Jaden bit down on her lower lip.
He stared at her lips intensely for a moment longer then tore his eyes away from her mouth and returned to her eyes.
“Well, it started when I was little more than a baby.” She nervously tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “From what I’m told, I have no recollection of any of this mind you, but when I was three my mother was murdered. Someone strangled her after they beat her half to death. I was found beside her on the floor, crying. I was covered in bruises and had a cut on my head but I don’t know from what. I have no recollection of that night at all. Then I was placed in foster care until I aged out at eighteen. Social Services tried but they couldn’t find any other family. They weren’t able to find my birth records, so there is no record of where I was born or who my father was. They assumed I was the daughter of the woman who was beaten and strangled and they found a child’s drawing in the apartment so they assumed my name was Jaden.”
“What was your mother’s name?” Iosif wanted to know.
“I was told her name was Jazzy Gibbons. It was so long ago that I really don’t remember her at all. And I don’t remember if I saw what happened that night or not.”
“Did you know if the police ever found her killer?”
Jaden shrugged and looked away. “I never heard anything about that, in fact I haven’t heard anything about my mom in years. I guess I stopped asking when I got to be about thirteen.”
“And how old are you now?” Iosif asked. Her age didn’t mean anything to him, he would take her at any age.
“Well according to social services I’m twenty almost twenty-one years old.” She shrugged. “Without a birth record, they really don’t know. I was found almost eighteen years ago and they put my age back then around three so the math works out.
“So, your full name is Jaden Gibbons.” Iosif shrugged. “And you’re almost twenty-one years old. You don’t have a family that you know of. There’s nothing wrong with any of that.”
“Except that you forgot to add I have a bastard after me who likes to hurt people who hang around and help me,” Jaden added. She reached out to lay her hand on his jaw. “You might not be so lucky the next time we run into Billy Jo and his goons.”
Iosif smiled softly. “Your Billy Jo doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, he might not be the one who survives our next meeting.”
Jaden closed her eyes slowly and she whispered brokenly, “That man is not my anything. I wish I never met him.”
“How long have you actually known him?”
Jaden sighed and began tracing the pattern of the sheets with her fingertip. “When I turned sixteen I was moved to yet another foster home. Caleb and Karen McGregor. They lived within a certain area of Baton Rouge and I had to transfer schools again. This was my ninth move and my ninth school. Being the new kid was always the hardest and Kingston High School wasn’t the easiest school to get used to. There were a lot of clicks in the school. If you didn’t belong to one of them then you didn’t belong in that school.” Without looking at him she shrugged. “I didn’t belong. And Billy Jo enjoyed rubbing it in every chance he got. Of course, he was a jock so he belonged. Then in my junior year he asked me out, he called it a pity date. I mean I wasn’t exactly what was considered hot in high school. I’m short and a little overweight and I have red hair. That’s not cool. My mistake was when he asked me he was with his friends and a bunch of cheerleaders and they were all waiting for my answer. I lost it and I told him no… in no uncertain words. I think I even managed to put him down in front of his friends and when you’re a big shot, no one puts you down. I thought he was going to punch me that day. One of his friends pulled him away at the last minute but I’ll never forget the look he gave me that day.”
“What kind of look?” Iosif demanded.
“That I was a dead woman.” She looked up and a tear rolled down her face. “I could read the evil in his eyes that day and every day since then that evil is growing. One day it’s going to burn my soul and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I think I’ll end up just like my mother. He wants me to feel his wrath and nothing is going to stop him from bathing in my blood.”
“The hell there isn’t.” Iosif growled. “I won’t let him get close to you ever again.”
Jaden shook her head. “You don’t know how this works. You’re only here for a short time. While I have no money, no home and no job, I have the good sense God gave me. I know by now how to avoid Billy Jo. I have to start all over. I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. People like me live under the radar for a reason, my reason is hiding from men like Billy Jo. Because I embarrassed him he isn’t going to let that go.”
“So how long has this been going on?”
“About four years now.”
He motioned at her ribs and bruised face. “Is this the worst he’s ever done?”
Jaden hesitated and had to bite her tongue. She hated lying but if she told him the truth, he would be really mad. Not that Billy Jo didn’t deserve it but she just wanted to let it go.
“Jaden, is this the worst he’s ever done to you?” Iosif repeated his question.
Jaden raised her head and her eyes found his. He was demanding the truth and she found she just couldn’t lie to him. “No this isn’t the worst he’s done.”
Ioisf felt the rage inside him roar its displeasure. His heart and head pounded and he felt a black fury growing inside him. “This is the last time this bastard will hurt you. I swear this will be the last time.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jaden tried to move and winced in pain when she did, her ribs hurt, and she could hardly breathe with the bandages wrapped so tight. She closed her eyes and waited until the pain lessened.
Iosif frowned but let her alone to deal with her pain. He knew if he showed concern she wouldn’t want it. So, he waited.
Finally, she opened her eyes and stared at him. After a moment or so she whispered, “No the worst time was a few weeks ago. He told me I was hardly worth the trouble of looking for me anymore, so I asked him why he continued to search the city for me, surely he had better things to do. He glared at me and said he was going to make sure I learned my lesson.” She paused and licked her dry lips. “He found me on the other side of town. I was working there at a coffee house when he came in. When he saw me behind the counter, he completely destroyed the place. His goons held the owner and the manager at gun point while he ransacked the place and then he dragged me out of there by my hair. He was so pissed I thought he was going to kill me before he was finished. He just kept hitting me and kicking me. I think I passed out three times before he was done. He dumped water on me twice until the last time, he just left me. When I woke up, I was alone. He had dumped me a long way from home. I think he just pushed me from a moving car as I had road rash all over the place. It took me a week to be able to move without pain and then I had to move again and find another job. Then a week ago he found me in the diner and he hasn’t left me alone since.”
“Are you sure this is only because you rejected him?” he had to ask.
Jaden shrugged. “I can’t think of any other reason he would have. I’ve seriously tried to avoid him. Looks like I’m going to have to leave New Orleans to finally get away from him.”
“But how can you do that without money?” Iosif frowned.
She shrugged. “I’ve done it before and survived, I imagine I can do it again.” She reached over and cupped his jaw. “I’m a survivor, I’ve had to be, or I would have given up a long time ago. Life likes to kick my ass once in a while, but I have learned to kick back. She may try to lay me low, but I’ve learned to get back up, dust myself off and try again. Billy Jo isn’t my first go around and he won’t be my last. I won’t let him.”
Iosif just stared at her for a moment then he heard a noise at the door. Turning his head, he found his brother standing there.
Roman had a funny look on his face but he was looking at Jaden. Finally, after a long moment, Roman tu
rned to his brother and asked, “Are you two ready to eat something?”
“I could eat.” Iosif nodded. Turning to Jaden he asked, “Should we eat in here? I’m sure Roman won’t mind and you probably shouldn’t be out of bed yet. You should let those ribs heal a bit more before you try and move around too much.”
Jaden blushed and ducked her head.
“If you wouldn’t mind then we can all eat together.” Roman cleared his throat. “I can bring breakfast in here and we can talk.”
Iosif smiled as Jaden blushed bright red. He chuckled and nodded at his brother. “That would be fine if you don’t mind.”
Roman disappeared then came back a few minutes later with a tray. He set the try down on the end of the bed and began handing out plates, silverware and coffee.
Jaden took a sip of her coffee and had to close her eyes at how good the hot beverage tasted. She groaned as bursts of flavor coated the inside of her mouth. “Oh, my God. This is truly the nectar of the gods isn’t it?”
Roman coughed at her statement. Then he looked at Iosif who was smiling. Glancing back at Jaden he commented, “It’s just coffee.”
Jaden shook her head. “No this is not just coffee. Coffee is bland and sometimes leaves a nasty aftertaste in your mouth. This… well, this is wonderful.”
Iosif chuckled. “Well it is a special blend. I brought this over from Kazakhstan so it’s not from this country.”
Jaden blushed bright red. “Oh, how stupid does this make me? I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Roman asked.
“For making a big deal out of coffee,” she mumbled.
“Well, you do have a point,” Roman agreed with her. “When I lived in Russia. we drank tea when we could get it. It wasn’t often we could, and boy did it taste like ambrosia when we could. So, I do know exactly what you mean.”
Jaden smiled. She tried to move then hissed in pain as her ribs protest the movement.
Iosif leaned closer and frowned, “Are you ok?”
She felt the pain subside and when she opened her eyes she nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. My ribs just reminded me I shouldn’t even think about moving just yet.”
“Do you need anything?” Roman asked.
“A trip to the bathroom would be very welcome.” Jaden shrugged.
Iosif pushed the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He got to his feet and for a moment the whole room spun on a dime. He grabbed the headboard and then Roman assisted him back to the mattress. “Whoa brother, you aren’t going anywhere.” He pushed him back down and swung his legs back on the bed.
Iosif groaned and waited for the room to stop spinning. A moment later, he looked toward Jaden. “I’m sorry I don’t think I should try to help you.”
Jaden looked worried and shook her head.
Roman came over to her side of the bed and waited for her to move. He watched as she took a deep breath and repeated Iosif’s movements only much slower. She pushed the covers down and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She gasped and pulled her t shirt down to cover her legs. “What happened to my clothes?” she whispered mortified.
“We thought you’d sleep better without the dirty jeans,” Roman told her wryly.
Jaden flushed with embarrassment, then felt the urge to relieve her bladder pressing down on her.
Roman stepped closer and with one arm on her back, he gave her his other arm to help her stand. Then he held her still for a moment as she closed her eyes in pain again.
With one hand pressed to her chest and the other on Roman’s arm she took a step and then another. She looked up at him and whispered, “Where exactly am I going?”
Roman nodded toward a door off to one side of the bedroom. “There’s a bathroom right there.”
“Thank you.” Jaden turned slightly and headed toward the door. Roman reached out and opened the door for her and when she got inside, she pushed the door shut behind her. She did not need help with this part of it.
When she sat down, she felt immediately relief and then she had to struggle to get up again but she made it. Her ribs pounded and her head hurt but she was able to wash her hands and get to the door. She opened the door and Roman was there waiting for her. She leaned on him all the way back to the bed then sat down and felt relief.
He bent down and swung her legs up and covered her again. “Are you ok?”
Jaden nodded but wouldn’t look at him.
Roman hooked a finger under her chin and raised her head to meet his. “The doctor assured me the two of you would heal and you have nothing to be embarrassed about. He also left pain pills if you needed them.”
Jaden closed her eyes. “That might be good.”
Roman went out of the room then returned with a glass of water and a couple of pain pills in his hand. Handing them over to Jaden he watched her take them and lay back. “He said these would make you sleepy but that your body would need sleep to help you heal.”
They were silent as they ate their food. Jaden tried to stay awake but the pain pills were kicking in and she found it hard to do.
“Why don’t I give you the room for a while? You can get some rest,” Iosif suggested as he took her empty plate and handed it to Roman. “I need to get some business done anyway.”
Jaden looked conflicted for a moment then nodded. She didn’t want him to think she depended on him. But for a moment, she felt a flash of fear. She settled in and waited while Roman assisted his brother to his feet and she watched as they made their way to the door and beyond. She couldn’t help but admire his ass and his bare back as he walked away.
She snuggled in and closed her eyes. Within moments the pain pills kicked in and she fell asleep. Her dreams were of tall, blonde men, wild kisses that curled her toes and strong arms that made her feel safe. And blue eyes that looked so deep into her soul that they saw the real her. If only…
Roman and Iosif walked over to the sofa and Iosif sat down gingerly. His head was pounding and he closed his eyes for a moment, then he opened them and saw Roman sitting on the chair next to him. “So what’s the story on the Billy Jo Walker character?” he growled at his brother.
Roman rolled his eyes. “Yuri spoke to the Cubans yesterday and again last night. They were surprised to hear he’s bragging about a connection to them still. He was one of their runners for a while but they don’t like the fact he’s running his mouth off. They told him once to keep his mouth shut and he didn’t do that. They let him go three months ago after their pickup was short several thousand dollars. He took a beating. They told him to forget their address and phone number and if they heard he was making trouble again, they would come after him and the next time they met the outcome wouldn’t be pleasant for him.”
“What the hell?” Iosif was astounded. “They just let him go? Without reprisal?”
Roman shook his head. “Oh no, they taught him a lesson, and got their money back but apparently this man is stupid enough to believe he did nothing wrong. He’s been running his mouth all over town. He also believes Jaden might have had something to do with them finding out where he lives and letting the Cubans know where he lived.”
Iosif frowned and looked back at the bedroom door. “Why would he think that? Jaden wants nothing to do with Billy Jo Walker.” He turned back to his brother.
Roman shrugged. “I have no idea. As far as I know, she had nothing to do with anything.”
“I wonder why he thinks she told the Cubans anything then?” Iosif wondered out loud. “That might explain the hate he has for her.”
Roman shook his head. “That’s only part of it, I’m afraid.”
“What else did you learn?”
“How about the fact your girl doesn’t exist?”
Iosif frowned. “Excuse me?”
“Kosta did a search on her, just to see what was out there and if she had any connections to any of the other factions in the city and found something very strange. The girl she says she is doesn’t exist. There is no record of
her anywhere, no birth certificate, no social security number, no anything. The only record she has was when she went into foster care.”
“She told me about that. She was found at the age of three beside her dead mother’s body. He mother had been beaten and strangled. They assumed her name was Jaden Gibbons as her mother’s name was Jazzy Gibbons. Her death is still unsolved,” Iosif informed his brother. “She’s got to have some records somewhere.”
“Yuri is coming over today to speak to her. He wants to know more about her and why she thinks Billy Jo is stalking her. He also did some checking on that and found out she was telling the truth about that part of her story. She keeps changing jobs and he keeps finding her. In the last four years, he’s found her seven different times and she’s been in hospital eleven different times for being mugged. At least that’s what she’s always told the doctors when she seeks treatment. He just wants to make sure she’s on the up and up and that no one will cause any problems if we offer her sanctuary.”
Iosif leaned back against the cushions of the sofa and stared at his brother for a few moments. Running his fingers through his hair until he rubbed the bandage covering his wound, he frowned as pain blasted the back of his head. Closing his eyes for a moment he finally said, “Did you ever find your car?”
“Indeed, we did.” Roman curled his fingers into a fist. “That bastard Billy Jo drove it to the edge of town and set it on fire.”
“Suka, blyad,” Iosif swore in Russian.
CHAPTER EIGHT
He glared at his brother and shook his head. “There has to be more to this story than what we know. I don’t think Billy Jo Walker would take it this far over a slight that’s four years old? Even if she put him down in front of his friends, this is taking things too far.”
Roman nodded. “Did she say anything about what that might be?”
Iosif shook his head. “No, she has no clue.”
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