EBONY
I threw my clothes into a bag as quickly as I could. Yesterday just proved it was way beyond time for me to leave this fucked-up town. Jett and Giordy were not going to use me in their war against each other.
Grabbing my books and documents, I shoved them into my bag before zipping it up. The only problem I could foresee was not having enough money to get anywhere. I had to deliver Jett’s message to Giordy and grab my money from the bag I’d left at the restaurant last night. I knew it wouldn’t take me long, so I left my packed bag at my apartment and headed to the restaurant.
The sooner I got this over and done with, the better I was going to be, and my stomach could return to the way it was without nervously flipping around making me feel sick.
Just by looking at the place from the outside, you’d never know the destruction that was behind those closed doors. The destruction Jett had caused for seemingly no reason whatsoever. I’d concluded he was crazy, and that was just one more reason to leave as soon as possible. I moved across the street hoping this would be as painless as possible and walked in through the doors.
“We’re closed!” I heard Darla call out.
“It’s me.”
Her head shot up, and she dropped her dustpan and broom to the floor.
“How are you still alive?”
“He wanted me to deliver a message to Giordy.”
“He has men for that. Why would Jett Black spare you of all people?”
“That’s a good question.”
I turned around to see Giordy standing in the doorway. His arms were crossed over his chest. His normal sleazy smirk was long gone replaced by a worried expression as he looked me up and down for any sign of injury.
“All he said was to give you a message, and I was free to go.”
Giordy came toward me, his voice low. “Who are you to him? Jett doesn’t trust anyone… especially women. Are you a goddamn spy?”
“Of course not, I’d never seen him before yesterday.”
“Why did you come back?”
“I need my money. The money in my bag from last night, so I can get away from all of this.”
There was no point in lying. It was my money, and I did not want to stay here for another second let alone another night. If it wasn’t danger from Giordy, it was having to face Jett who frightened me yet… I oddly found him attractive—those eyes haunted my vision.
“Go and get it, Darla.”
She scurried off to the staff room. Giordy’s eyes never left mine which made me nervous. I’d only ever seen Giordy when he was being sleazy or happy, this was an entirely new man, and I didn’t like it.
“You know, you’re just like your father.”
“Thank you.”
I knew my response surprised him, however, I was glad I was like my dad and not my mom. Better to be a criminal’s daughter than my mother’s child in my eyes. My mother had Bree and Taleah to keep her happy. I was better off being far away from her and this damn family.
Darla handed the bag to me. “I guess you won’t be coming back.”
“No, I’m on the first plane out of here.”
I headed for the door when I heard my uncle call out to me. “Wait!”
Spinning around, I looked over at him. “What was his message?”
“Oh,” I said, remembering I hadn’t delivered it yet. “He said he’s coming for you.”
I didn’t wait for a response because I wasn’t intending on going back to Jett to deliver it. I was about to run from both of them, for my life if need be. From his widening eyes, I could tell it wouldn’t be a pretty war between the two of them. They were both heavy hitters in the crime game. Hell, I used to be too, but I served my time in juvenile detention. I didn’t want to do that again, mainly because I didn’t intend on ever going back to prison.
I turned the corner heading toward my apartment, only to see a familiar car sitting outside my building.
No. No. No.
I turned to run but hit something hard. Stumbling back, I landed on my ass looking up at Jett. Queasiness filled my stomach, fear overwhelming me.
“You need to come with me.”
He held his hand out to help me up, but I pushed up myself. He smirked at my defiance which only made me angrier. I did not want to please him.
“Why?”
“Your dear old uncle has put a hit out on you.”
Surprised, I somehow found my voice. “Giordy thinks you spared me for a reason.”
Jett made no visible response, but I could see he was thinking about it. “Perhaps I did. You can either come with me by force or by choice.”
“Why should I?”
“I’m not the only one that heard of the hit. He’s placed a large bounty on your head.”
“So what’s to stop you from killing me then?”
“Absolutely nothing.”
Yeah—that was entirely reassuring.
I didn’t have a chance to respond when he grabbed me by the elbow and pushed me toward the car. I didn’t fight him. If there were people after me, I was probably safer with the one man they all seemed to be scared of than alone.
My bag was in the back seat between us. I turned to him. “How did you get into my apartment?”
He didn’t answer nor turn to me. Instead, he stuck to looking at his cell and texting. The driver was silent too, never looking back at us. The reality of the situation was about to hit me, and although I was happy not to be in the trunk again, I needed to be on my toes.
Jett was a killer.
Someone who killed without thinking twice about it.
The second I could get away, I needed to take it.
He was not a white knight, he could not be trusted with my life, even though it seemed like it at the moment.