Absolute Trust - Jeana E. Mann Page 0,67

Mom.”

“Someone tell me what’s happening before I have a full-on meltdown.” Panic builds in my chest.

Callie draws in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry about all this, Jag. Things were getting out of hand, and it’s just not safe for you here anymore.” At my look of confusion, she touches my cheek. “I had to know you were okay, and Nicky is really good at finding people—or making them disappear. He tracked you down to Baxter’s Corner.”

Nicky lifts an eyebrow and smiles over his shoulder. “I don’t like to brag, but she’s right. I am the best.”

“Hush. You’re not helping.” She gives his arm a playful shove before turning back to me. “I didn’t want to interfere in your life, so I asked Tony to infiltrate your circle of friends and keep an eye on you. When he found out Cash was bothering you, it was time for us to move in.”

“I told you I was fine.” My temper begins to seethe.

“Jagger, I need you to be honest with me.” The intensity of her gaze burns into me. “Has Cash hurt you? You can tell me.”

“How can you ask me that?” I want to hurl the water bottle at her. Instead I crush the plastic until it crumples. I jerk away from her hand. “He would never hurt me. He’s been really good to me. Okay, maybe not at first, but things are fine now. Great, actually.”

Callie frowns at her husband. “It’s worse than I thought. He’s brainwashed her.”

“Told you so.” Nicky settles back in his bucket seat with a smug smirk. “She’s got Stockholm Syndrome.”

“I don’t have any syndrome. You’re both crazy.” I can’t believe what’s happening. Outside the vehicle, the interstate looms ahead us. In a few minutes, we’ll be at the airport. “Take me home.”

“This is all my fault. I’m so sorry, Jag. Never in a million years did I think he would go after you. That’s low—even for him.” Her face falls.

“You’ve got this all wrong.” Frustration and panic bring the pitch of my voice to an unpleasant growl. “I love him, Callie. Love him. And he loves me. We had a real chance at happiness until this.” I bury my face in my hands to keep my self-control from breaking.

“Cash doesn’t love anyone but himself.” Her lips quiver, a sign of her escalating temper. We didn’t argue much as kids, but when we did, the walls shook with the volume of our shouting.

“Just because he didn’t love you doesn’t mean he’s incapable of the emotion.” I give in to temptation and hurl the water bottle onto the floor.

“Oh, snap.” Nicky chuckles. “I like this girl.”

“Hush.” Callie smacks the back of his headrest. “You have no idea who Cash really is. Neither of you.”

I exhale, praying for patience, knowing each second wasted puts more distance between me and the man I love. “Yes, Callie, I do. He’s the guy who saved you from prostitution and drugs. He’s the guy who makes me feel like I’m important. He saved me from an ex-boyfriend who threw me down a staircase. Cash respects me.” I cross my arms over my chest. “Which, apparently, you do not.”

“Look.” Her tones softens, becoming cajoling. “Once you’ve gotten a little time and distance from him, you’ll see that I’m right. We can go to the airport, right now. You can come to Manhattan. We’ll get you a place. You can start over.”

“I don’t want to start over.” Why isn’t she listening to me? “I have a life here.” I grab her hands and plead. “I just want Cash.”

The closer we get to the airport, the greater my panic becomes. In the space of an hour, I’ve been thrust into some kind of alternate universe where my sister is the villain and Cash is the good guy. I’ve never had a reason to question her love for me, not even now. She’s gone to a lot of trouble to protect me. Except, I don’t need her to take care of me anymore.

“Callie, if you don’t take me home now, I’ll never forgive you.” Outside the tinted windows of the Lincoln, the miles flash by. Each passing minute takes me farther from home—from Cash.

“You don’t understand.” Desperation roughens her normally smooth voice. She takes my hand between both of hers and squeezes. “He has a way of getting under your skin, making you think you’re the center of his universe when he’s really just using you to get more money, more diamonds. And once he has