Page 24 of Savage Temptation
If Oliver scared this boy, the idea of Jagger calling his mommy makes him look ready to faint.
“You’re not gonna tell her, right?”
“I’m going to get her permission for you to start work here as soon as the place opens. As a dishwasher, and then you can move up the ranks.” Jagger sits up and makes sure he has the boy’s attention. “You have solid meat on your bones, somewhat of a head on your shoulders and you seem teachable. At least for your sake I hope you are. I’ll keep this between us if you show up three nights from now ready to get your hands dirty. Your pay will be enough to cover rent and food for your mom. We have a deal?”
There’s color back in the boy’s face and his eyes light up with a burst of hope. He writes the information Jagger needs and looks relieved for the help.
A second ago I thought brain matter would be all over the floor, instead this little interview turned into a job recruit. I huff out a laugh, relieved to my core.
Jagger stands and pulls the boy to his feet before taking him by the shoulders. “Let me make myself clear. Listen up. You’re done in the drug running biz, you feel me?
The boy nods eagerly.
“Give me your phone.”
He does, and Jagger punches in what I assume is his phone number. “If Oliver sends anyone after you, or your momma, call me. Now give me the other phone. The one Oliver uses for the drug drops.”
“Sure.”
“What’s your name?” I cut in.
“Acadian. Friends just call me Whispers.”
I can’t help but smile. “Why?”
He shrugs. “Because I move in and out with no one knowing, I guess.”
Fitting in his former line of work.
“In thirty minutes there will be a guy named Jax wearing the same cut I have outside your house. Your mom will never see him but he will see everything. You get in trouble, he's there to help. Tell me you understand.”
“Yes, sir.”
I watch Acadian leave the lounge out the side alley door looking one hundred pounds lighter.
I lean up against the wall, arms crossed. “You saved him, you know that?”
I wrap my arms around Jagger when he closes the door.
“It doesn’t feel like enough, but it’s something.”
Jagger sounds as tired as I feel.
“True.” I offer, and scrunch my nose. “I feel bad for scaring him, but you gotta admit we make a great team.”
“I would hate to be on your bad side, baby.”
“Sunup is a while away and I spy a bathroom and a shower in your office.” I rise on the tips of my toes and place a kiss on his cheek. “Do you happen to have a towel and T-shirt or something that I can borrow?” I would be happy with just about anything right now.
I look down and wiggle my dirty toes, earning me a warm chuckle in response.
Jagger’s eyes caress over my body, and that ever present hunger for me is back in the dark depths of his eyes. His grin is downright predatory. “Come with me.”
8
EMILIA
Less than fifteen minutes later I step out of Jagger’s office shower feeling human again. He left me to wash, but it wasn’t easy to get him out of the door.
