Page 16 of Love’s Patient Journey (The Relinquished #2)

T he trip to see Tom Gentry six weeks ago didn’t go so well.

Ryan was hoping that his old friend could do more for Jenna and Zac, legally.

Tom turned the threatening letters over to the local police and helped Jenna get a restraining order against the Ashbrook’s, like that would do her any good.

He also said that if Jake wanted to sue for visitation rights or even partial custody, he would be able to do so.

Jake would have a better chance of being granted visitation after he was out of prison, but it was not unheard of for a judge to rule in favor of Jake seeing Zac while still in prison, especially given his father’s influence and money.

Jenna left the meeting with her head held high and then broke down in his arms once they got to his truck.

Hearing her sobbing gutted him. He was sure that Tom being involved would only help her, not cause her so much grief.

The trip home was quiet. He knew that Jenna was overthinking everything, and that scared the fuck out of him.

He didn’t want her to second-guess their relationship.

Since finding her sick, Ryan had all but moved in with her and Zac, and damn it felt good to be with them.

He would help get Zac to pre-school in the morning, and every night, he’d come home from work to a home-cooked meal and a hot woman.

Zac had even started running to the door, shouting his name, jumping into his arms. He loved how they had become a family.

They would watch cartoons and play with trains.

He would help clean up dishes and bathe Zac.

They read Zac books and tucked him in together.

Then, he would take Jenna to their room and make love to her like a starving man, and she was his next meal.

He loved that Jenna was okay with giving him complete control in the bedroom.

Last night, she let him tie her to the bedpost and seeing her completely at his mercy made him feel so damn proud to have her trust. His cock swelled now just thinking about how she looked tied up, spread open for him.

At first, she was a little timid about giving him full control over her body.

But once she let go and just trusted him to take care of her, she seemed to enjoy it as much as Ryan did.

He loved the way she tried to squirm while he kissed her entire body.

He loved her breathy moans and gasps when he ate her pussy and then bit his way up to her mouth.

Hell, she even seemed to like seeing his marks on her skin this morning, but probably not as much as he did.

He wanted to mark Jenna as his, claim her, and tell the world that she belonged to him.

She made him feel like a caveman, primal in his need for her.

And damn if he didn’t want to thump his chest and drag her off by her hair to his cave.

Control was something he craved, but never to the extent that he did with Jenna.

She seemed to need his control just as much as he did, and that’s why he had to see Jake.

Ryan was sitting in the parking lot of the prison where Jake was being held.

He knew what he needed to do, but he also knew that it would piss Jenna off.

He promised to only control her in the bedroom, but this needed to happen.

Ryan sighed and turned off his truck. The sooner he saw Jake, the sooner he could be home with Zac and Jenna.

∞

Jake looked hard and mean through the glass at him, and Ryan couldn’t see any trace of his old friend.

The boy with whom he was best friends as a child was gone.

In his place sat a hard, thin, angry man, and Ryan couldn’t find any compassion for him.

The asshole tried to kill his brother and Karlie, and God—Jenna and Zac.

Jake deserved everything he was getting.

He deserved more, but because of his father’s money and connections, he was only getting a slap on the wrist for his crimes.

Ryan felt sick that he hadn’t been there for Jenna and Zac while she was going through the hearings and court appearances to put Jake away.

He knew that he couldn’t change his past mistakes, but he also knew that he would never make them again.

This was just the first step in making sure that his family would never have to deal with Jake again.

“Ryan, I would say it’s good to see you, but—” Jake’s smirk made Ryan want to go through the glass partition and choke the cocky asshole.

“So, what brings you here? Wait, let me guess. Hmm.” Jake was milking the whole situation, pressing his finger to his lips as if deep in thought.

His smile pushed his finger away, “That skanky bitch of a wife of mine sent you, am I right?” His smile grew wider, meaner.

Ryan knew that he needed to maintain his calm if he was going to get what he wanted from Jake, but all he wanted at the moment was to kill the bastard.

“Jake, you look,” Ryan paused and smiled in return, “well. Prison seems to agree with you, and orange is definitely your color. Really brings out your eyes.” Jake’s scowl was back, and he fidgeted in his seat.

Ryan knew that the best way to deal with his old friend was to act like he had the upper hand.

Jake had no compassion left when it came to Jenna and Zac.

He had to tread lightly but show Jake no fear.

Otherwise, he would be leaving today, not being able to help the woman that he loved.

Ryan sat back in his chair and waited Jake out. Each minute that passed, Jake seemed to grow more restless. “I’ve got no place to be, Jake, so we can do this all day. You gonna play nice, or should I come back with an attorney?”

“And why would you need an attorney, Ryan?” Jake sneered. “Could it be that you and that bitch want something from me? You know that will never happen. I owe you nothing.”

“You tried to kill my brother and his wife. You tried to kill the woman that I love and her son.” Ryan was finding it harder to remain in his seat.

“My son—he’s my kid. Don’t you come in here and tell me that you love what’s mine.

” Jake looked like he could start foaming at the mouth.

Yeah, Ryan was letting things get a little out of control.

If Jake got mad enough, he might slip up and say something to help Jenna’s case.

On the other hand, Ryan would be giving up his chance to get what he needed from Jake.

Ryan heaved a sigh and held up his hands in defeat. “You win, man. You’re right, she was your wife, and he is your son. And I was your friend. I want to still be your friend, Jake.” Jake sank back into his chair, as far as his handcuffs would allow.

“That’s why I’m here, man. I want you to help me do right by your son. I’m here today to ask you to sign off on Zac’s paternity. I brought the paperwork with me from Jenna’s attorney. I want to adopt Zac.” Ryan held up the attorney’s papers as if they would explain all.

Jake barked out a mean laugh, “So, my old man was right. You are back in town, and now you’ve taken up with my cunt ex-wife.

Tell me, Ryan, why would I give you MY son?

” Jake puffed out his chest as he pointed to himself.

Okay, Ryan could play caveman if that’s what Jake wanted, since playing nice wasn’t working.

Ryan sat a little taller and slapped the papers against the glass.

“Because you fuck up, I’m all that boy has.

How are you going to be his father from here?

You have never even seen Zac. I was there when he was born because you were too busy trying to kill my brother and Karlie.

” Jake smiled at the memory of that day, and Ryan stopped.

He realized he was feeding into what Jake wanted.

But he knew that Jake wanted and needed more than just memories of his destruction.

“I also know that you are only going after Jenna and Zac because your daddy is paying your bills. Well, today is your lucky day, Jake, because I am willing to pay your bills now. You can cut your strings from Daddy’s wallet and be a free man.

” Ryan snickered to himself, “Well, as free as a man in prison can be. You see, I love Jenna and Zac, and I am going to marry her and be Zac’s father, whether he has my last name or not. ”

Jake fidgeted in his seat some more, and Ryan knew that he had the son-of-a-bitch just where he wanted him.

“See, your parents have no rights to grandparents’ visitation in the state of Alabama.

Unless they were seeing Zac before their court appearance, they have no leg to stand on.

You are their only hope to get to Zac. They are using you, paying your bills, in hopes of getting to Zac.

I guess they figure they can replace you with a younger, less screwed up version.

But, if you give up rights to Zac, your father will never be able to fuck up his life like he did yours.

” Ryan scooted closer to the edge of his seat.

“I know that your father treated you unfairly, Jake. I should have helped you more, as your friend. I am going to help you now. Sign the papers today, and I will pay your attorney’s bills from here on.

I will also give you $50,000 to make a fresh start when you get out of here. ”

Jake smirked at Ryan, “And why would you just give me $50,000 to make a fresh start? What’s in it for you?”

Ryan sat back in his seat. “I want you to leave here. Move far away and never have any contact with Jenna or Zac. It’s written into the paternity agreement.

If you come near either of them. You will violate our agreement and your parole.

They will put you back into this place, and even Daddy won’t be able to save you then. ”