Chapter FOURTEEN
Britton needed a moment to herself. She needed to process everything he had just confessed. What was he actually capable of? She found the possibility of danger oddly thrilling. She tried to understand her fear, questioning if she should continue with the operation, but everything within her told her to not give up just yet. She wanted to stay with him. She wanted to figure him out. Britton climbed off the bed, wrapped herself in the satin sheet, and stepped out into the living area.
Jagger was standing there in the kitchen. He had donned a pair of speckled gray sweatpants that were now hanging casually on his hips. She leaned up against the wall, admiring him.
“I think I’m scared of you.” She admitted.
He turned around quickly, not realizing that she had snuck up behind him. He adored the way she was holding the sheet against her body. Why was she being modest with him now?
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to leave?” He hated to say those words, but he needed to find out what was going through her head.
“No. I don’t.”
He smiled, dropped the spatula, and briskly marched to her side.
“You don't need to be scared of me. You have my word, this—” He lifted her scraped wrists into view. “—hurt me more than it hurt you.”
She took a breath and turned her back to him. The skin on her spine was turning purple from being pushed up against the bathroom wall the night before. She slowly lifted her arms, displaying the bruises forming in the shape of his fingertips. She didn’t want to upset him, but if she was going to continue with him, she needed to make sure that she lived to see it through. The only way to do that was to make him aware of what his anger had already caused him to do.
“And this was just because David called me.”
“No it wasn’t. It…”
“Jagger. Things about me are going to upset you. I need to know that I’m safe even if you don’t like something I have to say.”
He nodded, taking her bruises in. He couldn’t believe that he had done that to her. Had he been that oblivious to his own strength?
“It will never happen again. You have my word.”
“Thank you.” She paused, needing to get out of the dismal energy that was surrounding them now. “Unless I want it to.” She winked at him.
He chuckled, unable to hide the smile that took over his face. He snatched the sheet out of her hands and threw it to the side. Jagger effortlessly threw her naked body over his shoulder, strode back into the bedroom, and dropped her onto the bed. He crawled on top of her, crushing her beneath his weight.
“You just make sure to tell me when that is.” He whispered.
She wanted to cry out now but refrained, begging her emotions to have some self-control. Instead, she swung her arms to his back and dug her nails into his skin. He groaned, pushing his weight into her hips. She arched into him, meeting his demands. His mouth yearned for hers, and he bent down to claim his prize. He stopped, inches from their connection.
“I thought I was making you breakfast.”
“But now I’m hungry for something else.” Her words teased him, pushing him to satisfy this new hunger.
“You really are something else, Britton Ramirez. Something else.”
He lifted himself up and clutched her in his arms. He carried her into the kitchen, stole the sheet off the floor, and sat her on top of the island, laying the sheet down first. She quickly pulled the ends up and around her naked body, finding comfort in the brief coverage.
Jagger sliced off a small piece of omelet and stabbed it with a fork. He twisted to her, hinting for her to open her mouth. She responded accordingly, taking a bite of the nourishment. It was delicious. From that bite, she realized that she hadn’t eaten anything substantial in so long. She opened her mouth again, pleading for more. He happily answered, feeding her the remainder of the omelet. They finished their breakfast in silence; they didn’t need words.
“What would you like to do today?” He queried, his palms lightly touching the tops of her knees. “After you break up with David, of course.”
He wasn’t going to drop it. She would need to set up a meeting today. “I have to work tonight.”
“No you don’t.”
“Jagger, I do.”
He narrowed his eyes, knowing what he was about to say may make him seem overbearing, but there were some things that he wouldn’t accept. “I don’t want you working at the casino anymore.”
“It’s my job.”
“I will take care of you. I don’t want you working.”
“And then what? What happens when this is over and I don’t have a job?”
In that moment, she forgot that she worked for the FBI. She was honestly asking him what would happen to her when he undoubtedly left her again. Jagger took a step back, letting her works sink in.
“When this is over?”
“Come on Jagger, I’m just being realistic.”
His blood was boiling. He wanted to grab her and force her to believe that he would never leave her, but he knew his adrenaline was pounding too much to lay a hand on her. He kept his distance.
“What do you need from me?”
“What?”
“What do I need to do to show you that I’m not going anywhere this time?”
This was her chance. She would tell him she needed to know what he did for work: everything he did for work. She would ask him to take her to the motorcycle club house and introduce her to his key players.
“I…” She paused, finding it difficult to lead him into the trap.
“Anything. I would do anything for you. Just ask.”
“I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
“Anything about you: who you are, what you do.”
“But you do know who I am.”
“Do I?”
“You are the only one in the world who does. And what I do…” he didn’t feel good about this situation, but to lose her again would be the worst thing that could ever happen to him. He couldn’t let this be the end. “I'll show you.”
She'd finally done it. He was going to divulge all his secrets. He was going to jail, and she would put him there. She searched his pleading eyes, and a deep feeling of hatred spread throughout her body. But it wasn’t hatred toward him. In that moment, she hated herself. How could she do this to someone who obviously loved her, to someone who she…no. She couldn’t think that way. She was undercover and she was on a mission. This was her job, and she couldn’t let her emotions cloud her judgment. She nodded her head. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes, okay.”
“So we’re doing this for real? You and me?” His voiced cracked.
“You and me.” Britton nodded and started to sob, collapsing into his chest.
“No, no, Britton, this is a good thing. Don’t cry.” He lifted her chin up, studying her face. “You are happy about this, right?”
“Of course.” The problem was that she didn’t know what case she was happy about. Was it that he had asked her to stay with him, to be his? Or was it that she would be successful on her first undercover case? David would be so proud. David. What would David think if he knew the thoughts flying through her mind?
“I have to call David.”
“And I’ll call your boss.”
“No.”
“Britton, please, I can’t have you working there anymore. I can’t think about you walking around in your tiny, tight dresses and letting other men ogle you. It’s just not acceptable. I won’t be able to handle it.”
She needed to let him win this one. Her goal was for him to take her to the heart of the Harbingers of Sorrow. The casino had served its purpose. “I’ll call in sick today, and quit next week.”
“Thank you.”
She disappeared into the bedroom. Jagger pulled out his phone.
“Dom, I need you to do me a favor…can you…clean up the place? I’m going to bring Britton by tonight, but I need to ease her into all of it. Just have all the guys there and on their best behavior…Thank you so much…Yes; I want you to be the first one she sees…I’ll see you tonight thanks bro.”
He hung up the phone and looked around. Things were falling into place, but they were falling fast. He needed to make sure he still had control. What if Britton freaked out? What if she stormed out on him and went straight to the authorities? No, she wouldn’t do that: not with Dominic there. No matter how strong her reservations were toward him, she could never hurt her brother. He was sure it was going to all work out. Now he just needed to deal with David.