Page 120 of Jase

The tears were automatic. My arms shot around Jase’s neck as I tried to force myself to talk.To breathe.

“We w-were in the closet. With the guns. They got in, but they couldn’t find us. I thought you were them. I thought.”

“Guns? You managed to find and open the door? I didn’t tell you how. I was sure….” He paused; his breath ragged as he held me tighter and looked towards the back of the closet in disbelief.

“They got in, Jase. How’d they do that?”

“I don’t know.” His head shook, as he kept me trapped to him. “I don’t know. God, I thought I lost you. I thought—You’re okay? You’re not hurt?”

“No.” I sniffled, trying to swallow for the millionth time past the anxiety. “But I need water. I can’t…breathe. I.”

At my quick gasps, Jase, wrapped his arm around me, leading me into the room to sit on the side of the bed. There was a dark-haired man in a suit that screamed agent. He flipped the light on, putting up his hand as Jase went to turn.

“Take care of her. I’ll get the water.”

He gave a nod, turning back to me.

“Where’s Rian? Did you find him? Is he okay?”

The pants were coming so fast, I could barely stay focused enough to stay semi-calm. The shaking was getting worse, and I swayed at the light-headedness. I hated it. I hated that this was happening, and I had no control over it.

“Rush called me not long ago. Rian’s okay. He’s in the hospital.”

“Rush?”

“He’s okay too. He’ll be here soon.”

I nodded, reaching out as the agent came forward, holding a glass of water. Jase gave one shake, taking the glass instead to hold to my lips. I didn’t bother with sips. I greedily gulped it down, trying not to choke through the swallows.

“Tiffany. She’s asleep but she’s going to freak out if she wakes up and I’m gone. I have to get her.”

“I can—"

“No.” I pushed to my feet as the agent stopped. “She’s got a gun and she doesn’t know you. It has to be me. Even Jase might startle her. She’s rattled right now. We both are.”

Jase helped me to stand, never leaving my side as we made our way to the hidden door. When we pushed it open, Tiffany stirred. She went from mid-turn to bolting upright. Seconds passed as she blinked and took us in.

“Jase? Rian?”

“He’s okay. Come on. Let’s get out of here. The bathroom is all yours.”

Tiffany pushed to her feet, racing past us without a word. Jase pulled me into his arms, hugging to me tightly once again.

“This isn’t over, is it?”

“Shh. You know nothing,” he whispered. “You need food and more water. Eat. Calm your friend. Once these agents are gone, then we’ll talk.” His finger pushed under my chin so that I had to face him. “We have a lot to discuss. It’s not good, but…we’ll figure it out.” I nodded, turning to obey, only for Jase to pull me back in his arms. “I can’t let you go yet. I’ll walk you to the kitchen.”

“Is it safe to be here?”

With the way his jaw flexed repeatedly, he didn’t like my question.

“For now. The building is crawling with cops and FBI. After Dominquez and his men, they’re all over this case again.” His head shook. “I can’t believe you’re really here. Vitor’s men broke in, the firefighters and investigators did their thing, then me sitting my fucking ass not rooms away for almost two hours, working with Agent Sullivan to try to track you down…and no one found you. Not even me. You’ve been here the entire time.”

“If I would have had water, I would have been hiding out a lot longer. Next time you build a room like that, invest in a mini fridge and bathroom.”

Jase laughed as he hugged me into him. “It’s my gun room, not a panic room. Although…it sort of works as one, obviously.”

“Except there’s no lock on the inside. You need one of those too.”