Page 34 of Stephan

“Stephan, I think you should wait a while.Get your brother or someone else to pick her up.”

“What. No. I need to talk to her.”

“I know you think you do, but you didn’t seeJade’s face when she came upon you and the woman, or when you toldthe woman to get lost.”

“I can’t just leave her.”

“You’re not. I’m watching her and if you getDerick to pick her up, maybe he can talk to her.”

“Fucking hell. Fine. Don’t let her out ofyour sight, Brand. The neighborhood she’s in is one of the worst inSydney.”

“I can handle it. You need to tell yourparents something. I have a feeling she isn’t going to be happywith you for a while.”

“Yep. I’ll sort it out.” I hung up and ranfingers through my hair. My friends where sitting in the food courtwaiting for me. Taking a deep calming breath, I went to them.

“Did you find her?” Cassie asked.

“I know where she’s going. I’m ar… I’m reallysorry about this, guys.”

“It’s my fault.” Scott sighed. “I think Lindamight have heard me talk last night about what we were doingtoday.”

“Scott, what the hell were you doing withthat skank?” Cassie screeched.

“I wasn’t with her, Cass. She was all overStephan no matter how many times he turned her down or told her togo away. She followed Stephan around like a puppy waiting for anyscrap he was willing to throw her way. He ignored her allnight.”

“He better have,” Cassie glared at me. “Youcan’t play with Jade, Stephan. She’s in a fragile place witheverything that’s happened. She’s lost her mum, not that she wasanything special, and has now been beaten and lost her grandfather.Who I think may be worse than her mother. I have no idea how Jadeis a sane and well-functioning person with everything she’s beenthrough in her life. I bet my last dollar I don’t even know thehalf of it.”

I didn’t say anything because I didn’t needto bet, I knew everything Cassie was saying was one hundred percenttrue.

*****

Jade

Jess met me at the train station. “Hey.” Herarms came around me and I sank into the familiar warmth. “What’sup? Is it your grandpa?”

I took a deep breath because I knew as soonas I told Jess everything I’d break down. I was hanging on by athin thread and right now I needed someone I trusted. “I promiseI’ll tell you everything when we get back to your house. Did yourmum drive you or did you catch the bus?”

“Mum is waiting in the pickup zone. So webetter hurry.”

I followed her to the beat up red Ford andgot in the back seat. “Hi, Mrs. Stren.”

“Hello, Jade. It’s good to see you.”

I forced a smile and relaxed back into thetattered seats feeling safe.

Chapter Nine

Jade

I’d filled Jess in on everything and now shesat biting her nails. “I know you’re going to hate me for sayingthis, J, but Stephan sounds like the real deal. I mean, he hasn’tleft your side since your bastard of a grandfather beat you. Wellbesides last night. His family has custody of you and if he had hisway, you’d be living in his room.”

“I know, Cassie, but you should have heardhow he spoke to this woman. He was—”

“J, you need to give him a break. I’ve heardeverything you told me. If you ask me, I’m surprised he’s stuckaround as long as he has.”

I glared at Jess, and she sighed.

“J, I know it’s hard to trust anyone wheneveryone you should have been able to trust in your life have beendeadbeats, but I think you need to at least give Stephan achance.”

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