Chapter Nineteen
MERCS
Effa climbs down from the rafters, and I reach up, grabbing hold of her ass. It’s a temptation I can’t resist. Her soft giggle echoes through the backstage area, and I smirk as her feet hit the floor, which regrettably forces my hands to fall away from her.
She spins with a wicked smile. “Thank you for showing me your view of the world. I had a…” a huge smile forms on her face, “… great time.” Her voice is laced with playful sarcasm.
I chuckle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her into me as my gaze flicks toward Jett. He’s moving, slowly but deliberately, heading straight for us.
Great.
“Hey, Eff, can you get that shower ready for us? I want to have a quick word with someone about lighting for tonight,” I lie.
She smiles, oblivious, then leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek before rushing toward the stadium bathroom.
Clenching my jaw, I pivot just in time to see Jett stalking toward me, his body tight, his jaw clenched. He’s pissed. Well, fuck him. He has no rights. I’m not the damn voyeur here.
He steps in close, too close, and the stench of stale tobacco hits me in the face as he stares me down, clearly trying to intimidate me. I hold my ground and shove him hard in the chest, forcing him back a step. He breaks into a dry laugh, shaking his head as he straightens up.
“What the fuck, asshole? Why were you watching us?” I sneer.
His smug expression fades, replaced with a scowl that twists his face. “You have no right to be taking advantage of her,” he bites out.
“Advantage? Oh, this should be good. Please, enlighten me. Howexactlyam I taking advantage of Effa?”
“She’s young. Easily led. A guy like you will corrupt her. You think I don’t know about your money issues, Mercury? Your sister and her health problems? She’s bleeding you dry. You’re after Effa for what she can giveyou. You don’t want her. You want her pretty little purse—”
That’s it.
My whole body tenses.
Muscles are locking up as I wrestle with the urge to smash his smug face into the middle of next week.
“Fuck you, Jett. Don’t youdarebring my sister into this. You don’t know shit about me or my life, so don’t pretend you’ve got me figured out. As for Effa? She means the world to me. I’d never hurt her. Unlikeyou.”
I step forward, my voice low and lethal. “You think I’m using her? You’re the one who’s desperate to latch onto her coattails to revive your flatlining career. You’re the leech here. Staythe fuckaway from Effa and me, or I swear, I’ll make sure you choke on your own damn teeth. She’smine. Not yours. Not now. Not ever.”
His nostrils flare, his body trembling with rage. The air between us shifts to arctic, charged with something palpable. We stand toe to toe, one spark away from throwing down. My fists curl tight, jaw locked, the tension between us is thick enough to slice through.
He wants her.
But I have her.
And if I’m not careful, this cocky bastard could cause real damage. He’s got power, influence, and a reputation I don’t yet have. One misstep and I could lose everything.
My job.
My name…
… Effa.
I’ve got to be smart.
Strategic.
But I’m not backing the fuck down either.
His eyes bore into mine, black and hollow, like there’s no soul left in him, only contempt and an attempt at fury. He takes a step closer, and our noses nearly touch.
