heart the way she’s been terrified of, she goes into self-preservation mode. I’ve had to deal with it plenty of times in the past, trust me. Hell, I almost did it myself once when I was pregnant with Mia.” Her voice softened. “Just give her some time, Jagger. She will heal, and then you can fix this.”
“Do you think that’s even possible?” I asked, desperately hoping for a miracle but already feeling defeated because I knew it was a one-in-a-million chance where Shaw’s stubborn, beautiful ass was concerned.
There was a pause on her end before she finally spoke again. “Anything can happen, baby boy.”
Chapter 31
Shaw
Fifteen Months Later
I smiled down at the picture of Violet with Remington and his huge dog, Krush, that she’d just texted me. After meeting up with him in London during my photo shoot for his company’s sexy-as-fuck car, my bestie had stayed behind to explore their budding relationship.
It had done my bruised and battered heart good to see Vi so happy with a guy who already treated her like a princess. She deserved to be happy, and Remington Sawyer was determined to give her the world.
While she was in London being spoiled by the billionaire and his giant puppy, I, however, had work to do. Work had been my salvation over the last year. Between traveling for that and school, I hadn’t had much time to think about Jagger. And whenever family events came up, I got to use work as an excuse not to have to face him.
Work was why I’d had to leave Violet in Remington’s capable hands and fly back to the states. Apparently I’d agreed to some kind of photo shoot or something for the end of my brother’s summer tour during a weak moment, not thinking about all it would mean I had to do.
Cannon had been sketchy when he’d made the request earlier in the summer while he was on the road, but I’d been distracted at the time, and I’d barely paid any attention to what he was asking. I hadn’t even remembered to tell my agent about it because I’d assumed it was just a favor to my brother. But Cannon had called her himself, and she’d reminded me about the job when she’d called with all the information she had on the WAR-SAW Global contract.
Which was why I’d flown to Miami instead of going home to Santa Monica like I wanted to. Or stayed in London and watched the adorableness that was Violet and Remington as I’d really wanted to do.
Mom and Dad had been with Cannon during the tour. They were supervising my grown brother, because while he’d changed a lot for the better, thanks to Violet, he was still a total dick when it came to Piper Bryant, who was one of his opening acts on this tour. Also, because he and Jagger were still not friends for whatever reason, and since Aunt Emmie couldn’t tour with her son, it was my parents who had to keep the peace between the two of them.
My plane touched down, and I was met by some goon in a suit who probably worked for Barrick’s security. He held up a sign with S. Cage written on it, so I rolled my carry-on in his direction. But as soon as I got within three feet of him, Jagger appeared as if out of thin air and slung me over his shoulder.
“Get her things, Quincy,” Jagger instructed the guy with the sign.
Surprised at the sight of him, I didn’t struggle or cause a scene as he carried me like that out of the airport and deposited me in the back of a limo, where another goon in a suit was waiting to open the door.
As soon as my ass touched the leather seat, I scooted across until my back hit the opposite door. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I demanded as I glared at him while he slid calmly onto the seat beside me.
“Just picking up my girl,” he said with a shrug. The door shut, and then I heard the other guy storing my case in the trunk. Meanwhile, I just sat there staring at Jagger like he’d lost his fucking mind.
Maybe he had since he’d been on tour the entire summer with my brother. I could understand the loss of his mental health after having to deal with Cannon’s ass for so long, most of that time crammed together on a bus with nowhere to get