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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
His family didn't stay long, but their visit was real in a way it hadn't ever been before.
Jacob had always kept the walls up, but facing down his dad with his siblings there had shattered walls that he would never rebuild. His siblings had witnessed his darkest secrets, and they'd stood by him.
Jacob leaned against the front door frame, watching them depart. The laughter was real. The resilience of the Harts, their mantra, to always allow for joy and love whenever possible. There was too much shit in life, and the only way to thrive was to allow every ray of sunshine through they could find. That was their family commitment, and the smile on Jacob's face and in his heart as he watched them go showed how powerful it was.
He waited until the last set of taillights disappeared, then looked out across his property. The security lights were all on, letting him see across his lawn and into his woods. This fortress he'd built had been to protect against his father, and the memories of his past. But he didn't need it anymore. Even if his dad came back again, this time, Jacob knew he was more than his dad. He knew his dad couldn’t hurt him anymore.
He didn't need this security anymore for himself.
But he needed it for Annie and Phoebe. Because it was their turn to get the freedom he now had.
He would never forget the way Phoebe came out of that bedroom and grounded him when he'd lost his shit after hearing his dad's voice. She'd been pure strength for him, not afraid of the man he'd lapsed into. No judgment. Just acceptance and empowerment.
Smiling to himself, Jacob stepped back and shut the door as he pulled out his phone. He called Dylan, knowing it didn't matter that it was two in the morning. Harts were always available 24/7 for each other.
Dylan answered on the first ring. "What's up?"
"My dad came by tonight."
Dylan swore. "What happened?"
Jacob walked into the kitchen, smiling when he saw the dishes from when he'd made brownies with Annie earlier. He filled his brother in on all of it, including Sienna.
Dylan got right to the point, knowing exactly why Jacob had called. "I've never been able to find Sienna before, but having the name of the man he sold her to might help. I'll start looking as soon as I'm off the phone."
"Thanks." Jacob grinned. "You're the best there is."
"I know." Dylan paused. "How are you doing? After tonight?"
"Feeling free, I guess. Free to start living."
"Feels good?" There was a hint of envy in Dylan's voice, which Jacob understood.
"Yeah. Don't give up, Dylan. Keep fighting."
"Always do." Dylan paused. "How are your newest horses?"
He knew Dylan was asking about Annie and Phoebe, using code just in case someone was listening. "I think I fell in love with them." The words felt so real, and so fucking good. Not scary. Just deeply satisfying.
Dylan was silent for a moment. "You're kidding."
"No."
"And what about them?"
"Yeah. Same, I think." Phoebe had told him she loved him. It had been in a high-stress moment, but he'd heard those words loud and clear. Her words had unlocked something inside him as soon as she'd said them. Maybe that was why he felt so free? Not simply because of Ivan? Maybe because of Phoebe's love. Yeah. That felt right.
"Well, hell, I deserve all the credit on this one." Dylan sounded so pleased. "I had a gut feeling that you needed to go get them. Fuck, man, I'm so happy for you. Can't wait to meet them when I'm back."
"Thanks. Looking forward to it. Any word on their original owner?"
"Nope. Still looking for him. I'll keep you posted."
"Great. I'll talk to you later." Jacob hung up, swung the phone in his hand for a minute, simply breathing in how good he felt. The monster who had sat in his gut for decades was simply gone, because he'd faced down that very monster and won. And because he'd done it with the support of Phoebe and his siblings.
It made him realize he should have gone to see Ivan long ago. Leaving Ivan in his past, when Jacob had been a powerless teenager, had allowed Ivan to become bigger, badder, and more powerful with each passing day, at least in Jacob's mind.
