Jerome will always be my best decision.
That does not mean I want to do it again, though.
Especially not with Scott.
“You will stitch me up because if you don’t, you will never see your son again. Magina has strict orders to hurt Jerome if you kill me.”
I shake my head before responding, “You wouldn’t hurt our son.”
He leans in. “Don’t underestimate my want for you, Adora. I will do anything if it involves you.” A chill runs up and down my spine.
“Remove your hands.” He drops them, and I touch my neck.
“My marks always look so good on you,” he states, looking at my neck before he glances down at his stomach. “Now, get this fucking knife out of me and stitch me up.”
I push past him and go straight for the bathroom, where the first-aid kit is stored in the cupboard. He doesn’t follow me, just stands at the door, watching.
“Your room?” he asks, nodding to the door next to the bathroom. I nod, and he opens the door, pulling off his shirt before lying on it. As soon as I’m standing before him again, I pull the knife out none too gently. He grunts loudly before his hands grip the bed. “Stitch it.” Getting out the suture tray and supplies, I try to stop my hands from trembling. “Why do you have to disobey me? We could be happy.” I feel his eyes on me.
“I don’t love you. I have never loved you.”
“Not every relationship needs love,” he says simply. “Just obedience.”
I want to laugh, but Jerome calls my name, and Scott smiles.
TWENTY-SIX
JOEY
“Yo, did you all see this?” Lucas steps into Keir’s dining room, where we’re all seated for dinner. He hands his phone to Keir, who studies it, and then lifts his head to me.
“Have you seen her?” he asks, and I know the ‘her’ he’s referring to is Adora.
“No, why?”
“Check your phone.” I pull it out of my pocket and see a message from an unknown number. When I press play on the attached video, I see myself, at night, with Adora in front of me. My hands slide down her pants as I push her against the brick wall.
“What the fuck?” My gaze shoots up to Lucas, who is smiling. “You’re sending out videos of me with Adora?” I shake my head, my jaw tight. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” My hands are clenched, and Lucas starts to laugh.
“As if. Though, if you want to send me some for my spank bank—” Chanel hits him, and he rolls his eyes before apologizing. “It was sent to me too, fuckhead.”
“Why would someone send you this?” Keir asks.
“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Keir excuses everyone, but I don’t move. Finally, when it’s just the two of us, he speaks, “You aren’t doing your job…” my brows scrunch together, “… as well as you need to be, I should have added. You’re distracted by her.” I go to speak, but he holds up his hand to stop me. “You are, and I get it. I’ve been distracted by a woman before. You love her, Joey, so fucking marry her.”
“Tried that.” My phone beeps again. I look down at the unknown number flashing. Opening up the message, I see a picture of my mother. Instantly, my chest constricts.
“Keir?” I ask slowly.This could be fake.“Where is our mother tonight?”
“She didn’t show,” he says in a voice that makes my back straighten.
“Why?”
“No idea. She didn’t call, so I figured she was sleeping.” He shrugs.
“Call her.” He does it straight away without asking why. When she doesn’t answer, I slide my phone over to him.