getting away and to get a little more of her scent. The little dark-brown-haired beauty with hints of red in her hair stares at me with a bit of fear and hunger in those tired but beautiful eyes. Why does she look so damn familiar?

Breathing her in, I stare into her gorgeous hazel eyes and challenge her, wanting her, needing Nora to show me who she really is. "Scaring him? You stole him, terrified him for so long, and I'm the one he should be afraid of?"

"I've done nothing but look out for him while you've been hunting him down like a dog, wanting him dead." I'd be proud of her bravery if it wasn't for her insult to my love for my little brother. It's so damn disgusting that all the desire I felt a minute ago has passed.

I twist my head to the side, face tightening, hands at my sides flexing into white-knuckled fists. "Want him dead? Are you fucking nuts? I get that you're fucking sleep deprived from the dark circles under your eyes, but I would never do anything to hurt my brother."

She's practically spitting fire for that intentional dig, but I need a little reprieve from the instant attraction I'm feeling. This woman kidnapped my brother and I should string her up for what she's done, not want to drive my cock deep inside her hole and stay there until we both can't move.

"I'm just supposed to believe you after you burst through my door, violently threatening me," she challenges me. Damn, does she challenge me. I want to take her young ass over my knee and spank her. Who the hell does she think she is, talking to me like that?

"Little felon, you don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm not afraid of you." She's lying, but Nora's not going down without a fight. What kind of woman would give her life for a stranger's kid?

"You need to be afraid." God, even sleep deprived, she's stunning. The dark circles under her eyes don't take away the beauty, but that doesn't change my plans.

"You stole my brother. For one year, two months, and three days."

"I didn't—" My hand wraps around her delicate little throat, unwilling to believe her lies. I really could get used to that feeling. Her pulse under my fingers, vibrating violently, is intense and erotic. What would it feel like if she was riding my cock at the same time? Damn it, Jack. Shake it off.

"Don't fucking lie to me, ever, little felon." I breathe her in and groan. A mixture of distrust and desire bleed through me. What am I going to do with her?

The answer pops out of my mouth before I can think of a better one. "John responds to you, and you clearly respond so well to me. For your crimes, you will be John's mother and my wife, my little felon." She gasps and I smirk, stepping back.

"You have to be out of your mind. I'm not responding to you at all."

"I already warned you about lying," I say, staring into Nora's gorgeous hazel eyes that scream longing. I'm not sure what she's longing for, but I'm willing to satisfy her.

"Momma," John cries at her side, clinging to her desperately.

"Come on, let us relax." I turn to my men while still holding on to my future wife. "Stand down and wait over there. I have a lot to discuss with Ms. Harrison. Make yourselves useful and get her some water."

"I…" It's adorable that she thinks that I'll be persuaded to listen to her. Leading her over to the sofa, John follows her before going to his toy bins. As her ass hits the cushions, fatigue falls over her. I almost feel bad that I came barging in—almost.

As I reach up to brush her cheek, she flinches. I should be offended, but then again, I've threatened her more than once. "You need to relax. It's clear that my arrival disrupted your sleep." I caress her soft skin briefly before she moves her face away.

"Relax? Are you freaking serious? You barge into my home, threatening me and John."

"I've never threatened my little brother," I inform her. I'd give my life for him. "You took him from me."

"I didn't do any such thing." She huffs, looking adorable and so familiar. I wonder if Joanne chose her because Nora has a much closer connection. Trying to picture Joanne's appearance, I look for any similarities, but I'm not seeing it. John returns to Nora with a toy in hand and climbs onto her lap without any permission, invading her personal space. He straddles her body, clinging to her.

"How the fuck did you end up with him in your care, and why is he calling you Momma?" I growl, feeling the insult to my mother since the title belonged to her, even though I'm thrilled that he's speaking at all.

"Look, I didn't kidnap him. I was asked to look after him even when others told me to send him off to the state." My brow kicks up and my hackles raise. Who the fuck else is involved? They'll lose their lives for that shit.

"Who told you to send him to the state?" he growls. "Your boyfriend?" That fucker needs a bullet in his head and in his dick for good measure.

"Well, ex, now." That's very good.

"He thought my brother should have gone to the state?" I want to snap the fucker in half. Anyone who thinks less of my brother doesn't deserve to live. He's a wonderfully special little boy who has struggles, but he's good. The only good one of us MacNamaras, and I hate how anyone could treat him badly.

"Yeah. I was twenty-three and just started using my teaching degree with no parenting experience, and raising a five-year-old autistic child is quite difficult."

"Autistic? John's autistic?" I questioned.

"You didn't know that? How could you not know that if you're his brother?" She jumps off the sofa, holds him tightly to her chest to shield him from me.

"It's not what you think."

"Oh yeah? She was frightened when she brought him to me, begging me to look after him, telling me he was in danger from his own family."

"I would give my life for my little brother. I've been looking for his kidnappers since the day it happened. If I hadn't found her, I would have never known John was alive."

"Where is she?" she questions.

Fuck. I can't lie to Nora, or she won't trust me. "Dead."

"You killed her." She's off the couch instantly and my hand is on her wrist, dragging her down.

I answer as calmly as possible. "No. My father did."

Nora breathes deeply, attempting to regain her composure. God, she's beautiful. "When?"

"Last year."

Her judgmental gaze narrows at me, and I sense she's about to be fired up. "And you took this long to find him?" Who the hell does she think she is? And why am I so damn aroused?

Normally I'd tell her to mind her damn business, but seeing as she'll be my wife and I want her to comply, I may as well answer her with a basic response. I replied, "She never had a chance to answer before he killed her."

She purses her lips, studying me with questions. My little brother tugs on her chin, vying for her attention. Naturally she gives it to him, cradling his body tighter without breaking eye contact with me as if it's just automatic. He rests his head on her shoulder, playing with her hair and rocking. He used to do that with me before he fell asleep. Fuck, my heart feels that to the core.

"He's still tired," I say, knowing his little quirks.

"Yes. He normally sleeps a little later, but you startled him awake."

"My apologies. I was quite anxious to see him and afraid you got wind of my arrival and were on the run."

"I've never heard of you. In fact, I don't know your name, other than Jack. As it is, all I know is that John's name was listed under John Matthew Ingram."

"Our family name is MacNamara." Nora's eyes widen as if she'd heard it before, but then she flinches again.

"John, please let go." I realize he's tugging on her hair. I reach over and help free his grip and say, "How about you lay him back down so we can talk for a bit? There's a lot to discuss, and I'd rather do it while he sleeps."

"I believe that would be a good idea. Hopefully he'll agree." She gives me a halfhearted smile. I remembered that a lot of the stuff we were allowed to do with John depended on his mood.

As we stand up, I look around the room and wonder if John's old nanny gave her money, or if she just gave John all she had. Her house is small, not more than two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a medium-sized kitchen with a small living area. It's modest but clean, even with all of John's toys lying about.

I look at my men and point to the toys. "Clean up the toys." They tip their chins and then get to work, putting the toys in the bins near the television. We walk to his room, which is set up nicely for a teacher's salary. She sets him down and I cover him, giving him a kiss on his forehead. "I've missed you so much. I'll never let anything happen to you again, buddy."

When I stand, I find her eyes on me and try to ignore the sensual desire that runs through me. My family has always been a priority for me, and I would never deny my feelings for them. Everyone knows what they mean to me, and anyone that harms them learns that I'm serious.

"I watch you with him and I see your sincerity, but it still doesn't explain why you didn't know he was autistic. Your suits are expensive. The clothes he came with cost more than I make in a year."

I nod. To her it screams of neglect, but it couldn't be further from the truth. "My mother's birth was difficult. We were told that his birth was complicated, and he suffered brain damage during the process." Nora gasps. The sound causes John to move slightly in his bed, and we both look at him. Giving each other a knowing look, I take her by the forearm and lead her out of the bedroom.

We go into the hallway, and I continue. "My mother died less than a week later. My father never grew attached to my brother because of it, but my other brothers and I did. However, when it came to getting more treatment for him, that was my father's choice, and his doctors all agreed with my father that it was the brain damage he received at birth."

"Couldn't you have fought for custody?"

"Sweetheart, do I look like I go through legal channels? The only way things happen in my world are through force. Now, things have changed," I say, growling out that last bit. My father isn't getting an opportunity to choose. John is mine now.

"So is your father…"

"No, he's very much alive, but I'm curious what John's nanny told you."

"Nothing, really." Nora shakes her head.

I wrap my hand around her throat, knowing it turns both of us on. Fuck, my dick is hard as I watch the way her eyes brighten up and her pulse races. "What did I tell you about lying to me?"

"Look, it was over a year ago, so it isn't all that damn clear. All I know is that I've been afraid to take him out except for school because she said that his family would be willing to kill him and that his parents were killed….and he was her godson."