Page 99 of Game of Love
“Well I’m gonna look into this idea of the tunnels,” Wes cut in. “I’ll get a plan of the drainage systems.”
I looked to him, thankful for his intervention.
“Thanks bro. Call me as soon as you come up with something.”
He nodded and I took my leave.
The little warehouse office we were using was just two to three minutes away from my apartment so there really was no problem in me taking a break.
Even if I needed a long break, which it looked like I might.
Jia was outside my apartment door. She stood by the floor to ceiling glass windows that connected the apartment to the one in front of me. She was crying.
Apart from that day when Giovanni hit her I hadn’t seen her cry like this. Shoulders wracking and shaking as she sobbed.
I knew that she wouldn’t have come to me if she didn’t need me.
I rushed up to her and took her into my arms where she continued to cry. She just broke down and it was like part of her life force left her, taking her strength with it.
I hated seeing someone look like they were on their last.
I’d had enough of today but I could deal with the shit. She looked like she could no longer cope.
“Jia, baby, what happened?” I asked, whispering into her ear.
She clung on to my shirt and pressed her beautiful face against my chest.
“I can’t… I can’t talk. I can bare…ly breathe.”
“Baby tell me what happened.”
I wouldn’t have seen her at work today because I was out for the whole day. Now I hated that I was away even more.
She released me and stepped back.
I moved forward and cupped her face. “Talk to me Jia.”
“My father’s sending me away, next week… with Armand. He’s actually going to marry me off to Armand. He told me to say goodbye to you. Frankie gave me a pass so I could come and see you. So I could say goodbye… or else…” Her shoulders shook again and she covered her mouth.
She actually didn’t need to finish that sentence.
Giovanni must have threatened to kill me.
It didn’t scare me but it gave me a heads up. It absolutely fucking did. It gave me a heads up. So far I’d been Mr. Average Joe. Cool and collected, not really showing my true colors so I wouldn’t blow the mission or my chances.
So the fact that he gave her such a warning meant I was being watched. She was being watched.
Maybe she was being watched now.
“He’ll kill you Xander,” she stuttered. “He’ll do it. I know he will. I can’t let that happen. All day I thought of how I’d say goodbye to you… I don’t want to.”
“Jia, listen to me…” My voice trailed off. I actually didn’t know what to say to her.
This was… well, it was a chance for me to tell her it was best she heed her father’s warning, and I should act like I was scared of him so she’d at least think I was. More than anything, it was a chance for me to end this with her.
End this fascination with her before it was too late and she discovered the lie I was.
Once again I just couldn’t do it.
