Page 58 of Die For Me

“You must go to Hana with this information. Give her all the details. She will undoubtedly leave Michael, thus, giving him back to you.” I shifted in my seat. “But I swear to fucking God, if you lay one finger on her, Iwillkill you.”

Jessica gasped as if she were surprised by my behavior. I quickly glanced at her, seeing her dumbfounded expression, and rolled my eyes. She knew I fucking took Hana and forced her to marry me—did she not realize what I was capable of?

“I won’t, I swear,” Jackie responded keenly, her eyes wide again.

“Good. My band has a show at the Bowery next Friday. Hana will be there, perhaps even Michael. Coordinate with Jess on the details.” I stood, grabbed my coffee, and then walked away, not waiting for her response.

I couldn’t wait for the look of surprise and disgust on Hana’s face. She couldn’t forgive Michael for this—it was too heinous, too diabolical. It even surprised me, and I was obviously no saint. I just had to make sure she was safe from him in the meantime. I knew she wanted to keep both of us, but she kept hinting that she loved me more, that she was mine. It scared her how much she was sure of it. It only fueled the fire more for me. I was going to ruin Michael.

Hana

We were beginning to figure out how to navigate our lives in the outside world. Jack was scheduled to start interviews and shows with Adam for their album and he asked me to go with him. It was only in Manhattan, but it was as if Jack still didn’t trust me alone with Michael. Was he trying to protect me…or keep me away? Michael stayed at the apartment, informing us that he was starting a new business deal with some former college mates and needed to work, although he seemed hesitant about me and Jack going somewhere alone.

On the train ride to a recording studio in midtown, Jack kept glancing at his phone, seeming distressed.

“What’s wrong, babe?” I asked, wrapping my arms around him as he sighed, holding onto the overhead railing for support.

“Adam is being fucking weird. Do you think Emily told him something?” he asked as he looked down at me.

I wouldn’t be surprised if she did. I told her we would be open about our relationship, but I’m sure she didn’t leave out any dirty details. I bit my lip as I looked down at my phone.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you ask him?” I suggested, putting my phone back in my pocket.

Jack sighed heavily, anger clear on his face. “I knew you shouldn’t have told her the truth. She’s going to fucking ruin everything,” he hissed, not looking at me.

I let go of him and crossed my arms. “I’m not lying to her anymore, Jack,” I huffed.

“Yeah well, let’s see what fucking good that does.”

The subway stopped and the doors pinged open; Jack quickly stormed out, but not before grabbing my hand to pull me along with him.

I kept up with Jack as he quickly walked toward the studio, the warm, late April weather finally feeling like spring. We walked into a tall building and headed to the seventh floor. I stood on the opposite side of Jack in the elevator with my arms crossed and, I’m sure, a scowl on my face.

“I’m sorry for snapping, love,” he started quietly. “I just don’t want this to affect the relationship I have with Adam. I need to know if Emily gave him all the horrid details or not.”

I couldn’t be mad at him. It was probably a really bad idea for my well-meaning, but very loquacious, cousin to have this sort of information.

“It’s okay, babe.” I shrugged, still trying to shake off my bad mood as I glanced up at him.

The warm weather prompted him to wear a plain white T-shirt that showed off his strong, muscular arms. His tattoos poked out from under his sleeve.

“Fancy having a fuck in here?” Jack quipped, slyly showing me his dimples as the elevator doors pinged open.

I wasn’t able to contain my smile; I wanted him, and he knew it.

“After you, Mrs. Maynor.” He motioned his hand toward the elevator doors, waiting for me to move.

I turned on my heel, and we walked into a sleek music studio with neon signs, art work, and gold albums of famous musicians lining the wall. An older man who already knew Jack greeted us excitedly. I assumed he had been here before and was well-liked judging by the treatment he was receiving.

“This is my wife, Hana.” Jack introduced us, and my heart swelled at those words: my wife. It had turned from a feeling of impending doom to loving, welcomed words.

“I’m Sal, the owner here. Great to meet you. Your husband is a rock star!” Sal widened his eyes for effect, patting Jack on the back. “Go on to room three. They’re all set up in there.”

Jack grinned down at me as he took my hand. I sensed he was nervous. Maybe he really only wanted me here for moral support and not just some way to keep me in check.

We walked into a huge acoustic room with several people already walking around, professional cameras and lights pointed at Jack’s drums and Adam’s guitar. I noticed a few couches lining the walls and realized Emily was sitting there, looking at her phone and oblivious to our presence. I gasped with excitement then quickly realized that Jack might not have been so excited. I turned to him, and he eyed me hesitantly but nodded anyway.

“Go on, love. Enjoy the show with your cousin.” He winked at me before giving me a passionate, slow kiss. If he was trying to turn me on, it had worked very well.

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