Chapter 22
Don’t Speak
Jamiroquai’s “Canned Heat” pumps through my headphones. I hold onto the bar and take a deep breath, lifting my leg to lean onto the bar, stretching out my quad. As I do, I catch sight of Cruz and Asher behind me, sparring on the mat. Asher blocks Cruz, and the two of them roll.
Their threat not to leave me alone for a second wasn’t a threat after all.
It was a promise. I have had one of them with me at all times, including at night.
I’m starting to go out of my mind, and today, finally cracked and begged them to let me train just so I could clear my head.
It’s been three weeks since we got locked up in this place and a week and a half since we last left and were attacked by my brother’s men.
And two days since Malachi sent through the paperwork to get my and Asher’s marriage sorted.
Unfortunately, because I’m Italian, it’s going to be a little more complicated, and we have to jump through some hoops with immigration.
Asher wants a wedding, the whole big show as a fuck-off to my family’s control, but I was with Jagger in saying that would only put a fresh target on our backs when we’re trying to lie low.
Not a great idea. Malachi said he will let us know what he can do. So for now, we stay locked up waiting.
I place my other leg on the bar and extend my body over it.
I have no idea if I’m ready to dance again or not.
The head spins have calmed down a little, and apparently, I can engage in all sorts of physical activities with the boys, so I figure it’s worth a shot.
This is what I need, a small slither of normal and a break from them.
With my headphones on and my mind focused on the moves, I can find my calm. Hopefully.
Unfortunately, with the two of them behind me all sweaty and tackling each other and stuff, I’m distracted.
Why do their muscles have to bulge like that?
Look away, Daisy, and focus. It’s hard to imagine being able to follow my dreams right now, but I have to build up my strength again.
And the truth is, if I don’t dance, I don’t feel like myself.
When I finish stretching, I move over to the mat and close my eyes, hands and feet in first position.
I see the moves in my mind and let the music take over.
My body follows, flowing through my routine with ease just like I did all of the times with Paige back at The Raven’s Nest. When the song comes to an end, I’m panting and slightly out of breath, but my eyes open to find the hugest smile on my face in the mirror.
I’m doing it, and I don’t feel like I’m going to pass out or drop to the floor.
Over my music I hear a whistle and claps. I drop my headphones on my neck and grin at the boys.
“She still has it!” Asher calls, moving through the room to pick me up and twirl me.
“Ash, put me down before you make me dizzy.” I laugh.
He helps me slide down his body, his hands landing on my ass when my feet hit the mat. I stare up at him, getting lost in his eyes for a split second. “You’re supposed to be helping Cruz train.”
“I’d prefer to help you. Don’t you need help stretching or some shit like that?” His hands glide down my body.
I take a step back from him, not wanting to get sucked back into his charming vortex right now. This morning was supposed to be about me finding some space. “No, I’ve got that covered. You’re nothing but a distraction.”
“You love it.” He grins, all cheeky.
I find Jagger standing in the doorway watching us.
He has a phone up to his ear and a deathly scowl on his face.
And I don’t think it’s from how Asher is holding me.
He takes a few steps into the room, closing the gap between us, dropping a kiss to my cheek so unexpectedly I almost falter and fall back. But Ash catches me, holding me close.
Jagger continues to listen to the person on the other end of the line. “We both know she’s a big girl. She can make up her own mind about who she chooses to spend her future with,” Jagger snips back, his voice like ice.
My eyes go wide, and I get an instant sinking feeling about who he’s talking to. “Let me hear,” I mouth to him.
His eyes flash with darkness. Then to my surprise, he clicks speaker on his phone and holds it between us.
“You have two days, fucker. You work out a way to get Daisy on that fucking plane home, or I drag her from your arms kicking and screaming. She’s not yours to protect anymore.”
Asher’s grip on me tightens, and even Cruz stops punching the bag he was working on and comes to join us, a deathly look in his eyes.
My heart lurches at my brother’s words, crippling pain rushing through me. “Dante.” His name slips from my lips before I can stop it. What the hell.
“Daisy?” he asks, confused.
I stare up at Jagger, wondering what exactly is going on.
Is bringing this call to me his way of including me?
Or something more sinister? “I’m not coming home,” I tell my brother.
This isn’t a fight he needs to have with Jagger, it’s a family matter.
And he needs to hear it from me. “I’m never coming back. ”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.
Can’t you fucking see the Strykers are manipulating you?
” Dante yells down the line. “They will use you up and spit you out when they’re done, it’s what they do.
Don’t be too blind to see it, little sister.
You know I only have your best interests at heart.
Come home and I will make sure Papa can’t marry you off.
I’ll protect you, get you the life you want. ”
Cruz shakes his head, anger flaring in his eyes as he goes to snatch the phone from Jagger, but Jagger stops him.
I feel Asher’s hand on my hip, giving me the support I need to fight him.
“No, that’s you,” I snap back. He can’t trick me again.
I hear the shake of his voice as he talks to me.
He’s lying through his teeth to get me home, then I will be shipped off to his buddy.
He really must think I’m stupid if he thinks I will fall for his bullshit.
“Daisy.” He growls out my name as a warning, one that no longer scares me. “You’re my little sister, you know I only want what’s best for you.” He tries to soften his voice, but it’s too late for that. I have seen the truth, and I won’t be fooled so easily this time.
“By marrying me off to Leone.” A bitter laugh escapes me, and Cruz backs me up, having a laugh about it as well.
“Fuck off, Dante, we both know that will only help you and Papa. You didn’t consider me in that equation at all.
What are you getting out of it, anyway? Must be good.
A big fat bonus from Papa? Or did he finally promise to hand over the reins of Conti Media to you, if you could convince me to come home and marry that vile man. ”
Something smashes on the other end of the phone, sounding like glass shattering, and I know my brother just lost his shit.
He must feel his big fat bonus slipping through his fingers.
How unfortunate for him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.
” His voice is cold as ice, and I know I hit the nail on the head.
Jagger’s lips form a thin line, and I can see it in his eyes, he’s about to fight back on my behalf, but I take his hand and shake my head.
I need to do this. “Maybe, but I know what I want for my life. I don’t need you or Papa to make any more decisions for me.
I’m a grown woman, and from now on, I will be living my life the way I choose.
I like it here in the States. You can tell them I won’t be coming home.
” I glance back at the boys, needing their strength to go on.
“You come for me, you won’t be dragging me home kicking and screaming.
You’d better be ready for a fucking fight, because I’m not leaving my boys ever. ”
A dark sinister chuckle comes down the line. “Are you threatening me, little sister?”
A stupid wide grin spreads across my face.
I hear it, the truth, and it’s so damn liberating.
Dante was always just like my papa. I was wearing rose-tinted glasses when it came to him in the past, but I can see clearly now.
The anger that’s been simmering under the surface since I hit my head bubbles over.
“Yeah, Dante, I am. You and Papa might have brought me up to be your little bargaining chip, the perfect wife for whomever you choose, but I’m not that girl anymore.
” I smile at Cruz, just as psychotic as the man staring back at me.
I feel powerful for the first time in my life because I know what I want.
And I’m ready to fight for it. “You don’t get to do this to me anymore.
The way I see it, you have a choice. Either leave me alone and get on with your own life or meddle in mine again and find out who I really am. ”
“Silly, silly girl. Have you forgotten how powerful our family is? Not just in Italy but in the States? Jagger’s little cop friend found out the hard way what happens when you don’t fall in line with the family.
You might be my flesh and blood, but I will happily take what is important to you to get what I want. ”
“My life means that little to you?” I ask, a fresh stab of pain radiating through me.
“There is more at stake here than your freedom, Daisy. Do your duty to the family and come home. I’ll spare your friends if you do.”
Jagger snatches the phone from my grasp. “That’s enough, motherfucker. You had your chance to fix things with your sister. Don’t call for her again.”
“You have two fucking days, Jagger, make the right choice for Daisy’s sake,” Dante growls down the line, then it goes dead.
My heart hammers like crazy in my chest. I have no idea how much worse I just made this situation. But I did it. I found my inner strength and finally stood up for myself. Even if it was over a phone call. Real life might be a little more terrifying when I can see Dante’s deathly expression.
Before I have too much time to overthink every word we both just said, Cruz picks me up and pins me to the mirror. “I’ve never been so fucking attracted to you.” He grins like a psycho.
Asher kisses my cheek, crowding me on the other side. “You did good, princess, told him real good.”
I stare back at them. “He’s still going to come for us, though. I hope I didn’t make it worse.”
“You can’t make it worse with cunts like your brother.” Asher says, his eyes locking with mine in a way that makes me believe him.
“We’ll be ready if he tries,” Jagger says, tucking his phone away. “We will fight with everything we’ve got.” He looks over Asher and Cruz. “Might want to teach her how to shoot.”
My eyes widen. “I have you guys,” I say in a panic. Learning how to shoot is not on my agenda. I would probably catch sight of blood and pass the hell out anyway. They know I can’t handle violence.
“You need to be able to protect yourself, baby, and we have all the time in the world right now. A few lessons wouldn’t go astray. Just in case.”
I nod, agreeing with Cruz, seeing that I have no choice and knowing deep down it doesn’t matter how much violence scares me, it seems to follow me round. “Okay, let me finish my dance practice first.”
Cruz lets me back down to standing. “I’ll go get set up for you.”
With a quick kiss to my lips, Asher goes with him, the two of them muttering quietly about something as they walk out of the gym.
I take Jagger’s hand before he can leave. Getting a moment alone with him is hard. “Thank you.”
His brow pops up. “What for?”
“Showing me the truth, letting me see the monster my brother really is. It’s not easy to hear, but it helps me move on. You know.”
His hand cups my face gently, sympathy in his eyes I don’t expect. “We won’t let him get to you or take you back to Italy. You’re our girl, flower. I’m keeping you for good, alright.”
“I believe you.” I smile softly. “What do you think Olivia did to my brother?”
I feel him stiffen, but instead of pulling away from me like I expect, he stays. “She cut a deal with him to bring you home and he would keep her dirty little secrets.”
“How do you know?” I gasp.
He rolls his lips. “Olivia wasn’t innocent, Daisy. A cop friend of ours was sent a file incriminating her on all sorts of illegal activity. If your brother didn’t shoot her, she would be locked up for the rest of her life with the shit she was involved in.”
“That’s so sad.”
He offers a slight lift of his shoulders, like he really doesn’t care, but he had to have.
They were close at one point. “She made her choices. Olivia was cocky. She never thought she would get caught, but the thing about people like her is eventually all the bad shit they do catches up with them. She was ready to trade you over to your family any way necessary. Don’t lose sleep over how she met her end, it could have been much worse for you. ”
His words send a shiver over my skin. His hand moves down to mine, and our fingers lace together. “Come on, let’s go teach you how to protect yourself.”