“Out,” Rick said.
“Rick?” He wanted to bargain, to do something that would make this harder on him but easier on Jade.
“I told you to get out. Castillo has agreed not to shoot you. We have come to some new terms.” Rick smiled at Jade and Landon watched as Gabriel entered. “Now, your father believes it’s important for your hymen check. I, of course, have assured him it’s not necessary, but he has his ways.”
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” Jade said.
“Be quiet, you stupid girl,” Castillo said. He was an old man with gray hair at the temples, but still good-looking.
Jade instantly bowed her head and Landon wanted to pound the man.
“We don’t need an audience.” Rick snapped his fingers and Landon fought as the guards touched him and Tulip, dragging them out of the room. He grabbed his guard, body slamming him against the wall, and then snapping the one who held Tulip.
Rick was there, wrapping his fingers around Tulip’s neck, squeezing. Landon watched his woman as she fought against the hold, and Rick took charge, forcing him to step bac
k.
They were pushed inside a room. Jacob and Abel were there to keep him inside.
“Now, let’s do this the right way. You will stay here with Tulip and I’ll let her live. Whatever is happening in that other room is not your concern. I’m cleaning up your mess, Landon, you should appreciate it.” Rick let go of Tulip, throwing her against him, and he caught her.
The door was locked, and he had no doubt his brothers were on the other side, guarding it.
He wouldn’t kill them, though.
Tulip wrapped her arms around him, tightly. “I hate him.” She choked out each word.
“I’m so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. It was all him. What the hell is going on?” Tulip asked.
“I don’t know.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and he went to her, taking hold of her hand. “Your family is giving me whiplash.” She didn’t push him away. She climbed into his lap and he didn’t ask her what she was doing. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him.
“Do you think they’re going to hurt her?”
“They won’t. Jade is still innocent. We never did anything, in case you were wondering.”
She laughed. “You’re worried about what I will think?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so confused right now. I don’t know what the hell is going on. I wish I could go back to being just me waitressing. I bet I lost that job.”
“Were you a good waitress?”
“Yeah, I think so. I stopped people from getting the shits, but you know, it was a job.”
He kissed the top of her head.
She tilted hers back. “I’m still happy I met you.”
“Really? Because from where I sit, I wouldn’t be surprised if you wanted nothing to do with me again.”
Tulip cupped his cheek. “What was she like?”
“Jade?”