He entered the quad and that’s when I saw her. Like a moth drawn to a flame I couldn’t stop myself. She was so beautiful. I missed her so much. She looked almost lifeless as she sat with her head down. I hadn’t slept in two weeks and I couldn’t even lie on my bed. Fuck this shit. I’d had enough. I wanted my little bit back.
Going to Jade, I picked her up. She squealed and fought me coming to life.
“I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” She beat me with her cast hand and I let her, needing to feel something.
I was numb since I left Jade.
“Why couldn’t you leave me alone? Why?” She whacked me over and over, tears streaming down her face.
I heard teachers come over and try to break it up but for once my bodyguards were around and stopped them.
“I hate you. I hate what you did to me. I hate what you made me feel. I hate what you’ve done to me. I hate you. I hate you.” The hitting stopped and her fingers gripped my shirt. Tears rolled down her cheeks and I felt the worst I’d ever felt at the broken look in her sad eyes. I needed to fix it. I’d done this to her. I would do anything to have the look of pain and hurt gone. She collapsed against me, giving up her fight and broke down sobbing, “You left me. You left me.”
I didn’t care about school. I didn’t care about the people watching and I didn’t care about the fucking restraining order. I held Jade in my arms and walked out of the quad and the school. David met me at the drop-off zone and I got in the passenger side with my precious bundle.
Jade didn’t say any more and that scared me more than when she fought me. Brand got in the passenger seat and he looked back at Jade and me. “She was a fragile flower and you had her blossoming and then you crushed her. You gave her everything she’s never had then took it away. You broke her, kid.”
“Fuck.” I held Jade tight as she sobbed in my arms. Her gut wrenching cries cut me to my core and I knew I’d never stop making this up to her. But make it up to her I would, even if I spent the rest of my life doing it.
I took her home and I carried her up to my—our—bed and lay with her in it. Jade cried herself to sleep and I didn’t say a word. I didn’t know what to say. I knew she wouldn’t hear what I said now anyway.
Laying there with her in my arms I came up with a plan. I was never going a night without her again. I couldn’t do it. I knew the gate and the security would only hold the police and the restraining order for so long. I would beg her on my hands and knees if I had to for the rest of my life, but she was going to give me another chance.
I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew my dad was tapping my shoulder.
“Stephan, Stephan. A Detective Web is at our door with a couple of officers.”
Jade didn’t even stir in my arms. I knew she was probably exhausted. “Send them up.”
“Son—”
“Dad, she hasn’t even woken up with us talking. Look at her. She’s lost weight and is deathly pale. When she was with me before she had a pink tinge on her cheeks, she doesn't now. Bring them up.”
Dad shook his head as he walked out of my room. I turned back to Jade and stroked her back. She snuggled deeper against me and sighed.
“My daughter goes to your school. She’s in the year below you. She’s told me the gossip story but I see there is some truth to it.”
I gazed up to see who I assumed was Detective Web. “What story is that?”
“A Silverman has been caught. That a bunch of girls are now brokenhearted because they have a chance with one less Silverman.” He dramatically rolled his eyes. “My daughter says it’s love.”
“What do you think?”
Detective Web crossed his arms over his chest and studied Jade and I. “I’ve seen Miss Black there almost every day now for two weeks. She’s been a huge help in catching some huge drug runners, but you know that. You Silverman have men everywhere.”
I didn’t say anything, I didn’t need to. I waited and listened, still rubbing Jade’s back.
“I don’t think she’s slept in weeks, and not because of the shooting. That girl is broken. Until she got the restraining order, I didn’t realize how broken. I see now though. By law I have to take her, but as I stand here watching her, I can’t. When she wakes, call me back. If you don’t, I won’t be as nice the next time I visit and you will come with me in cuffs.”
I nodded and watched as the detective left. Jade didn’t wake once and I settled back against the bed headboard.
Chapter Twelve
Jade
I was warm. I hadn’t been warm or comfortable in weeks. I hadn’t slept for more than a couple of hours in weeks. Vanilla and coco invaded my senses and I took deep breaths, taking as much in as I could. My chest ached and I didn’t want to wake from this dream. I didn’t want to wake and see I wasn’t home. I hated what my heart and body felt was home. I should have learned by now you can’t rely on people. I couldn’t trust anyone with any part of me.