Thirteen
Stana
The minute Jerick drops me off at work on Monday morning; I can’t help but have a stupid grin on my face until I step into the building. It’s like I’m floating on cloud nine after our weekend together. Sure there were a few moments that literally sucked, like when I puked my guts up all morning Sunday and when he had to go get his car after someone vandalized it in the parking garage. But we didn’t let any of that affect the fantastic weekend together. We still had fun lying in bed most of the day yesterday, being lazy and having a little fun.
He is fantastic and sexy. I just can’t get enough of him. I know things are moving kind of fast, but for some reason since he saved me that night, he is the only thing I can think of. I feel Max’s eyes on me as soon as I walk by his cubicle. I try to ignore him as much as I can until he starts to speak.
“You know who he is right?” He has one eyebrow raised as he eyes me.
“What does it matter?” I ask sounding really defensive.
Part of me feels like I need to protect him and the other part just doesn’t know. The truth is I don’t know who he is. I have no clue, but even if I found out something terrible he did, I don’t know if I could stay away from him now. The feel of his skin against mine is addicting.
“He’s a thug. He’s bad news,” Max states. He looks like he knows everything about Jerick, but he doesn't say more than that.
“A thug?” I admonish.
I sigh and move my purse to the other arm before I say anything. He just nods his head at my question, not providing me any proof. “He isn't a thug. He’s a good guy, and he has a job,” I state defending him. I’m not even sure why I said he has a job. It seems stupid now that I’m thinking about it.
“He’s a murderer Stana. A man like that only brings trouble. You should stay away from him.” He gives me a stern look, but I ignore him. He doesn't know Jerick. How could he? They’ve never met before… unless they have and I just don’t know about it?
“How do you know that?” I finally ask. My hands are shaking, and my stomach is starting to turn at the thought of him hurting anyone else. There’s no way, he saved my life. He can’t be a murderer.
“He murdered my father.” Max’s eyes darken, and I feel like I can’t breathe. No. He couldn't have. I shake my head, but he moves closer to me. “He killed my old man in cold blood over not paying on his debt. He works for the Brannigan family. They are involved in shady shit, and he’s smack dab in the middle of it.” My throat feels dry, and I’m having trouble trying to make sense of what he’s telling me.
Jerick had been following me for months after I was attacked or so he said. My phone beeps in my hand with a new text message and I know it’s him. “That’s probably him. Why don’t you ask him if you don’t believe me?” His face is full of anger, and I can imagine what he’s going through. My parents have been gone for a while, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday that I got the news.
Starting college was always a dream of mine. My parents supported my ideas one hundred percent and always told me I could do anything I set my mind to. My first semester went amazingly, and I couldn’t wait to go back for the second semester. I spent the break with my parents at home in my small hometown of like three hundred people. Although I hated being back in that town, I don’t regret going. The weekend after I came back to school, I got the call that changed the course of my entire life.
A police offer called to inform me that there had been an incident and that I needed to come home as soon as possible. I remember getting into my small black Honda and driving nonstop until I reached my hometown. When I pulled onto my parent’s street, I could see the police cars and crime scene tape blowing in the wind.
Running towards the door, someone grabbed me to hold me back, and I started to scream. I screamed so loud that it was the only thing I could hear until my voice went hoarse and my body numb.
I didn’t listen to the police officer telling me to calm down. I couldn’t make sense of anything. I was just with them. If that person who killed them had come one week earlier, I would be dead too. Half the time I wish I died with them. Maybe then I wouldn’t be living this life that still doesn’t even make sense to me.
I feel my heart beating out of my chest, and I have a hard time trying to catch my breath. I hear Max telling me to breathe, but I can’t get any air in my lungs. He hands me a cup of water, and I just stare at it in my hands, not really seeing it. I refuse to drink it because I know that it won’t help, nothing will.
I need fresh air. When I run out the office doors, I stop and hunch over in front of the large building, hands on my knees gasping for air. I hear a voice yelling my name, but I can’t focus on it. Two hands grab my upper arms, and soon I’m being pulled back into a hard body. His scent fills my nose, and I feel myself start to calm down.
“Breathe lass,” he whispers against my hair. He presses a kiss to my forehead and then pulls me into his waiting arms.
“I’m right here lass.” His hand runs up and down my back in a soothing manner, and I feel my head clear entirely from the memories of my parents.
When I calm down enough, I pull away slightly and look up at him. “What are you doing here?” I sniff a few times before wiping my eyes. He watches me intently, almost like he’s afraid I’m going to break down again.
“I sent ye a text to tell ye I was bringing yer wallet by.”
My mind travels back to when he dropped me off. Before I could get out the door, he was pulling me back into the car and kissing me until I was breathless. I ended up spilling the contents of my purse all over his floorboard.
Something catches his attention behind me and his eyes narrow. “Get your hands off her,” Max growls. When he reaches us, he tries to pull me out of Jerick’s grip.
“Mind yer own business,” Jerick seethes.
“She’s my friend,” Max states, not backing down. I try to diffuse the situation by putting my hand on Jerick’s chest. His eyes meet mine for a second before they go back over to Max. Just when I think that Jerick is going to say something else, he surprises me.
He grabs the back of my neck and pulls me in for a mind-blowing kiss. When he finally breaks our kiss after what seems like hours, I can’t even remember where I am or why I’m having trouble breathing. The only thing I can focus on is him. My eyes wander along him, and I can’t help but think that every part of him is impressive. My fuzzy head snaps back to reality when he hands me my wallet. I can feel Max’s hand on my arm, trying to get me away from Jerick.
Jerick leans in and runs the back of his fingers down the side of my cheek, then down my neck, cupping the side of it. “See ye later banphrionsa princess.” He gives me a sweet peck on the lips before he leaves. He looks over my shoulder at Max for a second before he walks to his car.
“He’s dangerous,” Max grits out behind me. I don’t turn around to look at him; instead, I focus on Jerick as he watches us. When he finally pulls out and takes off down the street, I feel like I’m suffocating again. There is no way that I could possibly feel this much for a guy that I barely know. What if Max is right, what if he is a killer?
After spending my whole workday researching the Brannigan family, to say I’m confused is an understatement. I don’t know what to think right now. I know somewhere deep in my heart that he isn’t an evil man. Well, at least he isn’t to me. At least a dozen articles were stating all the different laws that Jerick and his father have broken. Murder, corruption, illegal betting, intimidation, and so much more.
According to the sites, there has never been enough proof to bring charges up against Jerick or his father. After scanning the files a few more times, I feel like I’m in a bad mob movie. Do you trust the man that saved your life or the man that has been your only friend the past seven months without question or doubt about your crazy self and panic attacks? Gah, I don’t even know what to think.
I want to believe that Jerick wouldn’t hurt anyone, but all signs are pointing to him being the villain. No, I can’t jump to conclusions. I’ve had that happen to me before, and it doesn’t feel pleasant to be accused of something without proof.
My phone beeps with a new message and I see Jerick’s name on the screen. Looking at the time, I jump out of my chair and grab my things. As I walk by Max, I can see the frown on his face. He’s worried, and I get that, but I can make my own decisions. In my heart, I know that Jerick won’t hurt me – he saved me. If it weren’t for him, I’d be probably dead or wishing I were already.
“Stana,” Max says my name on a plea, but I don’t stop walking towards the door. When I make it outside, I see Jerick leaning against his car.
“Hey, babe.” His eyes lighten as he takes me in and it makes me feel excited and nervous all at once. I don’t know why he gets to me this way.
“Hey,” I say lamely, giving him a small wave. He pushes off his car and closes the distance between us. When he’s at arm’s length, he wraps me up in his arms and presses a kiss to the side of my neck. A small moan slips from my mouth, and I try to remind my body that Jerick and I need to talk before anything else can happen. No dirty time until I find out the truth from his mouth.
“Ye ready?” I nod my head and look over my shoulder to see that Max is watching us from the glass door. “He a problem?” Jerick asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“No, he just thinks I’m in danger.” I can feel his body tense at my words and my stomach drops. Maybe Max is right about Jerick.
God, I sure hope he’s wrong.