I feel my mouth moving, but I can’t get the words out quick enough. Beth’s moving like lightning, getting dressed and looking at the door.
“Beth… Let me explain…” I stammer, realizing I have to tell her everything and fast, before she walks out of my life forever.
“Yes, he was my last client. But that was before you, before your dad. I’m not gonna let him get away with it this time. I promise!”
I move in front of the door, holding my hands up and pleading with her to wait so I can explain.
“Let me out, Jarrett. I’m done here. I’m going home and you can stick your Pro Bono right where it fits.”
I’m not gonna force her to stay, I can’t. I feel the pit of my stomach collapsing as I step aside, hearing her open the door to leave.
“Beth! I mean it. I’ll stop Camberwell, make sure he doesn’t do this to anyone ever again. Please Beth, just wait.”
But it’s useless, she’s got more spunk than I figured and it’s just a pity I’m on the receiving end of it.
Hearing the front door slam, I punch my palm with my fist, growling like a wounded animal.
How the fuck did that just happen?
As quickly as she walked into my life, she’s gone.
CHAPTER NINE
Beth
I’ve never heard dad so worried, he’s stuck upstate for the night. Something to do with the trains running late.
He’s also furious that Jarrett would offer to take his case, and once he tells me that it was Jarrett himself who got our landlord off, scot free from his last legal stoush for trying the same scam, I can’t believe my ears.
I thought Jarrett…?
He does though… I know he does… he must… then why would he?
Oh! I don’t know, but one thing I do know is I have to get home. I have to get my head straight before dad comes home tomorrow.
While we still have a home.
It’s not until I get to my car that I feel the hot tears on my cheeks. The warm day has gone cold into a night that feels like a storm’s brewing. A chilly wind is blowing and the streets are empty, except for the shadow of what looks like a man in my rear view coming out of an alley.
Trying to clear my watering eyes with the back of my hands, I struggle to see clearly, but once I see two shadowy figures looming up behind me, I figure it’s time to scram.
My anxiety rises the further away from Jarrett I get.
I should be mad at him, I should be blaming him.
Then why do I feel like he was telling the truth now? Why didn’t I stay and hear him out?
I have a bad feeling turning worse once I see two sets of headlights traveling close behind, then backing off, sticking to me almost all the way home, until they suddenly go dark behind me and take a side street.
I breathe a sigh of relief, but can’t help the memories of the last time those men came to the house. It was broad daylight then, and I was scared to death. The thought of them coming again, at night… it’s too much for me to bear.
I decided to park in the garage, and go into the house through the garage door. I make a swift round of the whole house, making sure all the doors and windows are locked.
Keeping all the lights off, I creep to the front windows and peer out.
My heart stops when I see a huge dark car with no lights on pull up right across the street. I can’t see how many men or even who’s in the car, but I don’t like it.
I’ll never sleep again, let alone tonight. I missed dinner. I miss Jarrett and more than anything, I feel like I’ve blown my chance at being with him for good.
I fish my phone out, wanting to call my dad, but I don’t want to worry him.
Maybe I could call Tiffany?
She’s right in the middle of covering my ten hours shift…
Shit.
There’s a baseball bat by the front door, but I can hardly stand my knees are knocking so hard, let alone swing a damned bat.
Oh, Jarret! Why did I run? Why didn’t I-
A sound from the back of the house makes me freeze on the spot, my heart in my throat beating so loud it feels like the whole house is shaking from it.
I peek out front, and don’t see any movement from the car, but there’s that sound from the back porch again.
I tip-toe to the front door and grab the bat by the handle. It’s cold and heavy in my hand and I feel more like using it to keep myself upright than anything else.
Someone’s coming, I just know it. I can feel it before I hear them again, closer than ever this time.
This time, there’s a scratching sound at the back door. A sharp, metallic sound. Like someone…
Like someone is picking the lock.
There’s no time to call anyone for help, it’s me against whoever’s out there. I go to the kitchen, and can see the shadow of a man silhouetted against the wall opposite the window.
I stifle a scream as I hear the catch in the lock ping, but leap forward at the last second, bolting the door before I lift the heavy metal bar across it.
Something dad installed after the last time but something I’d forgotten all about.
“Little piggy,” a gruff voice sneers from behind the door, and I gasp in horror. “Let me in little piggy.”
The handle of the door is rattling violently now and I can hear something else starting to work the door from the outside.
Another shadow passes by the window, and I scream out loud.
There’s more than one of them, I know it and they’re coming for me now.
I drop the bat and struggle to keep hold of my phone as it slips through my sweaty hands, bouncing loudly off the floor as I try to dial for help.
Jarrett!
The only person I can think of now is Jarrett. How stupid I was to walk out on him, why couldn’t I have just listened?
The whole lock from the back door snaps loudly and I can see the jimmy bar, levering it fully off its hinges to one side.
I feel like I’m about to faint again, but this time from fear.
A thick, hairy hand works its way past the splintered woodwork and finds the steel barring the doorway. The whole door heaves suddenly and then there’s a sickening yelp.
A low, growling sound, like a wild animal joins the whimpering sound coming from whoever owns the hand.
I gasp aloud, thinking maybe a dog or some other wild animal has the intruder.
Apart from calling for help for myself, I think whoever the intruder is, this guy’s in more trouble than me right now.
He cries out in agony and whimpers the words, “Please, no…” before there’s a thud on the back porch and everything’s quiet for a moment.
“Beth? Beth, it’s me… its Jarrett, open up,” he says in a deep, commanding voice.
I’ve never been so happy to hear anything in my whole life, I rush over to the doorway, and heaving the steel bar off its brace I watch the back door peel away to reveal Jarrett, the dark lump of my unconscious intruder behind him.
“Oh, Jarrett!” I sob, launching myself into his arms, feeling safe in a split second as soon as he has hold of me.
“Those men… One was trying to get in… I thought he’d been grabbed by a wild dog…” I stammer, crying onto his chest and clawing at his muscular frame, swearing to myself I’ll never leave his side again as long as I live.
“Not a dog. A shark,” he corrects me, his low growl relaxing into an approving moan as he lifts my face to his.
“Are you alright? Just tell me you’re not hurt.”
He kisses my tears away, making his way to my mouth and I can’t kiss him hard enough to thank him or to say how sorry I am for ever doubting him.
CHAPTER TEN
Jarrett
“There were two of them. I’m sure of it!” she gasps suddenly, but I have her now. Holding her by the waist, my hands resting on those hips I can’t wait to squeeze when we’re naked next.
“There were three,” I inform her, kissing her hard again.
&nb
sp; “I’ll never let you go, never again, hear me?” I growl in her ear.
I wasn’t about to just let her run off like that anyway. I followed her halfway to her car, then hung back once I noticed the shit parade who wanted to beat me to her first.
Camberwell’s men. I know them by sight, he uses them to do his dirty work and act as his bodyguards.
I had to follow them because I had no other way of knowing where Beth lived. Once I knew where they were headed, I made a few calls. Making arrangements to start to take care of this whole business myself.
Courts be damned.
They led me straight to her, but there was one out back I didn’t notice until I’d taken care of the others out front.
“We should call the police,” she starts to say, but I hush her, putting my finger over her lips.
“I’ll take care of it. Already done,” I tell her.
I’ll take care of these clowns, then I’ll take care of her. Like I should’ve done in the first place.
If I’d known Camberwell was going to play rough, I wouldn’t have let her go anywhere. But then again, I can’t force her to do anything she doesn’t want.
“Tell me you won’t run off like that again,” I tell her, but I don’t need to. Her head’s nodding, pounding into my chest as she starts to sob again.
“Hey, it’s alright now,” I tell her softly. “You just gave me the scare of my life is all, running away before I could tell you what happened.”
There’s a low groan from the porch, and it sounds like shithead’s waking up.
“Excuse me,” I say. I set Beth on the far end of the kitchen, and put the door back in place behind me so she doesn’t have to see me give him his goodnight medicine a second time.
“Sorry about that,” I tell her, coming back into the kitchen and checking my text message as I take hold of her again.
“Did you call the police?” she asks, and I feel my lip curling.
“Oh, better than that,” I inform her. “But as far as you know, when you came home the house had already been broken into, how does that sound?” I ask her knowingly.
She looks cautiously at me, but then shrugs. “I’ll do whatever you think is best, Jarrett. Just don’t leave me alone.”
“Oh, I won’t,” I tell her softly, counting the minutes until we’re completely alone again. “I most certainly won’t.”
“It’s not the greatest place to stay for now,” I continue. “Tomorrow, when you come home, you’ll notice the break in and call the police,” I tell her.
“And for tonight?” she asks, looking up at me hopefully.
“Tonight, you’re all mine and we’re going to make the most of it. Grab a change of clothes, we’ll get moving as soon as someone comes to collect the garbage from your lawn.”
After a sweep of the house, I wait upstairs in her room while Beth has a shower and gets a bag packed.
I figure I have a few minutes before the other babysitters arrive, and I want another look at what I’ve been missing out on while she’s been showering all by herself.
“Show me,” I demand, jutting my chin towards her closed robe as she packs before changing.
She blushes, but she can also tell I don’t just mean it, I need it.
“Show. Me,” I insist slowly, growling as she opens her robe slowly letting me see her full naked body.
“Mine,” I remind her, and myself, which makes my dick twitch hard again.
Moving over to her, I feel her warmth on my hands as they move over her whole body, pausing at the parts I know drive her wild.
The sound of a car out front makes her gasp, but it’s something I’ve been expecting.
“It’s alright, Beth. It’s the garbage man come to collect the trash.”
“What are you gonna do with them?” she asks, and I only shake my head slightly, telling her not to ask me that, not now.
“They’ll be fine,” is all I can tell her.
I have to remind myself about the importance of confidentiality in a case like this.
If it’s gonna work, the less she knows right now, the better. But one thing I can tell her, I don’t hold back on, whispering in her ear what I plan to do to her once we get someplace nice.
“My house is nice!” she protests.
“I know, Beth,” I tell her calmly. “There’ll be a man keeping watch on the place tonight, we can call the law tomorrow.”
“And tonight?” she asks, giving me those eyes again.
“I just told you,” I growl, pulling her close, letting my hand slide up between her creamy thighs and making her gasp as I stroke her moist heat.
“Tonight I’m gonna show you a thing or two,” I warn her, taking her hand and stroking my hardness, making us both purr.
“For now, get dressed and I’ll see you at the bottom of the stairs in a few.”
I kiss her on the lips and go down to the front door. The visitor I’ve been expecting has arrived.
“They’re his men alright. You sure about this?” the stranger asks. I only know him by an initial and it’s the first time I’ve ever had to call him.
“Just for a little while,” I instruct him. “And no rough stuff. I want my boys squeaky clean and scratch-free when their time comes. They’re Mr. Carlotti’s guests until then, understand?”
“And my fee?” he asks, sounding offended that I haven’t brought it up.
“Mr. Carlotti will see to that. I’ll let him know,” I tell him and he grunts before shrugging his shoulders. Spitting into his gloved hands, he sets to work dragging the unconscious men from the yard to the trunk of his waiting car.
Carlotti’s the city’s real crime figure and a regular client. He’s been looking for a cheerful, legal way to get rid of Camberwell for some time. I think this should prove a win/win for us both if all goes to plan.
“Don’t forget number three out back,” I whisper hoarsely and he holds a hand up, telling me to let him do his job.
I duck back inside and notice the paperwork I assume is the lease contract in question, I thumb it briefly while waiting for Beth to come down.
Sucking in air through my teeth, I shake my head.
He’s really stitched them up alright. Very fine print and very dubious phrasing, but it doesn’t change the simple fact: Beth’s dad signed a new lease for two buildings without checking the amounts.
It’s a lost case, but thanks to our three friends in the trunk of a stranger, I think I might have found a way around her dad’s little problem.
“Ready,” she announces, presenting herself at the top of the stairs.
I feel my breath catch in my throat, and my whole body heat.
“You look beautiful,” is all I can manage
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Beth
“Are you sure the house will be safe?” I ask him, noting his broad smile and cheerful mood.
“Like I said, yes Beth. Tonight’s all about us now, don’t sweat over the details.”
“And my dad?” I continue, making Jarrett groan and then laugh. I’m not used to anything working out.
He rests his hand on my thigh and gives it a gentle squeeze.
“I know, I know,” I murmur. “I trust you.”
And I do.
Whatever Jarrett has done, I know it’ll work and he’s only keeping quiet about all the details so I don’t worry. The only thing that keeps the thousand questions from my mind is his hands on me, which I hope there’s going to be a lot more of before the night is through.
“Hungry?” he asks me, changing the subject and drawing a near painful cry of ‘Yes’ from me.
He pumps the gas and the huge dark suv which I saw parked out front earlier is now whisking us both towards whatever exciting night he has planned.
Luckily for me, the wait isn’t long. Jarrett parks out front of the most expensive hotel on the waterfront, not far from his office either.
He helps me out of the car and tips the valet.
“Thank you, Mr. Sh
arkey, You have a nice stay,” the valet grins, and I can just tell he’s another Sharkey success story.
“One of yours?” I ask as we head into the main restaurant of the hotel. I pretend not to be astonished, but it’s like a cathedral.
Not somewhere I could ever afford to go to eat, let alone stay the night.
“Yeah, Rocco was in a jam. I helped him out,” Jarrett offers quietly as we’re shown to our table overlooking the water. An electrical storm’s playing on the horizon, lighting up the night sky with a spectacular display.
“It’s not all mobster’s and shitty landlord’s,” he muses, frowning at the wine list and ordering mineral water for us both.
“Sorry,” he says, noticing my look. “I just meant that my clients come from all walks, not always born criminals.” He reminds me and I feel tempted to ask about the valet, but I really do have enough of my own problems right now.
My eyes pop at the prices and Jarrett quickly takes the menu from me, summoning the waiter and ordering for us both.
“Steak,” he informs me. “And lots of carbs… you’re going to need your strength,” he says in a low voice, and I feel his hand under the table, slipping straight between my legs and making me jump then laugh out loud.
“Promise?” I ask him, suddenly feeling like I could skip dinner and go straight to dessert.
“Oh, I promise,” he assures me and I feel my heart swell in time with the rest of my chest at the thought of him working his magic again.
Over dinner, I can see how Jarrett would be a popular attorney. He effortlessly extracts information about me, weaving his questions into friendly chit-chat and only ever making me feel like I can tell him what I choose to.
He’s not interrogating me, I just feel it’s an occupational hazard for him.
“Enough about you though,” he says suddenly, reading my thoughts and giving me a sly wink.
“I’m sure you have some questions of your own?” But he holds up a cautionary finger. “Providing it’s not all about what happened back at the house,” he says, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
Possessive Lawyer: An Instalove Possessive Alpha Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 183) Page 4