Mariana was in shock.
“That’s a drop in the bucket to Theo. Believe me,” Jameson added then walked out of the room.
Just then the dryer buzzed. Her only pair of pants were dry. Why were Jameson and Jax so upset about the money? She did do her job. She stared at the envelope then place it down as she dropped the towel from around her, reached into the dryer, and took out her clothing. As she was buttoning her jeans she sensed someone standing by the doorway watching her. It was Jameson.
“You’re finished being an escort. You know that, right? We’re not allowing it. That part of your life is over.”
Her first reaction was to snap at him. How dare he tell her what she can and can’t do. But then she knew that they worried about her and cared. She didn’t want to risk getting caught in a situation again that she couldn’t handle.
She nodded her head as she put her shirt on.
“We’re taking a little trip. We’ll grab some clothes on the way and more once we get to our house.”
She stared at him. “We’re going to your house in the suburbs? The one with all the land?”
He nodded his head.
“Wait. For how long? I have a test on Friday.”
“That’s taken care of. You can work off of my laptop.”
“Wait a minute. What do you mean ‘taken care of’? What did you do?” she asked, feeling the anger fill her immediately.
Jameson stared at her in such a way that it made her belly do a series of somersaults and her gut clench. He was acting differently. Something wasn’t right.
“Jax spoke with the dean. Your professors have been notified. We set up an e-mail account for your assignments to be sent and any work needed.” Her jaw dropped.
“The dean? You know the dean?” She didn’t know if she should scream or just hit something. How dare they take control of her life like this. “You can’t be serious. You didn’t interfere in my life like that? You’re joking around.”
He glanced at his watch, dismissing her attitude and anger as if he were bored with her upset.
“Get ready. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
“Wait.” She grabbed his arm. He stared down into her eyes.
“Why did Jax do that? Why are you taking over my life?” she asked as her voice cracked.
He swallowed hard then placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Remember when we talked about trust?”
She nodded her head.
“You need to trust Jax and I right now. We’re doing what is best for you. We’re trying to keep you safe.” He kissed her forehead then escorted her from the laundry room. Mariana couldn’t help but wonder what, or whom, it was that they were keeping her safe from.
Chapter 12
“It seems like your plan worked, Clover. The Spauldings left town an hour ago. My sources say they notified their office that they would be gone a week or two.”
Clover smiled at Buster’s news.
“That is perfect. Now, there’s no way they can connect the apartment thing to me, right?”
“No way, sir. I had some shits from that neighborhood take care of things. It cost a few hundred but it was worth it. It seems like the Spaulding brothers really care about Mariana. So much for virginal and sweet and innocent, huh? Fucking two guys like that.”
“I have to admit that I hadn’t seen that coming.”
“Well it’s not too uncommon, but still, she’s hot. It makes her more appealing, I think, knowing that she can handle two guys their size at once.”