Hearts on Fire 3: Tasha(18)
James widened his eyes. “Are you fucking serious?”
“Dead serious. She needs me, and I’m not going to fuck this up. I’m taking her to AC with me at the end of the month, once this deal goes through and the casino is set up for the business.”
“You really think she’ll go with you?”
“I’ll convince her. By that time she’ll be mine in every aspect, heart, body, and soul.”
* * * *
Jake McCurran stood there in disbelief as two agents, one from the state police and one from the FBI explained the situation with Tasha. His heart ached for her pain, for what she was currently going through with her mother, for what her uncle was involved in, for her father’s murder and now what she was forced to participate in. Then his focus was on her insistence that he be notified, and be involved with the investigation. She trusted him to help her and that was exactly what he was going to do.
“So what do you need from me? How can I help Tasha?”
“She was insistent that you be aware of the investigation. Unfortunately there isn’t anything you specifically can do in regards to the case. We have to wait for the next week or so to pass and see what this deal is. Hopefully our inside people may get more details,” Investigator Thor explained.
“How are you going to protect her?” he asked.
“She’s been doing a damn good job herself, but to be honest, Dash’s control of her emotionally is growing stronger, and physically he’s progressing to a point we’re most concerned over.”
“You can’t let him hurt her. I won’t stand by and let this man assault her.”
Jake didn’t like the exchanged looks between the two men. Jake slammed his hand down onto the desk.
“Has he assaulted her? Has he tried to—”
Thor held up his hand. “She’s sustained some injuries, but she’s done her best to keep him from taking the relationship to the next level. He knows everything about her, including about her mom.” Thor explained to him about Dash showing up at the hospital, her mom needing surgery, all the way up to him having men following her and seeing her with Tyler and Lance.
“Fuck. So now she’s trying to protect them, too?”
The men went on to tell him all about the investigation and what their plans were. They had agents inside, more information from Tasha’s uncle as well as information from Melanie once they got her away from some guy, James. It was all so overwhelming, but he wanted to do everything he could to help Tasha.
By the time they left his office and he knew he needed to call her, he got the call from Michaela.
“Hey, baby.”
“You sound upset,” Michaela stated.
“Just work stuff. What’s going on?”
“Jerome and Burt wanted to know if you were going to bring over the extra grill for their barbecue tomorrow. If you’re too busy, then I can get Hal or Billy to do it.”
“No, I can get that over there later on. Hal and Billy are working tonight. Then you and I can do dinner together.”
“Sounds great.”
“Who else is going to the barbecue?”
“I spoke with Serefina and Catalina, they’re going, plus all the guys, Buddy, Trent, and Johnny, I think Serefina was trying to get Tasha to go.”
“Is she coming?” Jake asked, feeling hopeful.
“I don’t know. The word is she’s seeing some big shot rich guy. Not sure of the details but I’m sure if she shows up, we’ll all get the low down. I just hope she doesn’t bring him.”
“Why?” Jake asked, even though he was hoping the same thing. A man like Dash at their party and under false pretenses as he controlled poor Tasha and ruled her life. It would take so much control for Jake not to kill the fucking guy himself.
“Well I think that Eddie, Tyler, and Lance are taking the gossip hard. The guys said they have been in rotten pissed-off moods since a couple of weeks ago at the Station.”
“Why is that?”
“Tyler and Lance kissed Tasha and she kissed them back. Then as things got heavy, someone called her and she told Tyler it was a guy she was seeing. They were hurt.”
“Well, maybe things might change. Who knows. Those guys have cared for her for so long. I bet they think they’ve lost their chance.”
“I hope not. I think the four of them would be amazing together. Well, I’ll let you go. I’ll tell Burt that you’ll drop off the grill later.”
“I love you, baby,” he told her.
“I love you, too,” Michaela said and then hung up the phone.
Jake ran his fingers through his hair.
He needed to be on guard at this party. He had a really bad feeling in his gut.
* * * *
Tasha stared at the text message from Serefina. There was going to be a barbecue tomorrow at Burt’s place. It was a huge house secluded in a large cul-de-sac just a few miles from the Station. She wanted to go. She longed to see her friends, to see Eddie, Lance, and Tyler. But how could she? Her mom was heading into surgery Monday morning, so that was going to be a long day of worrying. Dash was away until at least Tuesday from what his last text message said. Would he let her? She would have to ask him, which really angered her.
She hadn’t even had time to process everything she learned in the last couple of days. Not about her uncle, Melanie, her own father’s murder. How was mom going to handle the news? She may not ever get a chance to even tell her. Once this deal or whatever went through, perhaps Dash would get rid of her. She meant to ask the investigators about that. She could get the name of the last woman Dash was with from Melanie. Then she could tell the investigators and maybe that would help their case against Dash, too?
She wanted them dead. All of them. Every single one of the pieces of shit who killed her father and who threatened her uncle, Melanie, and now her and her own mother. She’d lost her friends, damn it.
She was really pissed off when the cell phone rang again. She rolled onto her back as she lay on her bed dreading the sleep that wouldn’t come easy tonight, as usual.
“Hello?”
“It’s Jake.”
Her chest tightened and she took a breath and released it.
“I had to insist that you knew what was happening. I don’t know these men. I have no control over the situation. I need you to understand that and know that I won’t place you or any of the people I love in danger.”
“Calm down, sweetheart, I can understand where you’re coming from. Hell, Tasha, I just don’t fucking know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just know I needed for you to know the truth, and if anything happens to me…”
“Nothing is going to happen to you. I’m going to personally make certain—”
“No! I told you that I won’t put anyone in danger.”
“Your friends are asking questions. You need to show your face around them, too.”
“I know that. I’m waiting to ask permission.”
“Permission? What the fuck is he doing to you?”
“Please, Jake. Please don’t ask any questions, just listen to me and help me. I heard about the barbecue. I’m going to see if I can make it for a little while. I just don’t know if I can go alone.”
“You’d bring him there, with you?”
“No. He’s away. Listen, if I can’t go alone, then I won’t come at all. As much as I need just a few minutes with my friends, especially with Mom having surgery Monday, I won’t jeopardize this case. Too many people have suffered enough already.”
“And what about you?”
“I’m surviving, Jake. You know that’s how I roll.”
She slightly chuckled but Jake didn’t. He was worried. She knew he would be.
“Please respect my wishes.”
“And if I fucking don’t?”
“I didn’t have to have them tell you shit. You’ve been a friend since forever. I trust you.”
“What about Eddie, Tyler, Lance, and Serefina?”
“You have no idea what I’ve been going through or how hard this has been for me, so don’t you dare bring up someone’s hurt feelings or disappointment. That’s nothing compared to the pain or the control I’m forced to be under, Jake. Don’t do this to me. I need you. I needed for you to know.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry. I’m angry, I’m worried. Has he hurt you?”
“Please, Jake, I can’t. I’ll deal with it all. Just do what they say, and if something happens to me, you’ll know the truth and you’ll tell them all how much I love them.”
“Don’t talk like that. It will work out. Just keep focused.”
“I’ll try.”
“So, will I see you tomorrow?”
“Only if he gives me permission and if I can go alone. Otherwise, I won’t let his men see my friends, my family, and risk him using you to make me do other things.”
“My God. Be strong, Tasha. Call me if you need anything.”
“Don’t call me again, Jake. Understand?”
“Yes.”
He disconnected the call. She rolled onto her side and hugged the pillow as her tears streamed from her eyes. She was alone, and all she could do was wait to see what move she had to make next.
* * * *
“I can’t believe that she’s here and she’s totally fucking ignoring us,” Lance stated after taking another slug of beer.