An Arrangement of Love (17 page)

Two years of my life and love down the drain.

I gazed at Chase and Lucy asleep on the bed. And here I stood in a situation that didn’t even look good on paper. My gut yelled run, and I’d found out through the years that my instincts tended to be right. I’d made a huge mistake by stepping into Chase’s insane world.
It’s just not me
. I bet there were loads of people out in the world who wouldn’t have minded Lucy watching them have sex, but I wasn’t one of them. Chase had simply chosen the wrong girl.

No. I’m not mentally or emotionally designed for this.

I tiptoed across the room. The sunlight peeked between the curtains.
Where are my clothes?
Darkness blanketed the space so much I couldn’t see anything. I located a towel, wrapped it around me, and sped out of the room like my life depended on it.

Never again.

It took me fifteen minutes to pack my things. I slung them in bags without even folding them. Each minute, I glanced over my shoulder as if Chase or Lucy would storm in and try to keep me in the hotel. Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the airport and purchased a commercial flight back to the US. I’d spotted one of my guards rushing to buy tickets too and prayed he wouldn’t wake up and alert Chase. For two hours I waited in the airport with nerves flickering on the borderline of hysteria. When the plane arrived, I boarded and thanked god. Hopefully, no hard feelings would come between us. Before I got on the flight, I even emailed him to make certain of no ill will.

Chase,

I’m sorry. I promised I wouldn’t leave without telling you what was wrong, but I just figured you would talk me into staying. I don’t want to be a part of your arrangement. Sorry I agreed. Neither of you did anything wrong. It’s me, not you.

Jasmine :-)

He would be pissed, but he would get the message and move on.

M

Now back to normalcy
.

Back in the U.S., I sighed in relief as I climbed the stairs to my apartment. Visions of a shower and my soft mattress danced in my head. It was five in the morning, and I just needed a snack and lots of sleep
.

Just a simple normal . . . What the hell?

My brother stood naked in the hallway. He held a pillow to hide the one thing I absolutely did not ever desire to see most of all. He didn’t even notice that I approached. He kept his ear to my door, listening to the yells and shouts drifting out of my apartment. Plates crashed from inside and then ivian shrieked.

“What the hell?” I dropped my bags on the ground.

“You bastard!” Vivian screamed from inside the apartment. “You son of a bitch!”

“Oh god. You’re here. Quick! Give me your keys.” Troy raced to me with his hand out. “Hurry. Noc caught us hooking up—”

“How did he even get in?” I held my hand to my chest.

“He had a key.”

“What? When did he get a freaking key?”

“Viv hurried me outside so she could talk to him and then that motherfucker locked the door. They’ve been fighting ever since. He won’t let her open the door and—”

“What the hell?” My heartbeat increased.

“Keys, Jasmine!” He yanked up my bag. “Where are they?”

“I—”

“I swear I heard him hit her.” Troy’s chest rose and fell like he’d just been sprinting. “She’s been crying. I have to make sure he’s not hurting her!”

I rummaged through my bag at a panicked pace, knocking out its contents to the ground. Then I realized my keys were in my bra and dug them out.

“Here.” I tossed the keys to him. He dropped the pillow, which made me cringeas it fell to the floor and bounced. Completely naked, he ran to the door, slammed the keys into the lock, and wrenched the door open. It was in that moment it hit me that letting Troy in the apartment might not be a good idea.

“You’re dead, motherfucker!” Troy yelled.

Yes. Definitely a bad idea.

A boom sounded up ahead. I rushed in and spotted Vivian first. Swollen purplish skin surrounded her right eye. Blood dripped from her nose. Tears and snot covered her face as she waved her hands. “No. Troy!”

Noc’s earsplitting shrieks filled the air. I rounded the corner into the living room right as Troy charged him. Troy’s head slammed into Noc’s bony chest. Both guys crashed into the coffee table. Broken and splintered wood shot up. I rushed toward a screaming Vivian and hugged her. She looked like she was going to try to pull Troy back, but it would only get her hurt. I’d learned the hard way many times that once Troy began a fight it was impossible to stop him. And maybe I could have figured out a way to stop him--hitting him in the head with a pan had worked once. But another glance at Vivian’s face forced me to pause and root for Troy to kick Noc’s behind.

“Are you okay?” I held her to me with shaking arms. Grunts sounded from the floor as both men struggled to get on top of each other.

Vivian wiped her face with the back of her arm. “Y-you’ve got to stop Troy. He’ll get in trouble and—”

Troy flipped Noc over like he was a ragdoll. His biceps bulged and flexed with the move. It was over for Noc. Once Troy got on top, no one had a chance of survival, unless there was an extra weapon around.

“You like to hit women?” Troy’s fist collided with Noc’s jaw so fast it was a blur of movement and then a bang as the fist made contact. Soon after a crack sounded so loud, I flinched and Vivian jerked back in my arms.
Holy shit!
Noc’s eyes closed as he slumped back on the carpet. Blood spilled out of his mouth. He mumbled something.

“Hit me!” Troy reared back with a bloody fist and pounded on Noc’s face. “Hit me!”

“Troy, stop!” My whole body shook. Tears streamed down my face. I guided Vivian back and tightened my grip on her. She couldn’t go to Troy when he was like this. His mind drifted far away from us. I’d asked him once where he mentally went when he beat someone so badly in a fight. He’d confessed it was to our home in South End on those nights when he’d watched our mom be beat and hurt, and he’d simply stood back as a defenseless kid unable to do anything.

“Arberbanm,” Noc mumbled. More blood leaked out of his mouth and streamed from his eyes as he coughed and tried to wag his hands. Troy punched him again.

“No!” Vivian screamed.

“Troy, don’t do this. It’s over.” I closed my eyes and kept shaking my head.

“Oh my god! Troy! You’re going to kill him!” Vivian cried. “Please, don’t punch him anymore!”

The desire to run out of the apartment flowed within me, but I stayed there, unsure of what else to do. I couldn’t call the cops.

Footsteps stomped into the apartment. I opened my eyes. The bulky white bodyguard Lucy had pointed out in India rushed in. A black guy twice his size bolted in soon after. They both snatched up Troy by his arms and restrained him the best they could. Troy struggled and fought the two guards, but with them working together he was no match. One held his arms. The other captured his legs. Neither said anything as Troy cursed.

“Who are they?” Vivian covered her mouth.

“They’re my guards.” I stepped over to Noc and prayed with all my strength he was okay. I tapped his leg with my foot. “Noc? Are you okay?”

“Mommy?” Noc rolled over in his own blood. He wiggled his fingers a little. Heavy footsteps boomed behind me.
Now who is this?
I turned to see my worst nightmare come true.

“Everyone down, right now!” Cops pushed me out of the way with their guns aiming toward Troy and my guards. I dropped to the floor full of anxiety and grief.
Welcome home.

Chapter 17

“
Ma’am, if you
don’t leave I will have you arrested myself,” the cop barked at me.

“But it was self-defense.” I hit the counter with my hand. “My brother was defending my roommate.”

“Next,” the cop said.

A long line of people stood behind me. The best thing about our apartment being located out of Oshane City was that our tiny town insisted on its independence. Knightson had its own small police department, a one-truck fire team, a one level hospital, and a whopping total of two traffic lights. People in Knightson relished in the small town feel and low crime rate. Fortunately for me, since Knightson police arrested Troy, Noc, and Vivian, all three remained behind bars in the same building. If we’d been in Oshane, I would have been forced to race all over the city to different jails so I could negotiate Troy and Vivian’s release as well as post for bail.

Not that I could get any of them out.

They’d arrested Troy and Noc for assault and battery. And Vivian for the five pounds of marijuana the cops discovered in her closet. I’d planned on cursing her out about the drugs as soon as Benny arrived and posted bail. I couldn’t believe she allowed Noc to keep drugs at our apartment or give him the keys to our place. Apparently, he’d come to pick up some of his stash when he found Troy and her having sex. The only reason the police didn’t arrest me was my airplane ticket proving I’d just gotten off a plane and my luggage bag was sprawled in the hallway.When they found the drugs, Vivian pointed to Noc. Being the outstanding guy Noc was, he pointed his fingers right back at Vivian and claimed the drugs were hers. And that’s what got Vivian arrested for possession of illegal narcotics.

“Step to the side.” The cop pointed at me. He munched on a baguffin I recognized as Mama Jane’s hot selling item, salty caramel pretzel
. I hope he chokes on it and dies
.

“And you come back up here again, I’m putting you in a holding cell,” he said as he chewed. Crumbs sprayed out the corners of his mouth.

Returning to the sitting area, I glanced at my watch.
Hurry, Benny
. When I called him, he’d yelled at me over the phone. He’d never met Noc, for obvious reasons, and didn’t even know Vivian had a boyfriend. Additionally, he chastised me for not notifying him of Troy’s release.

I hope Vivian is alright in there. She’s probably freaking out.

I’d been at the police station for three hours. Sunglasses shielded my red and puffy eyes. More tears streamed down my cheeks. We could maybe save Vivian, but not my brother. Troy had violated his probation by hitting Noc. Benny promised to do everything he could to keep Troy from returning to Oshane City jail.
Benny won’t be able to do anything
. I clutched my fingers into a tight fist.
I should’ve never let Troy into the apartment
.

The door swung open. A chilly wind soared in. A black woman entered with two little kids holding her hand. Chase stepped in after her, dressed in a leather jacket, jeans, and a dark green shirt. I froze, unable to move or make a sound. Two men shorter and dressed in designer suits trailed behind him.

“Chase, what are you doing here?” I stood from my seat.

“Tell my lawyers what happened.” Chase clamped his hand on mine. His thumb drew circles on my wrist.

“How did you know I was here?” I asked as he sat next to the seat I’d been in and motioned for me to sit.

“Your guards told me. Now tell my lawyers who was arrested and why.” He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Be honest and don’t leave out any details. They’re here to help.”

“Okay.” I swallowed my fear and described the events from the moment I spotted my naked brother outside the apartment to the instant I began hassling the cops at the station. The shortest lawyer scribbled notes on a notepad. The other pulled out his phone, dialed a number, and went outside. Chase gripped my hand the whole time.

“Anything else?” they asked.

“No.”

Chase’s lawyer closed his notebook. “It shouldn’t be a problem getting them to drop the assault and possession charges. Judge Ulson works this district. He’s a friend. Although, the judge may have her do some sort of drug addiction program so no one gets suspicious.”

“And her brother’s probation violation?” Chase asked.

The lawyer rubbed the tips of his fingers together with his thumb. “Lots of money.”

“Take care of it. I don’t care about the cost.” Chase rose and looked at me. “We need to talk.”

“You can fix my brother’s violation?” My mouth dropped open.

“Of course.”

I shook my head. “What do I have to do for that? What—”

“Nothing. It sounded like this Noc deserved to get punched in his face. Who cares about him? Your brother shouldn’t suffer from something most men would have done.” Chase gestured for me to stand up. “Please, let’s talk.”

“Where?”

“In my limo.” He gently squeezed my hand.

“Benny is on the way. I should call him.”

The door flung open. Benny stormed in.

“Oh. There he is. I’ll be right back.” I tried to release Chase’s hand, but he tightened his grip.

“No. I’m tired of searching for you.” He guided me back to his side. “I want you next to me.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“You said that in India, but then you fled the damn country as soon as I fell asleep.” His eyebrows furrowed.

Benny approached us. Silver-white hair cropped close to his head made him look older than usual. He’d finally stopped dying his hair black after Vivian and I joked on him about the coloring. He formed his lips into a grim line and shifted his gaze to Chase’s hand around mine.

“I thought I told you to stay away from Jasmine,” Benny said. “Get your hands off her.”

What?

Chase stepped between Benny and me. “I thought I told you I don’t take orders from a two-bit gangster with a law degree.”

“Chase! Don’t say that about him.” I snatched my hand away and edged between them. “Benny, what do you mean you told him to stay away from me?”

No one said anything. They both towered over me at the same height with equally bulky frames. They almost resembled each other. Except where Chase possessed smooth skin on his face, Benny had wrinkles. Both men stared each other down. Hate and anger stifled the air and I didn’t know why. Five men marched into the station and positioned themselves behind Benny. Two I recognized. The others didn’t look familiar, but they damn sure gave the impression that they beat people for fun.