Irons (Norfolk #1) (19 page)

“Frankie,” she cackled. “Jaxson, don’t act like a love struck school boy. You’ve been raised better than that.”

My blood was at boiling point now, “You still haven’t answered my god damned question, mother.”

“Question, Jaxson?”

“Do you know anything about her attack or—”

“Now, why the hell would I know about that, Jaxson? Do you even know anything about this girl besides the fact that she is William’s sister? I mean really Jaxson.”

“I want to make sure she is safe. Do you understand that?”

“I want you to be seen with Mimi at functions, do you understand that?”

“No. No I do not. Francesca is my girlfriend. She will be attending—”

“She will be attending what, Jaxson? Do you really think that if she has someone after her that will make her safer? You do understand where this governorship is leading Jaxson. Your father has the support we have dreamed about. He has a great shot at the Republican Party’s support in a year for the next Presidential election if this goes well. One year, Jaxson, of toeing the line and we could be looking at residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in two years. Then in twelve years, it’s practically handed to you. Do you understand? This is a dream of our families and your obligation.”

“Presidency is your dream. It is not mine.”

“Jaxson, remove the emotional baggage you are allowing yourself to carry. Tell me being the Commander and Chief of this great nation is not something you have dreamed of your entire life.”

“I want both.”

She let out an exaggerated breath. “I have never indulged a spoiled child Jaxson and that is just what you’re acting like. But I will allow it, play with Francesca,” I heard her cover the phone and speak to someone for a moment and then she was back, “I will ensure her safety, put someone on her—”

“Someone that answers to me mother, not you. You send names, I chose who it is,” I demanded.

“As long as your indulgence is private and not public, son. As long as you continue going to events with Miss Caldwell, I will ensure that she is kept safe.”

“Francesca is not an indulgence. When you and father are living in Richmond in Capitol Square, I am out and that will all depend on whether or not Frankie is willing to play this game. I don’t like it one bit, do you understand?”

“Indulging you, son, don’t argue. My trainer is here. We will chat later.”

She hung up and I leaned over the railing trying to figure out how to I would proceed.

I had no clue who to trust anymore. I had no idea if Mimi was full of shit or if her family was behind the attacks and threats. I had no idea what the hell I was going to do, what I knew was that I didn’t want to walk away from Frankie.

What mother had said about feelings was not one hundred percent wrong. Feelings, emotions, those things clearly confused the mission I had been on my entire life. It felt too damn good, too right to be wrong.

I needed to speak to Mimi, and I needed to figure out if her suspicions were real or not. I needed to know who I could and could not trust. I needed to know more before I trusted one of her people to watch over Frankie when I was unable to. One thing that I was now sure of was that her safety, her sanity would come before anyone in my life.

I turned to see Shadows leaning against the door to the apartment, smoking a cigarette.

“Those things will kill you, man.”

He smirked and held it out, “Not lit.”

“What’s the sense, then?”

“Just want the choice to be mine. I love these damn things and everyone says they’re bad for me. I’m not sure I agree. I mean who the fuck knows if they really give you cancer, right? But I keep a pack on me so that I can be the one to make that choice. Not some fuck who has never sucked it into their lungs and loved the burn; me. Bad for me or not, if I want it, I can have it.”

He gave me a wink.

“Can you stick around for a few hours?”

“You have shit to stir up?” He opened the Camel hard pack and put the unlit cigarette back in.

“Maybe a little.”

“She’ll be pissed when she wakes up and you’re not here. You should go tell her you’re taking off.”

“She’ll understand.”

“Sure about that?”

“Shadows, I am pretty damn sure.”

“Alright man.”

“Thanks.”

Frankie

A
fter listening to
Jax’s conversation with his mother through the cracked living room window inside my apartment, I knew it was going to be a long day. We needed to discuss what having a relationship with me would really mean for him and his future. Although he seemed adamant that he cared, and I knew he did, I wasn’t sure I was willing to let him throw away a future that he didn’t seem to want to walk away from.

While showering, I replayed his side of the conversation in my head.
Good morning, mother. No. It’s not. You remember Francesca Cruz? She and I are going to try to start a relationship. No it’s not a joke, mother.

His mother clearly thought her son was incapable of loving me. But he had stuck up for me by saying
explain what that is supposed to mean. She is a good person
. I wondered what she knew that led her to believe I wasn’t good enough for him. And then when he said
She is Will’s sister
, I wondered if maybe Jax and I were kidding ourselves about our feelings not being brought on by Will’s loss.

I was sure I was wrong when he said,
she loves me and my feelings
, but then he was interrupted. The subject changed to the attack and maybe that was another reason he felt this way, maybe he was trying to protect his best friend’s sister.

I learned that a rope of some sort was left on my doorstep and yes, it scared the hell out of me, but what did it mean?

He went on to argue with her. About me going to events and I was sure I wasn’t ready for that, not at all.

Then wanting to keep me safe and names and he gets to choose. Choose what? He said I wasn’t an indulgence, and that his decision was based on whether I was willing to play this game. I assumed he meant political and I wasn’t sure I wanted to play it, either.

Then I watched him lean over, resting his elbows on the railing running his hands over his hair. I knew he was angry, tense, and he must have been tired. I knew I was.

The warm water didn’t hurt as much against my skin as it did yesterday, it was tolerable.

I closed my eyes and finally let it sink, in what had actually taken place in the last twenty four hours. I missed Will every day but today was worse. I needed him and the peace he brought to me, and I knew Jax needed him too.

My tears couldn’t be stopped. They released with my sorrow, my intense sadness, the fear I felt was imminent and the fear was of what was to come. I stood, allowing the shower water to dance with my tears, to hide them, to sweep them away, and to make them disappear so I wouldn’t make him feel more angst than I knew he felt right then.

When the tears dried up and the water ran cold, I got out and grabbed my robe, threw it on and walked out.

Shadows was standing against the counter, drinking a cup of coffee, and it startled me.

“Hey, girl, it’s just me.”

“Sorry, it’s just—”

“Lots going on, I know. Coffee?”

“Sure.”

I sat at the table and he handed me a cup of coffee and sat down.

“Did Jax go back to bed?”

He shook his head no and looked up from his cup. “He had to step out.”

“So you’re, what, babysitting me?”

Shadows smiled and then took a sip of coffee.

“Nah, he just needed to go out.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s good. You don’t have to worry about him.”

“Shadows, please don’t treat me like I’m some kid. I’m not. I’m a woman now.”

“Listen Little Will, I don’t want to hear that, okay? Jax may be good with it but Shadows,” he pointed to himself, “is not.”

“You’re a jerk.”

He laughed and then we sat silently for a moment.

“Shadows, I don’t like him doing whatever it is he is doing alone. I—” I stopped when I felt the heat start in my throat. “I worry about him too, you know.”

“I do, too. I know he’ll be okay.”

Finally I couldn’t stop myself from asking the question, “Do you think his family—”

“No. No, I don’t.”

“Then who?”

He looked at me and shook his head from side to side, “No idea, but I do know it won’t happen again.”

“How do you know that?”

“Will left you three,” he scrunched up his face, “okay, Irons doesn’t count anymore, so two big brothers.”

“Who will keep me in the dark just like Jax.”

“On the contrary, we’ll keep you in the light, Little Will.”

There was a knock at the door and he jumped up and held his hand against his hip. “Oh, my God, do you have a gun?”

“A what?” Mary gasped as she walked out of her room.

I looked at Shadows, realizing I had just messed up and he smiled at her, then looked her up and down. She scowled and pushed her glasses up, then tightened her robe.

“I have a cramp, that couch isn’t comfortable. Mary, you should let me sleep in your room next time I stay over.”

“Pfftt,” she said as she turned red and went to walk past him to the door.

He grabbed her hand, stopping her. “Little lamb, I got it.”

She turned beet red and opened her mouth like she was going to say something, yet nothing came out.

He laughed and I watched as he looked her up and down, “That’s a good Little Lamb.”

Shadows turned around and walked to the door.

Shadows was the typical pilot, tall, lean, and muscular. He had dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was very good looking. I thought Mary was easily one of the most beautiful girls around, but it was obvious she didn’t realize it. Shadows did.

“Can I help you?” Shadows said through the cracked door with his hand on his hip, yes I was sure he had a gun.

“I’m here to see Mary.”

“Let him in, it’s Joe,” I said as I walked up behind him.

Joe was Mary’s boyfriend. He also attended school here. They had been dating for about six months. To me he wasn’t into her as much as I thought he should be. I thought everyone should have someone who makes them feel the way I felt for Jax.

“Mary, we have brunch in twenty minutes.”

“I sent a text. I don’t think I am feeling up to it today.”

“Don’t be silly. Just go put a dress on. My friends are expecting us.”

“She said she wasn’t up to it.”

Joe looked at Shadows and then back at Mary, rolling his eyes slightly.

“Mary, come on, hurry it up. You have class at ten.”

“Little Will, is Mary’s friend hard of hearing?”

“Boyfriend, Mary’s boyfriend, and no I am not.”

The look Joe gave him was intense. Shadows laughed.

“Mary, when did you and your friends start inviting soldiers over on Monday mornings?”

“Joe, allow me to introduce myself. I am Lieutenant Shadows and let me assure you, I wasn’t invited over this morning, I stayed the night.”

Mary’s jaw nearly hit the ground and Joe’s face immediately turned purple.

“With me.” I stood, walked over and handed Shadows his coffee and stood close to him, trying to give the impression that Shadows was in fact with me.

“I’ll be ready in just a few minutes, Joe.”

“I’ll help you get ready,” he said, still looking at me and Shadows.

When they left the room, I nudged Shadows and he threw his arm around my shoulder and whispered, “Irons know you feel this way about me?”

I laughed and so did he. I set my coffee back on the table and whispered, “Can you behave while I go get dressed?”

“I can try,” he whispered back.

*     *     *

After dressing, I
walked out and Shadows was lounging on the couch, watching the morning news. I sat down just in time to see a recap from Saturday night’s charity event that highlighted Jaxson and Mimi’s interview. It was accompanied by a commentary about the possible romantic connection between the son and daughter of Virginia’s next Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s children.

I felt Shadows looking at me and I looked up at him, “I trust Jax.”

“No reason not to,” he said, grabbing for the remote.

I snatched it out of his hand when I saw a shot of Jax and Mimi walking down the beach drinking coffee and they appeared to be in an intense conversation.

“Where did Jax say he was going?”

“I don’t think that was today,” Shadows huffed.

“It says live, Shadows and I am pretty sure that’s near his place. Look at the sign, it says—”

“He said he had to take care of something. That’s it. But if that is him, I am sure he has a reasonable explanation.”

I sat back and watched, trying to ignore the reporter’s speculative banter she was exchanging with her co-anchor.

I stood up just as Mary and Joe walked out of her room.

It was obvious that Joe and Mary had just had an encounter of a sexual nature. Joe gave Shadows a look and Shadows laughed again.

I shot him a glare, hoping he wouldn’t say anything more to him, and he held his hands up signaling he wouldn’t.

When they walked out the door, Shadows laughed.

“Please share that story with me.”

“What story?”

“She has to complain about sex with that dick. I mean, really, they were in there ten minutes and she came out dressed with her hair done. I certainly wouldn’t walk out of there peacocking if I were him.”

“She isn’t the type to discuss that kind of stuff.” He laughed and it made me laugh too.

“It would be a short discussion,” he winked.

Then it hit me. “You like Mary.”

“What the hell do you mean, I like Mary?”

“I mean, you have the hots for her.”

“No.”

“Yes you do, admit it.”

“Jesus.”

“Please tell me. I could use the distraction right now, Shadows.”

“She’s a cute little shit.”

“Little Lamb,” I corrected him.

“Ha, ha. Stay out of it. I am here for a purpose and it is not to get up Mary’s little lavender dress.”

“That’s good, Lieutenant, because if you had been trying, I would say you failed this mission.”