Dark Passion (The Dark Brother Series Book One) (18 page)

W: No.

My phone rings and I angrily open it.

“What?”

“Where are you?” Jagger sounds worn and he’s panting.

“I’m fine. You need to leave me be.”

“I need to find you, do you have any fuckin’ idea how much danger you’re in?”

“I don’t care.”

“Willow, fuckin’ hell. You don’t have to talk to me, but you need protection.”

“So send Angel or Ace over. I don’t want to see you.”

He’s silent a long moment. “I’m sorry ok?”

I close my eyes and my lips tremble.

“Willow?”

“Just send Angel or Ace over, get one of them to call me and I’ll give them the address.”

“Fine,” he snaps. “Have it your way.”

I hang up and a moment later my phone rings again. I answer and hear Angel’s voice come across the line.

“Where are you?”

I give him the location.

“Right, I’ll be there soon.”

“Ok.”

“Bye.”

I hang up the phone and hope to
God Jagger doesn’t come with him, or follow him. I value my safety, so I know having Angel around will be a good thing but if he brings Jagger, I won’t deal with it so well. I’m already feeling shaky and so overwhelmed my stomach hurts. I find a seat near the window and sit on it, sighing loudly and trying to control my trembling. When a knock sounds out twenty minutes later, I stand on shaky legs and walk over.

I open the door and Angel steps in,
he’s alone thank God. I couldn’t deal with Jagger right now, I’ll just crumble and I can’t afford to do that. Angel gives me a smile, which I’m truly grateful for. I know he doesn’t have to be here, in fact, it’s probably the last place he wants to be but here he is, doing me a favor when I probably don’t deserve one. I wave my arm towards the seat and he sits down, staring at me with those light blue eyes.

“I’m sorry Angel,”

“I know Jagger can be an asshole, but he’s beside himself.”

“He hurt me.”

Angel nods, giving me a sympathetic look. “I know he did, but Jagger doesn’t think sometimes.”

“It’s not an excuse…” I whisper.

“Look, I know what he’s like but I also saw him tonight. He was beside himself Willow. He cares about you, a lot. I know you can’t let go, I know he took you and for a while your life was all but pleasant. I know that can’t be easily forgotten, but in a sense he was doing you a favor.”

“Why do you all keep throwing that in my face?” I cry.

“I’m not throwing it in your face, I’m just stating the obvious and that is that you would have been taken no matter what. Jagger can be a hard ass, and his life isn’t rosy and sweet but he’s not a bad person. He’s been through more than you could ever imagine in his short life. He saved you, even if you refuse to see it like that because if Manchez had have gotten his hands on you, I guarantee you wouldn’t be sitting here now. If you want to blame anyone, blame your dad…”

“You think I don’t?” I say, in a small, weak voice.

“Then why so much anger towards Jagger?”

“You don’t get it, do you? I didn’t ask for any of this…”

“I know.”

“And I fell in love with him, now it’s all messed up.” I cry, putting my head in my hands.

“You know he’s in love with you too, right?”

“No…he’s not.”

“I think you’re wrong.”

I lift my head and meet his gaze, and he smiles weakly. “Give him a chance Willow, we’re not bad people.”

“You’re all in a gang.”

“We’re not a
gang; I’d prefer to call us dark Brothers.”

I smile weakly. “I like that.”

“Me too,”

“Thank you, for being here.”

Angel stands and stares down at me. “I’m goin’ to crash on the couch. Get some rest.”

I nod weakly, and force myself to stand. With wobbly legs, I walk over to the bed and crawl in. I throw the covers over my head and unlock my phone to see a message from Jagger.

J: I never slept with her.

What is he talking about?

W: What?

J: The girl that came over when u
were still my captive, the night u tried to harm yourself. I never slept with her. I sent her home. I couldn’t do it. It might mean nothing to u, but I knew back then what I wanted. I knew it then and I know it now.

I choke a sob and hot tears soak my pillow. His words warm my heart, and I drift off into
an emotionally exhausted sleep.

CHAPTER 17

The next morning, Angel and I go back to the hotel right away. When we get in, no one is there. Angel tries to call Jagger, but he gets no answer. He gives me one of those concerned looks, and drives me back to the apartment. Ava and Jenny are home, without Ace. Confused, Angel demands answers. Only to be hit with more confusion.

“Jagger left early this morning after a phone call,” Jenny explains. “Ace went with him. They told us to lock the doors and left us with a few guns. He said something about his old place. Then he smashed his phone and stormed out.”

“Why the fuck would he leave you girls alone?”

“He went quickly. Something was definitely off.”

Angel
rings Ace’s phone, no answer.

“Stay here, shut and lock the doors. I’m going to find Jagger.”

I nod, and take the heavy, cold gun he hands me. He turns and rushes out the door, and I turn to Jenny and Ava. Both rush over and hold me, and we cling to each other. Confused and concerned. I hear my phone ringing from my bag – letting them go, I reach down to grip it. An unknown number flashes on my screen. I answer it.

“Hello?”

“Willow, it’s me.”

It’s my
Father, how the hell did he get my number?

“How did you get my number?”

“It doesn’t matter. You need to listen to me. Jagger is in trouble.”

“What?”

“I called him this morning, and told him where Manchez was located. I told him a huge drug bust is going down at the Warf, and Manchez is making a massive deal. Jagger left and went after him.”

“What?” I cry.

“I just found out…the cops are going to be there. They are going to make a massive bust. It’s going to be a blood bath, you need to stop him.”

“WHAT?”

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know!” I cry.

“You need to find him, and you need to get something for me.”

“I don’t need to do anything for you!” I cry.

“Do you want Jagger alive?”

I close my eyes and I feel someone’s hand touch my shoulder. I open my eyes to see Jenny and Ava’s concerned looks.

“Yes.” I answer simply.

“In your dressing table, there is some information.”

“What information?”

“
It doesn’t matter, it’s the info I hid in there. Go and find it.”

I run into the room and pull out the draw
ers, underneath the bottom one, is a fake board. How did I miss that? With my foot, I kick it until it breaks. Inside there are papers in a plastic wrap. I pull them out and quickly read over them. It’s just a bunch of co-ordinates.

“What is this?” I whisper.

“It’s co-ordinates to an island where the biggest drug deals go off.”

God
, I feel sick.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Bring it to me.”

“Why?”

“If the cops find you with that, you’re in big…big trouble. If I have it, they’re less likely to care, I was a cop. If Jagger gets hold of it, he will go down too.”

Why do I feel like this is blackmail?

“I don’t know…”

“Willow, you need to trust me. Bring those to me on the corner of South and Broadway in twenty minutes. Come alone.”

“Fine,”

I hang up the phone and stand, running into the office. Ava and Jenny run after me.

“What’s happening?”

“Jagger is in trouble, I need to find him.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. I have to do something first, then I’m going to find him.”

“He said he was going to his house, maybe he’s there.”

“No, it’s two hours away. He wouldn’t go there.”

“Why would he say that?”

“So we wouldn’t follow.” I answer simply.

I knew exactly what Jagger was doing. He was trying to protect me. He didn’t want me anywhere near this show down. I throw the papers into the photocopier and photocopy them. I don’t know why, but I think this information is crucial. I shove the papers at Jenny.

“Wrap these in plastic and hide them real good.”

“What are they?”

“Just do as I say.”

I pull on my shoes and some dark shades, and then I shove the papers under my shirt and rush to the front door. I pick up the gun and put it down my pants.

“Willow…what’
re you doing?” Ava panics.

“It’s fine, I have to go.”

“Don’t…it’s dangerous.”

I hug her and Jenny, kissing them both. “Please, stay here.”

“Willow!” They cry as I rush out the door.

~*~*~*~

I see my Father as soon as I step out of the cab; he’s standing on the footpath alone. When I get out of the cab, he sees me and his face hardens. We stare at each other for long moments, before I finally speak.

“
Let’s save any chit chat. You wanted the information, you got it. I have to and find Jagger.”

I thrust the papers at him, and he scans them,
and then looks up to meet my gaze.

“
You won’t find him.” He whispers.

“Excuse me?”

“It’s too later for Jagger…”

“I don’t understand.”

He closes his eyes and sighs. “I’m sorry to have to do this to you but…I set him up. I rang him and told him Manchez had you.”

“You’re lying, Angel was with me. Jagger would have called him.”

“Angel didn’t answer.”

“How could you?” I scream.

“I need Jagger out of the way; he’s been a thorn in my side for too long. He’s been trying to get me out of hiding and get that information. It only occurred to me a few months ago, that I could use you to tie him in and get him out of the way. He wanted that information and you had that information…it worked out well. Now I have the information and Jagger will die. Everyone goes home happy.”

I feel sick. All along my
Father was behind this.

“How could you? I’m your daughter.”

“And I never intended for you to get hurt, I knew Jagger wouldn’t hurt you. I did what I had to do to get him out of the picture. It had to happen like this, I’m sorry but I had no choice.”

“You’re part of the gang…aren’t you?” I whisper.

“Yes.”

My Father was working with Manchez all along. That’s why all those years ago he tried to take Jagger down, oh God. I feel sick.

“You can’t do this!”

“I have to. I just needed this information first.” He says, waving the papers in my face.

“Please…”

“I’m sorry Willow, but I have to do this.”

He moves quickly, pulling out his gun. “Get in the car.”

My eyes widen, “Dad, please.”

“Look, just do as I ask and no one will get hurt. Get in the car.”

“Dad…”

“NOW!”

I slide into the car, trembling. My Father takes my purse and my phone, and cuffs my hands together. I stare at him with pain in my eyes. I feel so betrayed.

“Now, I won’t let anyone hurt you Willow but I need you here until he’s out of the way. This needs to go as planned, but I promise you won’t get hurt.”

I don’t say anything; I refuse to acknowledge him at all. As far as I’m concerned, he’s dead to me. We drive for about twenty minutes and pull up at an
old, run down house. My Father pulls me out of the car and drags me inside the house and into a secured room. He puts me on a chair and then ties me to it. A moment later, a man in a dark suit walks in.

He’s tall, around six feet and looks very sophisticated. His eyes are grey and his hair is dark black. His smile is pure evil. I know right away this is Manchez, I know it with every part of me. He smirks and walks forward, running a finger over my cheek, I jerk my head away.

“Fiery daughter you have here, Kane.”

“You promised you wouldn’t hurt her Manchez, please don’t.”

“I don’t intend on hurting her, unless she makes me angry. Now tell me, sweet Willow, where’s Jagger’s gang friends?”

“I don’t know.”

He laughs lightly and cracks his knuckles. “Don’t lie to me; you won’t like how it ends.”