Hooker(50)

Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. It’s something I’ve always wished for since I was a child: someone to care enough to not only want what’s best for me, but to care enough to remove me from my living hell.

‘Are you okay?’ he asks, using his fingers to turn my face to his.

I shrug. ‘I don’t know.’ That’s the most honest answer I can give him right now.

He places a soft kiss on my lips as my arms snake around his neck. I need to seek comfort in him. He’s the only one who has the power to do that.

‘Everything is going to work out. I promise.’

I’m glad he’s so confident.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN


JADE

Forty minutes is all it takes for all hell to break loose. Forty minutes from the time Rupert left, to the time M is banging on Brock’s front door like a psychotic crazy woman on a mission to take me back to my living hell. I knew it.

‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my bedroom,’ Brock demands.

Even though I’m trembling again, there’s no way I’m leaving him to face this on his own. ‘I’m staying right here.’

‘Listen to me, Jade,’ he says, forcefully gripping my arm. ‘Go upstairs and lock yourself in my fucking room now.’

‘No.’ I’m trying my best to act calm and not let my true feelings show, but truth is, I’m petrified of this woman. Still, I refuse to leave him.

‘I know you’re in there, open this door immediately!’ we hear M scream, in that don’t-fuck-with-me voice I’ve come to know well over the years.

‘Jesus fucking Christ,’ Brock snaps. ‘I can’t protect you if you don’t listen to me.’

‘I’m staying, so you may as well open the damn door.’

Brock exhales a large breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. ‘Fuck,’ he mumbles. ‘So help me … if she lays one finger on you, I’ll kill her.’ He gathers me protectively behind him as he approaches the door. ‘Do not leave my side.’

‘I’ve come to collect Jade,’ M says calmly the minute Brock opens the door. I’m surprised by how this woman has so quickly regained her cool.

‘As I told you in my letter, she won’t be returning to work for you.’

‘Listen here, you arrogant fuck,’ M spits. I’m still strategically placed behind Brock, so she hasn’t noticed I’m here yet. ‘I’m not having some cocky little prick dictate to me. She is under contract to me and I suggest you return her immediately.’

‘Or what?’ Brock says. ‘You don’t scare me. You know as well as I do that contact will not stand up in court.’

‘I’ll ask you one more time, Mr Weston. Return Jade to me this instant or I won’t be held responsible for what happens.’

‘Do you have my million dollars?’ he asks, and for a split second my heart drops. He’s not actually planning to give me back to her is he?

‘What million dollars? I have no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Bullshit,’ he snaps.

When M laughs, I know she’s lying. I don’t even need to look at her face to know she received that money. She’s a snake. She’d rip off her own mother if given the chance. I can’t believe he gave her a million dollars for my freedom.

‘Jade,’ she screams. ‘Get your traitorous arse out here now.’

‘Hey. Show some respect. Who the fuck do you think you are? I refuse to stand by and let you talk to her like that.’ Brock takes a step in her direction. I follow suit because I’m still shielded behind him. I feel like a coward, hiding from her like this. If I wasn’t so afraid of the repercussions, I’d step forwards and face her. I’ve waited five long years to tell her what I really think. ‘I won’t tolerate it,’ he growls. I feel inclined to wrap my arms around his waist and thank him for sticking up for me like he is.

‘Respect. Ha,’ she scoffs. ‘She’s a common whore, Mr Weston, or have you forgotten that?’

I cringe at her words, but she’s right, I am.

‘No thanks to you. You’re the scum of the earth for what you’ve put her through. You should be ashamed of yourself for taking advantage of someone as sweet as Jade.’

‘I have no problems sleeping at night.’ Smug bitch. She wouldn’t because she has a black heart. I don’t know why her words hurt me, but they do. ‘I see I trained her well. One taste and she’s turned you into putty. Pathetic. I’m sure your father would be very proud,’ she says with disgust in her voice.