Chapter 29
I’ve been curled up on my sofa all evening, enjoying true crime documentaries and wine. The perfect Saturday night if I do say so myself. Sudden pounding at my front door makes me jump, which then causes me to spill wine on the throw blanket draped over my lap. Dammit.
The pounding gets louder, and my heart starts to race. I grab my phone in case I need to call 9-1-1.
“Don’t be stupid, Jade. You’re letting what you’ve been watching scare you,” I say out loud to myself as I toss my now wine-stained blanket to the side.
“Coming,” I yell to whoever is on the other side of the door, banging like a neanderthal.
When I reach the door, I look out the peep hole to see who’s there.
“Open the fucking door, Jade.” Elliott’s growl sends chills across my body. I back away from the door slowly, hoping he didn’t hear me call out before or hear my steps now. “Fine, have it your way. I’ll pay Daddy a visit instead.” He sounds menacing, his voice almost unrecognizable.
Without having to think twice, I rush to the door, unlock it, and swing it open. “NO!” I roar, prepared to fight. His body stops me before I’m able to get one foot out the front door.
“What a good little bitch. Protect Daddy,” he says as he pushes by me and into my home.
I turn to face him, hooking my foot at the base of the door to slam it shut. My heart is pounding in my ears as anger pulses in my veins. The mere thought of him hurting my father sends flight mode packing and me full steam into fight mode.
“Don’t you ever fucking threaten my father again!” I scream as I advance on him.
Pure rage spurs me on. He’s made veiled threats before, but that was blatant. Who the hell does he think he is threatening the most important person in my life? Someone who has been nothing but good and kind to him despite him not deserving an ounce of it.
Before my brain can register what happens, a white-hot sting sears my cheekbone, and I stagger back against the door he barged through just moments ago. Instinctively, my hand goes to the pain on my face. My brain fires to process what just happened. Elliott backhanded me. I’ve never been hit before, especially not by a man.
“That was all your fault, Jade. You shouldn’t push me.” His voice is low and gravely.
I straighten, my hands balling into fists at my sides. “Get. Out.” I enunciate each word.
“No, you and I have things to discuss.” He doesn’t move toward me, but his stance is firm. He won’t budge.
I don’t speak immediately. I need to formulate a plan to get out of this situation. Even with all the rage I feel, I can’t overpower him to shove him out the door. He’s still much bigger and stronger. On the other hand, I can’t leave him alone in my home. Think, Jade, think.
“The wedding has to be moved up. We need to get this behind us.” His eyes bore into me, he’s doing his damnedest to intimidate me.
There’s no more love or admiration for me in his tone than there is for him in mine. I don’t love him, and he doesn’t love me, but he’s never spoken of us getting married in that way. He’s always at least faked excitement about marrying me. Something is off. He needs this to happen.
“Why?” I spit out, my tone as cold and disconnected as his is. Maybe I can get him to admit something, something that can get me out of this mess.
“Why not?” He raises his voice and takes several steps toward me. “Why are you stalling?”
I guess I haven’t been quite the actress I thought I’d been. “I’m not stalling, Elliott. I want our wedding to be beautiful.” The disdain in my voice doesn’t match my words.
“You expect me to believe that bullshit?” He takes another step closer. “Do you think I don’t know how you really feel about me? You don’t have to pretend anymore, Jade. This is just as much of a business arrangement for me as it is for you.”
I’ve known all along, but something about him saying it out loud makes my stomach churn. I square my shoulders and tilt my chin up in defiance. “Maybe I changed my mind. Maybe I want to marry someone I love and who will love me instead.”
He laughs loudly. “Who would love you?” His laughter continues. “Have you met you?”
I can’t hide my shock. My eyes widen, and my mouth drops slightly at what he just said. He’s never been overly sweet or affectionate to me, but he’s never been downright cruel either. I’ve seen a glimpse of this side of him before, but it’s never been this bad. My cheekbone still aches where the back of his hand made contact. I feel the heat in the swelling tissue without touching it with my hand.
Because of my pause, he continues instead of waiting longer for a response. “You’re cold, callous, and impossible to please. What man would want that in a wife? A nice rack and Daddy’s money is all you have to offer. Marrying me is the best you can hope for.” He really believes his BS.
His phone rings, and he barely glances at the ID before he swipes to answer.
I open the front door wide so he can fucking leave. “Get out,” I order so only he can hear me.
His side of the call is nothing more than a few “Mmhmms” and “I’m on the way” before he walks toward the now open door.
He stops short of the threshold, ending the call and slipping the phone into his back pocket. His face is just inches from mine, his hot breath landing on my burning cheek as he speaks. “You have one week, and we will be married. Figure it the fuck out, or I will pay Daddy a visit.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond before walking out the door. My body floods with relief as I slam the door closed and lock both locks. I rest my forehead against the door, panting as I try to slow my racing heart. I need to call Colin; he has to help me end this.
I turn to rest my back against the door and slide down until my ass lands on the cold tile floor. My night went from watching true crime to being part of one. I gently place my fingers on my cheekbone; it’s slightly swollen.
I sit here in an upright fetal position. My knees up with my arms wrapped around them, eyes closed, and my forehead on my knees as I question every decision I made that led me to this very spot in my own foyer.
How could I have been this stupid? Why did I think any of this would work? How can I protect my father when I can’t even protect myself? Will this be the life I’ll lead going forward? An abused woman sitting on her foyer floor, trying to decide how I’ll cover the newest bruise before work on Monday morning?
The sound of footsteps quickly approaching the door startles me. I leap to my feet and spin to face the door. “Elliott, I told you to get out, and I fucking meant it!” I scream through the door.
There’s a brief pause. “Jade, it’s me, Colin. What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
My hands fumble as I hurry to unlock the door. Waves of emotion wash over me as I swing the door open and see Colin standing in front of me. My vision blurs as tears fills my eyes.
Colin’s jaw clinches as his eyes land on my cheekbone that I don’t doubt is already bruised. His hand immediately goes to my face, his thumb gently stroking the cheek Elliott struck.
“I’ll kill him,” he growls.
Tears spill down my cheek onto his hand. The relief his touch brings me is indescribable. I take his hand in mine, urging him to come inside with me. I lock the door and give it a tug to make sure it’s secure. My nerves are frayed, but there’s no time to waste; Colin and I need a plan. Now.
“What happened?” he asks as he walks with me into the living room, still holding my hand.
I sit on the sofa, and he doesn’t hesitate to sit beside me; close enough for us to remain touching. I dry my eyes with my free hand and take a deep breath. Colin squeezes my hand. I think it’s to reassure me that I’m safe with him, but he doesn’t have to because I know I am. Still, I appreciate him making the effort to comfort me.
“Elliott was angry when he got here. I didn’t realize it was him when he beat on the door.” I wonder then if he thinks I’m an idiot for answering it. “I know I shouldn’t have opened it…”
“It isn’t your fault,” he interrupts. “What happened is not your fault.” He releases my hand and wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer. He rests against the couch, taking me with him.
I try to mold my body to his, to relax against him as I rest my head on his chest. “He said he’d pay my father a visit if I didn’t open it.” I hear his heart hammer away in his chest, but he does a great job of remaining calm on the outside. His thumb rubs small, slow circles on my shoulder as I continue to explain. “He said we have to get married within a week, but he didn’t say why.”
He’s quiet still, but his thumb continues the slow circles. “I can’t marry him, Colin.” I bite my lip to stop its trembling at my own words.
“You aren’t, but he doesn’t need to know that yet.” I sit up and face him, completely puzzled by his response. “Tell him you’ll marry him Saturday.” He’s so nonchalant that it instantly pisses me off. I try to stand, but he tightens his grip. “Hear me out before you get pissed and storm off.” He gives a quiet chuckle, and I settle back in. He’s right about what I planned to do, and that sort of pisses me off, too. He kisses my hair and continues. “Not only will you marry him, but say you’ll agree to the business deal with Vinny to keep your father safe. Do that, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
I sit up and pull myself free of his grip to stand before he can grab me again. “No, you aren’t leaving me in the dark. You know way more than you’re telling me, and that’s not fair.”
“I’m just trying to keep you safe,” he says with a sigh. I came here to tell her everything, but there’s still a part of me that feels like the less she knows, the safer she is.
I cross my arms as I stare down at him. “I’m not a delicate flower, Colin Brooks.”
He grins. “You’re about as delicate as trying to diffuse a bomb.” His grin falls when his eyes land on my cheekbone again.
I place my fingers over it gently. “It’ll heal.” I want to ease him, though I don’t think it helps.
“And it’ll never happen again,” he says, standing from his spot on the couch.
He reaches out, grasps my shoulders, and pulls me into his chest before squeezing me tightly.
I’ve never felt more confused by any point in my life as I am right now, but I’ve also never felt safer than I do in his arms.
“Just trust me, okay?” he asks softly.
“I do,” I whisper back, and to my surprise, I mean it.
“I want to know everything you know about what he’s been up to,” I say softly. I don’t want to end this moment between us, but I need to know everything. “No more holding back. No more secrets.”
“Okay, but first, we need to get our ducks in a row.”
“I’ll text Elliott,” I say with a lump in my throat.
He nods against me. “I’ll talk to Donovan. He’ll help with anything he can.”
We break our embrace and turn our attention to bringing Elliott down and setting me free from his threats once and for all.