Forever a Jett Girl (Bourbon #3)

  “I’m so glad you two could join me tonight,” Jett stated with cool composure. “Especially given your new circumstances.”

  “What the hell do you want?” Leo asked, raising his voice. The man was angry. I actually hadn’t seen him since the club was raided by the police.

  “We’ll get to that,” Jett smiled. “What I really want to talk about is your embezzlement and financial problems. Father, I thought you were better than that.”

  Leo leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re just finding too much humor in this situation, aren’t you?”

  “Where is the humor when it comes to you screwing over thousands of people with a Ponzi scheme? A Ponzi scheme! What about your little prostitution ring, did you really think you weren’t going to be caught? You’re despicable.”

  “Like you’re one to talk, with the Lafayette Club; you don’t think that’s despicable?” I stated. “You did the same thing as us with those girls, you just cover it up better.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. The Lafayette Club doesn’t even come close to what you two were conducting behind closed doors. I offered the girls an opportunity to better themselves, all you did was blackmail those girls and make them work for you. Do you really think that’s a way to conduct business?”

  “Is that what this is?” Leo asked, “A little economics lesson?” Leo snorted and then leaned forward. “The only reason you’re in the position you’re in right now is because of me. I suggest you don’t forget that.”

  “Once again, you’re wrong. I’m in the position I’m in today because I worked my ass off and utilized the heart my mother gave me, rather than the empty soul you tried to instill upon me. There’s conducting business, and there’s stealing from others, taking advantage of human beings…and that’s where you two faltered. The power got to you, and now, you’re going to reap what you deserve.”

  “You think you’re so perfect, don’t you?” Leo asked, growing angrier by the second.

  “No, I don’t, actually. I’m far from it, thanks to you and the manipulative childhood I had to endure.”

  “Ahh, is that what you’re calling it? Manipulative? I taught you everything you know; I gave you a set of steel balls, boy. I suggest you remember that.”

  Even though I was in a world of trouble and looking at possibly a lifetime in prison, I was rather enjoying the little “Daddy hates me” conversation that was going on. I knew for a fact Leo despised his own son; he’d told me many times. That was why Leo took me under his wing. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest decision on my part, now that I think about it.

  “The only thing I learned from you is how not to treat people, how not to conduct yourself in a professional atmosphere, and how to push someone as far away from you as possible,” Jett trailed off as he looked down at his hands.

  It was easy to see his last comment struck a nerve with him, and I knew exactly why.

  A laugh escaped me as I pointed out, “Seems look like you took daddy dearest’s advice when it came to Goldie.”

  A sharp look from Jett tried to split me in half, but I was unfazed by his glares by now.

  “Goldie isn’t a topic we discuss, ever.”

  Both Leo and I laughed together. I turned to Leo and said, “At least we were able to take away the one thing he wanted, even though he denied it constantly.”

  “There is nothing between Goldie and me,” Jett cut in. “Like I said…”

  Leo held up his hand and cut him off. “Save us the bullshit. We know how much that girl means to you; it’s undeniable, so stop making a fool of yourself and trying to contradict your feelings for the woman. I’m just glad she came to her senses and left you.”

  Jett’s jaw ticked as he tried to think of what to say next. I could see his mind working, trying to find a way to justify what happened between him and Goldie, but it was useless. The man knew exactly how he pushed her away, which was punishment enough.

  Clearing his throat, Jett sat up and said, “Goldie is not the reason why I came here. I came here to tell you that your assets will be repossessed and will find a safe home.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked, while I could feel the fury start to boil up in Leo.

  “I’m going to tell it to you two straight. I’ve already talked to the bank, and once you are convicted, which you will be, there is no denying that, I’ve made it my mission to own everything you two have ever purchased together, at a very decent rate, thanks to my many connections. So, your little empire that you thought you built, that will be mine.”

  “You son of a bitch,” Leo roared, as he reached across the table. Jett scooted out of his chair just in time to avoid his father’s attack.

  In rage, I watched as the man who’d been my nemesis ever since I could remember, adjusted his tie and looked down on us.

  “Good luck, boys, have fun in prison.”

  With that, Jett Colby walked out of my life, probably for the last time.

  I buried my head in my hands and tried to comprehend what was happening, as my stomach twisted in knots. Never in my life did I think I would ever hit rock bottom, but here I fucking was, without a life saver to be tossed out to me. I was totally and utterly fucked.

  “This is your fault,” Leo spat at me.

  “How is this my fault?” I asked, while looking up at him through my hands. “I do believe the Ponzi scheme was your idea, the embezzlement was your grand plan, and the club was the pinnacle of your scheme to get back at your son, your own son!” I roared. “I should have stayed as far away from you as possible.”

  “Too late for ‘should ofs,’ son,” Leo said with a menacing tone.

  I got up from the booth and adjusted my suit jacket. I looked Leo square in the eyes and said, “Don’t ever call me ‘son,’ you sadistic bastard.”

  With one last glance, I retreated from Leo and went back to my place. It was time to face my Creator. There was only one way out of this life, and hell if I was going to rot in prison for the next hundred years.

  I was a lost man; it was about time I found where I was supposed to be…in fucking hell.

  22

  “Jealous”

  Jett

  A lone trumpet played in the far distance as I sipped my café au lait and observed the many tourists lining up to get a taste of Café du Monde’s beignets. It’s been a long time since I’ve been down to the quarter for my Saturday ritual. Things have been hectic, to say the least, and I wasn’t about to visit the Quarter while I was still with Goldie if she couldn’t come with me.

  Goldie.

  My heart still ached from the thought of her. It took me a couple of phone calls, but I was able to track her down. I should have known she would have gone to stay with Diego; they’d had a close connection ever since she went to go help him out with painting his club. I just prayed she wasn’t working there with him as well. She had plenty of money from being a Jett Girl to keep her afloat. I wondered if she’d used any of it. I was tempted to look at the bank account I set up for her, but knew that was an invasion of privacy, and the last thing I wanted was to piss her off more.

  She was mad. Really mad. I didn’t blame her. She was right about everything she said. I didn’t trust her, I didn’t believe in her, and I had zero faith. I didn’t blame her for leaving; I deserved it. I was a master at pushing people away, and I’d done a damn fine job of kicking her out of my life.

  But I was over and done with that now. I knew what I wanted. I wanted a life with Goldie; I wanted everything. I wanted her to be mine, to share a home with her, not just as a Jett Girl, but as my girlfriend…as my wife one day. I wanted her to carry my child one day. I wanted nothing more than to grow old with her in my arms.

  The only problem was, she wanted nothing to do with me, but that would be changing.

  A Vietnamese woman who worked at the café took my money and smiled gently at me, as if to wish me a good day. Her smile carried me out onto the streets, as I observed t
he bustling sidewalks of Jackson Square.

  My life was coming full circle, as I walked the same route I took when I first dropped my business card off to Goldie. It was a risky move, getting as close to her as I did, but there was no stopping me then, like there was no stopping me now. I was on a mission, and hell if I wouldn’t follow through with it.

  I placed my sunglasses over my eyes, rolled up the sleeves to the button-up light blue shirt I was wearing, and made sure it was tucked into my jeans. Even though it was a casual day for me, I still made sure to present myself well in public; it was the one thing I learned from my father that I would never forget. Image is everything, especially when it comes to someone in my position.

  Leisurely, I walked around Jackson square, taking in all the palm readers, side show acts, musicians, and artists. One of the many beauties of New Orleans was you could be as weird and outlandish as you wanted, and no one was going to judge you for it, because they all chalked it up to the atmosphere the city had to offer. Some people may say New York City is full of crazy eclectic people, but that just tells me they’ve never been to New Orleans, because where else would you find a man painted in gold, a shopping cart turned musical instrument, and break dancing on cardboard? Only New Orleans.

  Crowds gathered around someone who was balancing a bowling ball on their nose, a challenging feat for sure, when I spotted a wave of perfectly golden hair flying in the wind.

  My Little One.

  Even though it’s only been a few short weeks since I’ve seen her, it still felt like it’s been months. I missed everything about her. The way she smiled at me through her eyelashes and the little stolen moments where she glanced in my direction to convey how much she really wanted me. I missed her sweet touches, the way my name sounded rolling off her tongue, and the sassy mouth she never seemed to know how to turn off. Fuck, I needed her in my life, desperately.

  Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and started making my way toward her. Like I thought, she was once again selling her beautiful art in Jackson Square. I took in the chalk-covered canvases that hung on the wrought iron fence that surrounded the square. They were impeccable, like always, but seemed almost darker, not as whimsical as I was used to her art being. I wondered if I did that to her, if the edge that was in her art now was because of me.

  There was only one way to find out.

  Her back was to me, so she didn’t see me approaching, giving me more of an opportunity to take her in. Her hair flowed out from under a sun hat and her shoulders were exposed from a red and white tank top she was wearing. Her legs sprouted out from a pair of short denim shorts and a white pair of Keds graced her perfect little feet.

  My hand grazed my jaw as I took in everything about her. How could I have been such a damn fool to give up something so good?

  Not wanting to wait any longer, I made the rest of my way toward her, just as a bulky man with blond hair sidled up next to her in a spare lawn chair and handed her a drink, while kissing her on the cheek at the same time.

  I froze in my tracks at the display of affection from another man. Sweat started to creep down my back as rage boiled inside of me. Did she really find someone else that easily? Was I that forgettable?

  I tried to convince myself I wasn’t, but then again, I hurt her, I was the one who drove her away. If she found someone else, maybe she was really trying to move on from the hell I put her through.

  Looking back at our relationship, I’m now realizing there weren’t many moments where we weren’t struggling against something trying to hold us back. There was always something between us; it had never been an easy relationship for us. If it wasn’t my insane stupidity of stubbornness, it was my dad.

  Instead of going up to her, I stood back and observed her interaction with the new man. She laughed easily with him as they pointed at something in the far distance, probably where the man just came from. Goldie took a sip of the drink she held in her hand, and then handed it over to the stranger. With disgust, I watched him wrap his lips around the same straw Goldie used and take a drink.

  The urge to punch my hand through a wall overcame me as I continued to twitch with anger at what was unfolding right in front of me. She was with someone else. It was obvious from the affectionate looks they were giving each other, the shared drink they were sipping from, and the easygoing camaraderie they shared.

  Turning around, I ran my hand through my hair and tried to figure out what I should do. I couldn’t possibly go up to Goldie now and talk to her about my plans, about what I wanted for our future, not in front of Mr. No Neck.

  Fuck.

  Looking over my shoulder, I eyed them once more, seeing how easily they talked, how the air between them seemed so relaxed, without worry. I hated it, I hated him.

  What the hell was I supposed to do? I wasn’t expecting another man to be in the picture, to rip my heart out in one smooth movement in front of the tourist mecca of New Orleans.

  A sharp pain radiated through my chest as I tried to catch my breath. It couldn’t end like this, could it? Was life really this unfair? I didn’t believe in happily ever afters, since I’ve never once seen one in my life, but I did believe in luck, and Goldie landing in my hands, in my club, in my life, that was pure luck, making me the luckiest bastard in the world.

  That was until I blew it all with my stubborn pride.

  That was the bane of my existence, my pride. It ate me up and turned me into a man I hated, a man who didn’t take chances because he was too damn scared to venture out of the protective shell he made for himself.

  I didn’t want to be that man anymore. I didn’t want to sit around, trying to protect my heart so I never got hurt again. No, I wanted to make a change in my life. I wanted to be fucking happy, for once in my life. I wanted to know what it felt like to have a woman, the woman of my dreams, wake up next to me every morning. I needed this girl; she was the key to my happiness, and hell if I was going to let my pride get in the way once more.

  Taking a deep breath, I turned back around and faced Goldie and the mystery man. Making sure my shirt wasn’t askew, I ran my hands down it and adjusted my belt, making sure it was facing forward. Feeling put together, I walked up to Goldie with my mind set on one thing and one thing only, getting her back.

  “Hello, Goldie,” I spoke with sincerity. Slowly, I took off my sunglasses and looked down at the shocked look on that gorgeous face of hers.

  Her legs that were once propped up on the fence flew to the ground as she sat up and adjusted the hat on the top of her head.

  Clearing her throat and scanning me up and down, she said, “Um, Jett. Hi.”

  Her voice was sweet, but confused; it was so damn adorable, I just wanted to grab her by the waist and take her against the damn fence.

  “Your artwork is extraordinary, as usual,” I complimented.

  “Thank you,” she said, while looking down at her exposed thighs. Thighs I wanted to spread as wide as they would fucking go so I could bury myself deep inside of her, the only place I’ve ever felt completely at peace.

  This was going to be harder than I thought.

  “Who’s your friend?” I asked, while nodding at the man who started sizing me up the moment I walked up to Goldie.

  Once I addressed him, he took off his sunglasses, and that was when I recognized him.

  Blane Wilson.

  Blane went to school with Kace and me at one point. He was a good man, but had gotten in some deep shit.

  Why the hell was he hanging out with Goldie?

  “Blane?” I asked.

  “Jett Colby,” he stood up and put out his hand. “Damn, you look good, man. Never thought I would see you grow into those lanky tennis arms of yours.”

  “I see you’re still using the steroids,” I joked. Blane was always more developed than anyone we knew. The man was a walking piece of muscle.

  Blane nodded his head and smiled, while sizing me up once again. “What can we do you for?”

  We? Were
they really a we? I glanced over at Goldie, who had her head down, avoiding all eye contact with me. My heart sank at the thought of Goldie moving on. How did I address her now, with Blane at her side, clearly in protection mode? I could hold my own when it came to a fight, easily, thanks to Kace’s training, but I couldn’t make up for the thirty pounds of muscle Blane had over me.

  Trying not to look fazed, I squatted down next to Goldie and lifted her chin slightly, so she had to look me in the eyes. I ignored the glare that was coming from Blane and spoke softly.

  “Goldie, can I please talk to you, in private?”

  “What you say to her can be said in front of me, Jett,” Blane warned, all friendliness escaping his voice.

  Taking a deep breath, I straightened, and looked Blane in the eyes.

  “Blane, I think you’re a good man who’s made some poor decisions. I can see you’re trying to make a better life for yourself, so I would avoid another bad decision…like standing in my way of Goldie, and move on.”

  “Funny that you think you can just come back here and act like you didn’t break her heart,” Blane said, as he drew closer to me.

  “I’m afraid what transpired between Goldie and me is none of your business,” I answered back, while I stepped forward, ready for what Blane had in store for me.

  Moving in closer, Blane responded, “It is my business when…”

  “Stop!” Goldie said, while jumping between us and placing her small hands on both of our chests to separate us. It was almost comical to see her try to put herself between Blane and me. She turned to Blane and said, “I can handle this, Blane. Please, watch my paintings for me.”

  “You sure?” Blane asked, as he picked up Goldie’s hand and brought it to his mouth.

  Right then and there, I wanted to bury my fist in his mouth. I wanted to crack every perfect white tooth of his. I wanted to make the man bleed, and I wasn’t a violent person, but do not touch my girl…ever!

  “Positive, thank you.”