Free This Broken Beautiful Thing by Sophie Summers Page B

him as he winks and I mouth , “ Thanks. ”
    “B oy’s already whipped!” another guy says and a couple of them snicker. Jace brushes them off not caring.
    “Okay , enough boys. Harley here will be working at the bar from tomorrow night, I expect you to keep an eye on her and not give her any shit.” my father says.
    I look at him and raise my eyebrows, “Really dad? I can look after myself you know, I don’t need any men to “keep an eye on me” ” I say deepening my voice trying to mimic him but it doesn’t have the effect I would have liked. He looks at me and smiles.
    “ Definitely Grimm’s girl.” An older man says as the crowd chuckles at my outburst.
    “Harley, even if your father doesn’t tell us to keep an eye on you, we still would. You are part of our family now and an innocent girl like you has obviously never been around this type of life for very long.” The same guy that said I was gorgeous speaks again.
    He comes out from behind the crowd so I ’m able to get a good look at him. He is the same height as Jace and he’s also really well built. He has shaven blond hair with brown eyes and dark thick lashes and eyebrows. He looks about Jace’s age too. His face is striking with high cheek bones and slight stubble covering his jawline.
    “Okay okay…” I say as I lift my hands up in defeat. The men chat for a few more minutes before everyone starts to filter out the room leaving Anna, my father and I. I’m not sure where Jace has disappeared to. I need to tell my father and Anna about the baby but I don’t want to do it alone.
    “Uh guys…can I have a quick talk to you while we’re here?”  I ask them.
    “Sure Harlz .” My dad says as he sits in his seat again. Anna sits in the seat near him.
    “I just need to get something quick, but wait here… I’ll be right back.” I yell as I quickly run out the room in search for Jace.
    I spot him chatting to the blond guy who now has a baseball cap on. I quickly make my way to him and snake my hand around his arm, my head only just reaching his shoulder. He looks down at me tensing before he relaxes when he sees who it is. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his chest holding me close to him. The blond guy looks down at me and seems to be confused as to why Jace has his hands on me.
    “Jace , I need you to come with me quick.” I say looking up at him.
    “Why, what’s wrong?” he asks lifting the glass up to his lips. Before he can have a sip I take it from his hands and put it on the table near us.
    “I need to talk to my dad soooo…. I need-you-to come-with me!” I repeat through gritted teeth nodding my head towards the back of the bar.
    “Oh right! I’ll be right back Hunter.” Jace says to his friend and quickly leads me back to the office.
    “ Don’t leave my side okay! And don’t get angry if my dad says horrible things to me, just sit there and hold my hand okay?” I say into his chest before we head in as I quickly give him a hug.
    He pulls my face up to look at him, “I told you I’ll be here for you and I am but I won’t let anybody disrespect you…not even your father.” I nod and he opens the door and leads me inside.
    My father and Anna were laughing about something when enter, I walked over to them and sat on the other side of my father and pulled Jace close to my side. I needed contact with him, I needed the reassurance that he was there by my side because I knew I wasn’t strong or brave enough to tell my father my secret on my own. I pull his hand and put it on my lap and held onto it, he squeezed my hand giving me the assurance I needed.
    “ What’s wrong babes, why’re you so nervous?” Anna says looking worried. My dad leans onto the table with his hands together looking at me also anxious. I leave Jace’s hand and hold onto my father’s rougher ones. Jace’s hand rests on the bare skin just above my knee, rubbing me softly as I continue to talk.
    “D addy I have to tell