Chapter Eleven
Jordan
“You’ve got to be kidding me! I am not quitting my job at Sinners Cove,” I inform all the men in the room, including Dean.
It seems they all have decided I’m not able to make decisions for myself now because of all I’ve been through and the fact I didn’t speak up. Well, hate to burst their bubbles because I’m not Jimmy Livingston in the Bubble Boy needing to be locked away in some bubble, suffocating for the things I love to do. And dancing is the only thing I’ve been able to do that lets me be me. If I’m not able to dance at Sinners Cove, I don’t know what I’ll do.
“Babe, you don’t need to be working all the damn time now. Your dad can’t fuck with you anymore.”
“Exactly, and by the way, I took it upon myself to have him removed from your bank account and even switched you to the bank the club uses so daddy dick head can’t try shit when it comes to your money,” Gadget says.
“What do you mean off my bank account? It was his account. I had to have my checks put in his accounts.” My head swims with all that is going on around me. They must see me as this completely dim-witted person.
“Jordan, you can get that look right off your face. I don’t even have to read your mind to know what the hell you’re thinking,” Dragon growls in a low rasp.
“Cormac fucked with your head enough, deirfiúr. But he was a dumbass going about it. I looked into everything as I was going about getting your shit switched to another bank. He defrauded the bank in all this,” Gadget states.
“How was he able to defraud them?” I ask quietly.
“Because he forged your name to documents and when he needed you to go to the bank in person, he used someone else. So technically, he didn’t just defraud the bank when he stole your identity but the government as well.” Leaning my head back, I stare blankly at the ceiling. How can any of this be real?
I mean, who the hell does this shit in real life?
“Sweetheart, I went ahead and filed for you to get all new documents. They should be at your brothers’ house today or tomorrow. We’ll need to get you a new identification card, but that’s easy enough,” my mom says.
“Great, anything else you all want to dictate in my life?” Grumbling, I give each of them the closest thing I can to a death stare.
“Don’t you take that tone with me, Jordan Darcy Brooks,” my mom snaps, using my full name.
“Darcy?” Dragon asks.
“Yes, Darcy. I wanted my daughter to be able to have something close to her brothers and I’d reached out to your mother to ask for her blessing when I gave Jordan the name. Not only is it your mam’s name, it also rings with both of yours,” my mom informs all of us. I never even knew the reason why she chose my name.
“Why didn’t we know you and our mother knew each other? Better yet, why didn’t we ever know about our sister?” Gadget questions cautiously.
“Your mam asked me to keep your sister away from you both to protect you from being hurt by Cormac. I completely understood and respected your mother’s wishes. Granted, at the time I didn’t realize the depths of what she was asking,” Mom says, tears filling her eyes.
At her confession, I’m even more confused than I was before. Something about her words tells me there’s more to it. However, right now I honestly don’t care.
“Look, we can talk. I’m tired and ready to get out of here, though I don’t know where I’m gonna go . . . ”
“You’ll be staying with me,” Badger says, interrupting me.
“No, I’m not,” I say just as quickly as he did. I’m sure I could ask Dean if I can crash at his place or even with Mitch. I glance in his direction to ask him only to have Badger stop me.
“Don’t even think about it, Honey,” Badgers mutters before leaning over the bed to come nose to nose with me. My breath hitches with him so close. “You try to argue with me, you’ll regret it. I’d never hurt you, but babe, make no mistake, I will not put your safety in jeopardy. Meaning if I have to tie you to the middle of my bed, I will.”
I don’t know if he expects me to respond to him or not. I'm not so sure I could form words. My mind is already in overdrive with everything going on and topping it all off is him telling me that shit. Yeah, I need a break from all people. I don’t do people unless I have to and right now my room is filled with more than I can handle.
I need air, space, hell, I just want to be left alone so I can breathe.
“Can you all give Jordan and I a little bit?” Badger asks, facing the room.
“Yeah, brother, we need to get back home. Logan has been throwing a fit about us not being home enough,” Gadget says.
“Well, I was gonna tell you later on after you were released, but I’ll just say it now. I know you, sweetheart. The anxiety is high right now and you’re feeling pressured, however, everyone in this room loves you. We’re here for you no matter what. Now, I’m gonna head back home today. Your aunt called me this morning and she needs me,” Mom murmurs.
“Okay, give Caelan a hug for me,” I whisper. I’m filled with emotion, wishing I could see my cousin. Though we weren’t extremely close growing up, we’re still close. She’s honestly the closest thing I have to a best friend.
“I will, sweetheart, call me later okay,” she says as she comes closer to the bed to give me a hug goodbye.
Nodding, I simply hug her instead of answering.
“Come on, Cara, we’ll walk you to your car,” Dragon rasps.
“I’ll be heading out as well,” Dean finally speaks up as he moves to stand at the foot of the bed. “As for your job at Sinners Cove, I’d like to offer you a new position. Instead of dancing, why don’t you be the trainer for the girls. You know they love when you give them tips, so how about a couple days a week you come to work with them? Besides, your ol’ man here would less likely commit murder with this offer.”
Dean chuckles to himself as he leaves the room. He doesn’t even wait for me to answer him. This whole thing is way too much right now. I’ll have to think about it once I get out of here. I mean, I love to dance. It’s freeing when I’m up there swaying my hips to the music, lifting myself into the air, giving myself the sense of being able to do anything.
“Babe,” Badger says, drawing my attention to him as he gently slides me over enough for him to get in the bed with me. Once he has us situated the way he wants, his arm is over my shoulders and my head is leaning against his. How perfect this would be if I were any other person. Badger will realize soon enough I’m not worth any of this hassle.
“I know everything feels like you’re being thrown through one loop to another. I’ve been where you are, Honey, and I’m gonna be here for you,” he murmurs into the quiet room. “You can be mad, throw a fit, do what you need to feel better, but do it when I get you home. Where you have the space to do it. And no one can see when you let loose the hatred inside you.”
Tears fill my eyes as I listen to the sincerity of his words. The way he spoke those words, I believe him. I’ll always believe what he says, though there’s a difference in mind over matter. You have to be able to prove the words with actions.