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There’s always been that strange feeling in my body when someone hurts Jade. She once got into a huge fist fight with Billie Scott, from NSC. Caden’s now fiancée, Billie, is an MMA fighter. She kicked Jade’s ass before we even showed up for help. Jade was hurt, unconscious on the floor, and I remember my heart dropping so low I thought my legs were going to give up. I could have killed Billie that day. I thought I was going to.
But there’s a point to this madness. I need to remember that.
“If you’re going to beat her up, at least let me uncuff her. Give the girl a chance to defend herself.”
I pretend I don’t care, but I don’t wait for Kay’s answer. As soon as I uncuff her, she brings her hands to her nose. Blood seeps through her fingers as she groans in pain.
Grabbing Jade by the upper arm, I drag her off the couch to face Kay. Ivan is standing a step back, letting his girlfriend thrive in her role.
“Here’s how it’s gonna go,” she tells Jade. “The longer this lasts, the more it hurts. So let’s get straight to the point. Where’s my money?”
With one hand still pinching her nostrils, and blood dripping down her face and onto her lips, Jade turns to me, confused.
“What?”
“My. Money. Where is it?” Kay insists. She can stay so calm for someone desperate to get her hands on the fifty thousand dollars.
“What money?” Jade panics.
Kay’s nostrils flare, her anger amping up. She hates liars. Especially those who were part of her crew.
“The money you and Sawyer stole from me.”
I know Jade can take a beating. We’re from the North Shore, we all can. But my chest tightens seeing her like this.
“I don’t…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
When Kay hits her in the stomach, she drops to the floor.
I close my eyes, anger simmering in my veins, but I have to stay in character.
“Get up,” Kay orders, her patience wavering.
“Jade,” I interject, knowing nothing good can come from not listening to Kayla. “Get up.”
She hides her face against the carpet that’s turned gray over time, shaking her head. “I didn’t steal anyt—”
“Get.Up!” our boss barks.
“Come on.” My voice is softer than I want it to be, a reassurance more than another order. I grab her at the waist and force her to stand.
She’s trembling in my arms, her face bloody and her breathing staggered.
“Elliot, I didn’t—I don’t understand.”
“You littlebitch.” Kay is fuming now.
She grabs Jade by the hair, rears her arm back, but before she can strike again, Ethan’s still voice resonates in the room.
“Kayla.” I fucking knew he would lose it if he saw Jade hurt. He can put up a front all he likes, but he was deadly in love with her in the past. Feelings that strong don’t just disappear. “My carpet,” he adds. “Don’t ruin it.”
And while this might sound disinterested to anyone else’s ear, I know my brother. I know that’s his way of intervening. I know it the moment he stands up slowly from his chair, walks to a terrified Jade, and gives her a tissue.
She grabs it with a shaking hand, bringing it to her nose. Ethan observes her for a few seconds that seem infinite before plastering a look of disgust over his face and walking back to his seat.
“Kay,” Jade tries to talk through the blood dripping from her nose and onto her lips. “I promise you, I didn’t steal anything from you.”
It’s crazy how accustomed we get to being beaten up on the North Shore. It happens to us so often, everyone just keeps going along with their day when it does. I’m not surprised Jade keeps trying to resonate with Kay right now when anyone else from the South Bank would be running to the hospital.
