Bound (Forbidden Series - Book 1) (18 page)

             
Was one of the other girls there with him now?

             
“Yes. I really need to get going,” she said, trying to pull her arm away.

             
“What’s the rush, honey? Why don’t you have a drink with me?” There was something about this man that she’d instantly disliked, and seeing him wearing a tux and holding a glass of vintage wine didn’t improve that first impression.

             
“I’m here with someone,” she said as she tried again to get free.

             
“I thought you weren’t ready to escort anyone,” he said, his smile evaporating and the tone of his words displaying a piece of his temper.

             
“I’m sorry for any misunderstanding, but if you could release me, I should find my date.”

             
He leaned forward to whisper in her ear, making her shudder in fear and loathing. “I don’t see why a whore would want to rush off. It doesn’t matter who you’re here with tonight, because I guarantee you I’ll be purchasing you and your
services
next.”

             
She didn’t know how to respond to such a man, and she felt her throat close. He was right. She didn’t own herself, not as long as she worked for Relinquish. She was owned by whichever man paid the right price. And she would end up attending parties where multiple men knew exactly who she was. This nightmare would never end as long as she lived in Seattle.

             
When she got Justin out of foster care, the two of them would move far, far away, because if her brother ever found out what she was doing, he would be so disappointed in her. She would never be able to handle him looking at her the way this man was doing right then.

             
“Why don’t we just skip all the paperwork and you come home with me now? You’ll make far more money that way,” he said with a smile that told her he thought he now had her in the bag.

             
“The lady is with me.”

             
Jewell almost felt relief when Blake broke in and put his arm possessively around her, easily taking her away from the other man’s grasp. The rage shimmering off him didn’t seem to be directed at her for once.

             
“I’m sorry, Blake; I didn’t realize she was here with you…on a…date,” the man said with a wink.

             
“Be really careful what you say next, Steve.” Blake’s words were quiet, but that didn’t lessen the threat.

             
“I wasn’t saying anything,” Steve hastily replied, but the leer he sent Jewell’s way made her skin crawl.

             
“Good.” With that, Blake pulled her away, and she didn’t feel her heart start slowing until they were halfway across the room.

             
Then the beat picked right back up when the woman she’d seen him with a few minutes earlier interrupted their escape.

             
“Blake, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

             
Blake stopped, and to Jewell’s utter amazement, his expression softened, causing instant jealousy to rush through her veins. Who was this snake-charming woman, a woman who could enchant even Blake Knight? Not that it mattered… He wasn’t hers, and she didn’t want him to be.

             
“Jewell, this is Monica,” Blake said. “Monica, Jewell, my date this evening.”

             
Monica stuck out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jewell.”

             
Jewell had no choice but to shake the woman’s hand — if she didn’t, she’d look completely rude. So she gave the obligatory handshake, then moved back as quickly as possible.

             
Blake led the two women to a corner table and held out both of their chairs before seating himself between them. Though Jewell made her face a mask of unconcern, the longer she sat there with Blake and Monica, the more irate she became.

             
How dare he drag her down to this worthless event only to ignore her? How dare he flaunt another woman in her face? Okay, it wasn’t as if she owned him. She knew she didn’t. They weren’t in a relationship at all. But still, it was just plain rude.

             
After they finished dinner, when Blake asked Jewell for a dance, she was less than enthusiastic, but she had to admit feeling just the slightest bit of satisfaction that he was asking her and not Monica first. Though she was sure he would trade them off quickly.

             
She was stiff in his arms when he tried to pull her close, and he looked down at her with puzzlement in his face. “Are you not having a nice night? I know these events can be slightly dry, but the music is good, and the food was better than most. This isn’t the rubber-chicken circuit.”

             
“I’m fine,” she said, her words clipped.

             
He stopped in the middle of the dance floor, not caring if anyone noticed them. “Jewell, there’s obviously something wrong. Is it that man?” he asked as his eyes scanned the room.

             
“No. He’s nobody,” she said, surprised she’d forgotten about Steve in her uncomfortable time at the table with Blake and Monica.

             
“Tell me
now
, Jewell!” He wasn’t being as kind now; the domineering Blake had taken over again.

             
“Fine! I think it’s very rude of you to bring me down here when you already had a date. How many does one guy need? Especially since you and Monica seem to get along so well,” she snapped. Then her eyes flew wide open and she bit down on her lips, wishing she could sew them shut.

             
His expression went from shock to confusion and then, to her utter outrage, to amusement. His lips turned up and before she could say another word, he let out a soft chuckle, and that degenerated into full-blown laughter.

             
“I’m not going to stand here and take this,” she told him. There were only two days left. To hell with it. She was out of there.

             
Jewell whirled around, ready to storm off, but was stopped in her tracks when Blake grabbed her arm and began walking toward one of the terrace doors. She wanted to dig in her heels and refuse to accompany him, but she also wanted to avoid causing a scene. This entire evening had been a nightmare, and her dearest wish right now was to scurry away into some dark corner and hide for a long, long time while she licked her wounds.

             
When she and Blake were alone, he pushed her up against the balcony railing, his laughter dying away as he looked down into her eyes. Her breath hitched.

             
“I shouldn’t have laughed, Jewell. I’m actually surprised I did. But I didn’t think twice about Monica being here. I’ve known her since I was about ten years old, and she’s probably my best friend, as well as my personal assistant. The only woman I trust, actually.”

             
“That doesn’t mean she’s not also your lover.” Jewell fought the need to squirm after saying that.

             
“Well, considering she’s married to one of the starting linebackers for the Seahawks, it pretty much does mean she’s not my lover,” Blake said with another chuckle.

             
It took a few moments for his words to sink in and then she felt like a complete and utter fool. But how was she to know they weren’t intimate? She’d watched them all through dinner, and two of them had shared jokes, laughter, easy touches…just like best friends did.

             
And now she’d shown him that she cared. Dammit!

             
He moved even closer to her. “I have to admit that I like this jealous side of you, even if it’s completely unfounded.”

             
“I wasn’t jealous. I just don’t like feeling like a third wheel.” Sheesh. Why didn’t she sound convincing even to herself?

             
“I think you’re lying. I should certainly punish you for that,” he told her before leaning down and capturing her lips.

             
It didn’t take long for Jewell to forget all about her jealousy and to focus solely on the amazing effect Blake had on her body.

             
When he allowed her to come up for air, he spoke to her in a serious voice. “Jewell, you should be very careful with what you show to the world. There are people who can use your emotions against you.”

             
She went still as she looked at him. Who was he warning her against? Himself? Others? She really had no idea.

             
“I can take care of myself,” she said, though a shiver ran through her.

             
“I don’t think you can, Jewell. I think you need someone to take care of you. Is that why you began working at Relinquish Control?”

             
She paused, trying to choose her words carefully. Maybe if he thought this, he would drop the subject. They had only two more days left, and he seemed to want to climb inside her head even more as the sand ran out of the hourglass.

             
“I have my reasons for working there,” she said. “I don’t honestly believe that you care. I think it’s just your need to be in control.”

             
“You’re right, Jewell. I do need to be in control. You should remember that always, and know that I will eventually get my way.”

             
“Warning accepted,” she told him as he pulled her against his hard body again.

             
“I don’t think you really know what that means, Jewell. Right now, I still own you.”

             
“You never let me forget that, Blake.”

             
“I don’t understand, then, why I need to keep reminding you.”

             
“Maybe because of your own insecurities,” she was bold enough to say, making him tense up in her arms.

             
“You
will
push me too far one of these times.”

             
She had no doubt that was true. What she didn’t understand was her sudden desire to go back to his place. There really had to be something seriously wrong with her.

              Jewell peeked around her bedroom door, trying to hear whether there were any sounds in the house. When she heard nothing, she tiptoed from the room, hopeful Blake wasn’t there.

             
She’d slept in his room again the night before, but had rushed to her own room as dawn was just breaking — not that he’d been in bed. He was always up early, and usually gone by the time she came downstairs, if only for a couple of hours.

             
She didn’t know his routine on Saturdays, though, and he hadn’t mentioned any plans either with or without her. No matter what, she had to get over to see her brother for their weekly visit, and there was no way she’d be able to explain her disappearance. She could say she needed a walk, needed to go shopping, or just have a break, but since he’d insisted that she not leave the apartment, sneaking around was certainly in her cards today. She was so lucky that he hadn’t been checking on her with those evil cameras.

             
Worry wrinkled her brow when she slipped into the kitchen to find a full pot of coffee and a note from Blake. Yes, she had her cell with her for once, but even if he’d still been texting her a lot, she was so terrible at answering his messages that he must have resorted to writing notes. Pen and paper — how primitive!

Be ready by five. I had an emergency I had to run to, but when I get back
, we’re going out.

Blake

              What a blessed relief! She could easily steal away, visit her brother, and be back in plenty of time. No problem! Gathering her purse, but leaving her phone off, she walked from the apartment feeling lighter and happier than she had in weeks.

             
Justin would never understand if she didn’t come to see him. And Blake was taking her back to Relinquish Control tomorrow anyway, so what did it matter if she was out for a few hours? There was no need for either him or Ms. Beaumont to know about her brother, because as soon as she had enough money saved, she would never see any of these people again.

             
She waited impatiently at the nearby bus stop and didn’t take her first full breath until she was out of sight of Blake’s ritzy apartment building. She hadn’t even looked over her shoulder, too fearful she’d find him standing right there, piercing her with those eyes of his and demanding to know where she was going.

             
It took an hour, but finally she reached the place where her brother was staying, and, putting on a big smile, she knocked on the door. It seemed to take an eternity, but when the door finally opened, she could barely resist pushing past his foster mother to get to her brother.

             
“Is Justin ready to come out for our visit?”

             
“He’s not feeling well today,” the woman said, her eyes cold.

             
Jewell hated that Justin had to live here, and her determination grew even greater as she stood on the woman’s threshold. “Then I’ll just visit with him here,” she said. She wasn’t leaving until she saw Justin.

             
“I don’t know if today’s visit is a good idea.”

             
“I wasn’t asking for your opinion,” Jewell told her. “The state has given me visitation on Saturdays and I
will
see my brother.”

             
Jewell looked her in the eyes, making it clear that she refused to back down. With a deep scowl, the woman finally opened the door wider, and Jewell didn’t hesitate to step inside.

             
“Justin,” she called out, and the sound of her brother’s feet running down the hallway was the sweetest music she could ever recall hearing.

             
Bracing herself for the impact, she pulled him easily into her arms, and he clung to her, holding her as if he would never let go. If only this could last forever.

             
“They said you might not come today,” Justin said when he finally let go.

             
“Nothing on this earth would keep me away from you on our special days,” she assured him, too angry even to look at the woman. He wasn’t sick — she’d been lying. Why? Probably because she was a bitter, sadistic woman who wanted to use her brother for the measly paycheck the state gave her. Well, Jewell was trying to take him away and the woman must not like that.

             
“That’s great — I missed you. Are we still going to the pizza place?”

             
“You bet we are, Bubby. We have three hours and we’re going to have the best time ever.” Jewell went over to the coat closet and pulled out his ratty jacket. She couldn’t wait until he was back living with her and she had the money to give him the things he needed and wanted.

             
“I’m so glad you’re here, Sissy. I’ve had a bad week,” he said, his eyes filling with tears.

             
“Why has your week been bad?” The two of them headed to the door, and Jewell didn’t even acknowledge Justin’s foster mother as they moved past her and left the house.
Foster?
Now that was a sick joke, almost as sick as the
mother
part of her name.

             
“Ms. Penny said that I was misbehaving too much, so she made me stay in my room all day for two days,” he told his sister.

             
“Oh, Justin, that’s not okay at all. I’ll talk to your social worker.” Jewell struggled to moderate her voice so she wouldn’t upset him.

             
“I was crying for you the other night and she told me to shut up, said that I needed to start acting like a man, not a crybaby. I try not to cry, but sometimes I just miss you so much.” His voice quiet, but his little fingers trembled beneath hers.

             
Jewell stopped and knelt down on the sidewalk so she could see her little brother’s face and he could see hers. “Sometimes emotions are just too much for us to bear and we have to release them. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that what you are feeling isn’t real. If you have to cry, then you do it, and just know that in five more Saturdays we’re going to be together always and not just for a few hours at a time.” She gave him another hug.

             
“You promise, Sissy. I don’t want to be at Ms. Penny’s house anymore. She’s just so mean — nothing like how mama was.”

             
“I promise you that no matter what I have to do, I will get you out of there, and you’ll come to live with me. You have to just give it a little more time and be my brave little man, but not for much longer.”

             
“I know I’m supposed to be brave, but it’s so hard…” He stopped speaking when his voice began to choke up.

             
“You are brave, Justin. You keep holding your head up high and know that I am doing whatever it takes for us to be together. I got a job, a really good job, and I’m saving lots of money so we can have a beautiful place together, where we can put up pictures of mom, and where, if you need to cry, you can do so without any fear of being made fun of. We’re a family and that means we stick together. No one can keep us apart for long, Bubby.”

             
“I know. I say a prayer every single night, asking God to let me come home with you. Why does it take so long for Him to answer my prayer?”

             
Her heart broke in so many pieces, she didn’t think it would ever be healed again. Her own eyes filled and a tear fell down her cheek. “Sometimes it takes a little longer because there are so many people out there needing so much, but you haven’t been forgotten about — I promise you that.”

             
Justin fell silent, perhaps afraid, despite his sister’s reassurance, that too much talking would betray his emotions. He just held on tight and soon they began walking again. Jewell had to keep her promise, no matter what it meant for her, and no matter what would come next. She couldn’t let her brother down.

             
After dropping her brother back at the foster home, she rushed to the bus stop and chewed her nails during the long ride. But that was silly. There was still plenty of time. Blake wouldn’t even know she’d been gone. Still, she had a presentiment of doom when she got off the bus and rushed down the street toward his apartment building.

             
Once the front door opened, Jewell took a step back. Blake was sitting in a chair there in his entry hall, glaring daggers at her. This wasn’t going to be pleasant.

             
He didn’t say a word as she walked in. Nevertheless, she maintained an expression of poise and confidence, though her body shook with terror. She had only one more night left with him. Tonight. What could he really do?

             
When he stood up and took a menacing step toward her, she figured she was about to find out.