Uncontrollable Temptations (Tempted #3)(51)
“Women?”
“Women like you,” he corrected.
I raised an eyebrow at the boldness of his statement.
“Women like me?” I repeated. I didn’t know if I was insulted or baffled.
“Yeah, women like you can destroy men like us when you get mixed up in our world, a world you don’t understand or know how to be a part of,” he seethed.
My cheeks reddened as anger engulfed me.
“It’s pretty bold of you to lump me in a category with all the women who’ve scorned you in the past. You don’t know me. It’s impossible for you to know me because I’m still trying to figure out who I am.”
“Need help? Let me introduce you to yourself. You’re a good girl, sweet even, never did a bad thing to anyone,” he started, leaning close to continue. “You see a broken man like Jack and think you will be the one to fix him. It doesn’t matter there were others who tried and failed before you, because in your head they weren’t you and only you can be his savior. You try it your way first, try to give him a piece of yourself, your morals, your values and you hope they will rub off on him. That don’t work, never does, and you start to see the ugly, the shit that tears at his conscience. You hate it, you hate what he does and can’t believe the man you fell for is capable of such horrible shit. But, it’s too late because by then you’ve already fallen in love with him, so you adapt to his lifestyle, or at least you try. He thinks he’s got you, that you’re his saving grace, an answer to a prayer, until it ends. Until you’re either lost in the transition, taken from him or find the courage to walk away. And where does that leave him?” He hollered the question, the veins in his neck pulsing as he stared at me angrily. “I’ll tell you where it leaves him. It leaves him worthless, struggling and more than likely handing his life to the devil,” he spat.
I stared at Blackie, hatred in his eyes, but it wasn’t for me, no his hatred was for himself. I felt sorry for the guy.
“Are we talking about Jack or are we talking about you?” I asked quietly.
“Stupid girl,” he hissed.
“Forgive me but a man whose liver is wasting away because all he does is drink, my guess is, to forget the woman who I remind him of, shouldn’t be calling anyone stupid,” I countered. “And for what it’s worth, I care about Jack. It’s not about fixing him because what’s broken in Jack will never be fixed and the woman who gets his heart, whether it’s me or someone else needs to accept that and love him despite the broken parts of him,” I said. “Now if you would please tell me where Jack is, I will get out of your way and leave you to it,” I motioned, toward the extensive collection of liquor that lined the shelves behind the bar.
“He’s got demons,” he whispered.
“We all have demons,” I replied. It’s true, all of us have something that tears us down but I’m learning that those demons only win if we allow them too. Some people need a little help to fight them off, others are strong enough to ignore them on their own, but in the end we can’t let them win. I frowned as Blackie stared at the empty beer bottle and hoped one day someone would help him fight his own demons. “Jack’s lucky to have a brother in you,” I added. “Sometimes it’s not about the family you’re born into but the family you make for yourself. Seems he did a pretty good job picking you,” I continued. I don’t know what tore Blackie down, what broke him but the way he looked out for Jack was admirable, hinting that there was someone worth saving inside that shell of his.
The door opened to the compound and the young man who was infatuated with my pie stuck his head inside.
“Yo, we got company,” he announced.
“Who?”
“That crazy gangster with the gold teeth,” he told him.
Blackie moved off the stool and hurried behind the bar to grab a remote control. He powered on the television and changed the channel, security camera footage appearing on the screen. I squinted as I tried to make out the three men getting out of the Escalade parked in front of the building.
“What do you want me to do?” Riggs asked.
“Stall them,” he commanded, walking toward me. “Looks like you’re about to earn your title, sweetheart,” he grunted, as he moved closer to me. “Let your hair down,” he instructed. “Now,” he hollered.
Blackie went from being a man I pitied to a man I feared in ten seconds. I reached behind my head and unclasped the clip, letting my damp hair fall. Before I could question what was going on, he tugged the sleeve of his thermal down, take the fabric and wiping it across my mouth. I moved to lift my hand to my lips that felt bruised from the hasty way he swiped my lipstick off.
“You don’t say a word unless you’re spoken to and then you say minimal. Just follow my lead and if you’re lucky I’ll get you to Jack,” he ground out.
“You understand?” He hissed. I quickly nodded my agreement. He took one more glance over his shoulder before he looked back at me. “Get on your knees,” he ordered.
I felt my lip quiver and tears sting the backs of my eyes.
“I’m not looking to hurt you; I’m looking to save your ass. I know you don’t trust me, but Jack does, remember that, hang onto it and when this shit’s over I’ll take you to him,” he vowed.