Chapter 32 Trent #2
He’s not wrong. I’m aware of the fact that we dropped the ball. We could’ve easily prevented this, but I also don’t need him to tell me that. I’ve been beating myself up about it enough without his help.
“I don’t see why you care. She’s fine, and it’s not your job to worry about her. Your job is to get intel that can help her handle the problem. Your problem. So why don’t you worry about that and let us worry about her?” I bite back, turning to leave.
I got what I came for. I don’t have time to stand around while he tries to tell me what he thinks should or shouldn’t be happening, especially when it comes to Jade.
I hear his footsteps behind me as he follows me through the house, but I keep going.
“Yeah, and how's that going so far?” he shouts, even though I’m only a few feet in front of him and can hear him just fine. “With you idiots watching her, she’s more likely to be walked to her death than have any shot at freedom. She was probably better off on her own!”
His words ring out in the empty house, and something inside me snaps.
Before I can think better of it, I’m on him. Turning around quickly enough that he barely has time to stop before slamming into me. I bar my arm under his throat as I back him up against the wall.
These days I tend to keep my temper in check, but something about what he said pushes me too far.
The fact that we could be responsible for her death, that it’s even a possibility to begin with, is unnerving to think about, but it’s true.
What we’re doing is dangerous, but what she’s doing is much worse.
She’s been doing shit like this for years, and while she’s survived this long, she didn’t make it out unscathed.
She’s been through shit that could have killed her, would’ve had lesser people giving up.
The thought of her putting herself in that kind of danger again is driving me nuts.
It’s what had me coming to see Jake in the first place.
I press my arm tighter against his throat, feeling it work as he attempts to swallow. I’m not cutting off his air supply just yet, but I will if he keeps pushing me.
“I’m well aware of the possibilities here. You think I don’t know the danger she's in?” I hiss, gripping the front of his shirt in my hand as I fight the urge to shake him senseless.
“I do, which is why I came to you for answers. So maybe instead of worrying about what we're doing, you should be doing what you can to ensure her safety. You always want to talk about how you run the streets, so fucking run them and get us what we need before it’s too late. Because if something happens to her, it’ll be a lot more than just me who's upset about it.”
Jake watches me with wide eyes, and if this were any other situation, I’d probably find it funny.
Jake grew up with us, and while we’ve never been close exactly, he knows who I was.
He’s aware that the guys and I used to be inseparable, and he also knows that Rick and I were hot-headed.
His rage is a lot like my own, and while I learned to hide mine, Rick learned to wield his like a weapon, and for the first time in my life, I can see the benefits of that.
“You think I don’t know that? Do you think I want to see her hurt?
Of course not! I have enough shit to deal with without a target on my back from Vengeance too.
I’ve been doing everything I can to get something I can use, so don’t come in here acting like I’m lacking.
” Jake spits the words as he attempts to push me off of him.
He doesn’t get far before I slam him back against the wall.
I hear the air leave his lungs in a whoosh.
Pulling my arm away, I opt to wrap my hand around his throat, pressing hard enough to make each breath a struggle but not enough to knock him out, no matter how badly I’d like to.
I press forward into his space until we're damn near nose to nose. “See, that's the problem here, Jake. This isn’t about you. It’s about Jade. You think anyone is doing this for you, besides maybe her?” I ask, no longer yelling. Instead, my voice is calm, without a hint of emotion.
He doesn’t answer, but I didn’t really expect him to, so I answer for him. “No. And do you know why?” I ask him once again, and he remains quiet. “No?” I wait; our gazes lock together and after a moment, he gives the slightest shake of his head.
“Do you have any idea of the type of shit she’s been through? I know you heard about what your father did, but do you really think that’s it? You want out from under his thumb because he’s an asshole, and I’ll bet he’s probably slapped you around a bit, right?”
Jake holds my gaze but doesn’t answer. He doesn’t have to, though.
I know enough about Randall and assholes just like him that I would bet money he’s used Jake as a punching bag on more than one occasion.
He hadn’t hesitated to rough Jade up a bit, and he claimed to love her, so I can imagine he wouldn’t be opposed to hitting his son.
“Do you have any idea what it’s like to fear for your life and the lives of those around you every fucking day?
What it’s like to give your body to people who use and abuse it as a child!
” There's less than a foot of space between us, yet I still find myself shouting.
The truth of my words only makes me angrier as I slam him back into the wall again.
“Jade has given everything for everyone, and she would do the same for you. Randall might be one of her biggest fears, but make no mistake, in her mind she’s doing this for the girls and you more than she is for herself.”
“You don’t know that,” Jake chokes out the words but makes no move to free himself this time.
“Bullshit!” I roar, getting in his face.
“Everybody knows that. That's who she is. It’s what she does. She stayed in the rings for years. Even after she was strong enough to leave, she stayed to keep those girls safe. It’s how your dear ol’ dad kept her on a leash back then and how he’s doing it now.
You think if he threatened you, she wouldn’t jump to help you? ”
He doesn’t answer, but I see his eyes widen a fraction as my words sink in, and he hears the truth in them.
“This isn’t about you and what you can do for yourself.
It’s about what you can do to make sure Jade isn’t putting herself in the line of fire for nothing.
She’s going to do this with or without us, but we have the chance to make sure she has better resources, more information and better odds.
Because at the end of the day, all she wants is a life where she doesn’t have to look over her shoulder all the time.
A life where she can be normal, go to school and have friends, without having to worry that those connections might get people killed if she steps out of line.
Your father is the bad guy in your story, but you made a name for yourself despite him.
You have options. In Jade’s story, he’s the fucking grim reaper, and she’s fighting to save everyone from death, including you. ”
I take a step back, letting the material of his shirt slip through my fingers. He slumps back against the wall but makes no move toward me, instead standing there watching me.
“Remember that next time you want to tell me how we should be handling shit.” I don’t give him a chance to respond before I turn around and walk out the door back to my car. This time he doesn’t follow me.
I check my phone as I pull up to the gate. It’s just after three in the morning, but I knew Rick would be up, and sure as shit, there's a text with a temporary code from him.
Spencer won’t give us the actual code to the gate, but with the temporary ones, we can get in once. I hate to admit it, but it’s smart as hell.
I type in the code and head up the drive, parking my truck near the fountain. The guys’ cars are probably in the garage, but I have no doubt they're all here. I can’t imagine anything that could pull them away right now.
As I make my way to the door, I spot a motorcycle near the fountain. I don’t need to look hard to know it’s Kratos'. Which means someone filled him in as well. I don’t envy whoever that was, but I know it was better to tell him now than let him hear about it later.
Letting myself in the front door, I take a moment to think about what I’m doing.
Do I head up to her room and check on her or look for Rick?
I should probably start with Rick. Hazel assured me Jade had been fine since I left, but she would probably be the easiest for her to fool.
But even as I decide Rick is the best bet, I head for the stairs.
Just a quick peek, and I’ll feel better.
Ever since I left Jake back in the city, I’ve been feeling anxious. I knew the risks Jade was taking and the shit she’s been through, but somehow saying it all out loud like that has put me on edge.
I make it to her room and find the door cracked open already.
Stealing a peek inside, I spot Hazel sprawled out on the bed like she owns the damn thing.
I can't help but shake my head. She’s always been a bed hog ever since we were little.
She would often crawl into my bed when she had a bad dream and didn’t want to be alone, and every time she would damn near push me off the bed in her sleep.
Some things never change.
It takes me a second to realize that Jade’s not there.
The blankets are bunched and all over the place, but a second look confirms it's only Hazel. I push the door open enough to slip in, walking through the room to check the bathroom. The door’s open, and the lights are off, leaving it pitch black, but even without flipping them on, I know she’s not here.
I head back out quietly so as not to wake my snoring sister, leaving the door cracked the way I found it, I make my way back downstairs.