Anna chuckles. “Sixth sense? What are you, a psychic?” She jokes, as she tops off her lip gloss. Shaking my head, I sit down on the couch against the wall of the ladies room. “Guys, I’m serious. Something is definitely off tonight. I can feel it in my bones.”
“Sarah, you’re always good about these things. What do I do?” The realization starts to filter through telling me Finn isn’t who he says he is. This can’t be happening. Why does this shit always happen to me? Why can’t I meet a great guy who treats me like a queen? Oh right, I did. I had one and he was amazing. In every single way. I gave him the most precious thing in the world to me and he didn’t take advantage of it. God, I’m such an idiot. I place my head in my hands and begin to cry when knocking is heard from the outside.
“Jayde? Hello, is everything okay?” Finn says from the other side of the door. Sarah hands me a tissue to dab my eyes so I don’t smear my make-up. “Everything’s fine.” I lie. “I’ll be out in a minute.” Sarah hands me another tissue as I check my reflection in the mirror.
“I’ll tell you what you’re going to do. You’re going to clean your face back up, go out there and be the best date you can be, while pretending nothing is wrong. The truth will come out when it’s needed and he’ll be exposed for the phony he is if that is even the case, you got me? Just stay on your guard, always.” Sarah says sternly and I nod with a smile.
“You’re right, I’ll do that. I’m glad you guys have my back.” I pull Sarah in for a hug and Anna scoffs jokingly as she joins in. “Just remember, one thing out of his prissy mouth I don’t like, he’s in for it.” Anna exclaims in a serious tone and I smile. One day, her kickboxing skills will come in handy, but hopefully not tonight. Walking back out, Finn is standing…or hovering by the door with an angry expression etched on his face. “What the fuck took you so long? I was worried.” He practically yells, and Sarah is the first to chime in on a response. “She had to take a piss. Is that so wrong to do nowadays? Why don’t you get off her damn back?” I look back at Sarah whose face is contorted in the same state of anger as Finn’s is and it makes me proud as well as happy. Finally, the southern sass she grew up with was coming out. Lots of sass in our family.
Finn looks furious. “Because she’s MY date, and if I want to check on her, I will. Why don’t you go find you someone to dance with, coffee girl.” Sarah gasps and takes a step forward just as Finn wraps his arm back around my waist but Anna pushes her back off. “Sarah, stop. Come on let’s go find us somebody hot to dance with. Jayde, we’ll be right inside the dance room.” She nods to me as they both walk off. What the fuck just happened? I look up at Finn whose face has erased the anger and replaced it with, charm? Peace? Fuck not what I wanted. “That was really mean Finn, you didn’t have to talk to my sister like that.” I say defensively. “I think you should apologize.” Finn smiles sweetly at me, but his smile doesn’t reach his ears. Red flag.
“You’re right baby. Don’t worry, I’ll apologize after I spin you around the dance floor a few times.” Right. Like I’d go anywhere near you after you treated my sister like shit. Time for another lie. “Actually, I’m still not feeling so well. I might sit down for a while, if that’s okay with you?”
He lets out a heavy sigh of disappointment. “Sure babe, we can chill for a while.” He says in mock defeat. We’re inside the ballroom and the place is alive with people. There’s hardly any room to stand let alone sit. Finding a table in the corner, we settle into it. Off in the distance, I see Anna and Sarah chatting it up with two guys who look like they’re straight out of Playgirl and I smile happily for them. A single tear seeps from my eye and I am quick to wipe it away before he sees. Stupid nerves. Stupid feelings. There’s nothing in the world right now that would stop me from going back in time and doing it over again. I wouldn’t force Zac to be here if he didn’t want to but I wouldn’t have asked Finn to this. I would have rather come alone than bring him. The distance between us isn’t as long as I would like it to be. Finn smiles at me when I glance in his direction. I shouldn’t be here. Maybe I should text Zac, tell him I am having a fantastic time which should make him feel miserable about not being here. Or if I tell him I’m having a horrible time, he’ll come rescue me from his hell. Either option would not change the fact he isn’t here, with me.
Chapter 36
Zac
Better late than never, I think to myself as I pull up to the illuminated building on the main drag which can be seen for miles. There isn’t anybody out front. Shit, what if I’m too late? Jayde is probably still pissed at me for bailing on her at the last minute. There wasn’t a logical explanation at the time but since Chief told me about Finley Cole, my senses went on high alert and the anger boiled deep inside me. If he hurts her, it’ll be the last fucking thing he does. She doesn’t deserve to be treated any less than a princess and that’s exactly how I am going to treat her. I waste no time marching inside, after checking my tux one last time in the mirror outside the ballroom. The place is on fire. People dancing, drinking, having a merry ole time. This doesn’t look like any other charity events I’ve been to in the past, but more like a drunken version of Cinderella. Mr. Disney would be proud.
I scan the room, scoping out potential escape routes in case something were to go south and that’s when I spot her, and my heart stops in my chest. Holy. Fucking. Hell. I’ve never been so entranced in my entire life. Jayde sits in the corner of the room and her hair cascades down the side of her face, as little pieces fall out of her up-do. Fuck, my cock twitches in my pants at the sight of her sitting there, beneath the florescent lighting and I want to run over and pull her to me and claim her, again, right here on the dance floor in front of everyone. But I see who she’s with and my anger boils over. There he sits, acting casual and all fuck. My instincts go into overdrive as the need to protect my girl hits me like a mac truck. God, if he tries anything tonight, I won’t have any will power in stopping myself. Gathering my casual attitude, I walk over in long strides until I’m within a couple feet of Jayde. She spots me and turns with a shocked expression on her face. Hook.
“Z…Zac, what are you doing here?” She asks, with a bit of excitement in her voice. Was she looking for a fucking escape? “I came to see you baby. My job finished early so I decided to come surprise you.” I extend my hand and she places hers softly in mine. “Would you like to dance with me?” I meet the eyes of her ‘date’ with mock sincerity and smile. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Zac.” I step away from Jayde to shake his hand, but still keep my hand around Jayde’s. Finn looks at me with disgust and annoyance, but he grasps my hand anyway. “I’m Finn, Jayde’s date. Nice to meet you.” Yeah, I’m sure it is mother fucker. “Likewise man.” I reply. Jayde looks at Finn and smiles meekly. I don’t miss the hesitancy in her smile along with the tension in her whole body, which I don’t miss either.
‘Amazed’ by Lonestar comes through the speakers. About fucking time. I pass a quick glance at Finn before turning fully to Jayde. “May I have this dance? That is, if you don’t mind?” I say to Finn but don’t take my eyes off of Jayde. Line. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Finn fuming with anger. Does he not realize it’s noticeable? “Sure.” He mumbles. Sinker. Jayde’s smile is contagious as I lead her onto the dance floor. I don’t have to look back behind us to know Finn is sulking in his anger. Serves him right. Since the night in Jayde’s apartment when we shared our souls with each other, she was mine. Nobody had any right to her. That sounds like a dick thing to say because she isn’t some sort of trophy, but she....there are no words to describe what she means to me in such a short amount of time. There’s no other way to put it except she’s my anchor. Holding me to the ocean floor when all I want to do is float away. Keeping me still in the harsh current that is life. I squeeze her close to my body as the music radiates through my body with rapid beats. The calming song plays in the background and I smile as the music takes me to another place, a place where nobody is he
re, except for us. And she leans in closer to me as if she can’t get close enough. I don’t want her to be anywhere other than in my arms for the rest of my days.
“I missed you baby. God, I missed you so much.” I whisper into her ear as the second verse kicks up. The crowd parts away and it’s just us swaying to the music. Jayde looks up briefly then I catch something glistening at the corner of her eye. Tears? She’s crying? Why the fuck is she crying?
"It should have been you. I'm so sorry." She whispers softly and I didn't think I heard her when I look down at her saddened face, pressed up against my chest. I pull her face up with both of my hands, forcing her to look into my eyes. Trapped, confined, and powerless as I hold her in place.
"Yes it should have been me, but it's me now and that's what matters. I claimed you once, baby girl. And I'll do it again. And again. And as many times as I can to prove you are who I want and need. Amore mio. This isn't a fairy tale, and I am not prince charming. I’m not waiting until that clock strikes midnight to know you're coming with me.” I vow to her as the song comes to an end. She sighs happily in my hands and I don’t fight the sudden urge to kiss her. There isn’t hesitancy or nervousness in my kiss, I let her feel everything. Every. Fucking. Thing. I pull her face to mine and seal her lips in a soul scorching kiss. She opens her mouth gently and I take her invitation to explore her mouth, memorizing every bit so it becomes engraved in my mind. Tongues, teeth, lips colliding and crashing against one another as I take without consent, and she gives it to me. I cradle her body in mine feeling every curve and dip as it’s pressed up against me.
“Zac…” She moans softly into my mouth and the sweet sound makes my head spin. “I…I missed you so much.” She whispers against my lips when she pulls back. I smile happily into her eyes, seeing so much hunger in her blue irises. “You want me baby?” I ask seductively. The charm always works. But I want to do more than just charm her.
“Yes I do.” She breathes. “I do very much.” Maybe coming back turned out to be a good idea after all. Taking her hand in mine, I start to lead her off the dance floor but when I turn around, Finn stands there, poised ready to strike. “You mother fucker!” And with one swift blow, he hits me sideways almost knocking me down. “Fuck!” I shout rubbing my jaw and pushing Jayde to the side so she doesn’t get in the midst of the battle. Finn comes back towards me when I get my balance under control. “She was MY date you asshole! MINE! Who the fuck do you think you are coming in here, and ruining all my plans?” He shouted. My body fills with rage hearing his words. To think Jayde was his was hilarious. “Your plans? What fucking plans was that, huh? Jayde isn’t a fucking trophy you can sit on the shelf and pull it down when you need to look good.” I yell back. He looks at me for a second before turning to Jayde. Grabbing her hand, he starts to haul her to him but I stop him before he can get a good grasp on her arm. “Fuck you! She was my date first, and you were a second choice.” I say, provoking the situation.
To hell with the fact he’s a criminal. That’s irrelevant now. This asshole is treating Jayde like some sort of play thing and that angers me more than his mock sincerity towards her wellbeing.
A soft hand relaxes on my shoulder and I turn to stare into the ivy green eyes of Jayde and she’s crying. Shit, I hate when she cries. There is something about when she cries it makes my whole being weaken to make sure she’s okay. “Please stop fighting him Zac. I…I don’t want to see you get hurt.” She says, tugging on my arm to pull me away. Finn stares at her incredulously when she chooses me over him. Yeah, that’s right. I got the girl.
But being the sweet angel she is, Jayde turns back to Finn and smiles sweetly. Without taking her hand from mine, she turns to him. “Finn, I’m so sorry. I wish things could have worked out but they never would have. I love him.” Now it was my turn to stare at her with disbelief.
“You do?” I ask. She turns back to me with a wide flirty smile that makes my heart speed up in time.
“Yes I do. I have for a while, I didn’t realize it until now. I love you Zac.” She admits which makes my body come alive. Fuck me, I have to have her again.
Taking her hand in mine, I lead her off the dance floor leaving Finn standing there fuming. Knowing him from his file, he’ll do something for revenge. Before we get to the door, two girls who I recognize as Sarah and Anna stop us before we exit.
“What the hell happened? And what the fuck are you doing here? I thought you had to work and couldn’t be here with her?” Sarah rattles off as quickly as possible and it takes a few minutes for my head to keep up with just the first one. “One question at a time, please! Okay, I finished work early, came to surprise Jayde and found her with that asshole.” I point behind me to Cole who is typing some shit on his phone. I don’t know. “He’s bad news and I’m getting Jayde away from him as quickly as possible.” Anna gasps as Sarah shakes her head.
“He works at the computer store down the block, how the fuck is he bad news?” Sarah asks unsure if what I was saying was true. Does she not know the truth? None of them apparently do. “Listen, I will explain it later but all I know is we have got to get out of here. I have help coming to assist the situation and it’s only a matter of time before…” As quickly as I had said it, Jayde gets yanked back from my grasp and is in the filthy paws of Cole and he has a gun pointed to her head. My blood runs ice cold. The crowd parts ways at the sight of the firearm and I go to pull mine from the holster. “Not another fucking move, Marshall. Otherwise little miss princess here will have a head full of bullets and you don’t want that, do you?”
Sarah and Anna stand behind me with fear evident in their voices when they beg Finn not to hurt her. “Shut up!” He shouts, taking another step towards us with the gun plastered to the side of her head. I catch her gaze and she doesn’t show fear. My brave little soldier. “Don’t fucking hurt her, Cole. This isn’t about her anymore. It’s between you and me. Let. Her. Go.” I enunciate each word as a threat. Sending a glance over my shoulder, I pray help would arrive soon.
“On the contrary, this is solely between me and her.” He pushes the barrel of the pistol harder on the side of her scalp and smiles mischievously, sending cold shivers down my spine. “You see, little miss priss here has got some past debts that need to be paid. And we’re going to take care of them, aren’t we?” He grunts leaning in close to her face and inhaling briefly. Sick fuck. “Yeah, I think I’ll have lots of fun with this one. I’ll make her beg me to show her mercy while I fuck her over and over again, claiming every hole on this body. She’s a bit heavier than what I like, but hey big chicks are meant to suck cock like champs, right?” Finn chuckled with a laughter that sent my possessive side into overdrive. “Does that anger you, Zac? Knowing I’ll be claiming this tight little pussy over and over again that you were only able to claim once?” He looks around the room and assesses the place, looking for an exit.
“Now, I think you should make good on your debt, bitch.” He says. Oh no, he’s not taking her away from me. “You don’t need to do this, Finn. Just give her back before you hurt her. You don’t want to hurt her, do you?” Pleading, I try to reason with him. Maybe there was some sort of compassion deep down inside him that would stop him from hurting her. I watched as his face contorted from disgust, to anger then to hatred. “Actually, hurting her was right up on the top of list of what I wanted to do.” Finn takes a step back towards the back exit. “If anyone tries anything, I’ll shoot her in the fucking head I swear I will.” I feel powerless. Helpless to keep her safe. Jayde looks back at me one last time before he drags her towards the back. Please don’t hurt her, I beg to myself. Falling to my knees, I slam my fists into the ground as I watch the enemy drag the woman I love away and I couldn’t do anything to stop him. Now, I won’t ever get to tell her how I felt. Fucking hell. “I love you Jayde. God, I love you, I love you, I love you.” I repeat over and over into the air, hoping she hears me. A sob escapes my throat as they disappear out of sight. “FUCK!” I shout into the air. T
hey won’t get far. I’ll make sure of it.
Chapter 37
Jayde
What’s happening? God, please don’t let him hurt me. I…I’m not ready to die. When did I blink and in a split second, my life take a dangerous turn? Tonight was supposed to be romantic, and fun. We were going to get to know each other better, and compare the differences between Batman and Superman. Now, the very man who enchanted me with his nerdy side is dragging me off to only god knows where. I reach up where his hand has a death grip on my arm and try to pry him off.
“Let me go Finn! Zac!” I shout back down the corridor. I struggle against his grip but it’s no use. Finn just squeezes harder on my arm. Tears form in my eyes and cascade down my cheeks in ugly drops. Before I can blink them away, he shoves me against the wall
“No, I won’t. You don’t get it, do you? I’ve waited years…YEARS to find somebody to pay for what your family did to me. Your fucking family stole everything from me. My life, my fortune, every fucking thing I held dear, was taken from me.” He spats and I cower in fear at the thought of him possibly turning physical. Screw that, he already held the gun to the side of my face.
“What are you talking about?” I whisper. My family? What did my family to do him that was so bad? We didn’t have much money and I was barely able to afford rent in my apartment.
Finn smiles a manically smile at me and leans against the wall with his hands on either side of my face. “You’re just as stupid as your family, you dumb bitch. Maybe you need a little flashback, huh? Perhaps visiting dear old daddy will help jog your memory.” No, he wouldn’t. Nothing would make me go visit my father’s grave. He held the barrel of the gun back to my temporal and smiled. “I’ll take care of you, just like I did dear. Old. Daddy.” The way he enunciated each word made bile rise in my throat. Realization hit me when he said he’d ‘take care of me.’
Unbound Faith (Bulletproof #1) Page 20
