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“Jaime, just–”
“Answer the question, Bex.”
He wasn’t backing down and the phone rolled over to voicemail. With a frustrated sigh, I put my hands on my hips.
“No! Alright?” The threat has always been there but he’s never spelled it out before. Like a good mafia boss, he wrapped his threats in inferences. Spelling it out could be used against you in court.
Jaime put his free hand on my shoulder, lifting his eyebrows. “He’s not going to back down, Bex. You’re going to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder and if you let your guard down for even a second, he’s going to take advantage. I don't want that for you. Tell him you’ll go. If you show him you’re not afraid of him, he’ll think twice about coming for you because he’ll know you’re protected.”
The phone started ringing again and I scowled. “Give me the phone, Jaime.” I held out my hand and a disappointed look crossed his face. Answering it, I put it to my ear.
“That better have been a loss in connection,” he growled.
“It was. But my answer hasn’t changed. I’m not going.”
“Either you go or I’ll start a war with the O’Connors for taking you. Is that what you want?”
A heavy weight dropped into my stomach. My mind flicked back to Jo as she wordlessly helped me, Liam as he gave me a look that was close to pride when I managed to deal with his little problem almost effortlessly. I’ve caused enough trouble for Liam O’Connor, I didn’t want to drag him or anyone else into my mess. And if my father started a war with Liam, it’d draw in Dmitriy and Mateo too. Their families would be put into danger and so would mine. I may not get along with my mom or my siblings but I didn’t want anyone dying in a war I could’ve prevented.
“Fine. I’ll be there. But I’m not coming with Gavin. I’ll bring my own date.”
He paused for a moment but both he and I knew that he’d need to pick his battles. If he tried to force the Gavin issue, I’d double down on not coming because I wouldn’t be caught dead with that pig. If he wanted me at Maggie’s wedding, it’d be on my own terms or not at all.
“Do we have an understanding?” I demanded.
“We do. However, if you back out of this deal, I’ll make your life a living hell. Do you understand me?”
My fists clenched at my side. “Understood.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
It tooka grand total of fifteen minutes before my mother called me demanding I come home earlier to help with wedding preparations. My outright refusal sent her up the wall but I couldn’t care less. I was already angry about being forced to go in the first place. I wasn’t going to be helping with the damn thing.
While I bickered with my mother, Jaime stuck close, sitting on the edge of my desk playing with his phone. His idea better work because if I end up kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder, I was going to tear him to pieces.
Hanging up on my father in the middle of his sentence was dangerous. Hanging up on my mother was more of an irritation for later but I couldn’t listen to her anymore so when she started calling me names and spouting venom and Jaime took the phone from me I didn’t fight him on it. He hung up the phone and dropped it into his pocket, putting a hand on my shoulder.
“Come on. Let’s get you home.”
I sighed. It was earlier than I’d normally head home but I wasn’t going to be getting anything decent done the rest of the night. My mom probably wasn’t done bothering me and I needed to figure out everything I could about my sister’s wedding so I could have all the escape plans I could muster. No way in hell was I showing up unprepared.
Jaime held out his hand and even though I knew I shouldn’t, I took it, letting him lace our fingers together as he pulled me to my feet. He only let go long enough to help me into my jacket and put on his own before he was holding my hand again and urging me towards the elevator. It felt stupid but I almost needed his touch. After everything that’s happened today I was exhausted to my very core and his strong and steady support was powerful. I latched onto it and refused to let go until we hit the lobby.
Since it wasn’t the time I normally left there were a lot more people in the lobby than I was used to, including the big three. I tried to pull away from Jaime but his grip on my hand tightened and he pulled me out of the elevator before I could protest. A flush worked its way up my cheeks at the curious looks but Jaime didn’t stop to chat. He marched past the gawkers and straight out the front door without stopping.
The cold air hitting my face did very little against the heat in my cheeks. I was so distracted by it I didn’t realize Jaime was leading me to the train station until we were a few blocks away. He didn’t ever push it or argue with me, he just did what he knew I’d be most comfortable with. I leaned into him, clutching his arm and closing my eyes for a second. Just for a second I could pretend that us being together wasn’t an impossibility. Just for a little while.
We made it all the way to my condo without saying anything. I think he knew I needed time to think and he didn’t seem bothered by the silence. It wasn’t until I unlocked my door that I spoke.
“The wedding is in two weeks.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, Bex, I won’t let him hurt you.”
It wasn’t me I was worried about. My father might smack me around a little but he needed me alive to do the whole song and dance. Jaime though… Jaime wouldn’t hesitate to start something and my father isn’t the kind of person to give warnings. He’s a shoot first, ask questions later type of person. I didn’t want Jaime to get hurt trying to protect me.
When I turned to face him, he smiled softly. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear, he gestured toward the door with his chin. “Go on. I’m gonna stick around for a bit, make sure we weren’t followed. We’ll talk more about the wedding a little later. Take some time to rest.”
With that he nudged me inside. Samwise was already waiting for me, meowing and purring, happy that I was home before dinner for once this week. I glanced back at Jaime one more time. He smiled at me and shut the door behind him, leaving me alone.
