Body of Trust - Jeannine Colette Page 0,29
a friend.” My words are staggered.
Jesse pulls me back to the club. “He’s playing both sides. Has been for some time.”
We’re back inside, and Sienna is standing by the wall near the restroom.
“Where the hell did you go?” she asks us. Her jaw drops at the sight of me. “What happened to you?”
“She’ll explain later.” Jesse pulls the two of us through the club.
One of Sienna’s bodyguards is standing nearby.
Jesse doesn’t have a chance to hide himself as he turns to Sienna. “You and Amelia need to get home—and fast. Have your bodyguards bring you back.”
She doesn’t argue and agrees to what he said.
He whispers to me, “I’d take you home, but I need to clean up this mess.”
I don’t understand. “You said you’d never leave me.”
“I won’t.” He slides a matchbook into the palm of my hand. “I’ll be right behind you.”
I nod and walk away from him. Sienna and I are escorted out of the club by one of her guards. Their car is outside the entrance, and in moments, we’re whisked away.
“What happened in there?” she asks when we’re on the highway.
The two bodyguards don’t budge, but I’m keenly aware that they listen to everything we say. I’m also glad she hasn’t brought up Jesse’s name. They saw Jesse and are probably wondering who he was. I don’t want them hearing me tell her how he pummeled a family associate to the ground.
I think quick. “I don’t usually drink gin and tonics. It didn’t agree with me, and I got very sick.”
Sienna pouts. “Your poor tummy.” Her voice and mannerisms say she’s worried, but her eyes lift up to mine, asking if I’m full of shit.
I smile and give her a nod, letting her know that everything’s cool.
When we get back, she passes out on my bed, still in her dress. I remove her shoes and put the blanket over her.
I change and then look out the window. Sienna’s bodyguards are parked in the lot. Outside the lot, on the street near another building, is a white car. It shouldn’t seem out of place, but to me, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
The driver’s door opens, and Jesse appears like a white knight on a dark evening, watching me from below. He’s looking up toward my window, and I sigh in relief, knowing he’s nearby.
I glance down at the matchbook he slid into my hand tonight. I open the flap. Inside is seven numbers. His number. I want to call it, but I’m certain he gave this to me for emergencies only.
I pray I won’t have to use it.
Chapter Eight
“You don’t look so great.” Eric slides a coffee onto my desk.
I stare at the kind gesture in a white-and-green cup.
I never went to bed last night, too frazzled, confused, and restless to sleep. As I lay in my bed, staring at the shadow of my blinds on the ceiling, I decided I was no longer taking risks with my life. Not that I’d ever really taken risks, but clubs were now out of the question.
My fear became so real that I actually considered quitting my job. Around three in the morning, I was ready to go to my mother’s house and declare that I was never leaving her fortress again. I talked myself out of that real quick. At five a.m., I was driving myself mad and decided being home was the worst I could do.
I think too much when I’m alone, and I need to get my normalcy back.
Plus, I feel like I’m a sitting duck. If someone as close to my family as Rocco set out to hurt me, who else would try? If someone is after me, I can’t go home and endanger my family. If someone is after me, I can’t wait for them to come here and find me alone.
All I can do now is be vigilant.
So, here I am, at work, with security cameras and guards and staff everywhere I look. I even drove to work which made me feel somewhat in control. No one can harm me in my own vehicle.
“Thanks,” I grumble as I take the cup.
“For the coffee or for telling you that your eye circles show you haven’t slept?”
If I had taken a sip, I would have spit it out from surprise at his blunt assessment. “The coffee. Do I really look that bad?”
“You tell me.” He leans his khaki-covered hip against the doorway of my cubicle and grins.
Shifting back in my seat, I sigh. “Family