Josie lets us in and gets to work. I tell her we should keep the lights off if at all possible so we don’t draw attention to her ex in case he’s outside.
“Where did you learn all of this?”
“What?” I ask, picking up a photo of Jenna and Josie from the wedding.
“Well you were pretty impressive at the house, directing everyone and now with the lights.”
“Oh… my ex-girlfriend’s uncle is a detective and in her dad’s attempt to change me he got me to go on the beat with his brother for a few nights. The guy talked a lot, and I listened.”
“Was that Chelsea?”
I look up and find Josie standing in front of me. I put the picture of Jenna down. “Yeah, how’d you know that?”
“Liam told me, said you weren’t always a womanizer.”
I can’t help but laugh. He’s one to talk. “I’m not a womanizer. I just like women.”
“Same thing, Jimmy. You need yourself a good girl to keep you happy.” I smirk at the thought. There’s one woman I’d like to keep me happy, if she was willing, but I have no doubt she wants nothing to do with me. Unfortunately, that’s something I need to accept and move on.
My phone vibrates. I take it out of my pocket and shake my head at the irony of the situation.
“Speak of the devil,” I say aloud.
I’ve been thinking a lot. I want to see you.
I don’t even know if I should respond or ignore Chelsea. She puts my head into a mind-fuck. I wanted to marry that girl and have gorgeous babies with her, but she ruined me. She made me feel like I was worthless. She made me think that everything we had shared meant nothing to her.
“You okay?”
I clear my throat and put my phone back in my pocket without sending a text back to Chelsea. “Yeah, you ready?” I reach for the bag she’s carrying and put in on my shoulder. I follow her out. I look around Jenna’s apartment and try to picture her in it, curled up on the sofa reading a book. In my mind she looks happy, content.
I walk down the stairs first and tell Josie to wait when I step out onto the path. It’s late and there isn’t much traffic. The wrought iron lamppost casts a soft haze over the street. I look left and right, trying to decide if anything is out of place. I nod at Josie. She walks out and heads towards her car, climbing into the passenger seat. I walk around to the driver side. As I step onto the road, a car whizzes past and slams on their breaks. They stay in the middle of the road with their lights shining.
“Get in the car, Jimmy,” Josie yells.
I scramble, opening the door and sliding in just as they reverse past us. I turn on the ignition and put it into gear.
“Call Liam and tell him that we’re being followed. We can’t go home right now.”
“He knows where we live.”
“I know he does. He also knows where Jenna lives, and he doesn’t need to know we are heading back to your place. Find out where Paul is.”
Josie speaks to Liam as I drive around. I’m watching my mirrors, waiting for this arsehole to come up behind me.
“Liam says go to the house.”
“He does?”
“Yeah, he says security is there and the gate will be locked tonight.”
“Okay.” I do as Liam suggests and drive back to the house. We aren’t followed, which is suspicious to me. What is this guy playing at?
We get stopped at the driveway and the car is checked. I know it’s a precaution and I’d be doing the same thing, but for God’s sake, I have the owner of the house in the car with me. As soon as we’re given the okay, the gate shuts. It’s a fortress here. Liam had walls and massive fencing put up when he bought the house. He didn’t want anyone watching his son. I don’t blame him. If I had one, I’d never take him out in public.
Josie and I rush into the house. She runs straight into Liam’s arms.
“What the fucking hell is going on?”