Jasmine

“What did you learn?” My father sits at his desk, glaring at me and Leon. We waited all day for him and the longer we waited, the more my apprehension grew. Today was the day he landed a gem heist on the Hudson, but his partner’s lack of planning caused a grievous error in communication, and I’m usually the scapegoat in a fuck-up.

“Not much, this time,” I say, choosing my words carefully. When I sit before my father I’m a child again, helpless and bracing for his wrath. One day I’ll break away from my family. I’m biding my time. I’ll live off the millions I’ve earned and socked away and go by another name. No one will know who I am or where I came from.

My father glares, and I swear at times like these his eyes glow red. My mother left us when he busted her jaw and I’ve never forgiven her. Who leaves her children with a monster? But the fact I’m still here only fuels my own self-loathing.

I’m planning my escape. But it’s a long way off still.

“Do you have a photo shoot this week?” he asks. It’s an innocent enough question, but I know why he asks, and my stomach plummets. The only reason he wants to know is because he’s going to hit me, so he wants to plan accordingly. I can’t help the fear that simmers in my belly when I see that look in his eyes, the barely-contained fury looking for an out. I tremble and don’t answer.

“Friday,” Leon says, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes. Sadistic son of a bitch. “Plenty of time.”

My father rears back, and when he smacks me, his palm connects with my jaw. My eyes blur with unshed tears, and I involuntarily bring my arms up for a blow, but Leon restrains me, holding my arms back. My father won’t touch Leon. Leon’s stronger and lithe, and would hurt my father, but Leon’s more than happy to let my father abuse me.

I wince when a second smack hits my cheekbone.

“You were supposed to get me the names of the officers,” he says. “Not flirt with the agent like your brother says you did.”

Copper hits my tongue and my lip’s swollen.

“Let this be a warning to you.”

“You know the officers,” I tell him.

“No,” he growls, and his palm cracks against my cheek once more. God, it hurts. I shut myself off from the pain and humiliation. I hate them. I hate them both so damn much. “I wanted all their names,” he says.

He never told me that, but if I contradict him again, he’ll hurt me more. He turns away from me and with a howl of rage he picks up a coffee mug on his desk and hurls it against the wall, shards of glass scattering across the floor.

“Let her go,” he growls at my brother. “Let her fucking go.” Then he turns one shaking, furious finger at me.

“You get him to take you in again this week. Understand me? Get that information I need or I’ll give you over to Felton.”

Felton. My stomach churns with nausea. Felton’s my father’s partner, the man who’s been trying to seduce me since before it was legal. He disgusts me.

God, I need to get out of here sooner than later.

“And go ice your fucking cheek so you make the shoot.”

My choices are dismal. I get taken in tomorrow and Rico sees my bruised face. A man like him will ask questions. I wait too long, and Felton makes his play.

“I’ll get it done,” I tell him, lifting my chin to show he hasn’t taken my pride, but turning away so he doesn’t see my unshed tears. I wait until I’m out of their sight before I brush the tears from my eyes. Jasmine Francoise will not waste her tears on monsters.

When I get behind the wheel, I can pretend I’m free. They can’t catch me when I’m driving fast, they can’t stop me. I revel in the wind in my hair and the excitement that makes my pulse race along with my car. Taking a turn on two wheels makes fear trip in my chest, but when I hit the straight road, a thrill of victory thrums through me. I love facing danger head on and conquering it.

And a small, secret part of me hopes that this time I’ll be caught.

I know who I want to catch me.

I don’t spend time thinking about why I want him to catch me. I like breaking the law and driving recklessly when I don’t get caught. But I like when he catches me more.

Finally, when my eyes grow droopy and my stomach churns with hunger, I head back to my place. He didn’t catch me tonight, and it’s just as well. I don’t know how I’ll answer him if he sees the damage to my face. I’ve done my best to cover it with makeup, but a little part of me wants him to find me. Agent Rico might smack my ass, but I know he’s not the type to abuse a woman.

God, I’m so goddamned fucked up. Who hates the slap of a vicious palm across the face but craves being tied to someone’s bed? Who fears the wrath of a monster, but wishes for pain meted out by a man who exercises self-control and restraint? I confuse even myself.

I’m two blocks from my place when a flash of lights in my rearview mirror makes my heartbeat spike. I pull over to the road obediently. Hoping. It’s too dark and the headlights too bright for me to see who it is. God, I don’t want to get tagged by a rookie, or some blustering idiot of a cop. I have my connections and easily slip out of their grip, but they’re not the ones I want to see.

Boots grating on gravel. The beam of a flashlight. My breath hitches and my body tenses. No matter who this is, I need to play it right.

“License and registration, ma’am.” My heart sinks to the ground. The voice isn’t the low, powerful rasp I long for, but a high-pitched, nasally voice. Fighting back tears, I open up my glove compartment and hand the papers to the man standing beside me with an air of resignation.

“Do you know why I pulled you over?” he begins, but I don’t get a chance to answer when I hear a second car pull up behind me. The crunch of gravel. Sound of doors unlocking. Heavy footsteps. Hope soars.

I turn to look but can’t see who it is in the dark. The officer standing beside my window drops his flashlight and takes a respectful step back.

“Agent Rico,” he greets. I close my eyes with the sudden rush of emotions. Jesus Christ, I need a smoke. I’m a fucking basket case, and that isn’t me.

“I’ll take it from here, officer. Miss Francoise and I have a history, and it will be best if I handle this.”

“She was speeding, sir. 100 in a 65 zone, barely braking, whipped through two red lights and a stop sign.”

Rico’s standing outside my window and I can see him now. He smirks at me. “Only one stop sign? Losing your touch, little girl.”

I almost smile.

“Thank you, officer,” he says, waiting for the officer to go.

“Are you going to prosecute?” the officer says, looking from me to Rico. “I was just about to--”

Rico’s eyes flash in warning. “I said I’ll take it from here,” he says, and the officer backs away at the authority in his tone. I hide a smile. Damn, I love when he gets all bossy.

The officer mumbles an apology and hands my papers to Rico. Rico glares at him until the cruiser pulls away, then turns to me with a frown.

“Out you go.”

I hold my breath without meaning to, and my hand on the door handle trembles. A brisk wind kicks up and brushes along my bare arms. I didn’t bother grabbing a coat or sweater but just left as quickly as I could, and now the temperature’s dropped. I look to the ground. Now that I’m standing before him, I’m afraid of his reaction when he sees my face.

It’s not that I fear he’ll get angry. I fear he won’t.

“Look at me,” he orders, cuffing my wrist with his firm grip and when I don’t, the grip tightens. I can’t avoid him any longer. With a deep breath, I lift my face to his.

It takes a moment for him to register what he sees and when he does, I watch his eyes go from stern to smoldering, the stern set of his jaw firm, and his whole body vibrates with anger.

Releasing my arms, he chucks a surprisingly gentle finger under my chin. “Who the hell did this to you?” he rasps. His finger trembles.

I try to tear my gaze away, but his grip prevents me. I swallow hard. “I fell,” I lie. It’s the most pathetic attempt. I’m not trying too hard. “And I smacked my face on the way down.”

His storm cloud eyes narrow on me and his lips thin. Slowly, he shakes his head from side to side.

“That’s a lie,” he whispers, as if he has to keep his voice low to control his temper. “Your father or Leon? Or someone else who needs his teeth knocked out?”

God. How does he know?

But I have an image to uphold, and he’s given me what I needed. Just for tonight.

“I said I fell, Ricky,” I say, conjuring up a mischievous grin with every bit of effort I can. “You know I would never lie to you.”

He stares at me longer than he should before he lets me go. “I’m impounding your car,” he says. I blink in surprise. What did I expect, though? My mind races. I have to find a way to make this work. Then my heart freezes in my chest at his words.

“You’re coming with me.”