Katie glances at me. “Go home, Willow. You’re done for the day.”
Her voice is clipped and my heart sinks.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter, undoing my apron.
Jagger waits for me outside. Angel and Ace lead me out, and we all walk back to the apartments in silence. When we get to his, the two guys go their separate ways, and Jagger promises them he’ll come and speak to them soon. Then, he turns and glances down at me, his eyes scanning my face again.
“Did he do anything to you?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“He’s up to something. Willow, you’re not safe.”
Don’t I know it.
I shake my head, confused. “I don’t know what he wants me for.”
Jagger runs his fingers through his hair. His hand looks tender. He’s going to end up with serious damage if he doesn’t stop hitting things, and people. “I need to go out, something is going down, he’s not here to make things right.”
“I don’t think so either,” I say, swallowing the heavy lump in my throat.
I hate how this feels.
“Lock the doors, I’ll call before I come home. Don’t open it for anyone else.”
He kisses me quickly, and then takes his phone and keys.
“Jagger?” I ask.
He turns to look at me, his eyes filled with something I don’t like. Fear.
“Is he going to hurt me?”
He walks over and takes my face in his hands. “Over my dead fucking body.”
He kisses me again, then he’s gone, and I’m left alone. I can’t wrap my mind around what just happened back there. I’m starting to see just how good Jagger is at fighting, and his father seems to know it. What have I missed in his story? I know something has been kept hidden from me. With a deep breath, I stand and walk into the kitchen. I need something to calm my nerves.
My phone rings just I’m shooting back a shot of whiskey. Probably not the best choice, but it works. I glance down to see it’s Luca calling. I feel horrible—he’s been travelling and doing a heap of exploring, but I haven’t been the best friend to him.
“Hey,” I say, filling another shot.
“Hey, she lives. What’s going down, my girl?”
I can’t help but smile.
“Oh, you know, the usual bad guys after me and all that. What’s up?”
“Not much, I just wanted to tell you I’m going away for a few months. I got offered a modeling job in New York. Can you believe? It looks like I might be staying in America longer than I thought!”
“Aw, I didn’t get enough time with you.”
He laughs. “I know, but don’t worry, I’ll be back. I swear it.”
“I know, and, honestly, I’m happy for you. You deserve it. Tell me about it.”
He tells me about a contract he picked up and how it’s based in New York. I’m proud of him. It doesn’t surprise me that someone saw him and wanted his face on something. He’s gorgeous, and he knows it.
“I’m so happy for you.” I smile, taking another shot.
“Now, tell me about you. I have barely seen you. Which murderous bastard is trying to take you down now?”
“Oh, you know ... The ex-wife, the father, take your pick.”
He snorts. “Yikes, you know how to bring them in.”
I chuckle. “True.”
“Look, I have to go. I’m going to call you every week okay?”
I sigh. “Man, you better.”
“I promise.”
“Bye, Luca.”
“Bye, girl.”
When he hangs up, I close my eyes and frown. I only just got to know him and already he’s being whisked away. I throw my phone down onto the bench and take another shot of whiskey. That’s when the doorbell rings. Jagger said he would call so I know it’s not him. I hesitate. I don’t want to open it after what happened back there.
“Hello? Johnny?”
Well, fuck. It’s Aunt Mary. I walk over and open it, only to face a shocked Mary. Why doesn’t someone just shoot me? It’d be kinder. The look of disgust she’s giving me right now is enough to sink a weak person. Lucky for her, I’m finding my strength, and I’m more than tired of people treating me like I’m nothing. Especially when they’ve barely tried to get to know me.
“Mary,” I mutter, crossing my arms.
She frowns. She’s clutching a large bag under her left arm and another bag full of groceries in her other hand.
“I’m looking for Johnny.”
“Jagger isn’t here.”
I make a point of calling him Jagger, because I know she doesn’t like it. She scrunches her face up and glowers at me. I smile sweetly.
“Well, I’ll wait for him.”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
Her eyes widen. “Does he know you’re so rude when he’s not around?”
“I could say the same about you, Aunt Mary,” I murmur, giving her a look that tells her I’m more than ready to take her on.
She squints her eyes and gives me a truly horrible look, but she doesn’t back down. She’s a stubborn old biddy.