Page 61 of Gin & Jewels
He followed me with each turn I made, and I was certain it was him. I kept my cool and pulled the car to a stop in front of my mom’s house.
“We’ll talk to Mom when she gets home in about two hours. After that, we’ll get you some clothes and everything you need.”
Cassie nodded and reached for the handle.
The car that was following us didn’t stop, and I was thankful, because if it had, I knew that there would be an altercation in the middle of the street. Not only could I not let that happen to Cassie, I also knew it would embarrass my mother. It might not have been smart to lead Cassie’s brother to my mother’s home, but I wasn’t scared of him, and who’s to say we weren’t at a friend’s place or something. We could be gone in five minutes for all he knew.
I looked over my shoulder to make sure he didn’t come back as Cassie and I walked up to the front door. After unlocking it, I motioned for her to enter. “Make yourself at home. Do you want to shower or anything? I have a T-shirt and basketball shorts you can wear. They will be big on you, but they’ll work.”
“Sure.”
I shut the door and locked it, and Cassie followed me down the hall to the bathroom after I’d placed my salad on the kitchen counter. “Get the water how you like it, and I’ll get you the clothes and a towel.”
She reached out and grabbed my arm before I could walk away. “Thank you for this. It means a lot finally to have someone take care of me.”
I swear my heart skipped a beat, and I pulled her into my arms, hugging her and not saying anything because there were no words. She’d had a shit life, and I was determined to make it better for her now that I was in it. “You’re welcome, princess.”
After I got her the clothes and towel, Cassie went into the bathroom and showered. I went to the front window and looked out, checking for her brother’s car. Not only did I see it, but the fucker was parked across the street.
I waited to see what he would do. To my surprise, he got out of the car and walked toward the house. The water was still running in the bathroom, and without hesitation, I unlocked the front door and opened it. “Can I help you with something?”
“Where’s Cassie?”
I crossed my arms over my broad chest. “Where she wants to be.”
“Don’t fuck with me, dude. Cassie needs to get in the car now,” he barked as he walked up the stairs of the porch.
“She doesn’t want to be around you anymore.” I blocked him from entering the house.
“That is my sister. You have no idea—”
“No idea that you drugged and kidnapped your own sister?” I growled, getting in his face. “I know more than you think, and unless you want to get the cops involved, I suggest you leave now.”
He glared at me, and I narrowed my gaze back at him until our attention moved to another car pulling in front of the house with a screeching halt. When the person got out, I recognized that it was the guy who had opened the door when I’d picked Cassie up for Vin’s wedding. The one who had shot me. The one who had put his hands onmywoman.
“What are you doing here?” Cassie’s brother asked as he turned around to speak to his friend.
Without a word, the guy pulled a gun from his back and aimed it at her brother. “You think you can run and take all the money and not share it with me?”
“Dude!” Her brother held up his hands in surrender. My body went taut as I waited to see what was going to happen. “Put the gun down before you shoot me again.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do!” Micky yelled. He looked at me and chuckled. “I see you ran to the cops.”
I didn’t clarify that I wasn’t a police officer.
“I didn’t do shit. I came to get Cass. She’s inside, and he’s not a pig.”
“I’m tired of the bullshit, Keith,” Micky stated. “I know you’ve turned on me, and I can’t let that happen. Same with your cunt sister.”
Red clouded my vision when he spoke about Cassie that way, but before I could do anything, the door opened behind me. As I looked over my shoulder to see Cassie stepping outside, the gun went off. I turned my head back to see that the gun was aimed at me. I didn’t feel anything as I quickly assessed if I had been shot again. My gaze moved to Cassie’s; she stared up at me, a look of terror in her eyes.
Pop!
Another shot sounded, and I moved to block Cassie from the line of fire. I felt a warm wet feeling between us. Looking down, I saw red soak my T-shirt.
“Brad,” she whispered.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
