Chapter 3
Chapter Three
My dad is hovering. I’ve just moved out of my parents’ estate and into the penthouse at Aces High, our family-owned casino.
Where I’ll now be working. A job my father was all too willing to let me have.
He hasn’t said anything, but maybe there is something to what my uncle mentioned about my father needing the help.
He’s not as happy to have me move out of the house, though.
He’s barely left my side since I arrived.
I even found him sitting on the floor outside my bedroom door the first few nights.
Something I used to make him do when I was little and too scared to be alone.
I’d wake up from nightmares, and he was always there for me when I did.
It’s a little bit weirder now that I’m twenty-nine years old.
“Daddy, I’m going to be fine. I have lived here before, you know.” I call him that, thinking it might ease his worries. It doesn’t.
“Don’t daddy me, Jasmine. This is serious. It’s safer for you at the house,” he says.
“No one can even get up to this penthouse, Dad, and I haven’t lived at home for a really long time,” I remind him.
“That was before you came home all black and blue, Jazzy. I don’t like this,” he says.
When I turned up on my parents’ doorstep, unannounced for the second time in my life, with Tío E in tow, it took hours to talk my dad off the ledge. I’d never seen him so angry. He wanted blood. He wanted to skin whomever hit me alive. The problem was, he couldn’t, because I’d already killed him.
My mind drifts back to that night. Freddie’s body on the ground, surrounded by blood.
There was so much blood. He had never so much as yelled at me before, so when he hit me and then did it again, I was shocked.
At first, I didn’t understand what was happening, but he wouldn’t stop. That’s when I reached for the knife.
Tío E insisted he took care of the problem.
Meaning the asshole who beat on me. I didn’t correct him.
I don’t want my parents to know I’m a killer.
My dad looks at me as if I could rise the sun itself.
I don’t want him to ever look at me differently.
I know it’s selfish to let Tío E lie for me.
But I can’t bring myself to admit the truth.
“I’m sorry, Jazzy.” My father steps closer, wrapping me in his arms. “I just… Seeing you like that. I fucking hate that I wasn’t there to protect you from getting hurt,” he whispers as he holds me tight.
“You know, one day, I’m going to have to navigate life without you. You’re not exactly getting younger.” I laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
My dad smiles at me. “Why the fuck do you think I gave you brothers?”
I roll my eyes. The other two pains-in-my-asses pick that moment to walk into the living room. CJ is twenty and Aiden is eighteen. Both act as if they’re older than me, though.
“I’m taking one of the spare rooms tonight,” CJ says.
“Ah, no you’re not.” I scowl at him.
“Yes, I am. I have a party in one of the clubs downstairs. It’ll be easier than going home.” He shrugs.
“There are a million other hotel rooms. Take one of them,” I tell him.
“Jazzy, let him stay with you. He’s family. It’s what family does,” Dad says.
“You two cooked this up, didn’t you? You know I’ve lived by myself for years. I think I can manage sleeping in this penthouse alone. I do not need a babysitter.” I’m seconds away from stomping my foot and pouting my bottom lip.
I hate arguing with my dad. I’ve always preferred to take other people’s feelings into account, not wanting to hurt them. But right now, all I want is to be left alone.
“You won’t even know I’m here,” CJ says.
“I’m calling Antonia.” I storm out of the room and into the kitchen to retrieve my phone. My stepmother always takes my side when the males of our family are being too overbearing.
“Come on, sis. Don’t bring Mom into this,” Aiden says. “It’s one night. Just let him stay and then kick his ass out in the morning.”
“One night?” I lift a challenging brow.
“Yes. He really does have a party in the club.” Aiden is the spitting image of my father, while CJ takes after Antonia a little more. I love both of my brothers, but I do not need them crashing at the place I’m supposed to be making my home.
I smile. If CJ wants to stay at the penthouse tonight, he can. I just won’t be here when he does. “Fine, he can stay.”
“Thank you.” Aiden looks like I just gave him an early Christmas gift.
I walk back out into the living room. “You can stay, but you’re not bringing back any of your little whores.”
CJ smirks. “They’re not whores, Jazzy. Women are allowed to like sex.”
I tilt my head. “Really? In that case, maybe I should come to this party of yours. Jump back on the horse.”
My father slaps CJ across the back of the head. “Good one, idiot,” he grunts. “Jazzy, do not go to parties with your brother. You are far too classy for the kinds of people he chooses to hang around.”
“Don’t worry, Daddy. I have no plans to date. Ever again.” I sigh.
I thought I’d found someone who was decent enough. I was settling, but I will always be settling. I gave my heart away once, and it got crushed. Which is why I’ve always dated the safe options. Men who were decent, but I knew I’d never fully love.
“Okay, I’ve got a meeting to get to. You two, leave your sister alone.” My dad points at my brothers. Then he pulls me into a hug. “I love you. Call me if you need anything.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
My brothers follow him out, and I’m finally alone. The place is so quiet I almost miss them.
I turn around. Antonia had the entire penthouse refurnished. She said she wanted it to feel like it was mine and not the apartment where my parents once lived. I really do love my stepmother.
I look at my wrist, checking the time. I need to meet up with one of my oldest friends for lunch in an hour.
Which means I need to change. I never meet up with Brad without looking my absolute best. Not for him.
No, it’s because I know he’ll go back to whatever hole Jake is living in these days and tell him how good I’m doing.
And Jake doesn’t deserve to think I’m doing anything but great.
Especially since he’s the one who ruined us.
Ruined me. I hate him just as much as I still love him.
It’s conflicting and emotionally draining.
But I haven’t seen him since our high school prom.
Since I gave him the one thing I can never give anyone else.
And then, when I woke up, he was gone. Just gone.
I plan on keeping the not seeing him streak for as long as I live. I don’t want to know why he left. I don’t want excuses, and I certainly don’t want to hear that it was a mistake and he regretted our night together. Sometimes hearing the truth hurts more than not knowing and just assuming.
After a quick shower, I throw on a new yellow sundress and pair it with some beige heels. I keep my makeup light, the bruises now faded completely. Once I’m satisfied, I head down to the lobby and text Brad that I’m ready.
Me:
In the lobby.
Brad:
Right behind you, gorgeous.
After reading his reply, I spin around with a huge smile on my face. I squeal as his arms wrap around me and my feet lift off the ground. “Put me down.” I laugh. “I work here now.”
“So?” Bradley sets my shoes back on the casino tile. “Fuck, you look good,” he says, taking a step back and holding me at arm’s length.
“Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.” I wink. I’ve never liked Brad in that way, and he’s never liked me either. We have a good friendship. It was always him, me, and Jake—although I was much closer to Jake.
“So, you’re back for good, huh?” Brad asks.
I nod. “Seems that way. What do you feel like eating?” I ask, trying to change the topic.
“This way. I’ve got us a table.” He smiles and holds out an arm. Once we’re seated in the restaurant and the waiter has taken our drink orders, Brad stares at me. “Why are you back?”
“This is my home.” I shrug.
“That’s not it. Why now? What happened in New York?” he presses.
I roll my eyes. “Nothing happened. I just wanted a change.”
“I call bullshit! What happened, Jazzy? What happened with that Freddie guy?”
At the mention of my ex’s name, I feel the color drain from my face. My heart beats faster. “It’s over,” I say, trying and failing to keep my voice even.
“Why?”
“He hit me. And I’m not the kind of woman who sticks around to get hit a second time. So I left.” It’s not a lie. Even if it’s not the full truth.
Bradley’s eyes widen. “He what? I’ll kill him.”
At that, I laugh. “Did you forget who my family is, Brad?”
“Right, your dad would have already done that. Good. Are you okay, though?”
His question brings tears to my eyes. I’m not okay. Far from it. I blink, because I will not let these tears fall. “I will be.”
“You will.” He nods. I forgot how much I missed him. I missed home. Maybe moving back here really is what I need.
“You can’t tell him, Brad. Promise me you won’t tell him,” I say.
“Him who?”
“You know who. Don’t tell him what happened in New York, please.”
“I won’t,” Brad says. “But you know he keeps tabs on you. He’ll find out eventually.”
I did not know that Jake keeps tabs on me. What does that even mean?