Page 36 of Jagger
I breathe a sigh of relief and close the door, ripping open the pack of cookies. The sugar makes me feel better almost instantly, but it will take more than a pack of cookies to soothe my fraught mind and body.
I can't believe it happened again.
And I can't believe it washimthat did that to me.
It still doesn't make sense—Jagger could've fucked me willingly before this, and we both know it. We may not have liked one another, but there was a raw animal attraction between us that I know I'd have given in to if he had tried.
But he hadn't tried.
So, he's a sick fuck that probably only gets off on raping women. The thought turns my stomach, and I toss the cookies aside.
I need a plan of action because I'm not staying here with him. I take a deep breath and wipe the crumbs from my shirt, rising to my feet.
I still have my aunt's credit card. I could go to a hotel and gather my thoughts. Or book a flight out of here. The latter appeals to me more than anything, but where would I go?
Spain.
I could find Aphrodite's family. They'd help me, and then when Aphrodite comes home, she could join me in Spain. It would be just like we planned, and all of this would be a bad memory.
Warm hope blossoms in my chest, the feeling foreign and strange. I check the time and see it's almost seven in the morning—If I'm going, I need to leave before Jagger wakes up.
Then again, what if the police are still looking for me? Don't I have to tell them I'm not missing? I'm an adult; they won't care if I fly to Spain. I can clear my name as long as I'm not wanted for any crimes.
I exhale and dress for the day, opting for all black. I pack a bag with clothes and necessities before staring at myself in the mirror.
The woman staring back at me looks cold and angry, like she wants to burn the world.
Maybe I should.
But revenge isn't on my mind right now—surviving is. The first thing I need to do is leave here, so I grab a notebook from Aphrodite's desk and scribble something to her. I hide it under her pillow, praying she gets it. If she doesn't, I'll call her.
One day.
I spray her perfume on me like it will give me strength, but all it does is make me cry again. Aphrodite will kill Jagger when she finds out what he did to me, but part of me doesn't want her to know. I don't want her to know how broken I am. She doesn't know about Lawson at all, let alone Jagger.
Fuck.
I inhale again and slip on a pair of sneakers. I'm grateful Aphrodite and I are of similar size overall. They're a little tight, but I'll live. I'll get new clothes in Spain.
I tiptoe down the stairs, looking around for anything of value I can take to sell. But I'm too tired to care. I don't know the valueof paintings and shit, and there's nothing else on the walls. No family photos. Nothing.
I'd say it was odd, but I have nothing to compare it to. Only Aphrodite's family and they're hardly normal.
I sigh again and open the front door, not looking back. I open the gates, leaving them that way, too. If people rob Jagger's house, I couldn't give a fuck. Hell, I'll leave the door open as an invitation. I spy his car keys as I go to walk out and grin.
How hard can it be to drive that thing?
19
JAGGER
I wince at the sound of voices coming from downstairs.
"Jagger!"
My eyes fly open.
"Mom?!"
