An Unfinished Life (39 page)

I said my peace and waited for Dominick to say his. He rubbed his fingers over his chin, and then filled our glasses with the drink of our choice.

“Drink up, Jack. It looks like you could use one.” He downed his with one gulp and steadied his elbows on his father’s desk. “The devotion you hold for our family and for your own is admirable, and I truly respect you for it. I always have, Jack. You’ve always been the better man, and it’s no wonder why father was so fond of you. To be asked to be free would mean you never left, and we know better now, don’t we Jack? I welcomed you back with open arms when we talked last, but you refused me. I didn’t believe your denials then, and I don’t believe you now, but that’s my problem, not yours. You don’t get to have it both ways, Jack. Either you are with us, or you are against us. Choose wisely, my friend, because once you say the words, I will never allow you to take them back. I will shove them down your throat and make you choke on them.”

He wore a look of betrayal in his eyes. This was not how I intended this meeting to go.

“Dominick, there are hundreds of Jacks you have under your reign of power. You do not need me for anything anymore. My time with this family has been over for years, and please do not mistake the friendships I have held onto as my unwavering allegiance to you. You can’t relive history and leave out the parts you easily have forgotten. It doesn’t work that way Dominick, and for me, it never will. What you say you did for
me
was done to serve your purpose, not mine. I would think twice before ever threatening me again. I have no issues with you, Dominick, nor do I want to. I only wish to leave here with an amicable agreement.”

“Fine! I will give you what you desire most, but we are never too far away. You remember that, my friend.”

“There’s one more thing, Dominick.”

“Are you fucking serious? Have you not been given enough? You want more from me? Not ten minutes ago, you asked for freedom. I’ve granted that request, and now you dare to ask for more? You have balls the size of Texas. You never stop surprising me, Jack, with your arrogance and what you feel you are entitled to.”

“Are you finished? Enough already, Dominick. Please save the superior leadership-in-your-face tactics for your men, not me. Now…Joseph LaRocha.”

“What about him?”

“Without implicating the family, I intend to tell Jacob Paulson the truth behind his fiancées death.”

“When hell freezes over! If you cross that line, Jack, I swear there will be no coming back from it. He’s a fucking cop—a federal agent I might add—who can take down this house, brick by brick with the knowledge you have. I was a fool to ever tell you.”

“You are far from being a fool, and no lines will ever be crossed, because you know me better than that. I just want to lead him in the right direction. He never needs to know the details. Please, Dominick, I can’t in good conscience keep this from him. He needs to find closure in losing her, and if his second chance survives what Marino has done to her, he will have that. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll have some closure of my own. Forgiveness is the first step to redemption. I’ve finally been able to get mine. Don’t deny him the same chance, Dominick. Her blood is on your hands, just as much as it is on her father’s.”

I might almost agree to a hot branding iron down my throat for this conversation. Dominick was relentless and unwilling to bend. I couldn’t say any more than I already had to him. The next move had to be his.

“It should have been you sitting behind this desk, and not me. That realization comes to mind after every conversation I have with you. I can’t rewrite history, Jack, as you so eloquently remind me. I will give you my consent and trust that whatever you choose to tell Agent Paulson will never come back to this house and to me. Do you understand?”

“I do, Dominick, and thank you.”

“You’re welcome Jack.”

He rounded his desk and took my face in his hands to kiss both sides of my cheeks. He took a step back and said, “Hold out your right hand, palm up.”

I did what he asked without knowing what he would do. In less than a second, his intentions were clear. He pulled a double edged blade from his pocket and sliced a line down my palm, reopening my first blood line to the family. It hurt like hell, but I would not show him my pain. I understood why he did it and honored the rare, time-old tradition with my acceptance and silence.

“Now, my friend, you are truly free.”

He said nothing more and left me on my own. I knew the second he drew my blood, he would never lay his eyes upon me again. I left that house and never looked back.

I would never share my true past with my family. Massimo made his peace with me, and we found a new beginning as brothers. I knew what I had with Nicolette, and I would never question my role in her life. I’d always been there where it mattered the most, and it had taken me years to finally realize that. My life with Sara was all that I needed. I would spend my days making her happy and my nights holding her in my arms. To the ones that believed a guy like me didn’t deserve the life I had and the blessings I was fortunate to receive…well, maybe they’re right, but I have it. On the memory of my parents, I made new promises to my family, ones I would honor all the days of my life that remained.

After I received word that Jacob’s girlfriend had awakened and was on her way to making a full recovery, I knew I could no longer sit on the information I had in my possession. It was time to give Jacob the truth. What he would do with it once he had it would solely be on him. This was not my sin I carried, but in some way, I still felt this overwhelming sense of responsibility to help him. I was taking a big risk sharing with Jacob what I knew, but if me doing so gave him peace, then it would have been worth it in the end.

W
hen the nurse told me that Zoey was finally awake, I didn’t believe it and couldn’t move. It was what I had been praying for since the night I rescued her. Once I regained the ability to move my legs, I took off running back to her room with Duffy trailing behind me.

I got to her room, held onto the door frame, and just listened to the sound of her voice. It was raspy but clear. She was telling her father how much she loved him. Tenley was crying happy tears with her husband by her side. All that was missing was me. When Zoey finally saw me, her eyes were my invitation to come closer. This time, my legs moved.

Leave it to me to ask something stupid, “Do you know who I am?”

Tenley stopped crying, and her tears were replaced with laughter. Jagger looked at me like I was nuts, and her parents just looked confused. Give me a break! For days I’d been reading the side effects of what she may experience after the drugs were out of her system. I didn’t know what to expect, so I asked the only question that came to mind.

She gave me a sexy wink and then smiled as brightly as the night sky.

“Aren’t you the hot FBI Agent that handcuffed me to your bed and had your way with me?”

Oh hell no!
She didn’t just say that, and in front of her father, who was about to deck me one. I cleared my throat and just went for it.

“Yeah, that would be me, handcuffs and all.”

“No, I’ve never seen you before. Who are you again?”

Wise-ass!
She began to laugh, and I knew she would be okay.

“Hi, Jake, I’ve missed you.”

“Not as much as I’ve missed you. Don’t ever scare me like that again. Zoey, I know you are probably going to think I am completely insane, and we haven’t known each other all that long, but I love you. I have from the minute I laid my eyes on you. I want you in my life, sparkle girl. I love you.”

The laughter ceased, and the entire room went on lockdown after my very bold declaration of love for Zoey.
Please say something, baby. Don’t leave me hanging.

“What took you so long? I love you too!” Zoey replied.

“Yes!” shouted Tenley. I couldn’t help smiling, and then I looked over my shoulder to her father. Zoey was his only child, and I knew that he loved and fiercely protected her.

“Well, go on, son. Kiss her, for crying out loud.”

“Thank you, sir.”

She was giggling again with that precious laugh of hers. I couldn’t kiss her the way I wanted to, so I went in for gentle, but she wasn’t having it. Zoey pulled me down and crushed her ruby lips to mine. I was so lost in her kiss, I felt dizzy.

With one kiss, she had my complete submission. In that moment I knew I would do anything for her. Tenley hit me on my shoulder to give me a hug, and then hugged her friend. Jagger shook my hand and said his goodbyes to Zoey. Next to leave were her parents, and then Duffy made his discreet exit.

Her doctor examined her before I arrived in her room. The drugs were completely out of her system, and all she would need now was rest to recover. While she was sleeping, her bruises were slowly fading, and all her scans came back clean. She was anxious to be released and return home. The bigger question would be: where to…home to New York, or to my home with me in Colorado?

I knew in my heart that I wasn’t going to change my mind about walking away from the FBI. Having to relive Minela’s death and to be taunted by that sick bastard, Marino, I then realized I had seen my fair share of ugliness to last me a lifetime. I only wanted a fresh start, and I hoped Zoey would want to share her life with me. If her kiss was the first clue showing me that she wanted the same thing, then I was on the right track of making her mine.

After we were left on our own, I got as close as I could to Zoey without disturbing the IV lines that were attached to her. The sight of them made my stomach turn, and my heart hurt more.

“I was so scared. I thought I lost you before we even began. Zoey, I meant every word I said to you. I love you…so much, and all I see is you for my future.”

Tears were beginning to form in her beautiful eyes, and she raised her hand to touch my face. Just her touching me made me feel whole again. I would do everything in my power to hold onto this feeling.

“Jake, maybe it’s time we have that conversation.”

And with that, I felt like I had crashed and burned. With just a few words, the future I was envisioning with Zoey had come to a crashing halt.
She didn’t feel the same way?

“Jake, stop. Whatever you are thinking, stop it now. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. Please allow me to explain?”

And then she gave me hope. Of course I would listen. She guts me to my core with just one look, and damn if her touch doesn’t make my dick crush hard against my zipper.

“Soon, baby. Soon,” she said to me.

“What?” I tried to hide my obvious physical reaction to her.

“You know what I mean, lover, and like I said, soon. As I was saying, let’s talk.”

“No, I believe you were staring at a certain body part I possess. You are practically drooling.”

“Okay, now I am officially distracted. Take off your pants,” she said.

She laughed. And I broke out into laughter to the point I had tears in my eyes. It felt good to laugh, to feel anything other than the worry I’d been through this past week and then some. I kissed her again, and she moved over so I could slide in next to her. She was so small, she easily fit perfectly to my body. I put my arm over her and pulled her as close as her IV lines would allow. I was home.

“Jake, I meant what I said too. I love you. I’ve kissed a lot of frogs, and now I have found my prince. Before I woke up, I was dreaming about being back in New York when you were working the case with Tenley. She actually thought I was crushing on Shane, the other cowboy in her life.”

Just the mention of the possibility of Zoey liking someone else made me see red. I hadn’t introduced my jealous side yet, but knowing Zoey, it probably would turn her on.

“The entire time Tenley was speaking, all I kept thinking about was you. You kind of took my breath away, and then after the night we shared, I knew you probably ruined me for other men. I know it’s been a whirlwind flash romance, but it just feels right, you know? When I left New York, I swear at that very moment, I was just setting out for an adventure, not knowing what I would find once I got out there. I worked too much and had no life. I never realized how lonely I was until I saw what Tenley had with Jagger. I wanted what she had, and when we met, I actually believed I could have it…with you. Does that scare the shit out of you, or what? I know I must sound like a lovesick girl, but I swear to you, Jake, I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.”