13. Zane

Chapter thirteen

Zane

I lay beside Jasmine for over an hour before she woke enough to declare she was sticky and needed a shower. I gave her some peace, managing my own shower in my en suite and still having time to make lunch before she's done.

Bringing the food tray back upstairs to her room, I knock gently on the door. She will benefit from the familiarity of her room rather than the overwhelming void of the rest of my house.

I don't know what to say to her. I want her to agree to stay with me, to marry me, but I'm not sure how much kindness that will take. Of course, as my willing and consenting wife, she will always sleep by my side, but we are nowhere near that stage just yet. I am getting older, my options are getting smaller, and they weren't exactly plentiful to begin with. I'm at the stage now where I can't let opportunities pass me by. But she is young, free and vibrant. She doesn't want to give that up for evenings cuddling on the sofa watching old Western movies. I'm a John Wayne fan, and she probably doesn't even know who he was.

"Lunch looks amazing. You are really a good cook," she praises.

"Thank you." I've been single longer than I've been married, and raising two hungry boys has made me a quick learner.

"What do you plan to do with me?"

"I'm not going to fuck and run. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, but I will not hold you against your will. You will be well cared for, kitten. I will protect you for as long as you will allow me to."

"What about Andrew?"

"I've taken care of Andrew's body." I'm not sure how to explain what I did for her. She didn't kill him, but neither did I. He could have survived if he had gotten medical attention before he bled out. He could have lived with the scar, but he didn't deserve to live. I'm not suggesting he was unworthy, but he would have made life very difficult for Jasmine, possibly even killing her to make his point.

"Tell me he deserved to die. Give me something, please," she begs sweetly, taking hold of my hand.

"He had a reputation for being a dick with women. I have no experience of anything he did, but I expect many women will sleep better knowing he is gone."

"Does that make me less of a terrible person?"

"My son, Lenny called me this morning to say a woman was being sent across to be introduced to him. She may not know it now, but in a few months, she will thank you for saving her from his clutches." Why does painting her as less of a bad person make me sound more like one?

"Where can I go?"

"In my home? Wherever you want. I only ask that you tell me before making a decision to leave."

We pick at the food, enjoying the afternoon sun streaming through the window.

"I don't deserve this," she finally confesses.

"I believe that you do."

The doorbell rings, and then loud greetings fill the house. I groan at the interruption but my family is a big part of my life and she needs to fit in with that rather than replace it. "My sons. I'll be back soon."

I head downstairs. Marcus and Lenny are in my living room, making themselves at home. Usually, I'd be delighted to see them both, but my eyes glance around for any evidence of Jasmine.

"Nothing better to do?" I question sternly.

"Knox wants us to interview everyone," Lenny shrugs. "Literally everyone employed by the Thayers."

"Are you here to interview me?"

"God, Dad, no." Marcus hoots with laughter. "We're just stopping in to keep you in the loop. You've not been answering your phone."

Marcus glances at the pair of coffee cups on the side. "Do you have a reason for that?"

"Come on, we've wanted Dad to move on for years," Lenny jokes. "He deserves it, but what a weekend to start shagging around."

Sometimes, I want to punch him in his smug face, but I think that is what this is about. No one cares this much about one brick of coke, especially when Knox is taking care of the person who stole it.

"So get interviewing, then." I shrug it off and walk towards the kitchen for some coffee. What do I care if I've picked a bad day to take some personal time? It's not like I've ever done it before.

"Dad, it's the weekend. I've got Alex to think about." Marcus joins me in the kitchen to play middleman.

"Are you asking for childcare, or do you want me to do your job for you again?" I am perhaps a little more abrupt than usual, but I'm worried the idea of a lady guest might put him off asking for the childcare, and I'll be lumbered with interviewing all evening. For the first time in years, I want to be home.

"I don't know. I was going to ask, but you seem busy. I suppose I could take him with me to speak to the runners."

"Jesus. No, Marcus," I snap. "Bring him over, I can entertain him here. I was just worried that, given the circumstances," I lift the two mugs and slide them into the dishwasher, "you'd deny me my grandson."

"I have no idea how you did this job when we were little," Marcus praises. "It was just you on your own. I have no idea what I'd do without you."

"I had friends who helped out, but I also relied on nannies occasionally."

"I need to sort my shit out and get something in place for him."

"Like a new mother?" I question hopefully.

"Yeah, I just need the right woman to come along. You know how difficult that is."

"I do indeed."

"Is there a chance your luck is changing?" Marcus ventures on in his subtle questioning.

"It's far too early for that. but I'll admit to looking, okay?"

"Sure. I'll go and get Alex for you now." Marcus turns towards the door. "Thanks, Dad."

"Where is he now?" If he can't leave the boy home alone at his age, how is he here without him now?

"He's waiting in the car. I didn't want him in here if you were banging some woman."

"Well, I appreciate your thoughtfulness."

Alexei enters my house five minutes later, wearing his backpack with his tablet and squash bottle in his arms. He reminds me so much of Marcus at that age with his dark curly hair and cheeky smile.

"Hey, Grampy."

"Hiya buddy. I see your dad has you all set for the day."

"Yep. I'm all set. He'll be able to leave me home alone in two more years."

I smile at the mini version of Marcus, knowing damn well my son will never agree to that. Alex was too young to remember, but he and his mother were held hostage while some unsavoury characters tried blackmailing Marcus. Because she and Marcus weren't together, they reasoned she didn't fall under the family's protection. They were wrong. Edward personally mounted an army to get them back. It broke more than just Marcus to discover the mother of his child was a willing participant in the event. He was only twenty at the time, but he took in the two-year-old and hasn't let him out of sight since.

He struggles so much with childcare because he won't leave Alex with anyone but me. He'll have to get over that if Jasmine decides to stay, but maybe this will help him learn to trust again.

"You need to put the TV on or use your tablet in the living room for a while. Grampy has some stuff to do upstairs."