Page 17

JACQULINE

An hour ago, Wolf dropped me off at the gallery in his truck. A massive black truck that I had to climb into. He thought it was amusing watching me. I refused to let him help me get in after he secured Kale’s car seat. This meant he got to watch while I did it.

I’m not exactly short, but I’m also not tall. I guess I’d say I’m average and that usually works for me, though not with getting in his truck.

At the gallery, he walked me inside and made sure I locked the door behind him with the alarm set.

I set about getting things done right away.

But when my stomach growled, I decided I wanted to order something delivered to eat from the little diner a few doors down.

I could’ve just walked down there, however, I didn’t want the prospect reporting to Wolf that I left the gallery without letting him know that I was leaving. Even if it was only so far away.

The food came a few minutes ago, and I unlocked the door, took the food from the delivery boy, and went back inside. I didn’t think about the door being unlocked or that I turned the alarm off to open the door. I wanted to eat, and that’s what I was doing when she walked in.

My eyes were on her. She was dressed in what had to be an expensive suit. All white. From top to bottom, white. Even her shoes were a pearly white. Even I could say she was beautiful with her sleek black hair straight and running down her back. I didn’t know her. Never saw her before in my life.

But the hatred in her eyes was unmistakable.

“I’m sorry we’re closed,” I tell the woman after wiping my mouth with my napkin.

“I can see that,” she remarks, not taking her icy gaze from me. The look she’s giving me, I want to question, but rather than asking her what her problem is, I keep myself professional.

“Can I help you?” I ask, clearing my throat.

“Yes,” she says pointedly, her voice filled with ice as she glances around my gallery.

“What exactly can I help you with?”

“You can stay away from Wolf and my son,” she snaps, her eyes coming back to me.

This is Kale’s mother?

Looking at her now, I still can’t believe it. Kale holds no resemblance to her at all, maybe with the black hair. Then again, Wolf also has black hair.

“I’m sorry?” I know what I heard, but I couldn’t believe it at the same time. This woman was telling me to stay away from the man and his son, who have both, in such a small amount of time, I mean days, not weeks, wormed their way into my heart in a way I don’t ever want to let go of.

“I believe you heard me.” She takes a step forward, hands clasped in front of her. “You need to stay away from Wolf and my son. They’re mine. I won’t have you getting between me and my family.”

“Are you delusional?” I ask without thinking. I seem to have a problem doing that. I can’t help myself. “Wolf and Kale aren’t your family. You signed rights over when he was born.”

She waves a hand nonchalantly like she was waving away an invisible pest. “Those papers were meaningless. My father thought it was what was best.”

“They are not meaningless in the eyes of the court,” I point out.

“Sure, they are, if I have to, I just need to tell the judge that I wasn’t in the right state of mind when my father had me sign them. Besides, it won’t come to that because Wolf and I will be together as it should have been. My father shouldn’t have kept me from him as he did.”

Was she serious right now?

Wolf had told me she was just a one-off that he didn’t even remember. Does she believe he’d be with her now?

I mean, she is gorgeous, but that’s all she’s got going for her, considering what she’s said so far.

“I think you should leave,” I tell her, not wanting to hear any more of what she has to say.

“Not until you confirm you will leave my family alone,” she states.

“Wolf and Kale are not your family.” They were mine.

Okay, so they weren’t my family, but I wanted them.

The woman’s eyes grow darker with anger, and she steps toward me, closing the distance, but still stays a few steps away from me. “If you do not do as told, I’ll make you regret it. I’m not someone to be trifled with. I’ll make your life hell.”

Her words make me wonder if it was her that broke into my house, though I doubt it.

Finding the courage deep inside me, I step into her space. “If you wish to try anything, go for it. I’m not afraid of you. You won’t make me change my mind about what Wolf and I have. So, you can get out of my gallery and not come back. Come near me again and you’ll regret it.”

I step back, turn away from her dismissively, while rounding the counter where I set up my computer. I pick up my phone, about to call Wolf, when she speaks again.

“You think you’ll be the only one he’s with? Don’t get too comfortable. You’re not his type. Plus, he likes to have a variety. Loves having two women at one time. He’ll tire of you and then you’ll wish you took my warning.” With her lasting remarks, she leaves.

I try not to let her words bother me as I set my phone back down, but I can’t help but think about them. What if she’s right? What if he ends up getting bored with me? What if I’m not enough? I wouldn’t be able to stop him if he wanted something more than I could give him.

Sighing, I shake my head, grab my discarded lunch, and toss it in the trash, no longer hungry. Instead of getting back to work, I pick my phone back up and decide to call my brother rather than Wolf.

“Little sister,” he greets me on the second ring. “What can I help you with?”

“Can you come pick me up from the gallery?” I ask, noting how small my voice sounded even to my own ears.

“What’s wrong?” Izaiah demands, his tone going from sweet to alert in seconds.

“I don’t want to talk about it. Can you just come get me, please?”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, Jacqueline,” he says, hanging up.

Fifteen minutes. That’s what he said, but I’m sure it’ll be more like ten if he has his way.

Gathering my stuff, I close up the gallery, turning everything off and locking the front doors.

By the time I’ve set the alarm, walked out of the back door, ensured the door is locked, and rounded the building, I spot my brother’s car, his driver behind the wheel as they pull up right in front, not even parking.

The back door opens from the inside, and I climb in, not even caring the prospect was watching me, phone to his ear.

“What happened, sweetheart?” Izaiah asks the moment the door closes, sealing us away in the back. His driver pulls away from the curb, driving to God knows where, but I didn’t care. I was with my brother. My safe place. No matter what, I could always count on him when I needed him the most.

I curl into him and tell him about what happened with Kale’s mother showing up and what she said. Izaiah didn’t say anything throughout this. He just listened. This was good because I don’t think I wanted him to scrutinize what happened. At least not until I finished.

“Do you think I made the right decision in not calling Wolf about this?”

“I can’t say that I’m not glad you called me about it, but this does involve him.

If Kale’s mother is threatening you, he has the right to know.

That being said, the rest of what you shared, was stuff I could have gone without knowing.

Though I might add, I’m your big brother and will protect you and take care of you however that needs to be. ”

“When did my life become so complicated?”

“Your life isn’t complicated, Jacqueline.

You’ve just finally started living.” Izaiah gives me a squeeze, comforting me as he’s always done.

“I shielded you for a long time from the real world. I didn’t want to see you hurt, and maybe I shouldn’t have done that.

I can’t change that, but I can be here as you need me. ”

“Do you know who broke into my house yet?” I ask, changing the subject.

“We’re still looking into it, but we have an idea as to who it might have been.

Whoever it was, though, they will be taken care of, I promise you.

You have nothing to worry about on that end.

I’ve seen to that.” Izaiah gives me another squeeze.

“Now, back to what has you upset, do you want me to take you to Wolf to talk to him?”

Do I?

I’m not sure if I want that or not.

“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly.

“How about you come with me to this meeting? If you don’t want to come in, you can stay in the car.”

Why do I get the feeling that this meeting he’s going to isn’t just any meeting?