CHAPTER 13
Nirah
“HEY, WHAT ARE you doing here?” I asked Jordan, and he looked down at me in confusion.
“It’s Thursday. I always pick you up on Thursdays.”
I completely forgot. “Right… yeah, sorry, it slipped my mind,” I apologized. Oh crap. Jordan. “I was just going to head out with Antonio, actually.”
His eyes darted up to a very satisfied Antonio—though not physically clear, but I could still tell by his eyes.
Jordan seemed taken aback. “You’re heading out with him? Why?”
“He doesn’t know, does he?” Antonio asked, and a ball of guilt formed in my chest. I’m sorry, Jordan . I opened my mouth to speak, but no words seemed to be coming out.
“Know what, Nirah?”
“Nirah and I—”
“Antonio, don’t,” I cut him off. “Jordan there’s something important I need to tell you,” I said as I ran an anxious hand through my hair. “I don’t think we can—” I cut myself off as I followed his eyes that were glued to my hand.
I immediately tried to place both my hands behind my back, but he reached forward, grabbing my wrist before I could, and looked down at my finger. The diamond shimmered under the lights and my heart dropped to my fucking ass.
Antonio grabbed Jordan’s wrist and pulled his hand off me, gripping his wrist. With the most agitated presence, he stepped between Jordan and I.
“Don’t touch her,” Antonio warned and Jordan pulled his hand from Antonio.
I stepped aside and moved in front of Antonio, looking up at Jordan.
“Nirah, tell me you’re not that fucking stupid,” he almost pleaded. “I thought you were smarter than that.”
I didn’t miss the twitch in Antonio’s fingers in response to Jordan’s words. “You’ll speak to Nirah with respect, or don’t speak to her at all,” he carefully said, making Jordan’s fingers curl into a first.
I grabbed Jordan’s arm with pleading eyes. “Just listen to me—”
My words were cut off by Jordan ripping his arm from my hold. His hand knocked the bottom of my chin, and I bit my tongue, feeling a metallic taste seep into mouth. “Don’t fucking touch me right now, Nirah.”
I winced, and a beat hadn’t even passed before Antonio’s fist flew through the air, landing on Jordan’s jaw.
My eyes shot open as I stood, frozen in fear. Jordan lifted his fist and as though it was second nature, Antonio blocked Jordan’s throw and gripped his forearm underneath his arm before swinging his left arm through the air. Oh my God.
“Do something!” I fumed at Cesar who stood idly beside me with both of his hands behind his back.
“I cannot, Miss Nirah,” he shook his head. “I do not interfere with Mr. Antonio’s business,” he said and my head snapped to him in disbelief.
“He’s going to hurt Jordan!” I tried to reason with him but he simply shrugged his shoulders.
Security rushed in as Antonio stepped back, and my heart dropped as I watched Jordan stand against the wall with a bloody mouth and bruised face.
Antonio took another step back and used the back of his hand to wipe some blood splatter off of his jaw that I’m sure wasn’t even his. He walked over, gently taking my chin between his fingers and traced his thumb across my jaw. “You okay?”
Utterly breathless—and speechless— I stared up at him with a dropped jaw and my brows drawn together. His chest moved up and down as he slightly tilted his head to the side.
In a matter of seconds, the pure anger he had for Jordan had vanished, and now, his eyes and his demeanor were replaced with genuine concern. For me.
I brushed past him in disbelief, rushing toward Jordan. “Oh my God,” I whispered.
His nose and mouth were bloody, so I swallowed hard—feeling lightheaded.
I immediately fought my dizziness as I reached forward to gently touch his face.
“I’m sorry,” I breathed as security helped him up on a chair.
I felt a strong hand grab my wrist, tugging me back, and when my head snapped forward, Antonio was pulling me out of the building.
“What are you doing? I have to make sure he’s okay,” I looked back, seeing Silvia rush over.
Antonio opened the car door and forced me into the passenger side, slamming the door shut before rounding the car. He slipped into the drivers seat and gripped the steering wheel—the leather squeaked under his tight grip. His knuckles were bloody and bruised on both hands.
“Unlock the doors, Antonio,” I demanded, gripping at the handle, but he didn’t listen. “I need to make sure he’s okay, so please,” my voice cracked. “Just open the door,” I pleaded.
A thick tension filled the space between us, and I could see the storm behind his eyes as they fixated on his hands. He didn’t look rather irritated.
He unlocked the door, and I got out, but I froze mid-way. “I won’t be here when you get back.” My heart dropped.
He started the ignition, and it was as though I was being tugged in opposite directions. Nirah, you have to check on Jordan. Antonio will get over it because you mean nothing to him, and your actions won’t affect him, but Jordan will hate you if you leave.
“That’s fine,” I said, slamming the door before rushing back inside to find Jordan. I didn’t hear Antonio pull away immediately, but when he did, I couldn’t help but doubt my decision for a second.
My hands flew to my mouth in instant panic. “Jordan, I’m so sorry, I don’t know why—” I cut myself off, shaking my head, but he didn’t even care to spare me a glance. He mad at me me. This is all my fault. “I don’t know why he did that, I’m sorry,” I whispered, stepping closer.
His tone was flat as he turned away from me with an ice pack to his jaw. “Go away, Nirah.”
“But Jordan, I—”
“Just go,” he interrupted me, and the bitterness in his voice landed in my heart like a sharp knife. “I can’t even look at you right now.” He just twisted the knife.
With tears swelling in my eyes, I glanced over at Silvia, and she nodded apologetically. “I’m so sorry, Jordan,” I apologized, but he paid me no mind.
Silvia walked over, wrapping her arms around me before breaking the hug. “Go home, Nirah. Jordan needs space, and you need to be safe. He’ll be fine.”
Knowing she’s right, I left the building and took a step to the side, resting my back against the cold wall. I brought my hand up to hold my aching heart with uneven breaths.
“Ready, Miss Nirah?” My head snapped to Cesar, who stood beside me with his hands behind his back.
“You should have stopped him,” I bitterly spat out, looking away from Cesar.
“Mr. Antonio has made it clear that I am not to interfere with his business, Miss Nirah. Interference would get me beat up even worse or killed,” he calmly explained.
“Well, why didn’t you just leave with your precious master?” I shot back.
“Even though Mr. Antonio is mad, he still cares about your safety.”
“That man only cares about himself,” I shook my head.
“Well,” Cesar began, taking a step closer to me. “If that were true, I wouldn’t be under strict orders to keep you safe.”
I scoffed. “Whatever. But he’s fucking vile and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day you left him,” I admitted standing up straight and he seemed torn. “Why are you really here, Cesar?” I asked once again. He stayed quiet for a moment.
“You have a huge heart and you’re very loyal, Miss Nirah. I knew you’d choose your friend and I knew that Mr. Antonio would not like that.”
I heavily exhaled, and he opened the car door for me.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “No.”
“No?” he repeated after me and I gave him a single nod. “Okay,” he calmly said and approached me again.
Within the blink of an eye, he had me thrown over his shoulder, kicking and screaming.
“Cesar put me down!” I hit my fist into his back but it was no use. He lowered me into the passenger seat and shut the door. My jaw dropped as I watched him round the hood of the car before slipping into the drivers seat.
“What is wrong with you?”
He only started the ignition. “I was told you get you home safely… using any means necessary.”
* * *
Later that night, on a quest to find Rosalia, I noticed a light coming from Antonio’s office.
I took a step closer and saw him searching for something in his drawer. As I was about to walk inside I heard a feminine voice.
“I got it,” she said and he looked up at her, then walked out from behind his desk. She carefully moved him back and he sat down on the edge of his desk. She stood between his legs, taking his bruised hand in hers.
It’s the blonde I saw him with at the club.
“You can’t keep going around, hitting people when they make you mad,” she scolded him.
He didn’t answer. “What did he do?” she questioned, and I heard a smile in her tone.
“He stole your lunch money? Oh wait—he kicked your cat?” she mused and he only shook his head at her.
“Ignore the last one,” she chuckled. “Allergies and whatnot.” He’s allergic to cats… ?
I slowly stepped back and it felt as though a hand wrapped around my heart, squeezing it senseless. I could hear my heart thudding in my ears as jealousy boiled in my veins.
I turned around and rushed down the hallway, running into Rosalia. “Everything okay, Miss?” she softly asked and I smiled.
No, Rosalia… Everything is not fine.
* * *
I rolled my eyes, seeing a woman in nothing but a shirt—I’m guessing it’s his—standing in the kitchen with her back facing me. Seriously?
She hummed a tune and I completely ignored her as I stopped beside her. Her head snapped to me in surprise but I simply opened the cabinet, reaching for a glass.
A soft smile spread on my lips when I noticed that the bottom shelf was completely stacked and the t. He remembered.
“ Ahem ,” she cleared her throat and I was snapped back to reality.
I grabbed my glass and walked over to the fridge. I had an hour before I needed to meet Jordan to clear the air, so Antonio and the women in his life were the least of my concerns.
She scoffed as I made my way to the kitchen island to pour some juice into my glass. “Well, good morning to you too,” she murmured.