Little Puppet

by Erin Trejo

  Jaxson grabs my hand and leads me into the room. I’ve never felt as small as I do right now. Being around so many men of such a high stature is unnerving to me.

  “Miss Dell, this is Mercello Ferrari.” Jaxson ushers me forward but my feet don’t want to move.

  “Miss Dell. It is a pleasure to meet you. Jaxson has told me great things about you.” A tear slides down my cheek as I look up at Jaxson. He smiles before wiping the tears from my face.

  “It’s truly an honor to meet you. I love following your work.” He pulls me into a hug and I almost faint. His accent is beautiful but so is the man.

  Chapter 77

  I’m over the moon right now. I stand on the balcony with a glass of champagne in my hand. The night air is perfect. The sky is immaculate. I’ve never seen anything like this.

  “You look stunning. Did you enjoy your night?” Jaxson’s hands wrap around my waist, pulling me back against him. It’s not until I look down that I notice the box in his hands. I spin around and press my lips to his.

  “It was amazing. I can’t thank you enough.”

  He hands me the box and my hands begin to shake.

  “I’m not asking for marriage, Jade.” That smirk. God, I love that smirk. I roll my eyes before I pull the ribbon free and open the lid. My heart roars in my ears.

  “You had this made for me?” My hands tremble as I raise the small marble heart. It’s intricately designed with a vine winding around it.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” I sob.

  “There is nothing else like it. It is a one of a kind Mercello Ferrari.” I set the heart on the small table before throwing my arms around his neck. Holding him tightly, I cry into his shoulder.

  “No one has ever done anything like this for me.” He kisses my neck, a soothing feeling coming over me.

  “Jade.” My name leaves his lips in the most sensual tone I’ve ever heard come from him.

  I turn my head, kissing his neck. The way his arms tighten around me is like heaven. I never want to come out again. I let my tongue trail up his neck to his jaw line when he hisses.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing to me.” He whispers softly. I don’t care, I keep going. The scruff on his jaw drags across my tongue. Heat pools inside of me.

  “I need you, Jaxson.” I nip at his chin before he lifts me in his arms. He moves gracefully through the room. He deposits me on the bed, his heated stare raking over me. His breathing is labored and I can see the look in his eyes. He wants me as much as I want him.

  He leans down slowly, sliding his hands under the bottom of the dress. His fingers skim over my skin causing me to gasp.

  “I’m going to fuck you in this dress. It’s too goddamn sexy to take off.” The idea of him taking me with the softest silk ever caressing my skin is overwhelming.

  He quickly removes his pants and tosses them to the side. Pulling the dress up my thighs, I shiver from the feel of it as it pulls over my skin.

  “God, Jade.” He groans before shoving into me roughly. I lift my legs, wrapping them around his waist as he plunges into me.

  As many times as we’ve had sex, Jaxson was right. Every time does feel like the first time. My body has the sweetest ache. Jaxson thrusts until he can’t get any deeper. Then and only then do I feel at ease. I want him deeper, I need him deeper but the only way he can do that is if I give him something that I vowed not to give.

  My heart.

  Chapter 78

  Italy was a nice vacation. I hated to leave but I’m happy to be home. The idea isn’t lost on me that I thought of Jaxson’s house as my home. I know he doesn’t want that. I know he only wants me for my body. He may care about me to a point but not the way I want him to.

  I lay in bed looking at the small sculpture that Jaxson had made for me and wonder what was going on in that head of his when he did it. There are times that I want to know but others, I can see just how dark he truly is.

  He’s been gone almost all day which is unsettling for me. I’ve used the laptop he gave me to research on my own. I needed to know what my family was up to when I was younger.

  The things I found were unsettling. I didn’t expect there to be so much hatred.

  From what I’ve found my father was a shady business man. He screwed over a lot of people. That could be the key to why so many people hate me in turn.

  The door pops open and Jax walks in. His steps are hurried. He doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t stop to say hi. He rushes into the bathroom in almost a panic.

  I climb out of bed and follow him inside.

  “Are you ok?” I ask before I notice the blood on his hands and shirt. I reach for him, checking him. Panic rises inside of me.

  “Are you hurt? What happened? Where is the blood coming from?” I look him over quickly but I can’t find the source.

  “It isn’t mine, little puppet.” I look up into the darkest eyes that I’ve ever seen before. This isn’t Jax.

  “What did you do?” I ask taking a step back. His eyes stay locked on mine, the corner of his lips curling up.

  “I never killed anyone before. They say there’s a first time for everything.” I shake my head in disbelief. He didn’t. He couldn’t have.

  “Who Jaxson? Who did you kill?”

  “I did it for you, Jade. I did it for you! I swore to myself that I would never turn into my father! I swore that I’d be better than him but I’m not. Not anymore. You came into my life and everything inside of me begs me to keep you. It tells me that I would do anything in my power to protect you! I did too. I did it. I killed him for you!” His words are like a slap to the face. He killed for me. I owe him more than my life.

  “Who Jaxson?” I demand an answer. His eyes are wild much like the man himself.

  “Your dad, Jade! I killed him. He threatened you and I ended that threat.” Confusion over takes me. I slump against the wall before I slide down to my ass. I shake my head not understanding what all of this mean.

  “Do you see, Jade! Do you see the kind of monster you care about!” Jaxson drops to his knees in front of me. He grabs my face roughly in his hands, forcing me to look at him.

  “You were protecting me!” I scream in his face. Because essentially that’s what he was doing.

  “I killed him, Jade! Your fucking father is dead by my hands!” He grows silent for a minute before he says, “Get out.” I look at him not sure that I heard him right.

  “Get out, Jade! You are fucking turning me into everything that I hate! The one person I never wanted to be like! I’m him now because of you! Get. Out.”

  Chapter 79

  My heart broke into a million different pieces. Some I picked up and brought with me, others I left behind for Jaxson to stomp on.

  I rented a room at the local hotel. I didn’t know where else to go. I didn’t want to go back to Harvey’s. I had nowhere else to go.

  I lay curled into a ball in the middle of the bed, tears falling down my cheeks. I stopped at the local pharmacy before I came here. Jaxson doesn’t have a clue and there is no way in hell that I’ll tell him.

  Pregnant by the man that bought my virginity. The man that bought me.

  The thought alone makes me sick. The thought that I could have actually loved him. He used me much like I used him. He tossed me aside when everything began to become too much.

  Someone knocks on the door and I startle. He found me already? I didn’t even use my real name. I climb off the bed, wiping my cheeks.

  Slowly making my way to the door, I look through the peep hole.

  “Bryce?” What the hell? How did he know where to find me?

  “Jade? Are you here?” What do I do? How did he know where I was?

  “Please, Jade. Jaxson’s hurt.” My heart screams. I flip the locks on the door and pull it open. My breath catches in my throat when I see the gun that’s pointed at me.

  “What are you doing? What happened to Jaxson?” I ask in a sudden panic.

  Bryce laughs
before motioning for me to move back into the room.

  I take a step back, he closes the door behind us.

  “He’s fine I assume. Although you have spent more time with my dear brother than I have. Sit.” I sit on the edge of the bed as Bryce paces in front of me. He’s not his usual self. He’s off.

  “What happened, Bryce? Are you ok?” I have to make him think that I care. Don’t I?

  “You don’t care. You never did. I tried, Jade. I tried to catch your eye but you never came to me. Jaxson. Fuck, Jaxson steps up and your head over heels for him.” I shake my head when something hits me.

  “You were in my room.” It came out as a whisper. He heard me.

  “You finally figure it out. You see, we shared the same bastard of a father. I made sure that Jaxson never had to feel the wrath of that man again. I killed him. I made sure that he wouldn’t lay a finger on me or Jaxson. That man made our lives hell.” It doesn’t make sense. What does he want with me?

  “He appreciated it.” Bryce laughs before pointing the gun at me.

  “He didn’t. He stole you, Jade! Your father ratted you out. He used you. He put you up on that auction block long before Jaxson did!” What does all of this mean? I don’t understand any of this.

  Chapter 80

  “I don’t know anything about my family.” I tell him being honest.

  “I know that. Let me fill you in. Your dad had a deal with mine. You’re whore of a mother got in the way of that. The only way to take her out of the equation was to make her disappear. She was an easy target.” He says as though it means nothing.

  “She was murdered.” I say. Bryce nods his head once.

  “She had to be gone. It was the only way to ensure that your dad would follow through. He made a deal with my dad. He would take over his failing businesses and bring them up to par. He would make him wealthy again but your dad had to disappear. It was a genius plan at first. You were part of my dad’s bargaining chip. He wanted you when you turned twenty-one.” I swallow hard before I ask.

  “What does that have to do with me?”

  “Oh, come on, Jade! You’re a smart girl! Twenty-one. That’s when everything was coming to you. The money, the power. We had to break you down. We had to make sure that you wouldn’t be around to collect! That was until Jaxson decided to take an interest in you. Whatever the hell you did to him, you ruined it all. Now I’m going to make sure that you have nothing in the end.”

  My stomach cramps. Bile rises in my throat. I shove off the bed covering my mouth until I make it to the toilet. I lose everything I had in me. Vomit comes from me forcefully.

  I hear Bryce come in before he says, “Now I see. Does he know?” I look up and see Bryce holding the pregnancy test in his hand. His eyes dance with amusement. I throw up once more when he laughs.

  “Such a bad little girl aren’t you Jade? You didn’t tell him?” he sounds as though the thought of him not knowing makes him sick.

  “Do you know what that man has gone through to protect you and you keep this from him? I mean, this could have worked to my advantage. Crazed boyfriend came at me when his cheating whore of a girlfriend was trying to pin the baby on me. It could have been perfect had he known.” I shove off the floor and hold my head high.

  “You make me sick. You are nothing to me! You are nothing to him!” I snap. Bryce moves quickly the gun slamming into my temple. My eyes water. The room spins before it all goes black.

  Chapter 81

  Pain radiates through my head. Tears prickle my eyes. I pry them open to see a bright light overhead. No other noise can be heard in the room.

  I shove myself up and sit on the edge of the bed. I have no idea where I am.

  “The queen awakens.” Bryce.

  “What do you want from me?” I ask. My world has crumbled. Jaxson doesn’t want me and I don’t know that I can handle a child on my own in this cruel world.

  “I want the money. I want you out of the picture.” He growls.

  “Done.” His eyes pierce me.

  “Done?” I nod my head. Money means nothing to me. It never has.

  “I have nothing. I never have. Do you think money can define me? It doesn’t. nothing does. This is my reality, Bryce. I don’t want any of it. It hurts too much.” A sob escapes me before I can stop it. There’s nothing left for me.

  “Are you telling me that if I get the papers, you will sign them?” Why is he doing this to me? I already told him I would.

  “Yes. Get them, Bryce. I never wanted any of this!” I snap. It’s the best I can do at the moment. I want nothing more to do with this life. It holds nothing but hurt and fear.

  “Glad we agree. I already have it ready for you.” Bryce grins as he goes over and grabs a briefcase from the counter and sets it in front of me.

  “Go ahead, open it up.” I reach forward, popping it open. There is a stack of papers with names that mean nothing. It isn’t until I see my name that it all makes sense.

  I reach for the pen with my hands tied. If I’m going to get out of this, I need to get him to untie me.

  “I can’t do it with my arms tied.” I hold my hands up to him to make a point. He nods before cutting the rope. He frees my wrists. I don’t see the gun anywhere. Maybe he put it away.

  I reach for the pen. Holding it in my fingers, I’m nervous. My heart thuds loudly. Bryce leans down in front of me.

  “You need to sign here.” He points to the line on the paper. I can’t do this. Can I? Can I turn into the one thing that Jaxson hates about himself? Would he forgive me for doing this?

  I sign my name with a shaky hand. Bryce smiles before flipping the page.

  “Here.” He points to another line. My heart slams in my chest. My ears roar.

  My stomach trembles. I raise the pen in my hand, slamming it into the side of Bryce’s neck. As soon as he steps back, I stand up and run for the door.

  Chapter 82

  “You bitch!” He roars behind me. I quickly open the door and run down the hallway. I slam into a hard chest before I fall to the ground.

  No, he had someone out here. I sob as reality shakes me. Jaxson will never know that he was having a child regardless of if he wanted it or not. He deserved to know.

  “Jade?”

  “Jaxson? Oh, god!” I scream as I leap into his arms. Jaxson wraps his arms tightly around me, holding tightly.

  “It’s ok, baby. I’m here. I’m here.” He tries to soothe me.

  “Bryce. He took me, Jax.” I’m hysterical now. Jaxson looks at me when I hear the door open behind us.

  “No, we have to go, Jaxson! Now!” I try to push him back.

  “Don’t leave on my account.” Jaxson looks up from me to see his brother. I turn in his arms and see Bryce holding his neck. Blood drips down his shirt.

  “What the hell is going on here?” Jaxson asks. His arm stays tightly wrapped around me.

  “Your little toy has gotten out of hand. She attacked me.” Jaxson’s arm loosens slightly. I don’t know what’s going on in his head. I don’t know if he believes him.

  “He wants it all. He wanted me to sign it all over to him.” Jaxson’s fingers slowly stroke my stomach as if he already knows. He couldn’t though.

  “She’s lying. I was trying to secure our future’s brother. Like always. You remember when I used to take the beatings so you wouldn’t have to?” He’s desperate. He’s using his past against him.

  “Stop it, Bryce.” Jaxson growls low in his throat. The whole thing vibrating through me.

  “You remember though? When he would come into our room at night. I did it to her, Jax. I made her feel the same way we used to feel. I would watch and wait for the perfect time. Her dad was such a useless bastard. He never saw me in there.” His confession makes me shudder. It was never Jaxson. It was Bryce. Every time it was Bryce.

  “She was never supposed to be in the middle of this.” Jaxson’s voice is dark. It scares me.

  “She was always supposed to be in the
middle. She was mine, brother!” Bryce raises his gun but Jax is faster. He pulls his gun and fires.

  Stars flash behind my eyes before the world goes black.

  Chapter 83

  I feel the warmth of him before I open my eyes. I know it’s him. He’s impeccably warm.

  His hand is draped over my waist, holding me closely.

  “Two, huh?” His breath tickles my skin. I want to melt into him and never come back out.

  “You told me to leave. Do you have any idea how much that hurt?” Tears prickle my eyes. I know he has to understand this before I can move forward. Do I even want that? This world with him? It’s dangerous and now there is a baby involved.

  “I can’t take back the words I said to you. I’ll regret them always, little puppet. I never wanted you to go. I need you too much for you to go.” His admission startles me. Jax has never said anything like that to me before.

  “My heart hurts when I’m not near you, Jaxson. It scares the hell out of me. I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Jaxson moves quickly, rolling me onto my back. He hovers over me, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight that shines into the room.

  He cradles my face, a loving gesture.

  “I know this scares you. I know you need me. I shouldn’t have taken that out on you, Jade. I made moves of my own. I set plans into motion. Your money is still yours. There is an account set up just like I said there was. You can go if you want to but this is me, Jade. This is me begging you to stay.” A tear appears in his eye. That’s something I’ve never seen.

  The tear slides down his cheek. I reach up and wipe it away.

  “You said two? What did you mean?” His lips curl into a smile.

  “Two babies. I had you checked when you passed out.”

  “What? What the hell do you mean two? Jaxson, I can’t take care of two babies! I don’t even think I could take care of one!” His lips cover mine. Soft and sure.

  I can feel just how hard he is. He wants me.