Chapter 16
Hold On
Anger vibrates through me. I have three enormous problems now: Jagger, Asher, and Cruz. Controlling assholes, the lot of them.
“Morning, little princess,” Asher calls after me as I storm down the back hall of the club.
“It’s mid-afternoon,” I snip back. Just because I’m pissed off and I don’t have it in me to be nice after dealing with his brother.
He catches up with me. “Where are we off to in such a rush today?” His eyes scan all the way down my body, and he grins, like fully grins all the way to his dimples. “Also, you look cute as fuck today.”
I ignore him, not in the mood for his being adorable and complimentary when I’m so annoyed. I bang on the door to Sloane’s office, hoping like hell she’s in. I don’t know what else to do. They’re smothering me. I suck in a breath, and my chest hurts.
Asher slides in my way, getting between me and her door, taking my hand in his. “Not a good idea, little princess.”
I glare at him, politely telling him to fuck off, and he backs away from me with his hands raised. I think I might have just scared him. Well, good. He needs to know they have gone too far.
Onyx, one of Sloane’s security guards, opens the door, leering down at me. “Yes?”
I stare up at the huge man, nervous and totally intimidated. “Is Sloane around? I need to talk to her ASAP.”
“Is that Daisy? Show her in, Onyx,” comes Sloane’s voice from within her office, and I thank whoever will listen to me that I caught her at a good time and she is welcoming me in.
I move past Onyx as he continues to watch me step into her office.
Asher follows along behind me like a little puppy. A gorgeous six-five tattooed puppy. He’s so close I can feel the warmth radiating off him and smell that damn intoxicating aftershave.
I glance back at him, eyes flaring. “Don’t you have work to do?” I ask, bitchy as all hell.
“I’m doing it.” He smiles cheekily, his voice way too playful for my liking.
I suck in a deep breath, trying to keep my cool in front of his sister. But I’m this close to either falling apart or losing it completely.
Sloane smiles at me, amusement in her eyes as she watches the two of us together. “What can I help you with, Daisy?”
“Your brothers are out of control,” I say, still glaring at Asher. I shove him in the chest when he takes a step too close to me.
He laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “She means out-of-control amazing at taking care of her because she’s your friend.”
“Ash, leave the poor girl alone so we can catch up.” She shoos him away.
He sinks his hand into his pocket. “Sorry, Sis, no can do. Boss’s orders.”
Looking indignant, she stands from where she was sitting at her desk and moves across the room, closing the gap between her and her brother. She glares up at him, and he takes a couple of steps back. “Is Jagger running The Raven’s Nest now?”
“Don’t think so.” He scratches the back of his head, suddenly looking lost by her question.
Lost and adorable, and I have no idea why I’m still seeing him in that way, but he does.
I refocus my attention on Sloane, loving how much of a badass she is when it comes to her brothers.
They all listen to her and even look scared when she talks.
How did she get so powerful? I wish I could have just a sliver of her authority.
“Then I am the only boss you need to worry about while you’re in my club. Go find someone else to annoy and let us be.” She flicks him playfully on the forehead.
He glances at me, a little wounded. “I’ll wait for you in the hall,” he snips over his shoulder as he leaves.
Onyx has also disappeared, so it’s just the two of us.
“Thank you,” I whisper, sucking in my first full breath since Jagger accosted me at the shop. I’m not sure how much more I can take.
She pulls a bottle of juice from her mini-fridge and hands it to me with her good hand. “Take a seat. I’ve been meaning to check in with you, but my life is chaos at the moment. I’m glad you’re here.”
I sit on the jade-green velvet sofa and open the juice, having a large swig. I’m not sure where to start with what has been going on since I saw her last. In a way it feels like a lifetime ago. “What happened to your wrist?” I ask instead.
“It’s best if you don’t know,” she says, taking the seat opposite me with a juice of her own.
My heart sinks, a heaviness resting on my shoulders because I know just by the way she’s looking at me, whatever caused her to be in a cast, it was terrible. I pop open the juice and have a drink.
“Cute outfit, by the way.” She smiles, I think trying to connect with me. Things are still awkward between us, and I know that’s my fault.
“Thanks.” I return her smile. “I took myself shopping this morning and got a few new things.”
“Fun.”
I huff a laugh. “It was, until Jagger turned up and… and your brother is a pain in the ass.”
She purses her lips, her features hardening. “What trouble is Jagger causing?”
“I don’t even know where to start. First he was doing all he could to get rid of me.
Even this morning he told me to find some other place to live, then he turns up in the change room where I was shopping, pays for my purchases so I couldn’t, and informs me I’m now his problem to take care of.
What does that even mean? He said I must always have one of them with me.
Either him, Asher, or Cruz.” I slump back on the soft sofa, exhausted by it all.
“Sloane, I didn’t sign up for this shit.
I have spent years being told what to do, repressed.
I just want to live. You get it, right?”
She rubs the back of her neck, looking uncomfortable.
“I get it alright. Thing is, though, Daisy, if Jagger is acting like a controlling asshole, there is probably a good reason for it. And I’m the last person who wants to admit that, but his heart will be in the right place even if his actions maybe don’t seem like it. ”
I sigh heavily, more worry creeping in. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure what is going on with him. I know he and Cruz ran into a bit of trouble last night. Maybe you’re now somehow wrapped up in that because you have been staying with them. I’m sorry if that’s the case.”
“He didn’t run into a spot of trouble; he came home with two horrific stab wounds.” I shudder, remembering the blood, so much blood.
I’m surprised when she doesn’t at all look concerned but nods like I just said it’s raining today.
Something so trivial, not that her brother was nearly killed.
“Cruz has a way of finding danger, I wouldn’t let it stress you too much.
I’m sure Jagger has it handled. Could be why they want to watch over you, though.
My brothers are a little overprotective, and now that they don’t have me to worry about, maybe they are turning their attention to you.
I’ll talk to him, see if I can get him to calm the fuck down. ”
“Thanks, that would be good. I don’t really know what else to do.
” I want to tell her so much more, like the fact I think that Cruz seems to think I’m his girl and, oh, you know, the fact I’m pretty sure Jagger paid to have sex with me last night.
But none of that seems like stuff I could discuss with their sister, even if she is the only kind-of friend I have.
I sigh heavily, knowing I need to get to work.
I feel her eyes on me. She has this assessing way, a confidence, that makes me feel under scrutiny even when we’re having a friendly chat. “Are you enjoying the job? Paige says you’re a natural.”
Memories of my time here the last couple of nights come back to me. The thrill of being on stage for the first time in so long. I can’t help but smile. “I’ve had a couple of fun nights. Before I got home, anyway.”
She hops up and moves over to her computer, typing something on the keypad. “You want me to find you someplace else to live? I have other options. At least two of my other apartments are vacant at the moment. And they don’t come with roommates. I just thought this was the safest option for you.”
I stand and move over to the wall of photographs she has, considering if I want to make a move or stick it out with the boys.
The images that line her wall are all of beautiful women, staring back at me with so much hope in their eyes.
I wonder who they are to her. “According to Jagger, I don’t get to make that choice now. ”
She raises a brow, a scowl etching her face, and I see he annoys her more than Asher does. “He’s holding you hostage in my apartment?” she snaps.
“Something like that.” I shrug, still not sure exactly what he thinks he’s doing. He’s so hot and cold, so damn confusing. And so damn gorgeous even when he’s being an infuriating grump.
She taps her long nails on the desk as she thinks.
“I think Jagger might just be on a rampage this week. I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but what the fuck.
We girls need to stick together. He’s had a shitty week.
The girl he’s been seeing for a while dropped him out of the blue, and as much as my brother doesn’t like to show his emotions, I know he’s taken it hard. ”
“Oh.” Now I feel kind of bad for him, he’s hurting. Still, he could at least try to be hospitable. He doesn’t have to talk to me or anything; we could live together and just co-exist. “It doesn’t excuse the way he’s treating me,” I snip back.
“Not at all,” she agrees. “Did you say he paid for all your new stuff this morning?”
“Yes, and do you know how pissed I am about it? I finally have my own money and was feeling so damn good about treating myself after everything I’ve had to deal with, and then he went and did a shitty thing like that.”
Her lips twist into a wicked grin. “I have never known Jagger to do anything so generous before. And here I was worried about Asher trying to get into your pants.” She huffs out a laugh.
“What?” I ask, kind of confused by what she’s implying.