Page 108 of Jake's Angel
I scoff. “No. I can honestly say I am in no danger of being anything like Eleanor West. Our blood is all we will ever have in common.”
“Hmm.” Vincenzo hums as he takes a drink. His eyes shift to his men and one of them, a giant of a man in a black-on-blacksuit comes to stand beside him, leaning down, placing his ear close for Vincenzo to speak.
I don’t hear what he’s telling his guard, but when he’s done talking, Vincenzo’s guard turns his gaze to mine. His eyes soften and a small smile plays on his lips. He gives me a chin dip, like the guys give each other at the clubhouse. It must be a universal male conversation piece, because they do it often.
“Well, Avery. I’m afraid this is where I leave you. I need to get to my meeting upstairs.” He nods to the other guard who makes his way to the dance floor where he finds Sadie and guides her and Jayde back to the table. “Santiago will watch over you while we take care of some miscellaneous details in my office.” Vincenzo stands, buttoning his suit jacket, wiping his hands over the front of the material. “Should you decide to dance—and I think you should—Santiago and two of my guards will ensure you have all the space you require to have a good time and not be bothered bythe crowd.”
The way he said the crowd feels ominous somehow. As if he knows it’s not the crowd I’m afraid of, but that can’t be. Sadie wouldn’t tell a stranger about my fears.
“I need water.” Jayde says as they approach the table. Santiago, the giant, signals for a waitress. It’s not the same one as before. He tells her to bring unopened waters to the table for us.
“Sadie. Jayde.” Vincenzo tips his head in greeting. The way he says their names makes them sound familiar. Jayde flinches a little but doesn’t comment.
“Vincenzo,” Sadie says, sounding a little out of breath. “Is it time, already?” I narrow my eyes at Sadie. She smiles sheepishly but doesn’t apologize.
Bitch. I’ll get her back.
“You girls enjoy the rest of your evening. Matteo will escort Sadie back to you as soon as our business is concluded. Goodnight.” He takes Sadie’s hand and wraps it through his bent elbow. The crowd parts as he walks toward the stairs leading to the second floor.
Our waters arrive, and Jayde downs hers in seconds. We sit at the table and talk about miscellaneous things, passing the time until Sadie gets back when I catch a glimpse of who I’m certain is Thomas leaving from a booth not too far from us. I want to catch him, to ask him about our plans to meet, but I can’t let Jayde know he’s here. She could tell Mack or Gabe, and they would, for sure, hunt him down and hurt him. I can’t allow them to find out. Not until I know everything he can tell me about my mother and what really happened on her way to Baron’s Edge.
“I need to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“Like hell.” Jadye grabs my elbow as I move to get out of the booth, halting my movement. “You don’t go to the bathroom by yourself in a club. I’ll go with you.” Jayde calls out over the music.
We move away from the booth, toward the restroom. I lose Santiago in the crowd, but it’s probably for the best. I don’t know what he knows, orwhohe knows, rather, and I don’t know how I would explain what I’m about to do to him.
I’m about to tell Jayde to wait outside, that I’ll be fine, when a hand grabs my upper arm, slamming my back into a hard chest. A second hand grips my throat, pinching off my airway.
“Hello, Princess.”
I freeze.
Jayde must notice I’m no longer following her, because she spins around, confusion written all over her face.
“Who the hell …” Another man grabs Jayde in the same hold. Her eyes widen in fear. I watch as he leans in close to her ear. She nods slightly to something he’s said. They start to sway to the music, making it appear as if he’s flirting with her as they dance.
“If you scream or draw any attention to us, my friend here will have no choice but to harm your friend.” Kyle points to the knife in the man’s hand that is wrapped around Jayde’s waist. I see the end of the handle hanging out of the bottom of his fist. The knife hidden, pressed against Jayde’s ribs.
“We don’t want that now, do we?” I shake my head once. “Good girl. See, youcanbe obedient.” He croons, licking the shell of my ear. Bile rises I my throat and my stomach is churning. My heart is rapidly beating.
“You gave us a scare when you ran away. Eleanor was so distraught. I’m going to have to punish you for being such a naughty girl. I was so disappointed to find you left before I could pick up my prize.” He drags his hand off my throat, running his finger over my shoulder and down my arm, making my skin crawl. “But now that I’ve found you, we can finish our play date. Perhaps I’ll ask to borrow the kennel from Eleanor. Hmm? Won’t that be fun?”
I can’t speak. I can’t breathe. I’m scanning the room.
Where’s Santiago?
“I was happy to see you didn’t come in here with the biker trash you’ve been riding around with lately. I must tell you. I’m deeply hurt and angry you allowed him to touch what’s mine. I’m going to have to add it to your list of transgressions.”
I try to wiggle free from his grip, but his hold only tightens. The more he speaks, the more he touches me, the dizzier I feel.
My knees are shaking. My breath is coming in short pants. I feel the darkness circling, hovering just at the edge of my sight. I fight the urge to let it take me under.
If I drop to the ground, I’ll give Kyle the perfect opportunity to scoop me up and carry me out, claiming I’ve had too much to drink. I catch Jayde’s eyes. She glances to the left toward the bar. I follow her line of sight and see that Sadie is on the move with more men in black suits following close behind her.
“You’re mine. Do you hear me, bitch? Even after we’re married, if you run, I will find you. I will hunt you down, and then I will take out my vengeance on this sweet, supple body of yours. Do you understand?I fucking own you.”
Kyle lets me go, shoving me to the floor. There’s shuffling and commotion, shouting and screams above me. But I don’t move. I stay low to the ground, curling myself as small as I possibly can, covering my head with my hands.