Loving Violet (Rockers' Legacy Book 4)

Regret filled Lucy’s eyes, but she did as I requested. “Begging Luca to lick her pussy,” she mumbled. “I recognized the voice. It’s hard to forget that little bitch’s nasal sound.” She hesitated, but my eyes told her to just say it. “Megan Hawthorn. That girl who keeps following him around at school and at the football games.”

“Right,” I said with a nod. “Of course it’s her.” I took my phone from her and placed it in my back jeans pocket. “Well, I’m going home. I’ll see you three…later.”

“Violet sweetheart, please don’t go.” Aunt Layla tried to stop me. “I’ll get this figured out. Luca will be home within the hour, and he can explain everything.”

“No thanks,” I told her, losing what little control I was still holding on to. “I really do need to get home.”

Before they could stop me, I walked out the back door, and no sooner had my feet touched the sand than I was running. I refused to let the tears in my eyes fall as I ran to Aunt Emmie’s house and rang the doorbell.

The housekeeper answered moments later with a welcoming smile. “Hello, dear,” she greeted.

I wasn’t able to return the smile or the greeting. Instead, I ran up the stairs to Jagger’s room and burst in without even thinking to knock. Thankfully he was dressed and standing in front of the mirror on the back of his closet door, styling his hair.

Seeing me, his face darkened. “Violet, what’s wrong?” he demanded, crossing to me with quick, long strides and pulling me into his arms.

“I want to go home,” I sobbed so hard my body began to shake. “Please take me home.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” he said in a soothing voice. “Let me get my keys.” He kissed the top of my head and then turned to grab his keys.

With his arm around me, we walked downstairs, but when we got to the kitchen, I saw Aunt Emmie was standing there with Uncle Nik. The two of them were obviously ready to go to the party, but when they saw me, Aunt Emmie’s big green eyes narrowed.

“What’s going on?” Uncle Nik asked his son.

“I don’t know,” Jagger answered. “She just showed up and begged me to take her home.”

Aunt Emmie took my hands. “Violet honey, why are you so upset?”

“I-I don’t want to talk about it, Aunt Emmie,” I told her through my tears. “I just… I want to go home. Please, can Jagger take me?”

“Of course he can.” She kissed my cheek and gave me a tight hug. Feeling her arms around me only made me want to cry harder, but I knew if I let myself completely fall apart before I got home, I would never make it there. “I’ll fix whatever it is. You don’t worry, okay? I’ll make it all better.”

“You can’t,” I whispered brokenly.

“I can fix anything,” she said, and through blurry eyes, I saw her smile teasingly.

“Not a broken heart,” I told her.

“We’ll see,” she murmured softly and hugged me again. “Jags, be careful. No speeding.”

I barely remembered the drive to Santa Monica. Jagger was sweet, though, asking if I needed anything every few minutes, offering to get me food or chocolate—or a baseball bat to beat the hell out of Luca with. I knew the last was offered in an attempt to make me laugh, but it only made another sob bubble out of me.

My parents weren’t home when he pulled into my driveway. They were probably already at the Thorntons’ house for the party. Shaw and her family were no doubt already there too, so I didn’t have anyone to talk to but Jagger. As much as I loved him, I didn’t want to vent to him. There were some things a girl needed her bestie for.

Or her mom.

Jagger walked me to the front door, and I used my key to let myself in. “I can stay if you want,” he said when I turned in the open door.

I gave him a watery smile. “Thanks, but I really just want to be alone right now.”

“I wish you would tell me what happened.” He wiped away a few of my tears that still continued to spill down my cheeks. “I don’t like it when you cry, Vi.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I just… I don’t want to talk about it right now, Jags. It hurts and I…” I swallowed and tried to give him a smile, but from the way his nostrils flared, I knew I didn’t pull it off. “Thank you for bringing me home. It really means a lot to me.” Standing on tiptoe, I kissed his cheek and quickly stepped back. “Please be careful on the drive home.”

I watched him walk back to his vehicle and then shut the door. Slowly, because it seemed like every muscle in my body ached, I went to my room. As the door closed behind me, I finally gave in and let myself break completely.

Chapter 8

Luca