Page 98 of Jake's Angel

“I wish I did. Believe me, I would have no problem telling you. Avery was highly sought after by every guy in town and hated by every girl because she’s a West. It could be any number of people. I tried to get her to tell me, but she refused. She was afraid I would track the bastard down and fuck with him somehow.” She shrugs.

Smart move, Angel.

“She’s right. You would’ve.” I smile down at her, letting her see the pride I feel for her.

“Damn right I would! It would’ve been worth it, even if I get caught. The son of a bitch deserves everything I could do to him and more for what he did to her,” she grunts, poking her finger into my chest. “I only wish she would’ve told Uncle Mack when it happened, so he could’ve delved out his special brand of punishment.” She mumbles. I can’t stop my smile because I know exactly what she means. Pop has a crazy streak a mile wide, but he only lets it show when he’s in the basement with its soundproof walls and special brand of tools.

I don’t disagree with Sadie, but Avery was right to keep the information from her. Although she could do some serious damage to a person with just a keyboard and a modem, Avery’s shown another example of just how loyal she is to Sadie and her safety. We don’t know who we are dealing with or how fartheir reach is. We know Cusenza wants the freight company and who knows what else from Russ, but it doesn’t mean he’s the only player on the board. Sadie digging into his business would definitely not go unpunished if he found out.

“Think long and hard for me, Sadie Jay. Is there anyone you can think of who would want to hurt her?” Before she has a chance to answer, we’re interrupted by the sounds of my brothers pulling up the gravel on their bikes. Hawk, Austin, and Blake, followed by Declan who’s driving his cage, pull up and park beside us. We start making our way back up the driveway toward the house as Hawk saunters over, leaning his arm on my shoulder.

“What do you say, Sadie Jay?” he says, pulling his sunglasses halfway down his nose while he takes her in from head to toe.

“How about fuck off and die?” Sadie replies. Her entire mood changing on a dime. Hawk smiles but doesn’t let her smartass come back to deter him.

“Ah, come on now, sweetheart, don’t be like that. We all had a roughnight. You can’t still be mad at me for yelling at you. We were all a little high-strung,” he says in his southern drawl. Most women fall for it, but not Sadie. She storms toward the house, flipping the bird over her shoulder.

“How’s Avery doing? Is she ok?” Changing everyone’s focus to me, Hawk pushes his glasses back into place, brushing off whatever shit he has with Sadie.

“Well, I thought she was. She told me some shit last night we need to discuss in church. I thought we got some things worked out, but now she’s pissed off and acting cold as ice again.” I blow out a frustrated breath.

“Well, did you ask her what was wrong? Demand shetellyou what you did?” Hawk asks chuckling like I’m too stupid to come up with the idea on my own.

Asshole.

“Yeah, and all I got was afine.”

“Oh shit! Freaked out. Insecure. Neurotic and emotional. That is not good, brother.” Hawk says, rubbing my shoulders.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you ever seenThe Italian Job?It’s a movie. The definition of fine?” He scoffs at me, disappointed. “It’s exactly the opposite of what your girl told you. She’s not fine, she’s freaking the hell out. My question is, why?” He pauses, taking a step back, then eyes me suspiciously. “Did you fuck her?” he asks in a quiet but serious tone.

“Are you out of your goddamned mind? Hell, no, I didn’tfuck her!” I shout. We hear the screen door slam and I’m hoping it was the breeze. We both turn around at the noise but find there’s no one there.

Thank God.“We need to get to church.”

I’m still not sure why she’s freaked out and pissed off at me, but as soon as we’re done with church, I have every intention of making her tell me.

CHAPTER THIRTY

AVERY

When I cameinto Liz’s house, I grabbed my things and headed straight for the bathroom. I washed my face, trying to clear my thoughts. The cold water helped calm my nerves a bit, and I had a chance to think about things. It’s Jake’s job to protect me. I need to keep reminding myself and stop letting him kiss me.

Or touch me. Or pin me with those eyes.

Deciding to apologize for being a bitch, thinking if I can clear the air, things won’t be so awkward between us anymore. He can go back to treating me like business as usual and I can go back to not liking him.

Fucking liar.

Taking a deep breath to settle myself, I pass Sadie as she comes barreling through the door, catching the screen before it closes. She looks pissed as all hell, like she’s been crying and ready to kill someone as she heads down the hallway.

I’ll ask her about it in a minute. I need to get this over with.

I’m about to step onto the porch when I notice Hawk and Jake are in a heated conversation. I step out quietly, holding thescreen door by the handle, trying not to disrupt them. That’s the moment my heart cracks.

“Are you out of your goddamned mind? Hell, no, I didn’tfuck her!” Jake shouts at Hawk. I’m at a complete loss for words. My chest hurts. Tears rim my eyes, but I’m not about to let them fall. I let the pain turn to anger. Finally understanding everything that’s happened between us was nothing more than him doing his job. Calming me down. Getting me to talk. Holding me while I slept. It was all part of an assignment from his club.

---