Vic
Chapter XI
As soon as I hear the door close, I dive out of bed and shower. I grab my go bag and head out of the door. He should be leaving for work any time, and I want to see him. I need to see him leave. I need to see if anyone else is there before I check it out.
As I walk down his street, I hang back in the shadows. I stay out of view till I see him step out of the house, and I have to will myself to not follow him. He looks so delicious today. He’s wearing grey Converse, black jeans, a grey polo neck t-shirt and a black cardigan. His thick-rimmed glasses sit perfectly on his face, and his dishevelled, dirty blonde hair is roughly styled in a messy faux hawk. I want to run my fingers through it. I want to hold it while I rub my pussy against his face. I almost step out from my hiding spot, having to reprimand myself and stay put till he leaves.
As the door clicks open, I head to the alarm panel and send the signal from my disabler to override it. It beeps, and I smile to myself.
I walk down the hall, stopping and lingering on every photo. I slide my finger over a younger Jacob’s smiling face while he hugs an older version of himself. There are a few lined up across the wall. They look like family, no girlfriends or wives to worry about.
“That’s good for them.” I smirk as I head into the living room.
It’s nice, clean, and spacious. I check drawers and read through paperwork. I have no inclination that there’s a woman on the scene from anything I’ve read, but I’m still curious as to why he would choose to live in a family neighbourhood. I head into the kitchen and familiarise myself with the feel and placement of things before staring out the back window. The garden is small but well-kept, and there’s a small patio with a bistro table and chairs. I stop for a while. I imagine Jacob and myself sitting there having breakfast, reading the paper, and smiling at each other.
I want that. I want to be more than this. Whatever the fuck this is, it isn’t living. I’m barely existing, just going through the motions, and I’m tired, so fucking tired. I try to be a good person. Well, as good as a person can be in my line of work, and damn, do The Collective keep us busy. Is it too much to ask to find a way out, settle down and have a… life? I know kids aren’t on the cards for me. Father saw to that. He couldn’t have his prize seductress getting knocked up! And I’m not sure if I would even want to be a parent, as, let’s face it, what the fuck do I know about being one? But choices are what I long for. To make a choice of my own. I choose Jacob. He’s the one choice I will make sure I have, whatever the fuck that would look like for someone like me. I take a breath. I’m going to make sure Jacob becomes mine by any means necessary.
I take my time searching the downstairs before heading upstairs. I clear the bathroom, spare bedroom, and the small office space in the box room before heading into Jacob’s bedroom. I pull back the covers and slide in to smell the sheets.
“Ugh,” I groan. He smells like new beginnings and a real life. A chance to break free from Father, a chance to be a better person, a whole person, not this shell of whatever the fuck I’ve turned into. A chance at forever and a chance to be… happy, for want of a better word.
I’m not sure I know what happiness is, but I have a mild sensation in my chest that makes me think I could have it with Jacob. I remake the bed and root through his bedside tables. There's nothing untoward, nothing that tells me anything about this man I’m going to make mine. He seems to live a simple existence. There’s a hoodie and joggers on a chair in the corner. I head over, reaching out for them and bringing them up to my nose, breathing deeply as my eyes flutter closed. I groan. His smell is intoxicating, and it’s making my mouth water just for a taste of him.
I clutch the hoodie to my chest and rub it on my face, sighing at the smell and the sensation of the soft fabric caressing my cheek. I pull it away, unable to help myself, as I yank it over my head and wrap myself up in it, closing my eyes. It’s like a hug from Jacob, and Ifeel… I don’t know. I don’t normally feel much, but with him, I feel something.
I’m lost in my thoughts when I hear the front door open and close. Spinning around, I assess the room. Fuck, this was careless. I look at the time. Shit. I’ve been here all day.
I crack the window open and hang my head out. I can’t see anyone, but it's broad daylight, so this could go horribly wrong if I'm seen. I climb out and swing towards the downpipe. I push the window closed as I slip quietly down the side of the building and into the walled garden. I stay close to the house before slipping around the side and walking down the street like I belong here. When I reach the corner, I chance a glance back, but there’s nothing out of the ordinary, so I keep moving and head back to the apartment.
When I get home, I realise I’m still wearing Jacob’s hoodie, and I slide it off, inhaling deeply as I fold it neatly and slide it into a vacuum-sealed bag before heading to the other room to remove the air from it. Once I’m done, I slide it under the bed. I pull out the laptop and check everything I can about Jacob, even the slightest detail about him, his home life, his family, and even his friends. I check their social media, and there are a few I instantly dislike. Drinking and debauchery seem to be high on the list, with not a lot else, while some are building careers. They’re mocking us, those who work hard for what we have.
I get a text from Xav, andI groan internally. “Fucker.”
He wants me to meet him at the police bar, and that’s just asking for trouble, but I shower, change, grab my little rucksack, and add the things I need for later. I need to see Jacob. I need to clone his phone so I can keep track of what’s going on in his life because I can’t make a mistake here. He’s going to be mine, and I need all the information I can get so that it happens as smoothly as physically possible.
I slip into the bar and look around nervously. I’m not nervous, but everything’s a show, right? I must portray the right image. What woman would walk into a bar full of cops with swagger and FAFO vibes? I mean, me. I would, but I can’t be Vic here.
I see Xav stand and wave from the back corner, and I inwardly roll my eyes. At the same time, I do a quick little wave, dropping my eyes to the ground before biting my bottom lip and tucking my hair behind my ear. Well, my wig, I’ve gone with a dirty blonde bob. It’s the nearest to Xav’s natural colour. I know he will be introducing me as his sister, so I need to play the part. I walk over to him, and he pulls me in for a hug.
He kisses my cheek and whispers, “Good choice,” before stepping back, sliding his arm around me and pulling me in.
“Hey everyone, this is my sister.” He turns to look at me, smiles, and turns back. “Jane.” I internally roll my eyes at the non-descript name.
“James, you didn’t say she was so beautiful.”
An older woman he was sitting next to stands and steps towards me. I fidget with my hands, tugging my sleeves down on my jumper over them before looking up to meet her gaze and smiling softly before reaching out my hand to shake hers.
“Shelley, I presume. I’m so glad to finally meet you; my brother speaks very highly of you.” I slip my hand from hers and screw them back up into the sleeves of my jumper before smiling up at Xav.
He ushers me into the booth, and Shelley slides in beside me before I can object. Xav nods and heads to the bar, but I keep him in my peripheral. I can mask and create a persona with the best of them, but situations like this are a little too close for comfort. Shelley’s a detective, and so is everyone else in this goddamn bar, and it’s only going to take one wrong move to make them all suspicious.
“So, Jane, what was it like growing up with James?”
“Oh, it was okay, I suppose. He’s not the worst big brother.” I chuckle and thank my lucky stars when Xav returns with my drink.
I take a few tiny sips so I can sink into the background while the others talk amongst themselves.
“So, what do you do, Jane?”
