Chapter 19
Love is a Battlefield
After we showered together, I made the two of us breakfast—scrambled eggs, buttery toast, and coffee.
We have been sitting at the kitchen island together eating quietly, both of us trapped in our own thoughts.
I have no idea what is running through Cruz’s mind, but all I can imagine is two thin blue lines on a pregnancy test. Not only that, but now I know I need to go to a sexual health clinic and get all the tests done again or I can’t work the VIP rooms. Those are the rules, and they are there for a good reason to protect us.
I’m so pissed at myself for the monumental screw-up.
Yeah, I could blame Cruz, but the truth is, I should have been on top of this.
Now I just have to work out how I get to the doctors without having that awkward conversation with one of the boys.
“Are you working tonight?” he asks, looking up from his breakfast.
“I have the night off.”
“Excellent.” His eyes light up.
“Cruz, I’m going to go back to work tomorrow, and I don’t need you showing up and ruining it for me like you did the other night. I like my job.”
He searches my face. “What would make you quit?”
“What?”
“What would make you quit? Another job you like better. Money? Just tell me what you need, and I will get it for you.”
I close my eyes and sigh heavily, and taking his hand in mine, I give it a squeeze.
I appreciate what he thinks he’s doing. I haven’t had many people in my life on my side, and it’s nice he wants to help, but it’s the last thing I need.
“It’s a sweet offer, but what you need to understand is I’m just coming out of a marriage where he controlled my every move.
Before that, my papa did. I just want to live for the first time in my life, Cruz.
No amount of money will make me want to quit, and I don’t want another job.
I really like this one, dancing makes me feel alive. ”
He raises his brow, his eyes locking with mine. “You enjoy shaking your tits and ass for creepy fuckers with too much money?”
“I enjoy dancing.”
“Problem solved, then I will find you a job dancing.”
I suck in a deep breath. “It’s not that easy.
Without a green card, I can’t just get a job in the States.
I also never went to a reputable dance school to do a degree.
I wouldn’t have the experience to teach dance or perform, and unlucky for me, I’m already too old to try to get in now.
My parents fucked me over when they married me off to Valentine Moretti, and now, I have to do what I can with what I have. ”
He squeezes my hand tighter. “I will find another way.”
I pull out of his grip, frustrated he’s not listening to me. “Cruz, leave it. Please.”
He pulls me in closer to him, kissing my lips, and I know his silence means he’s not going to leave it. Damn it. His hand slides down to my ass as he deepens the kiss. “You’re going to spend the day with me since you have no work.”
“Um, actually I was going to call your sister. I have a couple of things I need her help with.”
“You’re not ditching me for my sister. Whatever you need to do, I will take you. We might need to steal Jagger’s Range Rover because I can’t ride my bike with this, but that should be easy enough.”
Right as I’m about to protest and tell him I don’t want to go underwear shopping and to the doctors for the morning-after pill with him, a knock sounds at the door. He moves to standing, walking through the apartment.
While he’s distracted, I text Sloane.
DAISY: Hey, any chance we can take that shopping trip this morning?
SLOANE: I have a couple of hours. I’ll swing by and pick you up soon.
DAISY: I owe you big time, thanks.
When I glance up from my phone, I find the doctor from the other night strolling casually in.
“Ricky’s here to check out my stitches,” Cruz says as he moves over to the sofa.
“Okay.” I smile at Ricky, wondering if he could help me with my problem so I don’t have to go to the doctors. But the truth is, I don’t know this guy, and as much as he looks nice enough, I’m too embarrassed.
“Did you two meet the other night?” Cruz asks. “This is my girl, Daisy,” Cruz introduces us, smiling proudly at me. “I think you’re kind of related. Daisy was married to Valentine.”
I stand and move over to the living room where the two of them are. Ricky holds out a hand for me. “Nice to meet you, Daisy. I heard you’re in town.”
“You too.” I smile back, shaking my head at Cruz, who just shrugs, but he knows I’m not his girl even if we did just screw.
“Right, let’s see them,” Ricky says, giving his full attention to Cruz. “Did you shower with these on?” Ricky asks, sounding irritated.
I glare at Cruz. He told me it would be fine. I knew I shouldn’t have believed him. “I told him it wasn’t a good idea.”
“Shush you.” He smirks in my direction.
Ricky looks between us. “Something tells me you have been doing more than resting.”
Cruz shrugs. “When I wake up with that gorgeous girl in my bed, you fucking know it, Doc.”
I hide my head in my hands. “Oh, my God,” I mutter, moving away from them, my cheeks heating. I hide in the kitchen doing the breakfast dishes while Ricky fixes him up. I hope that Sloane will be here soon to save me.
I feel him before I hear him or see him. Jagger is behind me, watching me like a creep.
“Did you need something?” I snip. I have no idea how I’m supposed to act around him. Until he comes clean and admits it’s him visiting me at the club, this is the attitude he’s going to get from me.
He moves closer, so close I feel his warm breath on my neck. It causes a scattering of goosebumps to skate down my back. “Good to know you’re taking such excellent care of my dear brother while he is recovering.”
“Is it? See, part of me thought you might hear us and then go all caveman and break down his door so you can control that part of my life as well.” I don’t look at him as I say it, I can’t.
After last night, I’m scared to look right into his eyes again.
He’s had a part of me I can’t take back, and I’m still not sure what to do about it.
But I know when I look into his eyes, it’s going to feel real, and that scares me.
His lips brush my ear. “Is that what you wanted, flower? Sorry to disappoint.”
“No, it’s not what I wanted. You’re a controlling asshole; you need to get a life.” I spin back to face him, thinking he will move out of my way. But he doesn’t, and I come face to face with him. My heart races.
His lips twist up at the sides as his hand comes to my waist. “I have it on good authority that you love being told what to do. Love it so much you fall apart screaming for more like a good little girl.”
My eyes rise to meet his. They are dark and filled with an arrogance that doesn’t look good on him at all. I shove him in the chest. “I fucking knew it was you.”
He doesn’t budge. Instead, his fingertips press into my sides a little firmer. “What was me?”
My eyes narrow. “Don’t play dumb, we both know what you’re doing.”
“Do we?” the smug asshole asks with a sneer.
Anger bubbles up in me, and I want to slap him. Want to make him feel crazy, the way he’s making me. But the way he’s looking at me stops me. I’m frozen under his intensity. All I can do is glare back at him, my heart racing faster than I want it to.
“All done,” Cruz says as he and Ricky come into view.
Jagger pulls back from me, looking as though he just snapped out of a trance. I feel the tension rise, and I know I need to get the hell out of this apartment before one of them starts throwing punches.
Cruz tilts his head, silently asking me a question I don’t want to answer. I’m sure it’s “are you fucking my brother?”
I look away so he can’t find the truth in my eyes. “Ricky, can I talk to you for a second?” I ask instead.
I feel both sets of the boys’ eyes on me, but I ignore them and smile at Ricky, hoping he can take the hint.
“Of course,” Ricky agrees.
I motion to my room. “Maybe in my room for privacy,” I suggest, and yeah, it’s a dig at these two. But I’m sick of the way they’re invading every part of my life.
He follows me in, and I sit at the edge of my bed awkwardly. I don’t know him, but he’s a doctor, he has to be able to help me, right?
“Are you in some sort of trouble?” he asks, concern in his voice.
“With those two?” I motion to the door they are behind. “Don’t think so.” I can’t help but roll my eyes. “But I was hoping while you were here you might be able to help me. Just as long as you won’t tell them the thing I need help with.”
“I won’t say a word. What can I help with?”
I wince, not wanting to say the words even though I know I have to. “I did something stupid this morning and now I need the morning-after pill. Is that something you can help me with?”
He looks a little puzzled, not surprised by my question but like he doesn’t understand it. “I’m not sure what is going on with you and the Stryker boys, but Jagger already called this morning and booked an appointment for you at my clinic this afternoon.”
I stare back at him, deadpan. “He did what?”
Ricky glances at his phone, scrolling through. “The appointment is booked for three and is with me and one of our female doctors who specializes in sexual health. I thought you must have booked it, it’s to discuss birth control options and get a full checkup.”
I stand in a rush, adrenaline pumping through my veins in a way I have never felt before. An erratic energy thunders through me. How dare he! Also, why would he?
“You didn’t know about it?” Ricky asks.
My face glows with red, fiery anger. “Thanks for your help, Ricky. I will see you at three,” I mutter, not wanting to cause a massive scene in front of him.
Luckily, I need this appointment. Unluckily for Jagger, he’s about to feel the full force of my wrath for again overstepping pretty clear roommate boundaries.
“I’m sorry if I have caused any tension. We can talk more this afternoon. I can organize that pill for you as well. I’m glad you came to me before it was too late.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, not really paying attention to him anymore. I’m trying to get my temper under control before I erupt. But it’s no use.
He opens the door to my room and leaves, saying goodbye to the boys as well, then he’s out the front door.
Rage courses through me. I storm out of my room and pin my glare on Jagger. “How fucking dare you!” I snap, hands flying to my hips.
His brow shoots up. “You better watch that mouth, flower.”
I close the gap between us, slapping him square across the face before I have time to stop myself. “Watch my mouth? You better watch yours. What the hell made you think you could go ahead and book me an appointment at Ricky’s clinic for birth control?”
“Bro.” Cruz snickers.
Jagger doesn’t even flinch; he doesn’t even think he’s done anything wrong. He captures my wrists, holding them hostage between us, his lips twisting up at the sides. “With all the fucking you’re doing, I think it’s for the best. Don’t you? I’m sure you don’t want any unplanned pregnancy.”
I blink back at him. His words are impossible to process. I glance at Cruz to see what he makes of this shit.
He shrugs, a stupid grin on his face. “Sounds like a solid idea to me, Bro.” He pats Jagger on the back as if to thank him. And of course he would, he thinks what happened this morning is going to continue.
A fresh wave of anger rolls through me, and I want to slap him as well. I would if my hands weren’t trapped. “What the actual hell, you two are screwed in the head.”
The front door opens, and Sloane walks in, a total breath of fresh air in her white wide-leg pants and black off-the-shoulder top. She looks us over, a knowing smile crossing her peachy lips. “You ready to go, girl? I can come back if I’m interrupting something.”
“Give me five seconds,” I seethe. I’m so angry my hands tremble. I reef them out of Jagger’s grip and storm back into my room, grabbing my ballet flats and my bag.
“What are you doing here?” Cruz asks his sister.
“Saving Daisy from you two,” she snips back, sounding bitchy as all hell, and I love her for it. She’s the kind of girl I need on my side right now. Someone to pep me up and empower me to be able to deal with these guys.
“She doesn’t need saving. I had plans for her this afternoon,” Cruz complains.
“Reschedule,” she bites back. “The girl needs a break from whatever this is.”
I walk back into the living space to find the two of them having some sort of stare-off.
Jagger grins at me, not affected at all by my hate toward him.
He thinks he has won something, what I don’t know, because all he has done is solidify in my mind that the next time the mystery man books me, I will say hell no.
I don’t need an orgasm that badly. “Screw you,” I mouth to him.
It only makes his grin widen. “You wish,” he mouths back.
“Let’s get out of here,” I call to Sloane, and she breaks her concentration on Cruz, coming to my side.
As we make it to the door, Cruz runs after us.
Grabbing my hand, he pulls me back and then kisses me.
For a second, I’m momentarily in shock and kiss him back, but then I realize what he’s doing and shove him away.
“You’re on my shit list along with your brother.
” Even more so now, after he just kissed me in front of his sister when he knew how I felt about that.
He smiles cheekily, not letting go of my hand. “Come on, little darlin’, you know you can’t resist me.”
“Can and will, Cruz Stryker. Maybe you can use this time alone to research what boundaries are.”
Sloane stifles a laugh. “Leave her alone, Cruz. Go get researching.” She pulls me from his grip, and the two of us are out the door.
“Good to know this is amusing for one of us,” I mutter, throwing my shoes down and slipping them on.
The elevator arrives, and we both hop in. Sloane leans against the wall. “I’m sorry, sis, it’s just watching my stupid brothers fawn over a girl. I can’t even tell you how unusual it is. I would expect this from Asher, but not Cruz and Jagger.”
“Jagger isn’t fawning over me,” I huff. Who knows what the hell he’s doing, but it’s not fawning; it’s more like toying with me for sport.
She raises a brow like she doesn’t believe me. “Whatever, girl. I saw how he was looking at you, all lovesick and shit. He’s got it bad.”
I shake my head and huff out a laugh. “Not lovesick! Thank you for saving me, though. I was close to murder.”
“Ahh, welcome to my world. They are truly infuriating.”
“Why on earth did you leave me here with them?”
“Because they are the best people I know, and they would do absolutely anything to protect their people. And now that’s you as well.” She smiles softly, and I know it wasn’t out of malice in any way. She thinks I need protecting as well. I wonder what she knows that I don’t.