JADE

Forty minutes is all it takes for all hell to break loose. Forty minutes from the time Rupert left, to the time M is banging on Brock’s front door like a psychotic crazy woman on a mission to take me back to my living hell. I knew it.

‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my bedroom,’ Brock demands.

Even though I’m trembling again, there’s no way I’m leaving him to face this on his own. ‘I’m staying right here.’

‘Listen to me, Jade,’ he says, forcefully gripping my arm. ‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my fucking room now.’

‘No.’ I’m trying my best to act calm and not let my true feelings show, but truth is, I’m petrified of this woman. Still, I refuse to leave him.

‘I know you’re in there, open this door immediately!’ we hear M scream, in that don’t-fuck-with-me voice I’ve come to know well over the years.

‘Jesus fucking Christ,’ Brock snaps. ‘I can’t protect you if you don’t listen to me.’

‘I’m staying, so you may as well open the damn door.’

Brock exhales a large breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. ‘Fuck,’ he mumbles. ‘So help me … if she lays one finger on you, I’ll kill her.’ He gathers me protectively behind him as he approaches the door. ‘Do not leave my side.’

‘I’ve come to collect Jade,’ M says calmly the minute Brock opens the door. I’m surprised by how this woman has so quickly regained her cool.

‘As I told you in my letter, she won’t be returning to work for you.’

‘Listen here, you arrogant fuck,’ M spits. I’m still strategically placed behind Brock, so she hasn’t noticed I’m here yet. ‘I’m not having some cocky little prick dictate to me. She is under contract to me and I suggest you return her immediately.’

‘Or what?’ Brock says. ‘You don’t scare me. You know as well as I do that contact will not stand up in court.’

‘I’ll ask you one more time, Mr Weston. Return Jade to me this instant or I won’t be held responsible for what happens.’

‘Do you have my million dollars?’ he asks, and for a split second my heart drops. He’s not actually planning to give me back to her is he?

‘What million dollars? I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Bullshit,’ he snaps.

When M laughs, I know she’s lying. I don’t even need to look at her face to know she received that money. She’s a snake. She’d rip off her own mother if given the chance. I can’t believe he gave her a million dollars for my freedom.

‘Jade,’ she screams. ‘Get your traitorous arse out here now.’

‘Hey. Show some respect. Who the fuck do you think you are? I refuse to stand by and let you talk to her like that.’ Brock takes a step in her direction. I follow suit because I’m still shielded behind him. I feel like a coward, hiding from her like this. If I wasn’t so afraid of the repercussions, I’d step forwards and face her. I’ve waited five long years to tell her what I really think. ‘I won’t tolerate it,’ he growls. I feel inclined to wrap my arms around his waist and thank him for sticking up for me like he is.

‘Respect. Ha,’ she scoffs. ‘She’s a common whore, Mr Weston, or have you forgotten that?’

I cringe at her words, but she’s right, I am.

‘No thanks to you. You’re the scum of the earth for what you’ve put her through. You should be ashamed of yourself for taking advantage of someone as sweet as Jade.’

‘I have no problems sleeping at night.’ Smug bitch. She wouldn’t because she has a black heart. I don’t know why her words hurt me, but they do. ‘I see I trained her well. One taste and she’s turned you into putty. Pathetic. I’m sure your father would be very proud,’ she says with disgust in her voice.

God, I hate her. I refuse to stand by for one more second while she continues to insult him.

‘Jade. You’ve got one minute to show your face or I’m coming in to get you.’

I know she means what she says, but surprisingly her words don’t scare me like they usually do. I feel safe with Brock by my side. It’s time for me to stand up to her.

‘I’m not coming back,’ I say, squaring my shoulders and stepping out from behind Brock.

He growls at me, before manoeuvring me behind him again. I try to fight him, but I’m overpowered by his strength.

‘You coward,’ M sneers. ‘I brought you up better than this. Stop hiding and face me, you ungrateful little bitch.’

‘Don’t you dare speak to her like that,’ Brock yells. ‘You brought her up to be a damn hooker, so don’t put on the high-and-mighty act with me. I know exactly what type of person you are.’

‘She was trash when she came to live with me. I alone shaped her into the woman she is today.’

‘I’ve heard enough. The real Jade is nothing like the person you’ve tried to mould her into. The only trash here is you. You’ve mistreated her for the last time. We have nothing more to say to you. Leave my property before I call the police.’ Brock extends his arm, ready to close the door.

‘I don’t think so,’ a male voice says. M’s henchman, Rocco. Shit. He must’ve been standing out of sight, waiting for her to give him the word to pounce. My heart drops into the pit of my stomach. This man is crazy, completely unstable. He’s always frightened me. My gut feeling was right. This isn’t going to end well.

I step out from behind Brock again, and to my horror I find Rocco standing there with a gun aimed at Brock’s head.

‘Come here, you conniving bitch,’ M snarls, tugging me towards her by my hair.

‘Get your fucking hands off her,’ Brock yells, grabbing my arm and trying to manoeuvre me behind him again. I already know it’s useless. He has a gun only inches away from his face. We’ve lost. The thought of her taking me away from here—from him—fills me with dread. She can dish out any physical punishment she likes, but taking me away from Brock is the only thing that will truly hurt. My legs threaten to give way for the second time today.

‘Move and I’ll put a bullet in you,’ Rocco says to Brock.

‘Do whatever he says, Brock,’ I beg. I don’t want any harm to come to him. I know how these people work.

*

BROCK

I should be concerned that there’s a gun pointed at my head, but I’m not. My only concern in this moment is Jade. The stupid prick doesn’t even know how to hold a gun properly. His finger is resting alongside the barrel instead of hovering over the trigger. I’m grateful for that. It assures me that, whenever I make my move, the gun won’t go off. I just have to bide my time, then this fucker’s going down. I’m highly trained for situations like this.

My eyes are locked on him, but in my peripheral vision I can see Jade being pulled through the doorway by her hair. Rage consumes me. Fuck. I should’ve locked her in my damn room myself. I promised I’d protect her, so I need to act fast.

‘Let me go,’ I hear her whimper as my gaze leaves the gunman’s for a split second. Seeing her being manhandled like this sets off something inside me. My eyes move back to the cocksucker standing before me. He gives me a smug look and I use that as my cue. He may be built like a damn brick wall, but I already know he doesn’t have the brains to go with his brawn. The faster I unhinge this situation, the sooner I can get Jade to safety again.

He’s so busy silently gloating about having the upper hand that he doesn’t even see me make my move until it’s too late. My hand flies up at lightning speed and my fingers tightly grip his wrist. Using all my strength, I bend his arm back until I hear a sickening pop. I know I’ve successfully snapped his wrist when he cries out in pain and the gun goes crashing to the floor with a thud.

‘My arm … my arm,’ I hear the pussy cry as he clutches it to his chest. He’s not so tough now. Without hesitation I retrieve the gun from the floor. He takes a few steps backwards when I point it at his head.

‘You’ve got three seconds to get back in that car before I put a bullet in you,’ I say calmly. I won’t hesitate to shoot this fucker if I have too. ‘One.’ The gutless prick turns on his heel, hastily making his way down the stairs. Smart man. That’s when I turn the gun on M. I could shoot this bitch right now for what she’s done and not have any remorse for my actions. None whatsoever. She is the lowest of low. ‘Let her go, or I won’t hesitate to blow your fucking brains out.’

She lets go of Jade’s hair with a shove and I hear my girl cry out softly as she lands with a thud.

‘Are you okay?’ I ask without taking my eyes off M. I don’t trust this woman as far as I can kick her. I blindly reach out with my free hand, helping Jade to her feet.

‘Yes.’

‘Go into the main room,’ I command. This time she does as I ask. I’ll check her over as soon as I get rid of these two. ‘Leave,’ I say to M. The murderous look she gives me doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I have the upper hand now. ‘If you set one foot on my property again, I’ll have you charged.’

‘I don’t take well to idle threats, Mr Weston, and I always get my way in the end. You haven’t heard the last of me,’ she spits, before turning and storming down the stairs. What she fails to realise is I always get my way as well. This is one battle she won’t win.

I glance at her friend, who’s now standing beside the car. My lips curve into a smile when I see him still clutching his broken hand to his chest. He looks like he’s going to cry. Fucking pussy. I can’t help the laugh that bubbles from my mouth when I see M give him a clip across the head with an open palm before she gets into the car in a huff. I may have just started World War III, but I’m prepared for anything she dishes out. I won’t be giving Jade up.

Period.