Page 51 of Jagger
"I'll never leave you again."
I wake to see another unfamiliar ceiling, and I jolt, expecting to feel iron around my wrists or feet. But soft sheets rustle when I move, stroking my skin.
"Molly." Aphrodite sits up from the seat beside me, her eyes searching mine. "You're okay, you're safe."
She doesn't know that. She doesn't know Lawson. My eyes fill with tears, and she reaches for my hand, gazing at me intently before she adds, "I know one thing. Lawson is dead."
I squeeze her hand tightly, my breath leaving my body in a gush of relief.
Lawson is dead?
"Did he suffer?" I whisper, too many tears spilling from my eyes to trust my vision when she nods.
"He burned to death."
The smoke…I vaguely remember seeing it when we were leaving. My heart lurches when I remember the other women.
"There were others?—"
Aphrodite rises from her chair and smiles at me. "I know. We saved them all, Molly."
Suddenly I'm sobbing, unable to speak even though I want to.
I have so much to tell her!
"It's okay, you need to rest. You'll be absolutely fine; the doctor said there won't be any long-term damage. You just need to heal."
Heal? I thought I had healed, then Lawson had strode back into my life, thanks to Jagger.
That fucking bastard.
"Jagger…" I spit his name out as Aphrodite's brow furrows.
"Yeah, I know something went down between you two. Why else would he have paid that fucker eight million?"
I blink. "What?"
Aphrodite yawns, and it's only then I notice the bags under her eyes. Her skin is pale, her expression fraught. "Jagger paid to free you. He'll get it back, of course, but he's not bothered about it."
He's not bothered about eight million dollars? I know he's rich…
"But I know you don't want him anywhere near you, and him paying so much money…" Aphrodite bows her head. "I know I'm not going to like what you tell me, but you need to, and I will kill him myself if he hurt you."
My mind swims, and I squeeze my eyes shut, wondering what to do. If I tell Aphrodite Jagger raped me, she will kill her last family member. And Jagger paid for my release, not expecting to get the money back?
Why?
Probably because of his guilt. He tried to make things better. But why would he rape me and then pay for my freedom? It doesn't make any sense. I shake my head and realize Aphrodite is waiting for an answer.
She's like a coiled spring, and it's then I decide to keep it from her. I don't want to hurt her anymore that she already is right now.
I clear my throat. "We just hate each other. He probably paid him for you, you know?" I shrug. "Because I'm your best friend."
Aphrodite narrows her eyes suspiciously. "Molly, you have to tell me the truth. I know Lawson was only here because of him."
"So maybe he felt guilty and that's why he paid for my freedom," I say, careful not to meet her eyes.
Aphrodite chews on her lip before humming to herself, easing back in her chair. "It makes sense, I guess, but…"
