Chapter Fourteen. #2
“Did you ever reclaim the apartment?” I whispered.
“I did and then gave it to Alice. Bunny stayed for a bit as well. It’s empty now.”
“Shall we test the bed?” I murmured with a wink.
“No.”
Magic shocked me, and I pulled away. “Sorry, I misunderstood.” I rose, and Magic yanked me down into his lap.
“No, you didn’t. I don’t want to go upstairs, Jody, until I know you’re mine.
My right hand and cock are very well acquainted.
Make no mistake, woman, I want you, but I won’t be a quick fuck or an itch to rub.
Lost you once, Jody, through my own foolishness, won’t lose you again.
This time, I’m going to burn myself into you,” Magic promised.
I stared up into Magic’s eyes and saw the truth of his words. Magic meant every single one. And somehow that aroused me even more. Damn him for his restraint!
Magic
“Magic, there’s been someone hanging around. I reviewed the cameras, and dude’s been here a few times. Lurks outside but doesn’t come in,” Stan, the night cook, said.
“Wanna show me?”
“Yeah, I froze frame on him.”
I followed Stan to my office and checked the security screen. Even when I zoomed in, I didn’t recognise the guy. But something set my senses tingling. “Druggie. Looks like a meth addict,” I stated, and Stan nodded.
“That’s my thinking. Something’s wrong with that one, Magic, his clothes, the way he’s twitching, he’s bad news,” Stan confirmed.
I printed a picture off and handed it to Stan. “Slap that on the staff notice board. I want everyone to be warned. Ain’t got a clue why a tweaker is hanging around, but keep an eye out.”
“Will do,” Stan agreed and headed out. I stared at the monitor again. Why the fuck was a drug addict coming here? Everyone understood I didn’t allow drugs in the bar. What was going on?
Jody
“You have to be kidding?” I declared as I opened the front door. “What the hell do you want?”
“We need to talk,” my mother replied as I glared.
“Nope, ain’t got shit to say to you.”
“Jody, stop being a brat. It’s been seventeen years, and you’re still a bitch!”
“And that’s a surefire way to ensure you’ll never cross my threshold. Go away,” I responded, already annoyed by her presence. Whatever dear old Mom wanted, it wasn’t for my benefit.
“This is important, Jody. Let me in,” Mom snapped.
As I was in the process of slamming the door in her face, a shriek stopped me. “Aunt Jody, there’s a spider in the bathroom!” Jesper shouted.
I sighed. The kid didn’t flinch at handling a flamethrower but wailed at an eight-legged arachnid.
“Call Oskar,” I called back.
“Aunt Jody! It’s running at me,” Jesper yelled with more than a hint of panic. I knew what was next. Jesper would use something precious as a weapon.
“Jesper, I’m coming,” I replied and raced towards the downstairs cloakroom. I yanked the door open as Jesper picked up a very fragile and expensive bottle of liquid soap. Quickly, I snatched it and shrieked at the size of the arachnid scuttling toward me.
“Oskar!”
“Aunt Jody?”
“Spider! Big fuckin’ spider!”
“Coming,” Oskar called back, amused.
“Who are you?” Jesper asked. I spun around and caught Mom entering the house. Her nose wrinkled up as she looked around before heading into the lounge. Drat! I’d forgotten her.
“Jesper, find your brothers and go and play. Use the upstairs cloak,” I ordered and chased after Mom. I found her picking up a vase and checking it.
“Some of this is worth a small fortune,” she said, delicately placing it back on the mantle.
“And?”
“You shouldn’t have it out around children, even if they are visiting. Whose are they? They called you aunt, but they’re not Mimi’s or Myles’s.”
“They’re none of your concern. I didn’t invite you in, so leave.”
“Not until we’ve concluded our business.” What freaking business? Mom yanked a folder out from under her arm and sat down. “These need your signature.” She pulled several forms out.
“What?” I asked, completely confused. What was she up to?
“Just sign Jody and save us trouble,” Mom ordered.
“No, I’m not a kid. I’m a thirty-eight-year-old woman and won’t put pen to paper without knowing what it is. What are they?”
“A deed to transfer this property over to Mimi. You didn’t deserve Crook House and were left this by mistake. Shirley told me directly she meant to leave this to Mimi, but died before changing the will. You need to do the decent thing and give the estate to Mimi, as Shirley planned.”
My anger grew with every word Mom spoke. “Are you fuckin’ kidding me? You were going to steal my inheritance?”
“It’s not stealing.”
“It fuckin’ is if people aren’t aware of what they’re signing. God, when I think that you can’t sink any lower. Damn obvious where Mimi gets her thieving skills from.”
“Just sign, Jody, you may live here until you find somewhere else.”
“How fuckin’ generous. Let me live in my own home? Go fuck yourself.”
“Mom, is…oh, sorry, I didn’t know you had a guest,” Laila interrupted.
“Mom?” Mom exclaimed, staring at Laila.
“What’s up, kid?” I asked.
“Could I go to town with Alice? She offered to show me this really cool shop,” Laila replied, gazing at Mom.
“Is this your daughter?” Mom gasped, standing up and placing a hand on her chest.
“Hi, I’m Laila,” Laila said, smiling.
“I have a granddaughter? You kept my grandchild from me?” Mom declared dramatically.
“Er dette vores momor?” (This is our maternal grandmother?) Laila blinked.
“Ja undskyld. Hun dukkede lige op uden en invitation,” (Yes, sorry to say, she just appeared without an invitation.) I replied.
“Helvede, mor, hun ser ud som om hun har en pind i r?ven.” (Hell Mom, she looks like she has a stick up her ass.)
“What are you saying? What language is that?” Mom demanded.
“Danish,” I stated.
“Why are you speaking Danish?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know? Laila, you can go with Alice. Thanks for telling me. If you need money, take my card.”
“Thanks, Mor! Bye.” Laila began leaving.
“Stop!” Mom ordered.
Laila glanced over, and I waved her off.
“You’ve no right to give my daughter orders. Take your paperwork and leave. Mimi will never get this house. Laila’s my heir,” I announced.
“Laila? No, Laila has to stay. That’s my grandchild,” Mom declared.
“No, Laila’s not. You mean nothing to her!”
“Because you kept her from me!”
“Yeah, whatever. Do you remember disowning me? Because I do. I’m not signing that paperwork, so leave.”
“Mor, Oskar and I are… who’s this?” Lars demanded, with Laila on his heels.
Mom stared at Lars, and I saw her make the connection. Lars looked exactly like a younger Magic. Then confusion set in as she gazed at Laila and then at Lars. Lars moved closer to Laila and me.
“They’re siblings? But you left? Everyone said you ran away. How could you have his children? A criminal’s spawn?” Mom demanded, her nose wrinkled. “I bet he’s just like his father!”
“Oh, my kids both take after their dad,” I agreed warmly, smiling at Lars and Laila. They realised I meant Vulcan, and both puffed up. “Kind, caring, loyal, funny, sincere—he gave them the best of himself.”
Lars and Laila smiled.
“So, they’re delinquents.” Mom sniffed, but there was emotion in her eyes. I couldn’t understand what. Was that a smidge of regret?
“Kids, find your cousins and stay in the yard. Laila, when Alice arrives, you can leave.”
“Thanks, Mor,” they chorused. Lars lingered, but I waved him off, and Laila followed.
“What is their age gap? How did you have two children with him? Where did you go? Why are you speaking Danish? What happened?” Mom spat one question after another.
I bent down and picked up the papers. Triumph gleamed in Mom’s eyes until I tore them up.
“I’d never sell Laila out as you did me.
My daughter shall inherit Crook House. The will has already been written.
The fortune, allowance, everything goes to her.
Laila is my heir. Why the hell would I sign this over to Mimi?
I can’t stand that spoilt thieving cunt. ”
“Mimi is deep in debt. Her husband left, and you need to help, you selfish bitch!” Mom exclaimed.
“Not surprised Mimi was dumped. I’d have done the same if I were him.”
“Like you’d understand what a steady relationship is!” Mom hissed.
A cold smile crossed my lips, and I don’t know what my face showed, but Mom stepped back.
“I was married for fourteen years; unlike your family, I experienced real love.”
“Not here now, is he? Probably got fed up with your bitchy ways,” Mom snapped.
“No, Vulcan isn’t here. I’m a widow. And if Vulcan were alive, we’d still be together because we truly loved each other.”
“Quite likely he died to escape you.”
Anger swept through me even as an agonised shout came from the hallway. I stepped forward and slapped Mom so hard that she stumbled several steps backward.
“You’re trespassing. Leave before I allow Lars and Oskar to put you out on your ass and then call the police.”
Mom looked and saw Lars and Oskar standing behind me. Without a word, she walked past them, head held high.
“If she ever comes back, phone the cops. Don’t answer the door and certainly don’t let her in. The bitch is sheer poison,” I said, and the boys nodded.
I stared out of the window as Mom drove off. Something told me this wasn’t over.