Page 37 of My Girl to Use

“My mother,” I snarl. “She came to you. She threatened you.”

She looks away.

“Zora…”

“You don’t understand,” she says quickly, shaking her head as she steps back. “I can’t stay here. I can’t risk it.”

“You’re not risking anything,” I insist, closing the distance again. “I already handled it. She’s backing off.”

“She said she would have Levi taken away from me.” Her voice breaks slightly now, the fear underneath it raw and real. “Do you understand what that means? I can’t lose him, Jax. I won’t.”

“You won’t,” I say firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“I can,” I counter, my voice steady. “I’ll hire the best attorneys. We’ll get everything sorted legally. You have that letter from your mom, right?”

She hesitates, then nods slowly.

“That helps,” I continue. “She wrote down that he’s yours and told you not to look for her. In her own hand. That’s not nothing.”

Her eyes search mine, doubt still there, fear still holding tight. “What if it’s not enough?”

“Then we find what is,” I say without hesitation. “I’m not walking away from you. From either of you.”

Her breath catches slightly. “You don’t even know what you’re walking into,” she whispers.

“Yeah, I do,” I reply. “I’m walking into a life with you. That’s all I care about.”

Silence stretches between us.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asks quietly. “About who you are?”

I exhale slowly. “Because it doesn’t matter to me. That life…it’s not what I want.”

“You’re a billionaire, Jax,” she says, like the word itself is heavy. “That’s not something you just…don’t mention.”

“I’m a guy who likes racing and somehow ended up falling for you,” I push back. “The rest is just background noise.”

Her lips part slightly, her eyes searching mine like she’s trying to find something that doesn’t match what I’m saying.

“I was going to tell you,” I add, softer now. “I just…wanted you to know me first. Not that.”

She swallows hard. “And now?” she asks.

“Now I’m telling you everything,” I say. “No more secrets.”

Tears well up in her eyes. I move toward her, but she stretches out her hand to stop me.

“I was going to leave,” she admits, her voice breaking slightly. “Take Levi somewhere far away where no one could find us.”

Something twists in my chest. “You don’t have to run. I’m here to take care of you both.”

“I’ve always had to take care of myself, and now, I’ll do the same for Levi,” she whispers.

“Not anymore.” I step closer, slower this time, giving her the chance to pull away if she wants to. She doesn’t.

“You’re not doing this alone,” I continue. “Not now. Not ever again.”