Betrayed (Betrayed #1) (4 page)

It was well after dawn by the time I got home. I needed to get some rest. My mother would be here in just a few short hours. Jackson had left a message on my answering machine saying I could take the night off since my mother was coming to town. One good thing about having your boss as your father figure is that he gave me personal days to spend with my mother. Mother would be glad to hear it. But, I had a funny feeling that she already knew.

It felt so good to take a soak in the tub and get into bed especially after the last week I’ve had. Changes in my body that’s unexplainable heightened scenes’, no period, which by the way I’d be freaking out about if I wasn’t a virgin. Oh and lets not forget the mood swings and my appetite’s higher than normal. At this point I think I could eat the entire Miami Dolphins football team under the table. Good thing is I’m not gaining any weight. Actually my boobs are perkier, my waist is slimmer, and my muscles are more defined and tone. Hey I may be an FBI Agent but this FBI Agent is Miss Congeniality all the way. I may wear pants because the job calls for it in the field but I still go out looking like a girl. I may not be all sunflowers and rainbows about it, but I clean up good. Anyway it doesn’t really matter what I wear because as soon as someone sees my eyes they don’t notice much else. Some say I have grey eyes, but it’s more than that, they’re more like pure silver with just a touch of blue around the edges..

When I got home I took a shower and went straight to bed. Mmmm…. Soft comfy pillows. Wolves howling. Wait, what the hell. Do I even have wolves around here? Blackness. Nothing but pure obsidian.

Belinda was standing over Jessi while she’s screaming and writhing on the bed. Whatever had a hold of her would not allow her to wake up so Belinda pulled the Obsidian Stone necklace from around her neck and placed it on Jessica’s chest and gave her a good smack.

“Jesus Christ Jessi wake up!”

Smack, smack, smack, smack. Damn my cheeks are starting to sting. Smack.

“Ow! What the fuck!” Jessi jumped clear out of her skin and damn near fell on the floor looking around frantically to find out why her mom was smacking the shit out of her.

“Easy there girly you don’t need a red bum to match that red cheek.”

“What the hell mom?” I screamed.

“Sorry honey but you were screaming in your sleep again and when I couldn’t wake you up I got worried. So, I smacked you a few times until you came around,” Belinda said sheepishly.

Looking annoyed and rubbing my cheek from the sting of my mother’s tiny hands.

“Damn mom where’d you learn to hit so hard?”

While I’m still rubbing my cheek she stands there looking all cute petite and innocent. Jesus that woman's got one hell of a right swing.

“I said I’m sorry dear now go get some clothes on I got breakfast, or should I say lunch ready.”

When Belinda turned to walk away Jessi looked down at her self and sure enough she was naked as the day she was born. “Oh shit I’m seriously naked!” She shrieked and ran to the closet to snatch clothes on while Belinda was busy trying to hide the obsidian stone in her pocket and walking out the door.

There was a knock on the door so Belinda answered it. She peeked out the side window to see who it was. There’s a black stretch limo in the driveway and someone wearing a tux at the front door. “Who is it?” Belinda asked the stranger.

“I have a delivery for a Jessica and Belinda Barnes. It’s a package ma’am,” he replied.

“Alright leave it on the front porch and scurry away.” Under the circumstances and the current situation Belinda is not taking any chance on opening her daughter’s door to a complete stranger. The man bowed his head after he set the package gently on the front porch and walked to his limo.

The limo started back down the driveway as Jessi walked up. “Who was at the front door mom?” She said walking up and peeking out the window herself to see the limo drive off. “And why was a delivery guy in a limo?”

“I’m not sure dear. Go set down at the table in the kitchen and I’ll bring your package in to you.”

I headed to the kitchen; I’ve never seen my mother look so grim before. I wonder what’s going on. Did she and Jackson have a fight? She even seems to have dark rings around her eyes. Mom walked back into the kitchen, set the package on the counter and proceeded to finish setting all the food on the table. One thing I miss most about mom is when she cooks. Cause lord knows I damn sure can’t cook. I think I even burnt water once.

I watched as mom put out a different variety of fruits, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and oh my god it’s blueberry pancakes.

“Put your tongue back in your mouth young lady before you drool all over the food.” I had to force my eyes away from the food to look up at mom as I gave her a sheepish grin.

“Eat up before it gets cold.” Mom said

“Wow mom this is great. Where’d you get all the food?”

“Well I was late getting here this morning because I know you don’t cook so I stopped and got all the stuff we would need.”

Belinda was smiling at her daughter as she shoved food in her face liked a starved orphan. Pretty soon her life will be completely turned upside down. Fate will make sure she goes to Nikolaos on the 25th day after her 25th birthday. I just really hope she will forgive all of us in due time for leaving her in the dark.

“Aren’t you going to open your box dear?” Belinda asked. Jessica looked up from her plate to look at her mother, “Oh it’s probably a dress for the Ball Saturday night.” She said shrugging and shoveling another pile of food into her mouth.

“And what Ball would that be Jess?”

Jessi handed her mom the folded invitation that she put on the table the other night. As her mother read the invitation Jessica could see the color start to drain from her mother’s face. Jessi reached over to her mother. “Mom you okay?” she asked looking for any evidence as to why her mother looked like she was about to faint.

Belinda reached up and patted Jessi’s hand. “Yes dear, I’m fine. What Saturday is this Ball?”

“It’s this Saturday actually. So, I’m assuming that’s the dress Nikolaos sent.” She said while pointing at the large white box on top of the table.

Belinda got up from her chair and went to the box. The box was white wrapped with the biggest red ribbon topped off with a red bow. She reached for the box and slowly lifted the lid and gasped. Jessi came running over to her mother.

“Mom what is it?”

Both women looked down at the box in complete awe. Nikolaos did indeed send a dress. Jessi reached in a pulled the white garment out of the box.

“This has got to be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’d hate to see how much it cost.”

The dress is a white corset bodice gown with thin gold trim sewn around the edges and gold designs sewn perfectly on the corset. The skirt of the dress looks like it will be snug in the hips and then flow down to cascade around my feet.

“Jessi I don’t want you going to this Ball.” Belinda stated.

I looked up from admiring the beautiful piece of fabric in my hands to see my mother standing with her arms crossed over her chest. Which she usually did when she wasn’t happy about something.

“Do you wanna tell me why you don’t want me going to this Ball?”

“Because Nikolaos is a dangerous man and if he has taken the time to have a gown prepared for you then he’s interested in something.” She looked up at me then with haunted eyes. Something else flickered behind her eyes but it was gone before I could really register it. But I definitely got the feeling that there’s more going on around me than what I’m aware of.

“I’m very well aware of that mother but with all due respect I’m grown and I have a job to do and how in the hell do you know who Nikolaos is?” I snapped. It’s the same old argument with her. She hates my job. She hates me being unmarried with no children. She hates that I wear jeans. She just hasn’t realized yet that I don’t want any of those things.

“Work!” She shrieked. “What does work have to do with a Ball!? That man is more dangerous than you will ever know and I hope to god you never find out!”

“I’m not going because I wanna look pretty in a fucking dress! I’m going because that bastard has information on one of my crime scenes! And how in gods name do you know who Nikolaos is when I just found out a few hours ago?” I stamped my foot while glaring at her.

We stood facing each other waiting for the other to back down. Usually, even though she’s stubborn mom’s the one to break first. She knows I’m hard headed enough to stand here all day which she says I get from my father.

Letting out an exasperated sigh Belinda sat down and rubbed her face with her hands. “I know him because he’s all over the news. Ever since the supes came out publicly his face is everywhere. He’s also Miami’s number one most wanted bachelor. He’s also rumored to be very dangerous. Although no one can prove it and that’s exactly why I don’t want you to go.”

I turned and stalked out of the kitchen, walked into my office and grabbed what crime scene photos I had and threw them on the table in front of her. Watching her turn three shades of green she finally got the clue. I hated to do that to her. I never wanted those images in her head. Hell I never wanted them into mine. But it’s the only way I can get her to listen to reason when she gets like this. For some reason which she has never cared to elaborate on is that she despises anything preternatural. That was the main reason she didn’t want me to join the FBI’s SID unit like my father, other than she just didn’t want me to get hurt, which may I add I’ve done several times over.

See my family knew about preternatural beings way before they came out. Because my father knew something or was protecting something mom was now a widow. It was a werewolf that killed my father and left my mother for dead. They were attacked while mom was still pregnant with me. By some miracle someone walked by and found mom and got help to her. After I was delivered and mom healed up and was discharged out of the hospital we went to live with Jackson. Jackson was my father’s best friend and he swore to my dad along time ago that if anything happened to him he would take care of me and mom. Which Jackson has done every day since then.

Mom finally understood that I needed to go. So after some much needed negotiating I agreed she got to go, which I planned to take her anyway. I also have to wear black obsidian jewelry that she apparently bought as a belated birthday present. The jewelry was actually quite beautiful. The obsidian stones were actually set in real silver so that was a plus. Once everything was agreed upon she left the room saying she needed to make some phone calls. Which I found to be weird because she never talks to anyone except me and Jackson.

Hours later I’m nearly ready to go. I put my hair up on top of my head but left a few curls hanging down, falling loosely down my back. Me and mom ended up at the salon getting manicures and pedicures which to me is as bad as being in a torture chamber because I have the ticklish feet in the world. I almost kicked the poor tech in the face. But a girls got to do what a girls got to do. Hey even Cinderella got to go to the Ball. Except Cinderella went to fall in love with prince charming and I’m going to hopefully arrest prince charming. Now where can I stick a gun in this dress?

After a long day of pampering and primping I added the last touch up to my makeup. I strapped my thigh holster on that holds a small silver cricket and I added my ankle sheath to hold one of my daggers. I was right about this dress hugging my hips so it made taking weapons with me very difficult. I stepped out of my bedroom to see my mother in a beautiful purple gown that swished from side to side as she walked up to me.

“My god mom you look stunning.” I said grinning from ear to ear.

She stopped in front of me to turn all the way around so I can admire the beautiful gown. The front of her dress was high and straight from collarbone to collar bone that had two inch straps that went over her shoulders down into a V shape in the middle of her back and a strap around the bodice just below her breast and the gown fell loosely from the bodies down her body onto the floor. The color looked stunning with my mother’s tan skin and black hair.

“Oh this old thing,” she said sweeping her hands down the side of her gown. “It’s you that is an absolute vision my dear daughter. Now if I could just keep that dress on you instead of those faded out holey jeans you like to wear,” she said smiling.

I rolled my eyes and held my hand out to mom. She placed her hand in mine and we walked out the door to my very first Ball. Yay! Note the sarcasm.

The driver pulled up to the mansion the ball was being held at. It looked like a red carpet music awards event. Paparazzi and camera flashes were every where. So the question still remains who in the hell is Nikolaos to receive this kind of attention from the press and why am I just now hearing about him not even 24 hours ago when he’s obviously a very famous individual. The driver opened the door and helped us out of the car. Me and mom walked hand and hand through the crowd to the entrance.

Upon entering the mansion I took a good look around. All the women seemed to be extremely beautiful and all the men no matter what age seemed to range from handsome to GQ gorgeous. I’ve never seen so many pretty people in one place. It’s almost surreal.

A waiter passed by and we grabbed a glass of champagne, smiling at each other we looked up and across the room and spotted Jackson so we head his way.

“Oh Jackson so lovely to see you,” Belinda gushes.

“Would you to just hook up already and get it over with,” I said looking right at my mother.

“Jessi!” says Jackson scoldingly.

“Jessica Barnes watch how you speak young lady. That was not appropriate.”

“Please mom, every time you too are around each other you’re both practically lovestruck. I’m just stating the obvious. I can’t help it you two are too stubborn to do anything about it,” I say looking at mom.

“I have not the slightest idea what you are talking about,” she denies.

“Yes you do. You both do,” looking at both mom and Jackson I can tell I’m on to something. But for the life of me I can’t figure out why they haven’t gotten together. Unless....

“Please tell me you two are secretly hiding a relationship and not choosing to stay away from each other because of some honor bound bullshit towards dad?”

Mom stands there with her mouth gaped open and Jackson looks like he’s ready to bite my head off.

“Wow, you two really are in love and staying away from one another. Why in bloody hell would you do that? No offense mom but dads gone. Move on.”

“Alright Jessi,” Jackson says grabbing my arm and dragging me away. “That’s enough. Don’t speak to your mother like that and don’t stick your nose into business where it doesn’t need to be stuck.”

“But,” I protested.

“No buts,” he says cutting me off, “Let’s dance.”

“But I don’t dance,” I complained.

“Jess,” he says swinging me around, “Everyone dances.”

“You know for a big guy you sure do know how to move very gracefully around a dance floor,” I said sarcastically.

He makes a face, “Hardy har har smarty pants. Ya know for a girl you really are very ungraceful.”

“Hey I’m all grace.”

“Yeah well you have managed to stomp on my feet like twenty times already,” he says chuckling.

“Well maybe it’s your big feet that are in my way,” I teased. Just as Jackson was about to reply Jason walks up and taps Jackson on the shoulder.

“Do you mind if I cut in?” He asks.

“Not at all young man.” Jackson leans down and kisses me on the cheek then turns back to face Jason. “Besides I see a very beautiful women standing on the sidelines with no dance partner,” he says smiling at us.

Me and Jason look at the direction Jackson just headed in. Low and behold he’s headed straight for my mother.

“I can’t believe a babe like that would give Jackson the time of day,” Jason says turning back to me.

“Hey,” I say smacking his arm playfully, “that’s my mother you're talking about.”

He smirks at me, “like mother like daughter. Now I know where you get your looks from. Let’s just hope the mother is nicer than the daughter.”

“Ha ha very funny.”

Jason puts one arm around my waist at the small of my back and grabs my right hand and places it just above his heart on his chest. I guess we are done talking. Like Jackson he moves with fluid grace on the dance floor. What in the world does the FBI do take their agents aside and teach them ballroom dancing?

Just as I was about to voice my question aloud I get the most intoxicating scent that hit me so hard my knees about buckle. Jason grabs me closer to steady me.

“You okay?” Jason asks looking down at me.

“Yeah I’m fine.”

Instead of letting me scoot back Jason keeps me firmly pressed to his chest. I try to move my head to look around Jason to find where the smell is coming from. Jason smells good but he doesn’t smell that damn good.

The scent of Jasmine and vanilla are assaulting my senses making it damn near impossible to concentrate on anything else. I inhale deeply trying to get more of the smell into me. I can’t figure out where it’s coming from.

Jason drops his head down into the curve of my neck where neck and should meet. He takes a deep breath and nuzzles me. I lean my head into him. Between the intoxicating scent and close contact of Jason I start to feel heat travel down my body right between my legs. I discreetly rub my thighs together and lean closer into Jason and oh shit did I just moan.

Jason grabs my arm and drags me out to the balcony away from the crowd. Once outside He spins around to face me. He grabs my face with both hands and leans into me. A hairs breadth away from my lips he says, “God you smell so good.”

I can't say anything. I know he’s about to kiss me. I’m not even sure I want it to happen but right at this moment I can’t seem to think one coherent thought. So I do the only thing I can manage, I lean my head back, raise up on the tip of my toes to welcome his kiss.

Just as his lips are about to touch mine his damn phone rings. He still has a hold of my face but instead of his eyes closed and him about to kiss me, he’s staring at me with all his lustful emotions playing in his eyes.

“Shit!” he yell whispers. He steps away from me and answer his phone his eyes never leaving mine. I’m not sure what the conversation is about because all Jason is saying is yep’s, uh huh’s, alright’s, and we’re on our way.

He snaps his phone shut, re pockets it, and we just stare at each other. It seemed like we were like that for hours but I know it was only a mere second. “We got to go. We have another crime scene.” He seems remorseful or is it disappointment. If anyone should be disappointed it should be me. My almost first real kiss was just brutally interrupted. Wait why am I disappointed about almost kissing Jason. And why am I acting like a horny teenager. We can’t be kissing we work together for Christ sake.

We don’t say a word to each other as we walk out of the ball. The valet guy pulls up in a Maserati as we step outside. I look at the car then look at Jason. I look back at the car again then put my full attention into Jason.

“So tell me, how much do you get paid?”

He rolls his eyes and opens my door. “Just get in the car. Save your mouth for another day we don’t have time.”

“Well you don’t have to be an ass about it. It was just a question.”

He rubs the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, “Jessi, get in the car we don’t have time for this.”

I harrumph and scurried inside the car. I buckle up and cross my arms over my chest. I may be throwing a minor hissy fit but what do you expect, the guy almost kisses me then turns into a world class ass and won’t even talk to me other than “Jessi get in the car”. I mean really what is up with that.