“He called in The Court… to cover it up. There was footage from nearby security cameras. Footage The Court kept as leverage to be used against me whenever they wanted,” I explain.“I kept you away, because my father told me some of the horrific things that The Court had done over the years, and if I were to ever piss them off, they’d go after the people I love.”
“Your parents…” she repeats.
I nod.
“I still love you.” Jazzy leans up and presses her lips against mine. “I don’t agree with what you did, what happened to Lochlan, but I love you.”
“I went to therapy. It was like a camp. My father made me leave and sort out my head. Learned how to control my anger.” I chuckle. “I don’t have a violent streak, Jazzy. I just won’t ever stand by and let someone disrespect you.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“You’re not going to run for the hills?”
“You’re in my apartment. Where would I run to?”
“You have endless resources at your disposal. You could go anywhere,” I tell her.
“But I’m right where I’ve always wanted to be.” Jazzy lowers her head, resting her cheek against the center of my chest.
Chapter Twenty-Three
After showering, I head into the kitchen and reheat the leftover lasagna I promised Jake. There’s enough here for two. Antonia always brings way too much food. Whilethe lasagna reheats, I start plating up two garden salads and get some fresh rolls.
Jake walks out, dressed in only his suit pants. No shirt, no shoes, just black pants with the button on them left undone.
Can this man get any hotter?My mouth waters at the sight of him.
“If you keep looking at me like that, Jazzy, I’m going to have you spread out on that dining table. I don’t mind feasting on you forever. Who needs food anyway?” he says, placing his overnight bag on the counter.
“What’s in there?” I ask.
“My mother’s jewelry. Well, what she had in the safes at the estate. There’s still the deposit box to empty.”
“Oh.” I eye the bag. His mother loved her jewelry and had some really nice pieces. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. It’s all yours now. She wanted you to have it,” Jake tells me.
“It’s weird…”
“Why?”
“Because… it just is. I feel like you should hold on to it.”
“Technically, by law, I’m required to hand it over to you. It was what my mother wanted. Is there a safe in this place? If not, I can arrange to have one installed,” he says.
“There’re some here.” There are also panic rooms.
“Okay. We can eat dinner. Then you can sort out what you might want to keep and what you want to put away.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve also taken out an insurance policy, in your name,” Jake tells me.
“You have?”
“It’s not a big deal. This shit is worth a fair bit of money. It should be insured,” he says.
“Is that what you’ve been doing the past couple of days?” Like I said, I haven’t heard from him since the reading of the will.