Chapter Three.
There was a problem with Magic. Maybe ‘wrong’ was the incorrect word, but something was definitely bothering him.
Ever since the last run, he’d been quiet.
I’d visited the building site yesterday, and Magic had been off.
I had planned to visit today, but I couldn’t stop puking my guts up.
We had food delivered last night, and it must have been bad.
“Are you okay?” Aster demanded, banging on the toilet door.
“Aster, give me some privacy,” I called, and then heaved again.
“Not happening. How drunk did you get, girl?”
“This is a dodgy takeout.”
“That or you’re pregnant.” The words fell into a dead silence. “Jody… are you freaking knocked up?” Aster squealed.
“No! Behave! I’m twenty-one, for God’s sake, too young to be a mother yet. Magic and I haven’t even discussed kids,” I replied and sat back weakly.
“Boo, you’re twenty-two in two months, so be quiet. If this carries on for a week, we’re buying a pregnancy test.”
“Aster, shut up,” I snapped as the mere thought made my stomach heave.
◆◆◆
“Pee on the damn stick!” Aster ordered through the door.
“Do you have any idea how much pressure you’re placing me under?” I growled.
Trying to piss on this while Aster shouted what she believed were helpful encouragements was completely off-putting. Worse, we were doing this in college because I couldn’t stand the thought of doing this at home, where Magic might catch me.
“Jody, don’t force me to come in. Pee on the stick!” Aster ordered.
“What the fuck?” someone gasped, entering the toilets.
“Get lost!” Aster shouted. “This is a personal emergency time.”
“I’d say so if Jody’s pissing on a stick. Do the test, Jody.” A girl in my class joined Aster in banging loudly.
“Get out!” I shrieked. “I can’t do this with witnesses. Aster, I’ll text you when I’m done.”
Aster grumbled and complained, but thankfully, they left. Thank God. A minute later, my bladder stopped being shy, and I peed. No sooner than I had, the door banged open and Aster’s boots clunked in.
“How long?” she asked. Christ, had Aster pressed an ear to the door, listening? That was mildly disturbing.
“You got a fuckin’ camera in here filming?”
“No, Jody, you’re my ride or die. I know you.” That was freaking creepy. “Jody, stop trying to distract me. How long?”
“Four minutes.”
“Come out.”
I opened the door and walked out with the pee stick in a tissue. Aster rolled her eyes. “That won’t change the outcome.”
“It will delay it a few moments,” I murmured.
Aster’s finger tipped my chin up and stared into my eyes. “Fuck! How late are you?”
“Five weeks.” I winced as Aster hummed.
“Have you spoken to Magic?”
“No. Magic’s stressed out with the bar. He’s got all the licences and everything to pay for and submit. He doesn’t need this, especially if it’s a false alarm.”
“Oh, honey, we both know this is gonna show positive,” Aster soothed, and I shook my head.
“Shut up, bitch! You better not jinx me!” I snapped.
Aster glanced at my phone. “Three minutes.”
Scared, I scowled. “Aster, I hate you.”
“Haven’t you heard of protection?” Aster teased.
“I’m on the pill! Magic uses condoms. I don’t understand how this happened.”
“Didn’t you have antibiotics for that throat infection a month or so ago?” Aster asked, and I paled.
“Oh God, I didn’t think!” Aster winced, and I shook my head.
My phone beeped, and I knew I had to look.
Aster reached out. “On the count of one, two, three…”
“Shit,” I groaned as the result appeared on the stick.
Magic
“Mathews made it perfectly clear,” Salvos said.
“Back off now,” I warned.
“No,” Salvos retorted and grinned.
Refusing to retreat, I stepped forward and went nose to nose. “And I told ya. Jody is ill. I won’t force Jody to attend something she’s not up for.”
“You’ll come, or Mathews will be insulted.”
I snorted. “Bull, I’m a casual delivery guy. Nobody important. If I intended to insult Mathews, he wouldn’t give a shit.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Jody’s car pulled up. My gut knotted. Talk about bad timing. Salvos turned, and an evil grin slid across his lips. Seconds later, Jody stepped out. She was whiter than white and looked as sick as a dog.
“Holy crap, you look rough,” I exclaimed as she neared. Jody shot me a glance, and then her body curled in on itself as she heaved.
Luckily, nothing came up, although Salvos stopped following me as closely.
“Magic, we need to talk,” Jody said weakly.
“Not now, babe,” I replied. Jody’s timing couldn’t have been worse.
“Magic, please,” Jody argued, and almost turned green as she swallowed hard.
“Babe, I’m working, and you look like shit. Go to bed.”
“Magic, it’s important,” Jody whispered, and I noticed a slight shake in her hands. But I couldn’t show concern in front of Salvos. That would put Jody at risk.
“Christ, Jody, you’ll get me fired!” I snapped, needing her away from Salvos.
Jody’s shoulders straightened. “Magic—”
“Jody, go home! You shouldn’t be wandering about in this state. You look like death warmed up! Just do as you’re fuckin’ told!” I yelled.
Jody reeled back and looked hurt. But I couldn’t retreat. Not with Salvos behind me.
“Fine.” Without another word, Jody returned to the car and drove off.
“I’ll let Mathews know that she’s sick. Keep that bitch away from the yard. She sees too much, that one,” Salvos ordered.
There was no way I’d risk Jody with these assholes.
Salvos had been pushing for me to do more, and I’d refused.
I wasn’t sure where the cash I was transporting came from, but I had a feeling it was drugs or blood money.
And I wasn’t moving into that shit. Time to leave the construction site.
Three months remained on my parole. Despite Rutter being a cunt, I could hunt for a new job; even cleaning toilets would do.
“Let’s get this clear. I’m a runner until I’m off parole and can take the bar back.
This isn’t a fuckin’ career path. It’s some easy money to get me through a shit time,” I snarled.
“I’ll keep my woman away, but stop with the useless threats.
You aren’t the big man in town, and I’m not intimidated. Not around here.”
Salvo’s expression darkened. “You’re under a misapprehension.
Magic, you aren’t in charge of anything.
The moment you took that first bag, you became an employee.
You’re right, you’re nothing, which means you ain’t calling the shots.
It would be a shame should something happen to that pretty lady of yours. ”
My gut twisted, and rage woke inside. I stalked into Salvos’s personal space and stared him down. “Don’t ever threaten Jody again. South Dakota is full of unmarked graves.”
Threat uttered, I turned away and returned to work. But my spine tingled. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
Jody
Curled up on Aster’s couch, I yanked the blanket higher and sniffed. I’d not gone home; I’d driven straight to her apartment.
“And Magic just shouted for no reason?” Aster asked.
“Yup. Magic didn’t even let me explain. He acted as if I were a bother.”
“Jody, that’s not Magic,” Aster defended. Upset, I wished I could agree, but today had rocked me. Magic had shown real anger and frustration, which had frightened me a little.
“Talk to him, Jody,” Aster urged. “Maybe Magic was having a bad day.”
“Yeah, well, I’m nobody’s whipping boy.”
Aster cocked an eyebrow, and I smiled weakly. “You understand what I mean,” I clarified.
“I do, honey, and you love Magic. Don’t let one shitty day ruin everything. You’ve been together four years, albeit two of those Magic was inside for. But you’ve something special, don’t throw that away.”
A heavy sigh escaped me. Aster was right.
◆◆◆
“Are you okay?” I asked as I placed Magic’s dinner on the table.
“Stressed, baby,” he replied. Magic cut into his steak and chewed.
“I need to talk to you—”
“Ditto. Babe, keep clear of the construction site; things are a bit tense there.”
“I’m not welcome anymore?”
“Not there. Shit’s going down, and it’s not safe.”
Apprehensively, I stared at Magic. “Should I be worried?”
“No. Not if you obey me. Jody, just stay the fuck away.”
“Is this to do with the deliveries?” I asked.
“The less you’re aware of, the better.”
Hell no. Magic didn’t get to talk down to me. “Hey, don’t forget I’m an adult and capable of making my own decisions. I’m asking for a bit of consideration here.”
Magic slammed his utensils down on the table. “What the fuck? Do you think I don’t respect you? I’m trying to protect you, woman.”
“Magic, I don’t need protecting, I’m your equal!”
“But you aren’t,” Magic retorted, and I flinched.
“What?”
“You aren’t my equal. We’re not even on the same level, Jody. Know your place, and I’ll stick to mine.”
Without another word, I got up and pushed my food away. I’d barely eaten, but I was no longer hungry. Magic didn’t say anything as he picked up his knife and fork and began eating again. In sheer disbelief, I headed into the bedroom. What the hell had that been?
Magic
I’d hurt Jody, and that wrecked me. Her expression had nearly made me crumble, but I held on.
Jody needed to understand that the site and job weren’t safe.
She’d pinged on Salvos’s radar. I’d burn the world before harm came to her.
As soon as Jody slammed the door, I placed the knife and fork down.
I didn’t have an appetite, and I noticed Jody hadn’t touched her dinner either.
I loved Jody for her strength, but that also worked to my disadvantage.
This was one of them. I’d never want Jody to be a yes-woman.
That was against everything I believed in, but how the hell did I explain that I’d brought danger into our lives?
Jody had begged me not to do these runs, had even offered to quit college until I got back behind the bar.