Dark Desire (8 page)

Jenny mentioned breakfast, so I decide to go and get some food and clothes. It looks like I’ll be staying with Jagger until this is sorted. I pull on my boots and grip my purse,
and then I quietly slip out the front door. I’m grateful for the sunshine this morning; I close my eyes and breathe in the fresh air. It eases my seedy stomach. The walk home is peaceful and quiet.

When I get to my apartment, I gather some clothes in a backpack and then I make my way to the store. It’s just up the road and within walking distance, so I figure it’s safe enough. When I get in, I take a
basket and begin gathering supplies. I get steak, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms and a few baguettes. I pick up some orange juice and coffee as well.

Just as I’m leaving the store with my bags in hand, I hear someone call out my name. I freeze instantly. I know that
voice; I remember that voice from years ago. Closing my eyes, I pray that I’m wrong. I turn slowly and open my eyes only to come face to face with Danny. My ex. My heart begins beating hard and fast, I don’t like this situation at all.

“It is you,” Danny snarls.

The years haven’t been kind to Danny. His once beautiful face is now marred with scars and bruises. A fighter. He was always a fighter. I should have known back then that I was in a dangerous situation, Danny loves to use his fists on whatever possible, and that included me. His blue eyes are duller than I remember and his blonde hair is cropped short.

Danny is a big, beefy man. He stands at about five five and has quite a build. I feel myself backing up slowly, getting ready to run. I don’t need to deal with him right
now; I don’t even know why he’s in this city. Probably for cash, there are a lot of underground fights around this area.

“Finally, I find the woman who ruined my life and I get to give her a piece of my mind.”

“I don’t know what you want Danny, but leave me alone.”

“Leave you alone?” He laughs. “I went to prison for a year because of you, do you have any idea what happened to me in there?”

“Anything that happened to you, was well deserved!” I snap.

His eyes flare and h
e steps forward, “You and I are going to talk, Willow Barnes.”

“No, we’re not!”

“Oh yes, we are.”

He grips my upper arm so hard I wince.

“Let me go!”

“You were mine, I gave you everything.”

“You gave me nothing,” I cry, yanking my arm free.

“I was with you for a long time, I took care of you and you ruined that by going up town and fucking random men!”

“I didn’t fuck anyone, I was dancing.”

“BULLSHIT!”

“Leave me alone Danny, you’ll regret this.”

He throws his head back and laughs. “Will I now? What are
you
going to do? Nothing. Nothing at all. You’re weak Willow, you always were. Pathetic and weak. You let me beat you, fuck, you didn’t even try to fight back. You’ve got nothing; you’re just like your mother. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree…”

I turn and run, swinging my bags of groceries.
I’d rather get out of here then let him bring me down. Danny is dangerous and I’m not about to sit around and let him abuse me in the street.

“Oh no you don’t, we aren’t finished.”

I make it half way home when he gets hold of me. I spin around and slap him so hard he stumbles back. I knew that was a mistake as soon as I did it. His eyes flare and he reaches out, it’s like slow motion. His fist connects with my face before I can move away. I fall backwards, landing on the ground with a thump. Sharp pain shoots through my lip and jaw, and I struggle to stop dizziness from overtaking.

“You fuckin’ hit me, you stupid bitch!”

Suddenly Danny is launched into the air and lands with a thump on the sidewalk. I gasp and gather my bearings enough to turn and see Jagger standing beside me. His face is wild. Danny gets to his feet and wipes blood from his lip, and then charges Jagger.

“No!” I cry.

I’m worried; Danny is broader than Jagger and is a trained fighter. Danny lands a solid punch to Jagger’s chest, sending him stumbling backwards. My scream goes un-noticed. Jagger bounces back quickly and uppercuts Danny so hard I hear his jaw crack. Before my eyes, Jagger takes Danny’s head in the nook of his elbow and drives six solid punches to his face.

Danny roars with pain as his nose and jaw cracks. Blood spurts from his face and Jagger drops him on the ground. He leans over him and grips his shirt, leaning close and whispering “If you ever touch my woman again, I’ll fucking kill you.” Then he slams his head down onto the concrete and Danny goes limp. I scream and scramble backwards.

Angel and Ace have rushed out now, and are standing and staring wide eyed at Danny bleeding and unconscious on the floor.

“Fuck Jagger, what’
d you do?”

“He hit her. Get rid of
him; make sure he doesn’t come back.”

“Is he dead?” Ace asks.

“Don’t know, don’t care. Get him outta here, NOW!”

Cars are slowing down, staring in shock at the bloody scene. Jagger grips my arm and hurls me up, and I cry out loudly.

“What the fuck did you think you were doing?” He roars. “I told you not to go out alone!”

I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.
He did tell me not to go out alone and I didn’t listen. As always, I didn’t listen and what happened out here is all on me.

“WELL?” He roars.

“I…I...” I have nothing more to say.

He pulls me towards the complex and snarls more orders at Angel and Ace, who are picking up Danny and throwing him into Ace’s car.

“Far away boys, don’t let him come back.”

“Yeah boss, we got it.”

When they get into the car and drive off, I crumble.

“Did you kill him Jagger?”

“That’s none of your concern, get the fuck inside.”

He shoves me through the front door and my feet slowly move. Jenny and Ava are in the apartment and come rushing over when I step into the lounge room.

“Oh my God, what happened?” Ava cries.

“Danny.” I whisper.

“Danny? As in your ex?”

Jagger’s eyes widen. “That fucker was your ex?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Fuck Willow, what the fuck is wrong with you? You just can’t follow orders can you? Do you want to be fuckin’ killed?” Jagger roars, causing me to flinch.

“No, I…”

“Fuck, I can’t even look at you right now. I’m so fuckin’ mad!”

Ava stands in front of him and crosses her arms. “Good then get lost will you, we need to clean her up and she doesn’t need you screaming at her.”

He stares at her a moment,
no doubt shocked that she’s standing up to him, then he turns and grips his keys and phone, storming out and slamming the door so loudly the apartment rattles. I cup my face in my hands and my body shakes.

“Hey, beautiful, it’s ok.” Ava soothes.

“It’s not your fault,” Jenny chimes in.

“He’s so mad at me.”

“He’ll cool off.”

“I shouldn’t have gone out this morning, it’s my fault. I can’t believe I continue to be so dense.”

“Don’t say that honey, you’re not dense at all. It’s not easy getting used to being tailed everywhere you go.”

I look up and swallow, my jaw is throbbing. “He scared the shit out of
me; he was so brutal out there. I think…I think he might have killed him.”

The girls glance at each other, then Jenny stands and walks into the kitchen.

“I’m sure it’s not so bad, come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

I sit quietly and grit my teeth while Jenny and Ava patch me up.

“There, all done.” Jenny says, standing and gathering up the bloody swabs.

“Thanks you guys,” I whisper.

“Willow, he’ll calm down.” Ava assures me.

“I hope so.”

“He just freaked out, he thought someone took you. He really got a shock; he needs to come down from that.”

“Thanks you girls, I appreciate you both so much. I’m going to lie down, my head is pounding.”

Ava pats my hand. “We’ll be right here.”

I hug them both and swallow down my tears. When I’m down the hall and in Jagger’s room, I let them fall. I walk into the bathroom and hiccup when I see my face. The faint bruise is beginning to show on my cheek and I have a nice split in my lip. I hug myself and drop to the floor. I’m so ashamed of myself, I didn’t think and I ended up paying for it.

Fifteen minutes into my sobbing session, Jagger comes through the bathroom door and sees me pitifully hugging myself and sobbing. He drops to his knees in front of me and pulls me into his arms. I cling to him, desperate for things to be ok.

“
I’m sorry Jagger, I didn’t listen. I’m sorry.”

“Shhh, it doesn’t matter. You’re ok.”

“I didn’t mean to,” I whisper. “I was just trying to get breakfast…”

“
I shouldn’t have reacted like that…fuck Willow…I woke up and you were gone. I freaked out. When I saw you on the floor, bleeding…I could have fucking died.”

“I’m
sorry; I didn’t know he’d be there.”

“Well, he’s out of the picture now.”

I pull back and glance up at him. He winces and strokes a thumb over my cheek.

“Jagger, you scared me out there.”

He meets my gaze and cups my chin in his hand. “I’m sorry, but no one touches what’s mine. Ever.”

“I didn’t know you could fight.”

“I learnt at a young age, it’s just part of my fucked up life.”

“Thank you, for being there…”

He kisses my head, lingering for long moments. “I’ll always be there Willow baby; I’ll never fuckin’ leave you. I’ll find anyone who hurts you, and I’ll make them wish they never touched you.”

I swallow and look down, that’s when I notice his blood
y knuckles. I take his hands into mine and bring them to my lips, kissing gently around the open cuts.

“You’re hurt.”

“I’ll live.”

I get to my feet and rush out of the room. I go into the kitchen and fetch the first aid kit,
and then I walk back and find Jagger on the bed. I sit beside him and take his hands. I begin cleaning them up, dabbing the blood away and applying soothing cream. He stares at me the entire time, not once do his eyes turn away from my face.

“I love you Willow, you’re my darkness, my light,
my fuckin’ everything.”

I look up at him and his light blue eyes burn into mine.

“I love you too, always.”

CHAPTER
7

“Hi Sarah, how are you?” I say as I’m signing in to my mother’s institution three days later.

“I’m well, how are you?” Sarah asks, looking from Jagger to me and back again.

“I’m alright, how’s mom?”

“She’s doing really well.”

“Oh, Sarah this is Jag…um…Johnny. I don’t think I introduced you at the funeral.”

“Nice to see you again, Johnny.”

“You too,” Jagger says.

“Ok, well, she’s expecting you so
let’s go on through. Jenny came in yesterday, so she’s in good spirits.”

Jagger kisses my head and takes a seat in the waiting room, and I follow Sarah out into the hallway.

“Well, he really is something.”

“Jagger?”

She looks puzzled. “I thought you said his name was Johnny?”

“Right, sorry, it’s his nickname.”

She nods. “Alright, well, I’m sure your mom will be thrilled.”

I nod and we walk down the halls. When we reach my
mother’s room, Sarah leads me in and out onto the patio. My mother is sitting, staring out at the gardens. When she hears us she turns and smiles. I give her a weak smile and stiffen, like always, when she rushes over to hug me.

“You changed your hair,” she cries, stroking my black locks.

“It’ll wash out soon.”

“I like it, but red suits you much better.”

“Thanks. How are you mom?”

“I’m well enough, I’ve missed you. I thought you would
come visit after your father’s funeral.

“I needed some time, I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Did you hear the good news? If I keep doing this well, I can leave in two months.”

My eyes widen,
“Really?”

“Yes, isn’t it
wonderful?”

I force a smile. The idea of my
mother being around all the time causes a flurry of confusing emotions to swarm through my body.

“Of course,” I lie.

“We can do lunch, and dinner, and go shopping and…”

“Mom!”
I cry.