“WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT?” I asked the second Vick came into my office the following day.
“Not much. The young boy she’s riding with is her little brother. They’re living in their car outside of the middle school.” She flopped into my favorite chair and put her feet up. “It’s a damn shame she didn’t take your deal. Looks to me like she could use it.”
I was relieved to find out the boy wasn’t her son. I would have continued to pursue her regardless, but a brother made things easier to deal with verses a kid. Either way, it was still an extra mouth for her to feed.
“I’m not worried. She’ll be back. This is New York. The city will eat her alive if she doesn’t take my deal.” I went toward the door. I had a few business meetings to take care of and the walls were starting to close in on me. “Until then, keep an eye on her. Make sure nothing bad happens to her or her brother.”
I spent the day going over deals and turning down offers to buy my club. Every greedy bastard in New York wanted to get their hands on what was mine. I wasn’t having it. By the time I was getting in my car I was pissed, and annoyed that Vick hadn’t called me with good news about Jessica.
I’d gone to my meetings, certain she would return to the club before I was done. I was on my way back when Vick sent me a text message that instantly changed my mood.
Vick: Jessica’s been taken into police custody.
SB: Meet me at the station in twenty minutes.
I put my phone back in my pocket and grinned. Turning at the next light, I drove away from the club and toward the police station. I wanted her desperate, not desolate. The poor girl was totally innocent. Jail would break her down, which was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to break her in and I wanted to do it my way.
When I pulled up, Vick was already waiting outside.
“Are we rescuing the fair maiden?” she asked sarcastically.
“Not we, you. Post her bail, get her out. Do it without me learning her name.”
I leaned against my car and looked down at my watch before crossing my arms. It distracted me from the tiny voice taunting me, saying I might not forget this whole thing even if I did learn her name.
Finding her wasn’t something that happened every day. The best things in life are always more difficult to obtain. It was currently taking me a little longer than usual to get what I wanted, which made it that much more exciting. It had been a long time since one of my girls presented me with a challenge and it was exactly what I needed. In the end, I knew she would be mine. I always got what I wanted. Always.
I sat outside for what felt like an hour, and then Vick came out of the door, followed by Jessica. Her eyes connected with mine and her brows pulled down in confusion. Seeing she was safe, I turned away and got into my car. I waited until she climbed into Vick’s car, and then pulled away.
I stopped for a quick dinner before going home. The club was closed on Sundays and Mondays, so being that it was Monday, it was deserted when I pulled up and parked. I slung my keys around my finger as I walked in, locked the door behind me, and went to my office.
Jessica was there waiting for me, like I’d hoped she would be. She stood from the couch in my office and our eyes locked as soon as I opened the door. Something about her was different. She looked as if she was seconds away from falling apart. Her shoulders were stiff and her flushed cheeks stood out from the rest of her pale face.
I closed the door behind me and ignored her as I walked past and sat behind my desk. I could sense her anxiousness.
“Sit,” I firmly commanded.
When she was seated in front of me, I laced my fingers together and stared at her.
“Are you okay?”
I never asked such questions, but I needed to know she was mentally stable and able to make the decision I wanted her to make.
“Fine.” Her voice broke. “Thank you for bailing me out,” she said, as her eyes watered over.
I had to look away. I’d seen women cry… hell, I’d even made a few cry, but seeing her do it was different. It hurt in my stomach—made me feel empty. Tears never bothered me before, but her tears cut deep. Luckily, I had mastered the art of ignoring annoying emotions.
“Vick bailed you out.” I didn’t want her to think I was soft. I wasn’t.
Bailing her out was how I got what I wanted. Nothing more, nothing less. Sitting back in my chair, I let my eyes devour her. “Was that all you came here for? A misplaced thank you?”
She looked as if she wanted to say something more, or possibly slap me, but apparently she lost her nerve because she nodded, and left the room. The strange part was, I wanted to go after her and ask her to stay.