Chapter 6
Chapter Six
CHRISTIAN
It’s been four long days, and I have never been more relieved to finally be home.
“You ready to face the music?”
I turn to look at Terry as I take a deep breath.
“No time like the present,” I answer, grabbing a bag from the back seat. It’s a good job I’m rich as a few hours away turned into four days, and I had to keep sending Terry out to buy me new stuff, including a new phone.
“Remember to keep your mouth shut,” I warn as Terry shakes his head.
“The truth will come out eventually, Christian. You need to be honest with them now.”
“I don’t remember paying you for your advice,” I snap through gritted teeth and instantly regret it.
“No, you pay me to protect you, and sometimes that includes from yourself!” he snaps in retaliation. “Just remember I’ve had your back since we were kids, and I always will, even if you do pay my wages. But I’m not saying this as your employee; I’m saying this as the closest thing you have to a best friend. Don’t push them away when you need them the most.” He grabs his things from the back of the car and slams the boot shut.
“I will keep your secrets. I always have and always will. But don’t expect me to put your pride over the safety of others. I wouldn’t be doing my job as your head of security or your friend if I did.”
I watch as he storms off towards the back of the building where the security hub is—no doubt to get all the details from our time away and then head home.
Letting out a deep sigh, knowing I need to face the music and walk through to the kitchen from the garage, where I’m surprised to find Mrs Brown making herself a hot drink.
“Look what the cat finally dragged in,” she snaps, standing with her hand on her hips. “Do you have any idea how worried everyone has been?”
“Something came up…” I start, but Mrs Brown stops me by throwing her cloth onto the side and standing in front of me.
“It’s not me you have to explain to; it's that poor girl upstairs. She is beside herself with worry about her best friend, and then her fiancé goes missing and doesn’t even bother to pick up the phone to reassure her that he is okay.”
“My phone was broken. They know-”
“Whatever your reasoning, you need to stop and think,” she snaps, cutting me off. I turn around to drop my bag by the utility room as she continues to berate me. “Your brothers are used to you going off and doing your own thing, but young Jasmine isn’t. She needs you right now, and you have only bothered to message a handful of times. And now, with everything going on, she is heartbroken and scared and needs her Daddy.”
I spin around on the spot to look at her, it’s then I realise how worried she looks.
“What’s going on? Is Jasmine okay?” I demand, looking around.
“No. There seems to be some trouble with poor Miss Stevenson and the Donavons. Maximus left to help out. Poor Jasmine is worried sick.”
“Where is she?” I demand, dropping my new overnight bag on the floor.
“Upstairs.”
I don’t waste any more time as I turn on my heels and rush out of the kitchen, heading straight for the stairs. Taking them three at a time, I charge towards her room to find it empty.
“She’s in with Jason.”
I turn at Sean’s voice to find him walking towards me from his room.
“What the fuck’s happened?” I demand, charging into Jason's room to find Jasmine curled up on his lap, her eyes red from crying.
I don’t have to say a word; she leaps from him and straight into my waiting arms.
“You’re finally home,” she gasps as she hangs on to me tight, and her whole body starts to shake as she cries.
“I’m here, Sweetheart. I’m so sorry.” Guilt like never before engulfs me as I hold her, running a hand over her head as she cries. I hear Sean moving something and turn in time to see him nod to the chair he has placed behind me.
I sit, pulling Jasmine onto my lap as she curls up small.
“What’s happened?” I ask again, looking at my two brothers.
“We should be asking you the same question,” Jason replies. He doesn’t snap or yell, but I know we will be having some strong words about my silence later.
“You know I was dealing with some shit. Now, fill me in on what’s been going on here.” Jason continues to stare at me for a moment, and the tension in the room builds. Just when I think I will have to demand someone answer me, Jason sighs while shaking his head.
“We got a call this morning that Travis had left the safe house. He has gone to find Nicholson to confront him about everything.”
That stupid prick. He has always been reckless and leads with his heart. I’ve been waiting for him to do something stupid this whole time.
“What’s Maximus got to do with it all? Mrs Brown said he wasn’t here, but his car is in the garage.”
“He went to help keep an eye out for trouble. He saw how worried Jazzy was and wanted to do something to help.” Jason climbs off his bed and stretches. I know he would have been curled up on there with Jasmine for as long as she needed him, ignoring his own discomfort.
“That sounds about right. How is Verity doing with Travis leaving?” I ask, knowing she won't be taking it well.
“We don’t know. She’s run off.”
“What?” That was the last thing I expected. Verity has never come across as the act first, think later type of girl.
“Yep, that’s why Maximus’s car is here. Layton met with Calvin to pass over Maximus’s spare car key. Turns out she stole his before running, so they couldn’t chase after her,” Sean explains, shaking his head. “Maximus is driving Logan’s car as he got to the safe house first.”
“I’m going to kill her if Nicholson doesn’t,” Jasmine whispers against my chest.
“Nicholson won’t hurt her,” I whisper into her hair. But I know I could be giving her false hope. I don’t have any dealing with the man for a reason. He is known for hurting anyone who gets in his way, regardless of their sex and age. His son, who Verity has been promised to, is no better.
“When was the last time you heard from anyone?” I ask absentmindedly, running a hand over Jasmine's head.
“Two hours ago. Last I heard, Maximus was driving the remaining Donavons to Nicholson’s place to see if they were both there.”
“He better not get involved; he will bring a ton of shit to our door if he does,” I warn. It’s the last thing I need on top of everything else.
“But what about Verity?” Jasmine asks, leaning away from me.
“Sweetheart, we will do what we can, but we cannot be seen helping them,” I explain, but I see the disappointment in her eyes. She is still so new to this world she doesn’t understand how people like Nicholson work.
“Jazzy, Christian’s right. Like I tried to explain, making enemies with someone like Nicholson is bad news for everyone involved.” Jason sighs, sitting on the edge of his bed; he reaches over and takes her hand. “If we could storm in and take her, we would, but it’s not that simple. Nicholson would ensure there were repercussions for our actions, and we will not put you in harm's way like that.”
“But she’s like a sister to me,” Jasmine sobs as she looks at us all. “I can’t sit here doing nothing when she’s in danger.” She looks to Sean as if hoping he will back her up, but he shakes his head.
“We won't do nothing, but the others are right; we can’t be seen intervening.”
My brothers and I share a look as Jasmine bursts into tears and leans back against me. We know that if anything happens to Verity and we don’t prevent it, she will never forgive us. We have discussed it at length since the whole situation Verity’s father has gotten her into came to light. We have considered paying off his debts to Nicholson, but again, that puts us in the middle of it all, and we need to deal with it without our identities being known.
I wish we could do more, but I will not risk my brothers’ or Jasmine's lives for the sake of one another. She may hate me for it, but there is nothing I’m not willing to do to protect our family.
We all turn to Sean as his phone rings, and he pulls it from his pocket.
“It’s Maximus,” he declares before answering. “Hey, you’re on speaker, what’s going on?”
“I’ve left the Donavons at Nicholson’s. Travis and Verity are there; they are okay and in no danger. I don’t know the ins and outs, but the marriage is off, and Verity is free. Travis has to stay there for a few days, so the other two will take Verity home. But it’s over from what I can gather.”
We all let out a sigh of relief as Jasmine visibly relaxes into me. I tighten my arms around her and kiss the top of her head.
“Were you seen?” I ask Maximus.
“Oh, you’re back, are you?” he snaps. “Of course, I wasn’t seen. I’m not completely stupid.”
I try to ignore the way he speaks at me, he has probably had a shitty day, but I need to know so I can do damage control.
“Shorty, if you even think about doing something as reckless as your friend just did, I will tan your ass so hard, you will never sit down again. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Daddy.” She curls up smaller on my lap, and I have to stop myself from laughing as she tries to use me as a shield against Maximus. “Are you heading home?” she asks.
“Yeah. Is there any chance there is some food left over? I’m starving,” Maximus answers. Glancing at my watch, I see that it's already coming up to midnight, and he will be out for at least another two hours.
“Mrs Brown was going to plate up your food and leave it in the microwave for you. I will check that she has,” Sean says as he hands his phone to Jasmine. “Jaz has my phone, as I’m sure she wants to talk to you before she heads to bed,” he adds before walking out of the room.
“I’m going to wait for you to get back,” she says into the phone.
“No, you're not. Go to bed, Shorty. I will see you in the morning.”
Jasmine turns the loudspeaker off and stands from my lap before walking away as she talks to Maximus quietly.
“Everything sorted in Bristol?” I hear Jason ask as I watch our girl.
“Yeah, the building’s been destroyed on the inside. Police think it's squatters or a bunch of ASBO kids. There have been a few similar cases recently.”
One of the premises we have been converting into a new fitness centre was broken into, and a fire started a few days ago. Luckily, we were far from ready to open, and none of the equipment was inside. But they have destroyed the walls and some of the flooring. They had taken advantage of the windows still being boarded up so no one could see inside.
“Is this a one-off, then? Or will there be more?” Jason asks, standing from the bed.
“I don’t know. Hopefully, it'll be a one-off,” I reply, thinking about the damage I saw this afternoon.
“Do we need to talk when she isn’t around?” he asks. I shake my head quickly, looking back to Jasmine, who walks over to us, no longer on the phone.
“I’ve sorted it,” I answer quietly, hoping Jasmine won’t hear. I know he’s not going to drop it, but I’m too tired to deal with his nagging right.
“You okay, Jazzy?” Jason asks, placing an arm around her shoulder. She nods as she leans into him.
“Can I sleep in with you tonight?” she asks, looking at me. I stand with a smile and run a hand over her head.
“You know you don’t need to ask,” I reply, pressing a kiss to her head. “Why don’t you go and say night to Sean and get ready for bed? I’ll be right in.”
Jasmine turns in Jason's arms and hugs him as she lifts onto her tiptoes to kiss his lips.
“Thank you for sitting with me all day,” she whispers. Jason cups her cheek with his hand before kissing her gently.
“You know you don’t have to thank any of us for looking after you, Jazzy. You are always our main priority.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t show how grateful I am for you all, though,” she smiles before kissing his cheek and stepping back to face me. “I’ll see you in a minute.” She flashes a seductive grin, and I reach out, pulling her into my arms.
“You going to be in bed ready for me, Baby girl? So I can show you just how much I’ve missed you.” She nods eagerly, so I press my lips to hers hard, claiming her, leaving her with no doubt that I’ll be making her scream tonight.
I pull away, leaving her gasping for breath.
“Go and say goodnight to Sean, Baby. I’ll be right there.”
She rushes from the room eagerly, with a small giggle, as she goes to find Sean.
“She’s been worried sick about you,” Jason says beside me as we watch our girl rushing out of sight.
“I tried to get the phone sorted sooner, but the insurance guy and police were difficult from morning until night. I’ve hardly eaten or slept. All I’ve had time to do is pass messages through Terry.” Running my fingers through my hair, I know I need to give him more information, even if it’s the last thing I want to do.
“Going back to your question, I don’t know what to think. My gut’s telling me we need to be on the lookout for trouble, but I could be wrong.”
“Or you are worried that something is going to go wrong with the wedding, and you are projecting those worries onto everything else.” Jason cocks that one eyebrow at me, daring me to say he’s wrong when I know he might not be.
“Maybe,” I admit. “No harm in keeping an eye on things through.”
“Well, just remember that it isn’t just us you need to keep in contact with; it’s her too. You dropped a ball this week, and it hurt her, even if she would never admit that to you.”
“I know. I will speak to her. I really didn’t mean to worry her or you,” I answer before leaving his room. “I’ll speak to you in the morning,” I call, heading into my room to wait for my beautiful girl.