Chapter 24
Kaz
Present Day
I make my way out of the VIP section and down the stairs quietly. I’ve had at least six shots and numerous drinks already tonight, and I’m feeling a bit too tipsy. Besides that, I can’t take any more innuendoes from Jonathan. My phone chimes from my purse, and I roll my eyes. That’s probably him now, asking where I went.
“None of your fucking business,” I mumble to myself as I stumble down the last few stairs. I attempt to lean up against the wall when a strong hand grips me around my neck, pulling me behind a curtain.
“You are my fucking business,” a deep voice growls out as I’m pushed up against a wall. I look up, startled but relax when I realize who has me in a chokehold. Deep blue eyes glare down at me. I would know those eyes anywhere.
Jamison presses in close, and I catch myself arching against him, causing him to smirk. Bastard. His hair is perfectly gelled back, and he wears his signature suit, which covers every delicious part of his body. “What are you doing wandering around by yourself?” he asks me, tilting his head to the side like a fucking psychopath.
“I’m leaving.”
“By yourself," he states like it wasn’t obvious.
I swat his hand off my neck, in an attempt to get the feel of him off me. I’m already tipsy. I don’t need to give my body any more incentive to betray me more than it already has. My skin is already flushed and hot. I’m mentally trying to will myself to cool down.
“What’s wrong, Kitten?” he asks with a smirk.
“I've already told you a million times to stop calling me that,” I say as I try to move around him. He blocks my path before crossing his arms.
“You cannot leave by yourself. It’s still not completely safe. Why didn’t you ask Jonathan to take you?”
“I didn’t feel like it, okay?” I say, mimicking him by crossing my arms.
He glares at me before grabbing my arm. “Let’s go, I’ll take you home.”
“I don’t need you to chauffeur me everywhere, Jamison.” I yank my arm from him, and the room tilts briefly. I fall back onto the stairs behind me.
He stands above me, crossing his arms again. “Why do you have to be so disobedient?”
“You’re not my boss. I mean, you're not my boss. I, I…” My words trail off, and he raises his brow at me. I’m way too fucking drunk for this, I think to myself before an idea comes over me. Pushing out my bottom lip, I look up sadly at him.
“Fine, take me home,” I say as I pretend to search for something in my purse. “I think I left my keys on the table in the corner upstairs.”
“I will go get them. Stay put," he says as he pushes past me.
I bolt out of the stairway and quickly leave as soon as he opens the door.
“Sucker,” I say, laughing out loud. I’m not in any shape to drive, and no drivers are currently outside the club. I don’t plan to wait for one to show up, either. I need to get the hell away from both of the twins before I do something stupid.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve gotten tipsy and let my inhibitions go. I roll my eyes at my idiocy as I quickly make my way down another street and notice a cab pull up beside me. A large, good-looking man sits in the driver’s seat, motioning for me to jump into the passenger’s seat. It's not normal for a cab driver, but I need a ride and I’m fresh out of options. For all I know, Jamison is already outside looking for me. I jump in and click my seat belt as he drives away.
“Where to, babe?” the guy asks. Something about the way he says it sets me on high alert. My hand moves discreetly towards the small knife I have strapped to my inner thigh under my dress. Call it intuition or whatever you want. This man’s demeanor does not scream friendly cab driver. I look at him warily as he glances at me quickly before speeding up.
“Don’t even think about jumping out," he says when he notices me eyeballing the door. “I have a proposition for you, Little Devil.”
I close my eyes briefly and try to calm my nerves. I haven’t heard that nickname in a very long time. “Who’s asking?” I ask calmly.
“My boss. He wanted me to let you know he would be in touch.”
“Why the hell did he send you?” I ask, perplexed.
“I was heading in this direction anyway. I have a flight to catch.” He moves his hand over the center console towards me as he pulls the car over to the side of the road where there aren't any lights. “I have a few minutes, though, and I heard you put up a good fight. Why don’t you show me why they call you Little Devil?”
“My pleasure,” I purr and flutter my eyelashes, leaning towards him. The sound of his scream echoes inside the car as I stab my knife through his hand, impaling it on the console.
“You fucking bitch," he screams as I whip the door open and scramble out of the car.
“Tell your boss to fuck off,” I yell back at him as I make my way around a corner and back onto a well-lit street. I spot a small diner and quickly search for a booth before pulling out my phone.
I dial the number, annoyed at myself and my current situation.
“Hello, Kitten,” Jamison answers.
“Come pick me up. I’ll send you the address.”
“I knew you would change your mind.”
“Whatever,” I say as I hang up.
I look down at my phone to see a new notification on it. Pulling up my messages, I find one from an unknown number.
Hello, Little Devil. It seems you are a hard person to get in touch with. Let me make this easy for you. You will give me the information I need or I will inform Bolt Corporation that not only have they hired a fraud, they also have employed someone who was actively known in the underground.
I grit my teeth together as I read the message before responding.
Who the fuck is this and what do you want?
Three dots appear quickly before another text message.
You can start with following Jamison. I want to know where he disappears to every Wednesday evening. I also require something else. I’ll text you for that later. Don’t open your mouth, Little Devil. What would your boss have to say if he found out just how deep you used to be? Would any of them want you close to their wives or girlfriends, knowing the danger you could put them in?
Rage pours through my body. I don’t like being threatened or blackmailed. God knows how long I’ve had to deal with Jamison. But with him, it just hits differently. Maybe it's the attraction between us that’s always been there? Or, I don’t know, the way I have always been pretty sure he wasn’t ever going to spill my secrets. I could be wrong of course, but either way, this feels different. This feels worse, more dangerous, and suddenly I’m scared. I’m scared for my friends and the guys. Scared that the life I was trying to escape has come back for me, and this time when it crumbles to the ground, it’s going to drag me all the way down with it. My fingers move of their own accord as I type out my response quickly.
Understood.
The anonymous texter’s response comes through so quickly this time, I would swear he already had it typed and ready to send.
That's the good Little Devil, I’ve heard all about. I’ll be in touch.
My teeth grit together and I slam my phone on the diner table as Jamison strolls in.
“What is going on?” he asks me questioningly.
“Nothing,” I grit out as I slide out of the booth and past him, walking towards the doors. “Just take me home.”
He doesn’t respond. I’m sure he can tell I’m in no mood tonight. Instead, he walks me out to the curb and holds the door to his car open for me before slipping into the driver’s side and driving me home, where I know I’m going to spend the rest of the night unable to sleep. How the hell am I supposed to follow someone who always seems to be watching everyone else? And what the hell else could I possibly do for this anonymous person without getting caught. At this point, I might be in a lose, lose situation and that, well, it’s scary as fuck.