My dad took my phone.What the fuck am I supposed to do? How do I contact Jake?
I still have my laptop. I can email him.
I grab my computer and draft a message, deleting it when I remember what Jake said about The Court monitoring everything. Shit. I don’t want to cause anymore issues for him. He’s been coming to my apartment all week and nothing’s happened. I kinda hoped he and my father were overreacting.
After today, I’m not too sure they were. I was just shot at. My father didn’t hesitate to cover my body with his. My mind drifts back to the first time that happened. I hadn’t even been living with him for that long. It was also the first time I called him Daddy. He picked me up off the ground and asked if I was okay. I was scared at the time, but I could tell that he was too, so I pretended I was fine. I didn’t want him to be mad at me. I didn’t want him to send me away.
My door opens and CJ walks in. “I need your phone,” I tell him.
“Are you okay? I heard what happened.” He looks at me from head to toe.
“I’m fine. I just need to make a phone call.”
“Dad has already spoken to him, Jazzy. He will be here later tonight,” CJ says.
“Really?” I fall onto the edge of my bed in relief.
“Yes.” My brother comes and sits next to me. His arms wrap around my shoulders, and he holds me tight. “Don’t ever do that again.”
“What? Get shot at?”
“Yes. I don’t like it,” he says. “I don’t want to lose you. You’re the only nice sibling I got. You’re not allowed to leave me here with Aiden.”
“Thank you. But you’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Good.” CJ sighs. “I really hope he’s worth all this, Jaz.”
“He is. I love him.”
“But does he love you?”
“He does.” I nod. “I know he does.”
“I hope for your sake—and his—that he doesn’t break your heart again, because I will kill him this time. I’m not a little kid anymore. I will protect you.”
“Okay.” I know my brother means every word. But it doesn’t matter. Jake is not going to break my heart a second time.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dread fills me as I make my way up the driveway of the Bianchi estate. I’ve been to this house countless times when I was a child. I know it the same as I know my own. But I haven’t been back here since the night I picked Jazzy up forprom. I couldn’t not come, though. Especially when her father messaged to tell me they were shot at today.
A shooting on the Strip would usually be breaking news on every station, but it’s been radio silence—The Court’s doing no doubt. They don’t like to advertise their failures.
I park the car, jump out, and make my way up to the front door, fully expecting Carlo to tell me to fuck off. I am, after all, the reason she was fucking shot at today. I’ve been torn about coming here. I know I’m being watched, but I also told her I wouldn’t leave her again. If I don’t show up, it’s not a good look. And I really want to be worthy of this woman.
I doubt I ever will be.
Before my fist can hit the wood, the door is swinging open. Antonia greets me with a warm smile. “Jacob, come in.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Bianchi.”
“Antonia,” she says. “It’s been a long time. I’m glad you’re finally back.” She hugs me quickly and then steps aside. “But if you break my little girl’s heart again, my husband won’t be the one you’ll have to hide from.”
I have no doubt this woman won’t hesitate when it comes to killing me if I hurt Jazzy again. Antonia has always been fiercely protective of her. Which I’m thankful for. I’m glad Jazzy has so many people in her life that she loves.
“I never wanted to break her heart in the first place,” I say.
“But you did,” Antonia counters.