Page 113 of Jagger

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a growl emitted throughout the room.

“How is it going to be okay?” Tears stung my eyes, the dirty deed Joel had performed far too low. How could he do this? Why? Was it all about the fact I refused to stay married to him?

I broke away from her, tearing to the front.

“We’re not done yet,” the gravelly voiced man shouted again.

But there was more, the film cut off after only thirty seconds, a deep voice taking over the presentation.

“The dazzling couple you’ve fallen in love with aren’t the golden boy and girl you believed. And do you want to know why?”

Was that the sheriff?

Oh, my God. It was. In his hand was a microphone, the townspeople crowding even closer.

I shrank back, every inch of my body shaking.

Jagger broke through the crowd, finding and taking me into his arms. “Stay here.”

“No. Don’t leave me. What’s he doing?”

“I don’t know, but I need to find out.”

Commotion roared as the sheriff continued. “Jagger Fox is a murderer. And do you want to know how I know that? Because he killed my daughter.”

As pandemonium broke out, the guests going wild, everything remained a blur. The words echoed in my ears, my vision remaining cloudy. Yet one image played into my mind.

Jagger jumped through the crowd, pushing and shoving, his brothers right beside him.

And with one brutal punch to the sheriff’s jaw, the man was knocked to the floor.

CHAPTER 31

Jagger

“What the fuck?” Hunter barked out for the fiftieth time.

I paced the floor, barely looking in his direction. The house I lived in didn’t seem large enough for the five of us and one special damn dog.

Bella remained curled up on the couch, Xena right beside her. She’d said absolutely nothing since we’d left the police station after the deputy had finally let me go. I’d been arrested for assaulting a police officer, but in my mind, not only would I do it again, I’d break his fucking neck.

Denise tried to hand me a glass of whiskey, but I refused to take it. Undaunted, she lifted my arm, forcing me to accept the gesture. “You need this and you need to calm down.”

“How the hell am I supposed to calm down when that bastard tried to destroy my life and Bella’s as well?”

“And you allowed that son of a bitch to get to you. What he did was as close to extortion as I’ve seen, but you assaulted him in front of a hundred witnesses. You could get jail time.” Shephard’s wise words went in one ear and out the other.

“So the fuck what?” I challenged.

“That bastard deserved what he got,” Hunter added. “I’m curious if there’s anything going on in Baltimore right now. Maybe we’re missing another motive.” He reached into the duffle he’d brought into the house, yanking out his iPad.

“What the hell difference can it make?” I bellowed at him. I knew he was only trying to help, but my mood was all about revenge.

“The three of you need to calm down. Hunter is right. The more information we have the better. You all know that. Joel is using what he can to try and keep his reputation alive. If there is any truth to some marriage arrangement, it could be tied to a big business deal including a criminal one.”

I nodded. “True.” I’d yet to mention my source and had no intention of it. In my mind, I couldn’t help but allow my instinct to take over. I had a distinct feeling whatever the man had done to destroy Joel and his family had already begun. That would be the reason for the release of the video. Why not ruin the happy couple?

“We need to think this through. How did the sheriff gain access to that video? Wasn’t it still a private matter with Bella and this Joel Brockford dude?”

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