by Tara Rose
Estevan chuckled softly. Good for her. Santos didn’t sign her paycheck. Nick did.
“Yes. There are people already here who can stay for a few more days.”
“Let me talk to him.”
Estevan and Liam exchanged a glance, and Estevan didn’t have to ask. His friend was just as proud of her right now.
“You don’t trust me?”
“He’s my boss. You’re not.”
They listened to voices, and then heard a fainter one that Estevan assumed was Nick. Jade nodded a few times, then asked who was there, and finally asked Nick to call her if she was needed, because he and Liam would find a way to get her there. Then Nick must have asked if she wanted to speak with her brother again because Jade said, “No. We’ve said all we need to say to each other.”
She disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the carpet, then snuggled against him again. “Let’s watch movies until we fall asleep.”
Liam sighed out loud. “First I need to call Asa.” He left the room to make the call, so Estevan and Jade put the movie on hold. When he still hadn’t returned in fifteen minutes, they turned on the TV to watch the weather, but Jade was too freaked out seeing pictures of the coastline being pounded by the storm, so Estevan found an old sitcom on another channel.
Liam finally returned a half hour later, and one look at his face told them the call hadn’t gone well. Estevan tuned back to the movie and waited about ten minutes, then paused it again and asked about the phone call.
“He’s angry that production has to be halted until the water recedes.”
Estevan shook his head. “Guess Asa doesn’t like not being able to control the weather.” When Liam didn’t react, Estevan and Jade exchanged a puzzled look. “That’s not such a surprise, is it? Something else bothering you?”
Liam finally made eye contact, and the confusion on his face made the hairs on the back of Estevan’s neck prickle. What the hell had Asa said to him?
He turned his gaze toward Jade. “May I ask you about the people who killed your parents? Can you talk about that?”
“Sure. I guess so. But I don’t know much. Santos would be the better person to ask if you need specific details. Why?”
Estevan didn’t like the way her voice shook. Why was Liam asking about this?
“Asa asked if I could get online to work, and I explained about the power being out and how I was saving the generator for essentials. He, of course, got upset by that and said he’d been working from home all weekend. Then I told him I’d been busy all weekend and he pushed for what I’ve been doing, so I told him you both were here with me.”
“Oh shit.”
He moved closer to Jade and put an arm around her shoulders. “No. It wasn’t like that. He was in an odd mood. Very chatty, which isn’t like him. I think he and his latest girlfriend are having problems. It didn’t sound like she rode out the storm with him. I know this is hard to believe, but Asa doesn’t like being alone. He needs someone around to listen to the sound of his voice. So after I told him you both had been here with me since yesterday, he started talking about you and Santos, and your parents’ death. And then he said something that gave me the chills.”
“What did he say?”
“He said, and I quote, ‘Santos should have taken her off this island the first time those mobsters came here looking for her parents.’”
* * * *
Jade’s entire body went numb, and for a few seconds she was sure she’d just had a stroke and would be dead any second now. A roaring wind noise had taken up residence inside her head. She was aware of the fact that Liam was still speaking, but had to ask him to repeat what he’d just said because she hadn’t understood a word of it.
“Are you okay?” Estevan’s concerned, sexy voice and the adoration on his face helped calm her down enough to nod, and then ask Liam one more time to repeat what he’d said.
“Did you hear me say that Asa told me Santos should have taken you off the island the first time?”
“Yes. But nothing after that.”
“I asked Asa what the hell he was talking about, and he tried to brush it off as nothing, so I pushed. Then he told me that when you were about ten years old, while Santos was still in training at the academy, a group of men came onto the island and began asking questions about your parents. He heard about it, like he hears about everything on this island. Apparently, Justin and Laila also told him they didn’t like the look of the men.”
“Did they come into the bar?”
“Either that or they saw them around town. I don’t know which. But Asa had some investigating done and when he found out they were connected to certain families in New York known for mob activity, he had them escorted off the island.”
Estevan whistled. “Asa took on the mob?”
Liam’s gaze grew dark. “I told you he was a scary man. So then I asked him if he’d spoken with Jade’s parents about the men, and he said he had, but that they hadn’t wanted to cause upheaval in their family, so they opted not to do anything.”
Jade shook her head slowly as she tried to process what Liam had just told her. “So they knew someone was after them. They’d come that close. They were on the island. How could they simply ignore that?”
Liam drew her closer. “Sweetheart, you’ll never know what was in their hearts.”
“And when did Santos find this out? I’m assuming Asa told him.”
Liam nodded. “He did. As soon as Santos was back on the island and working as an officer.”
“So everyone kept this from me all these years, including my own parents.”
“What could you have done?” asked Estevan. “You were only a kid.”
“But I’m not a kid now.”
Liam looked so conflicted that her first instinct was to comfort him, but she was angry inside all over again. Every horrible detail of the day her parents were killed came rushing back, but this time it was mixed up with the knowledge that at least two people other than them had known about the threat, and had done nothing about it. Their death could have been prevented if they had.
Liam caressed her shoulder. “Does knowing this really change anything?”
“How can you ask me that? Of course it does.” She stood and began to pace. “I was right about Santos, but even worse, he had the means in his hands to stop this. So did Asa. And they did nothing. Nothing. And now they’re both trying to tell you and Estevan you can’t be with me? Isn’t it enough they indirectly killed my parents? Do they have to stop me from being happy on top of it? Just because both of them are so fucking miserable in their personal lives?”
The men stood and tried to put their arms around her, but she pushed them both away. Nothing made sense right now, and she didn’t want anyone to touch her. She had to get away and think, but there was no place to go.
“Jade, we’re not going let anyone tell us we can’t be with you.” Estevan sounded so angry she stopped and stared at him. “How many times do we have to tell you that before you believe us?”
“I’m sorry…I—”
“I’m sorry you don’t take me at my word. We’ve known each other a long time now. And I admit I stayed away from you because of Santos, but haven’t the past two days proven anything? Haven’t they shown you that I’m not going to let him keep me away from you from now on?”
She swallowed hard as tears threatened. No. She would not cry again. And he was right. They’d both said it repeatedly, but she still believed in her heart that as soon as they returned to a normal routine, none of this would count.
Liam brushed past Estevan and stood in front of her, a desperate look in his eyes. “I agree with Estevan. I backed off once. I’m not going to do it again. I don’t know how to make you believe that. I can’t. All I can do is keep proving it to you, and hope one day you accept it as the truth. This is a terrible thing to find out. Absolutely one hundred prevent awful. I won’t argue that one iota. But knowing it changes nothing. What could Asa or Santos h
ave done all those years ago?”
“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “But I should have been told.”
Estevan moved next to Liam, and now he no longer looked angry. Jade sent up a silent prayer of thanks for that. “Would you tell a ten-year-old something like that? I sure wouldn’t. And even as you grew, what could you have done? Nothing. Even if Asa had hired private detectives to find the men in New York, what could he have done?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“He couldn’t have done anything except make sure they were denied access to the island again,” said Liam. “And they weren’t the same ones who showed up here six years later, at any rate. So in the end, his efforts would have meant nothing. I’m not defending him. He’s done some underhanded things, and he’s as much of a bully as Santos. But I don’t think his interfering further all those years ago would have changed the eventual outcome.”
She lowered her gaze to the carpet and thought about everything both men had said. They were right. It would have happened regardless. The only thing that might have prevented it was their parents going into witness protection. But then she wouldn’t be here right now. Her life would be entirely different. She’d even have a different name.
Jade raised her gaze to meet theirs, trying to imagine what it would have been like to leave the island and never see either of these men again. Would she still be thinking about them, now, in her different life?
Yes. She would. She’d been crazy about both of them since puberty. So why did she refuse to accept this was real? That they would fight for her and protect her?
Because no one ever has, that’s why.
Estevan gave her a thoughtful look. “What just happened? Your thoughts went someplace else.”
“I was thinking about you two. And how if my parents had taken us off the island, I’d wouldn’t be here right now. None of this would have happened.”
Estevan pulled her close and stroked her back. This time, she let him, because it felt so good to be in his arms. “Jade…We aren’t even going to try and pretend that we know how you feel. No one should have to lose their parents at such a young age, or in such a tragic way. But sweetie, you’re looking for answers that don’t exist. We make choices in this life, good and bad, and then we live with the consequences.”
She pulled away to look into his eyes. “You’re right. I am looking for answers. I have been for twelve years.”
“They’re not out there,” said Liam. “It’s all speculation. What if this, what if that…but none of those scenarios will give you closure on their deaths.”
“So what do I do? How do I put this behind me?”
“I don’t know. I can only tell you that you’re not alone in dealing with it. We’re here for you. And in his own bizarre way, so is your brother.”
“He treats me like a child.”
“Yes,” said Estevan. “We both agree. He does. But don’t you see why? He couldn’t protect you when you were just a kid. He knew at any moment those same men could return, or others would find you two. And there was nothing he could do about it.”
“I guess I never really thought about what he does now in those terms before. I mean I know you’ve both said that, but it didn’t hit home until now.”
Liam stroked her hair. “We’re not excusing his behavior. He has issues to work out as well. But I don’t think in his heart he means you harm. He loves you.”
She sighed loudly. “I know he does. I get what you’re saying. I really do.”
“You don’t need anyone to fight your battles for you,” said Estevan. “You’ve proven you can take care of yourself. But you aren’t alone in this. Liam and I are not going to let Santos bully you, or us, again. And we’ll figure out a way to deal with Asa. We promise you that. Just trust us, Jade. Please, just trust us.”
Fresh guilt washed over her as she realized how little trusting she’d done for most of her life. She was certain a psychologist would give her a good reason for that, but she didn’t need the insight. It was suddenly as clear as the weather most days on this island.
How could she believe in parents who had knowingly placed themselves and both their in children in mortal danger their entire lives? How could she trust in a brother who had never shown faith in any decision she’d made?
But Estevan and Liam weren’t her parents, and they weren’t her brother. She could believe in them. They’d begged her to, and they’d asked her to give so much more to them than merely her trust. They wanted to be her Doms. She wasn’t even sure yet what that meant, but these two would teach her. They’d keep her safe, and protect her, and would also give her room to live her life.
She could have so much more with them that she’d ever thought possible. All she had to do was give over to it, and allow it to happen. “I’m sorry. I really am. I want to do this. I want to be your sub, and I want to trust you both and let you help me learn how to stand up to my brother, and to Asa if it comes to that.”
Estevan’s gaze was so intense, she would have been afraid if she didn’t know him as the person he was. “Are you certain this time? We aren’t playing around here. I told you that.”
“I am certain, Sir. Absolutely certain this time.”
Liam pulled her close. “Thank you, Jade. Thank you so much for this. We will not let you down. Never.”
She believed him. Finally. In her mind, she pictured the old bonds breaking and letting the chains go. They slid down the hill and into the ocean, never to be seen again. She was free. Free to love, to trust, and to learn how to stand on her own two feet.
Chapter Seventeen
By Tuesday morning, the water had receded on most of the island enough that Jade was able to return to her apartment, but it was only to load her meager furnishings and the rest of her personal items into a truck that Liam had borrowed from Nando. Her building had been heavily damaged by the flood waters, so Liam had suggested she move in with him. She hadn’t even hesitated.
When they’d driven Estevan to his condo, he also had flooding, but thankfully not severe enough that he wouldn’t be able to salvage most of his belongings. But he couldn’t stay in his condo until it was cleaned out and restored, so he moved in with Liam as well.
Jade returned to work on Wednesday, as did Liam, and Estevan came with her. The first thing he did was go into Nick’s office with Santos, so they’d have privacy. Nick had been there since before the storm, so he’d taken the rest of the week off. Jade learned from Kate that Santos was supposed to be home as well, but she said he was too damn stubborn to take any time off.
“And that’s new?” asked Jade.
Kate shook her head. “He was impossible through this. You should have heard him.”
“I grew up with him. I know what he’s like.”
Kate cocked a thumb toward Nick’s closed door. “What’s that all about?”
She shrugged, keeping her gaze on the computer screen in front of her. This wasn’t the day to try and explain to tough-as-nails Kate that she’d just become a submissive to two Doms. When Estevan and Santos finally emerged, neither man looked happy, but at least there were no bruises on their faces. Santos gave her a quick glare, which wasn’t all that unusual, then he told Kate he was going home to get some rest, and she was in charge of the station.
“Not a problem, Sarge. Get some sleep.”
Estevan winked at Jade as he approached her desk, and she tried to keep her voice light as she asked him when he was going to start painting the station.
“As soon as I finish at Phoebe’s Playthings.” Then he leaned close and whispered, “I’ll pick you up after your shift.”
She shivered at the tone of his voice, knowing what awaited her at Liam’s house later. They’d worn her out during the past few days, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t get enough of them. It was hard to believe, but since her revelation Sunday night and their talk afterward, sex and play had become even more intense and enjoyable.
Jade knew she’d ha
ve to talk to Santos about their parents’ death eventually, but that day was not today. And tonight, she wanted her mind clear so she could enjoy her two Doms.
Santos didn’t return to the station the rest of the week. Nick showed up Thursday morning, and by Friday the standing water that had covered part of the homes on the island had receded to the point that the owners could get back inside. But it was estimated that it would take six to eight months to clean up and restore all the damaged homes and buildings.
The hurricane had stayed a Category 1, and had done the same type of damage along the western Louisiana and eastern Mississippi coastlines. Jade had been happy to hear that there were no deaths or serious injuries from the storm. She felt like the three of them had lived through two storms. The one outside, and the battle raging within each of them.
But each time she began to let her thoughts return to the anger she’d held inside for so long, she fought to bring them into the present. She had to learn to let go of the pain and stay in the moment. That was part of what Estevan and Liam had promised they’d help her do. But the real work had to come from within her. She had to train her internal thoughts to redirect themselves, each and every time.
Friday night, Estevan told them he was ready to begin painting the police station on Monday, and Jade loved that he’d be there with her all day. She asked Liam how things were at Phoebe’s Playthings, and he told her they were better now that Asa had made up with his girlfriend.
“So, you were right then? They were on the outs?”
“She actually left the island last week. She’s been visiting friends in Florida all this time.”
“Wow. Why did she come back?”
Liam laughed. “She was worried about Asa. Convinced he’d been swept out to sea or something.”
“That man won’t die at sea,” said Estevan. “He’ll probably be the one to break the curse, returning to the island with a shark he’d wrestled or something.”
They all laughed, and then Liam asked Jade if she’d like to see his pool again. “The storms are gone. Did you know when I showed Jade the pool on Saturday she wondered out loud if we could swim naked in it and be seen by my neighbors?”