We arrive back at Brax’s house, my new home, my eyes wandering the street. It’s so quiet around here now. The street has definitely improved over the last six years or so.
My attention is caught by Brax waving his hand frantically in front of my face. I look at him with confusion.
“I gotta get in, baby,” he chuckles as he wiggles on the spot. “Bathroom,” he says lifting his brows. I laugh a little, following him to the front door and watch as he races off up the stairs. I make my way into the kitchen, hunger growling in the pit of my stomach. I open cupboard after cupboard, searching for something to keep the hunger at bay. I shake my head as I struggle to find anything beyond canned food. I shut them, noticing a fruit bowl on the side with two bright green apples inside. I reach inside, biting into the crunchy apple, only to be startled by a faint knock on the door. My eyes glance to the stairs, hoping that Brax might make a reappearance. I swallow the mouthful of apple, slowly walking over to the door. I press up onto my tiptoes, lining my eye up to the peephole. All I can see is a head full of red hair. I reach for the handle, pulling open the door slowly; making sure the chain is fixed in place.
I look through the gap of the door and gasp like someone sucked the air from my lungs. My shaky hand reaches for the chain, removing it and opening the door fully.
“Jazz,” I gasp. “What are you doing here?”
“So, it’s true then,” she says stepping forward and I immediately step backward, suddenly wary of her intentions.
“W…what?” I ask, my voice wavers a little.
“That you are out, silly. Here with him,” she nods her head, her eyes look beyond me. I turn to see Brax walking toward me, head down, phone in his hand.
“Yeah, uh, that’s Brax,” I answer her. “What do you want, Jazz?”
“Jazz?” Brax’s voice booms across the room. His footsteps thud against the wooden floor. “Get out,” he roars.
“But, why?” Standing there she wraps her red hair around her finger, a smug smile creeping across her face.
“Jessica, I’m not fucking shitting you. Get the fuck out of my house, now,” he yells at her with venom in his voice, his nostrils flare and his eyebrows pull together.
I whip my head back and forth, confused by the whole situation. What is Jazz doing here and why is Brax calling her Jessica?
“Wait, you two know each other?” I ask, pressing my fingers against my lip, biting a small bit of skin at the side of my mouth.
“Oh yeah. We go wayyyy back. Ain’t that right, Braxton?” she drawls.
He marches toward her, grabbing the top of her arm, pulling her toward his snarling face.
“You need to fucking give me some answers, NOW. Let’s start with how the fuck you know Isabelle.”
She presses her finger and thumb together, sliding it across her lips. “My lips are sealed,” she pouts.
“What?” I say slamming my hands against my side. “So, you know… Jessica? And your name isn’t Jazz?”
“Her name is definitely Jessica,” Brax growls. “But what I really want to know is how she knows you, and why the fake name? This is something to do with that text, isn’t it? You said you knew where she was.”
“Ugh, get your hands off me.” She moans, her face contorted with disgust.
“She works for that monster. Or at least she did.” I jump in, my eyes glaring at her as the smug look on her face never falters.
“Is this true?” Brax bellows, kicking his leg out and closing the door. “Were you fucking working for Alvrez all along?”
“Everyone has to earn a living, and boy did he pay well.”
Brax thrusts out his arm causing Jessica to fall with a thud to the floor. He turns, rushing over to the kitchen drawers, pulling out his gun. He races back over before Jessica has had time to even sit up, stepping over her and pointing the gun down at her face. He holds it so still, both hands clasped around it.
“No, don’t,” she squirms, her hand waving ever so slightly. “You don’t want to do that!”
“Oh, believe me I do. For years you were a whore, hanging around Carter, throwing yourself at anything with a fucking dick.”
“You told me to go…” she tries to interrupt, but Brax barely gives her a chance to respond.
“You were a troublemaker. It should have been done months ago. So, what? Was this some elaborate plan to get back at me? Because I gave you the brush off?”
“It’s not like that…”
“So, you were working with him all along. Feeding him information the whole time. Carter will be fucking pissed. Another reason why I should sink this bullet into that bimbo fucking brain of yours.”
“It was a job. You don’t get to say who I work for...”
“Time’s up, bitch,” he says, hunching his back as he rests the gun against her forehead.
“I wouldn’t do that,” she rushes out, gulping for breath. “If I don’t walk out of here, I have men waiting in that car that will give the word to the Savages. They’ll tell them, Brax. That it was you who killed their man. You know, the one that attacked Tara.”
Brax’s face falls, a huge pent-up breath escapes him.
“Let her go, Brax,” I coax, stepping closer, tugging on his hand.
“I can’t.”
“You have to. We’ll figure this out.” I say, glaring at her. “Just let her go for now.”
He looks at me. His eyes are dark and full of anger. “She knows too much. She could be bluffing.”
“It’s not worth the risk.” I exhale loudly.
“Get Carter on the phone.” He nods down to his pocket. I reach in, pulling out his phone and dialing Carter’s number.
The line rings only a few times.
“Didn’t take you long to come running back…” Carter says as he answers the call.
“Carter, this is serious.” Brax shouts loud enough for his voice to be heard on the speaker.
“What’s wrong?” His tone is gruff and I shudder at the sound. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s my inner uneasiness I feel about Carter.
“Jessica is here. Apparently, she has been working for that cunt, Alvrez.”
“Get rid of her,” he orders. There was no hesitation. No second chances, just a clear-cut decision.
“Here’s the thing. Looks like your cousin has been blabbing her mouth about the Savages. You know, about what happened? And now this bitch is blackmailing me. She has guys outside that apparently know this information and will feed it back to them if she doesn’t make it out of here alive.”
“Fuck,” he yells. “Hold tight, I’m sending my men around.”
“No,” Brax snaps. “Not here. Too many witnesses.”
“So, what? You want to let her go?”
“What choice do we have?” he says, stepping back, the gun still pointed at her. He looks at the phone in my hand. “I’ll call you back,” he says with a nod. I disconnect the call, handing him the phone. My eyes glance to the window that overlooks the driveway. A black truck is parked outside. The windows down a little but I can’t make out the driver.
“Can I go now?” she snarls, slowly getting back on her feet, her palm held out as she looks warily at Brax. I can no longer control myself. Stepping toward her, I pull my hand up and slap her across the face. The contact makes her head fall to the side.
“Fucking bitch,” I say shaking my hand. It isn’t often that I swear, but I’ve never felt better letting those words slip from my mouth. The contact stings the palm of my hand, tingles overtake any other sensation.
“Who are you working with?” Brax demands.
“Alvrez,” she mumbles, her head falling forward as her eyes drop to the floor.
“But…he’s dead. I saw Helena stab him. He can’t be alive. No one would survive that.” I interrupt, my heart thumping erratically.
“You’re wrong.” Jessica lifts her head slowly, her eyes narrowed and focused on me.
“He’s very much alive. And he wants his revenge, Isabelle.”
I wrap my fingers around my throat as I turn to walk away. Her words play over and over in my mind.
He’s still alive.
How?
I’m snapped from my thoughts at the sound of the door opening. I turn to see Harlan standing in the doorway, his arm held at full stretch, gun in his hand.
“Stay back,” Brax instructs with a thrust of his hand. I panic, not sure what I should do. I watch on as Harlan and Brax stand face to face, guns pointed at each other. Jessica stands beside Harlan, an evil smile very much across her face.
I have to be strong. I walk over, standing beside my man, hoping that I can catch Harlan’s attention.
“What are you doing here, Harlan?” I ask, my voice soft and my head tilted just a little to the side.
Brax’s protective arm reaches out, pushing me behind him.
“You have to come home, Isabelle,” Harlan’s voice calls out.
“This is her home, motherfucker,” Brax growls.
“You’re about to die, cocksucker,” Harlan spits at Brax. “You can’t protect her forever. She doesn’t belong here with you. Move out of the way and I’ll make sure no harm comes to her.”
“You won’t fucking touch her because she isn’t going anywhere.”
“Step aside,” Harlan growls, his teeth clenched together, the gun shaking in his hands.
“How could you do this?” I gasp. “You let me walk out of there… why? Why would you do that?” I repeat, barely able to make sense of what is happening.
“I’ve had my orders. Sir sent me.”
“But you said we were friends. You said you didn’t want me to get hurt.”
“Well, I lied,” he smirks, his once gentle eyes are harsh and unrecognizable.
Jessica laughs, a low, menacing laugh. “Just shoot him already,” she prompts and Harlan turns his head slowly, glowering at her. My whole body is shaking. Not with fear. No, this is different. It’s like every ounce of adrenaline my body can produce is being pumped through my body at a million miles per hour. I step from behind the protection of Brax, barrelling towards Harlan. His gun fires and the sound of gunshot rings out. The gun drops from his hand, falling to the floor. I frantically scan the room, my eyes trying to locate Brax, but he’s no longer standing where he was.
He’s on the floor. Blood pumping from his lifeless body.
A scream is ripped from me as Harlan hooks his arms under me, dragging me out of the door.
My eyes are fixed on Brax, despite my fight with Harlan.
“Stop! HELP!” I scream out until my lungs feel like they are on fire, my hands grappling to get him off me. But I’m not strong enough. The sight of the man I love on the floor, covered in blood weakens me.
“You should have given up willingly,” Harlan drones as he continues to drag me to the black van. I scream as loud as I can, hoping that a neighbor, or someone, will come to help. That even if I can’t fight them off and I’m taken again, that someone will find Brax.
I don’t want to lose him. I only just found him.
With an almighty thud, the air is knocked from my lungs and my mouth no longer makes a sound. A searing pain courses through my head and I lift my hand before slowly pulling it away.
I’m bleeding.
“Shit,” I slur, no longer able to hold on to the consciousness that slips from my grasp.
TO BE CONTINUED…