Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
I’ve seen Jake every night for the last week. He turns up at my apartment late, usually with food. We spend hours getting to know each other’s bodies and then more hours talking, just like we used to when we were kids.
It’s been heaven. I was worried that the time that passed would dim whatever connection we had. I honestly thought I was holding on to something that didn’t exist anymore. I was wrong. The more time I spend with Jake, the more I want him, and the more I’m falling in love with him all over again.
Not that I ever fell out of love with the man.
I tried to. I fought with myself so hard.
I wanted to hate him. And I did, to an extent.
There’s still that little niggling doubt in the back of my mind that this is going to blow up in my face.
That he’s going to disappear on me, leave without a trace.
I was so hurt when we were teenagers after having him ignore my phone calls and messages.
I gave up. I never even asked his mom what happened.
Jake didn’t return to school, and I just assumed he had his father move him somewhere to avoid me.
I was young and stupid. I wish I would have fought harder and found out what was actually going on with him.
I wouldn’t give up so easily if it happened now. It’d hurt more, but I’d fight for us. I know he loves me. Or at least I want to believe he does, because I can’t handle the thought of him not loving me the way I love him.
I’ve been working during the day, learning the ropes and trying to take as much off my dad’s plate as I can.
I’m getting the hang of it, and I’m actually enjoying the job.
It’s different from what I was doing, but I also think my analytical skills come in handy here.
I can see where improvements can be made and know exactly how to implement them.
I’ve been creating a proposal to present to my father with all my suggested changes to increase profits while still maintaining and upholding the casino’s ethos.
Right now, I’m adding the finishing touches to my proposal.
I’m thinking of showing Jake first. Get his opinion on it. He has a great mind for business.
But also, I know my ideas are good. I’ve never needed Jake’s encouragement to make a career for myself. I don’t need it now either. I think I just want it.
I shake my head. I don’t think I’ll show him. He comes to me at night to escape work. I can see how tired he is, how much his parents’ passing and everything else he’s dealing with is taking a toll on him.
“Jazzy, we need to go.” My father walks into my office. He looks… nervous? I’ve never seen my father nervous.
“Go where?” I ask.
“Home. We need to go now. Get whatever you need to work from the house for a couple of days.”
“Why?” I stand and start packing up my things: my laptop, my notebook, and pens. I pick up my phone and then I’m walking around the desk. Something is wrong. I can tell. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I’m trying to avoid anything happening. Which means the safest place for you right now is the house,” he says.
“Wait.” I pause. “Where is Jake?”
“Probably at work.”
“He’s okay?” I’m pulling my phone from my pocket, about to call him, when my father snatches it out of my hand.
“He’s fine. I’ve got men positioned at his building.”
“You promise?” I ask.
“Promise. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to the little shit. Come on. We need to leave.”
“Okay.” I know there is no point arguing with my father. This isn’t the first or the last time he’s dragged me out of somewhere and insisted on locking us all down.
There is a car waiting for us at the valet section. And about twenty men surrounding us.
I look to my dad. “Is all of this really necessary?”
“Your safety, there is no expense I would spare for it, Jazzy,” he says, holding the car door open.
I’m about to get in when the sounds of gunfire deafen my ears. Then I’m being forced to the ground. It’s like déjà vu. Except it’s not just a feeling. This has happened before. I was six at the time and didn’t really understand what was going on.
My dad’s body is covering mine as he yells orders at his men. He looks down at my face. “You’re okay. It’s okay.”
I’m not sure if he’s trying to reassure me or himself. “I’m okay,” I repeat.
“Get in the car and stay down.” My father pulls me to my feet and places me in the back of the car before closing the door.
“What? Wait.” I try to open the door but it’s locked. I breathe a sigh of relief when my father slides into the front seat.
He looks at the driver. I scream when he pulls his gun out and shoots the guy right in the head.
“Sorry, princess. Close your eyes.” Dad opens the door and pushes the body out before slamming it closed again. The wheels spin as he speeds down the Strip, weaving in and out of traffic. He glances up into the rear-view mirror. “Put your seat belt on!”
“You put your seat belt on!” I throw back at him. I’m still in shock.
It’s not until we’re pulling into my parents’ estate that I start to breathe properly. Antonia runs out of the house, yanking the back door open. She pulls me out of the car and hugs me so tight I think she might break a rib.
“What the fuck, Carlo? Again?” she yells at my dad.
“She’s okay. She’s here. Get inside,” he says. “Where are the boys?”
“They’re in the basement.”
“Take Jazzy inside.” Dad strides away and then stops. Turning around, he walks over to me and pulls me into his chest. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“W-why did you shoot him?” I ask.
“He wasn’t one of our men, Jazzy. I don’t know who he was, but he wasn’t one of ours.” Dad presses a kiss to my forehead before he walks off. And I know he’s going to figure out what the hell just happened and who attacked us.
The Court. Jake, oh god…
“I need to call Jake,” I tell Antonia.
“You can’t. Not yet. It’s not safe for him or you to be together right now,” she says. “Just wait it out.”
“I’m not waiting anything out!” I storm into the house and run up the stairs to my childhood bedroom.
My dad took my phone. What the fuck am I supposed to do? How do I contact Jake?
I still have my laptop. I can email him.
I grab my computer and draft a message, deleting it when I remember what Jake said about The Court monitoring everything. Shit. I don’t want to cause anymore issues for him. He’s been coming to my apartment all week and nothing’s happened. I kinda hoped he and my father were overreacting.
After today, I’m not too sure they were.
I was just shot at. My father didn’t hesitate to cover my body with his.
My mind drifts back to the first time that happened.
I hadn’t even been living with him for that long.
It was also the first time I called him Daddy.
He picked me up off the ground and asked if I was okay.
I was scared at the time, but I could tell that he was too, so I pretended I was fine.
I didn’t want him to be mad at me. I didn’t want him to send me away.
My door opens and CJ walks in. “I need your phone,” I tell him.
“Are you okay? I heard what happened.” He looks at me from head to toe.
“I’m fine. I just need to make a phone call.”
“Dad has already spoken to him, Jazzy. He will be here later tonight,” CJ says.
“Really?” I fall onto the edge of my bed in relief.
“Yes.” My brother comes and sits next to me. His arms wrap around my shoulders, and he holds me tight. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“What? Get shot at?”
“Yes. I don’t like it,” he says. “I don’t want to lose you. You’re the only nice sibling I got. You’re not allowed to leave me here with Aiden.”
“Thank you. But you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Good.” CJ sighs. “I really hope he’s worth all this, Jaz.”
“He is. I love him.”
“But does he love you?”
“He does.” I nod. “I know he does.”
“I hope for your sake—and his—that he doesn’t break your heart again, because I will kill him this time. I’m not a little kid anymore. I will protect you.”
“Okay.” I know my brother means every word. But it doesn’t matter. Jake is not going to break my heart a second time.