“Jaslyn,” Jasper barks as he enters the hallway, finding the two of us on the ground. “What the fuck are you doing back here?”
The color drains from her face and her body tenses at the sound of his voice. “You were gone for quite some time and I wanted to make sure you were okay.” She’s lying, but she plays it off with her meek voice and the fear that vibrates through her. That, the fear, is the only truth.
“Bullshit,” he growls as he bends down and wraps his hand around her bicep. “Don’t you trust me, baby?” he croons sarcastically and sadistically. Jaslyn winces as his fingers dig into her skin as he roughly hauls her to her feet.
Fuck no.
“Get your fucking hand off her,” I demand, inching farther into his space.
Jasper glares down at me before a grin forms on his face and laughter flows from his lips. “I’m sorry… are you trying to tell me what to do with my fiancée?”
“Let go of her, now.”
Jasper turns his head away from me, directing his gaze at Jaslyn. “Did I hurt you, baby?”
Jaslyn keeps her eyes on his and shakes her head once.
“See.” Jasper smiles innocently, looking back at me. “No harm, no foul. You thought you saw something that you didn’t.”
I know what the fuck I just saw and she’s covering it up out of fear.
She doesn’t need him, but what does he have over her that keeps her bound to him?
With a hardened stare, my gaze doesn’t waver from his hollow eyes and the same innocent smile is plastered on his face.
“Now, if we’re done here, I do need to be getting my fiancée home.” Jasper reaches out and pats my shoulder. “Don’t forget about the contract.”
The contract.
My eyes bounce back and forth between Jasper and Jaslyn as the envelope burns through the palm of my hand. He doesn’t notice when Jaslyn’s eyes meet mine, he doesn’t see the way her body slightly softens under my gaze. He doesn’t feel the shift in the air, the peace in the calm, her trusting a stranger more than the man she’s supposed to marry.
She’s not safe with him, but she will be if I’m there.
Extending my arm, I hold out the envelope for him. “Take it,” I grunt, shoving it into his hand. “I accept your offer.”
Jasper glances down at the envelope and back at me, raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t even read it.”
“I’m good with whatever it says.”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he tilts his head to the side as he assesses me. A moment passes and he’s back to smiling at me. “Very well.” He nods his head, satisfied with my decision. “Come by the house tomorrow, I need you to sign the official document and then we’ll get you moved in.”
I give him a curt nod and step to the side as Jasper glances to the door.
“I look forward to us working together.” He nods. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Axel.”
I remain silent as Jasper takes the lead and begins walking for the door.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Jaslyn whispers sadly as Jasper drags her past me. Following them with my eyes, I turn around just in time to see him shoving her out the door.
Jaslyn’s words should have me second guessing and she might be right, but it’s a mistake I plan to make with an ulterior motive.
It’s a mistake getting in bed with the enemy, but maybe it will get Jaslyn out. She’s paralyzed by her fear of him and she deserves to be free.
And I will make a million mistakes to make sure that that happens.
Chapter Six
Jaslyn
SLOWLY OPENING MY EYES, my head throbs in protest as I lift it from the plush white pillow. The sun is warm on my skin as it shines through my windows, casting its bright rays across the room. My eyes blink rapidly as they struggle to adjust to the burning light. Groaning in defeat, I drop my head back onto the bed and close my eyes, wincing as I roll onto my back.
Stretching out, I wiggle my toes and my ankles ache as I gently move them. Rolling an ankle while wearing heels is an occupational hazard. It’s bound to happen. Walking in heels is hard enough but trying to keep your balance as someone drags you or shoves you is even harder. A sprained ankle is expected at that point.
If it were broken, I would know and I’m grateful that it isn’t. Broken bones warrant a trip to the hospital and then come the questions. The hospital walls are painted thick with my lies and it’s only a matter of time before the paint starts to chip.
Lying on the bed, I wait until my eyes adjust to the light before dragging myself out from under the covers. With every step to the bathroom, I tense as a flash of pain shoots throughout different parts of my body. Looking into the mirror, I’m met with a black eye and a fat lip. It’s my signature look when I’m locked away at home. Jasper made arrangements for me to stay here, even though he’s been gone for hours, and after the damage he did last night, disobeying him is not on my to-do list.
♦♦♦
The night before
Jasper’s fingers dig into my skin as he drags me outside of the building. Desmond is already waiting for us by the car, watching with a frown as I trip over my feet. A wave of disdain passes through his eyes as Jasper tightens his grip on my arm. My ankle gives out and I release a cry as it rolls to the side, sending me onto the ground on my knees.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Jasper mutters angrily as he hauls me back to my feet. Pulling me in front of him, he roughly shoves me into the back seat of the car. The fresh scrapes on my knees slide against the leather seat, tearing the skin further.
Slipping in beside me, Jasper sits down and wraps his hand around my arm as Desmond closes the door behind him. Jerking his wrist, Jasper spins me toward him and drives his fist into my face as I turn to him. His knuckles hit me on the side of my face, coming in direct contact with my orbital bone and the pain singes my nerve endings as it engulfs my eye.
The force behind the blow sends my head crashing into the window. Blood rushes to my ears as they ring, and everything instantly goes black.
Slowly peeling my eyes open, I run my tongue over the deep gash in my bottom lip, tasting the blood as my vision grows clearer. Glancing out the window, I see that we’re driving… for how long, I have no idea. I don’t know how long I was unconscious.
I’m still slumped against the door and my mind is stuck in a fog as my head throbs violently.
Sitting upright, I wince as my head protests my movement as I straighten myself. Jasper’s hand is on me within the blink of an eye and I brace myself, anticipating his anger again.
“I swear to God, I can’t take you anywhere,” he seethes as his fingertips dig into my skin, leaving their mark. “I told you to wait for me, but no, you just can’t fucking listen. Why the hell were you sneaking around, following me?”
“You were gone for a while and I needed to know that you were okay.” It’s a lie, but it flows effortlessly from my lips.
Jasper laughs harshly and roughly pulls me against him as he breathes in my face. “You’re just a nosy little cunt,” he growls as he grabs a fistful of my hair. “Looks like someone needs another lesson on obedience.”
“I’m not your fucking pet.” I spit in his face and instantly regret it. I never talk back to him, ever. It’s like a fucking death wish.
Jasper’s eyes widen slightly as a sinister grin falls on his face. “My pet?” He laughs. “My pets know their place and are rewarded for their behavior, not punished. You.” He pauses, driving the tip of his finger into my chest bone. “You are nothing more than a whore. A wealthy whore who owes me the fucking world.”
Narrowing my eyes at him, I stare at him in disbelief. “I don’t owe you a goddamn thing,” I scoff.
In a flash, Jasper raises his hand and slaps me across the face. My vision blurs as the stars float and my ears ring. “Your father does and you’re paying his debts for him now,” Jasper growls in my ear. As he pulls away from me, the car abruptly halts as Desmond slams on the brakes, throwing me into
the back of the passenger seat. The tires squeal as another car flies past us, leaning on their horn. Desmond throws the car in park and sits frozen in place.
“Jesus Christ, Desmond!” Jasper yells as he’s thrown back into his seat. “I don’t pay you to drive like a fucking asshole.”
Desmond stares straight ahead, with his hands loosely holding the steering wheel. “Sorry, sir. I didn’t see the other car coming.”
“Save your breath with your bullshit excuses,” Jasper barks as he pulls his phone from his pocket. “Just fucking drive before I decide to fire you.”
Desmond gives a curt nod and he puts the car back in drive as his stormy eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. His expression is unreadable as he stares at me, not blinking, with his gaze steady on mine. With a small smile, I blink slowly, thanking him silently with my eyes.
His eyes quickly flash to Jasper’s face who isn’t paying attention to us as he types away on his phone. Desmond glances back at me with a swift nod and a wink as his foot simultaneously steps on the gas.
Our ride home is silent as Jasper is in his own little world and I’m trying to hang on to the pieces of mine. Desmond’s gaze is anywhere but on me and no one speaks a single word until we pull up to the house.
Pulling up out front, Desmond puts the car in park, leaving the engine running and slips out of the car, opening Jasper’s door first. Jasper climbs out of the car without a word and walks to the six-car garage attached to the house.
Desmond holds his hand out for me and gently eases me out of the car with Jaspers back turned to us as he punches in the code to open the garage door. Desmond stands outside of the car as I walk up the front steps and Jasper pulls one of the cars out of the garage.
“Go home, Desmond,” Jasper orders from inside his sleek Lamborghini. “Jaslyn, go the fuck to bed.”
He whips the car down the driveway without another word, leaving us standing as he slides through the gate.
“Where does he go this late at night?” I ask Desmond quietly as he walks around the back of the car. Pausing by the driver’s side door, he frowns at me and shakes his head.
Tilting my head to the side, I stare back at him with tired eyes. “I’m not stupid, Desmond.” I sigh. “I know about the others.”
“If you know, then why ask?”
“Because I need proof if I want to protect what is mine,” I tell him in a hushed voice. “I know what he is trying to do here, and I can’t let it happen.”
Desmond’s expression is unreadable as he stands there silently staring at me and I’m beginning to second guess my confession. I know that he hates Jasper, but perhaps he’s more loyal than I had thought.
A moment passes before he slowly opens his door and glances up at me. “If you need proof, then we will get it.”
Without another word, he’s gone, and I’m left standing on the front steps, bruised and battered, bloodied and in pain, with a smile on my face.
He will never have what is rightfully mine.
One way or another, Jasper is going down, even if it means that I go down with him.
♦♦♦
I need evidence to take him down and I need it before the wedding or else all of this will have been for nothing. The torture that I subject myself to by staying with him is mainly self-preservation, but he also has me trapped. He knows the right people and if I can’t prove how crooked he truly is, he wins. He’ll get the empire that my father built, and I’ll be completely expendable in his eyes.
Where that leaves me, I don’t want to know, and I don’t intend on finding out. So, until then, my only option is to lie low and stay in line.
Slipping out of my nightgown, I bypass my typical running clothes and slip into a bathing suit. Since I’m on lockdown, my morning run is off the table so swimming laps in the pool will have to suffice.
Jasper demands that I stay in shape and my waist stays slim, but I don’t work out for him. Everyone needs some type of an outlet and exercise is my only option. It gives me a high that I don’t get anywhere else and pleasure that no one else gives me.
The house is empty and quiet as I make my way downstairs. Passing through the kitchen, I spot a fresh plate of eggs and toast on the counter that Nina left out for me. Just like Desmond, Nina works for Jasper. She’s our housekeeper, but just like Desmond, she cares more for me than she’s supposed to. She’s another set of eyes that witnesses the wrath of Jasper, but she’s another voice that stays silent.
Everyone has a sense of self-preservation and even though Desmond and Nina see me as more than their employer’s fiancée, they would always look out for themselves first. They couldn’t save me, even if they tried and that’s okay. It’s okay because we all know that it’s the truth. The only person that can save me is me.
Grabbing the plate, I dump the food into the trash, careful to cover it up with a few paper towels and place it back by the sink. Nina doesn’t deserve to get in trouble for my lack of an appetite. She’s somewhere in this massive house so she’ll get to the dishes before he’s home.
The yard is quiet and peaceful as I walk out back and let myself through the gate to the pool. Striding past the diving board, I head straight for the water and dive in. The water is cool as it slides over my skin and my hair floats behind as I come back up to the surface.
With a deep breath, I slip back under the water and push off the side with my feet. Pain slices through my body and it screams in protest as I move my sore muscles and bones. Swallowing the agony, I let it mix with the anger inside me and embrace the torment as I push myself through the pain.
Self-reliance is vital in the game that we’re playing. If I can’t rely on myself, how could I ever expect to rely on someone else?
Chapter Seven
Axel
THROWING MY last duffle bag into the trunk of Rush’s Bentley, I carefully push it shut and slip into the passenger seat. Rush turns his head and looks at me with a mixed expression, one of confusion and possibly disgust.
“You’re sure about this shit?”
Not at all.
“I already accepted the offer.” I dismiss him with a shrug.
Rush narrows his eyes at me as his lip curls upward in disgust. “Since when do you listen to fucking anyone?”
“I’m doing what I gotta do to get back at the top, man.” I let out an exasperated sigh. It’s not a complete lie.
“Yo, if it’s about the money, I already told you not to fucking worry about it.”
Cracking my knuckles, I glare at him, ready to tear into him. “It’s not.” He never knows when to shut the fuck up.
“Axe,” he starts as he rubs the back of his neck. “You’re my brother, I told you I got you. I don’t fucking get it.”
“It’s my choice, Rush,” I growl. “Let it the fuck go.”
Rush throws his hands up in defeat and shakes his head. “Whatever.” He huffs. “I support you, even if I think you’re making a huge mistake.”
“Do I say shit about the mistakes you make?”
Shaking his head, Rush chuckles. “Nah, you’re right. Do your thing, bro.”
“Thank you,” I sigh with the sarcasm heavy in my tone. “I feel so much better with your blessing.”
“My pleasure,” he smirks as he starts the engine. “Remind me to get a new video camera then too.”
Glancing over at him, I raise an eyebrow as he shifts the car into drive. “What for?”
Rush chuckles with a shit-eating grin. “So, I can record all the pussy that you’ll be missing out on.”
“Something is seriously wrong with you.” I laugh, shaking my head at him.
“Oh, trust me,” he says with a wink. “I am well aware of that.”
Stepping on the gas, Rush whips the car onto the road and speeds away from our apartment as we laugh at his expense.
Maybe the mistake I’m making is leaving this walking, talking shit show by himself. He may not give a fuck about anything, but he can get into trouble as easily a
s he can get into your girl’s pants.
I’ll always have his back, but he won’t always have me around for damage control. Hopefully this will be a learning experience and not a mistake, but for people like us, no matter how good things go, shit eventually hits the fan.
I learned the hard way, but the streets taught me a fucking lesson.
Hope is an illusion… and hope will get you killed.
♦♦♦
Pulling up to the gated property, Rush lets out a low whistle as we wait to be buzzed in. “This shit makes our place look like a fucking pizza box that was pulled out of a dumpster.”
“So, buy something nicer,” I counter. He can afford something nicer than the dingy ass apartment we live in, but he refuses to. We grew up in the gutter and the gutter will always be our home. It’s cleaner and nicer than anywhere we’ve ever lived, but it has the same subtle touches of where we’ve come from.
He shrugs lazily with a bored look. “Nah, I like our dumpster pizza box.”
Rolling my eyes, I shake my head as the gates slowly open and Rush pulls through. He’s an ass-backward baller, driving a car that looks like he belongs in a ritzy ass neighborhood like this one. He could if he wanted, but he’d rather give up a kidney than move out of the city.
“Where the hell am I going here?” Rush stops in the middle of the driveway and his eyes scan the property.
Part of the driveway jets off to the right, leading to the fenced-in pool and the pool house. No one else appears to be here, so I just point in that direction.
“He said I’d be living in the apartment in the pool house, so just drop me off over there.”
Rush glances at me with a smirk playing on his lips and looks me up and down as if he’s studying me. “I never pictured you as a pool boy.” He pauses, tilting his head with an eyebrow cocked. “Did he get you a Speedo to go with the pool house?”
Mirage: Veiled Love Duet: Book One Page 4