Irrevocable (Fated series (can be read as a standalone) Book 3) Read online

  But caring, I closed the door and locked it behind me.

  When I re-entered the room, John was sitting on the cream cord settee in the corner of the room, with one leg up on the extended leg rest and the other on the floor. It was a two seater but he took up most of it all by himself. He was wearing the clothes I had suggested half an hour before. Although he was sitting down I could see that they fitted him to perfection, with a frame like his he could carry anything off. His hair was now brushed and swept back on his head, however he hadn’t shaved and was wearing a nice amount of scruff. It only added to his appeal, I thought with hurt tightly constricting around my chest. I watched him turn his loose watch around his wrist as he waited impatiently for me to appear.

  I took in the fact that our room was now immaculately tidy. He had obviously been busy while I had been in the shower. I allowed my eyes to take a quick sweep over the bed, even that looked as if we had never been in it.

  Perhaps that was just the way he wanted it?

  ‘Jasmin.’ His eyes came up to meet mine. ‘Are you ready?’

  I nodded my answer.

  ‘Come on then.’ He stood and made his way to the door, opened it up wide and gestured that I should move through it in front of him. I moved my jewelled flip-flops one in front of the other.

  These were my stand. I had seen that I had new shoes as well as clothes, but I was my own person and the flip-flops were mine.

  I owned them.

  He didn’t own me; he didn’t even want me.

  The door closed behind us and we began to walk along the corridor. I felt his hand in the small of my back as we walked companionably side by side. Eventually his hand travelled further up my spine to just under my ponytail and he held me gently by the back of my neck. His hand had at first made me jump, but my body relaxed into his touch with absolute ease. I knew we needed to come across as the obsessed newly-weds we were pretending to be, but equally I knew for my own self-preservation I needed to stay as far away from him as possible. However, at this moment there was nothing I could do. As we walked his thumb and index finger started to caress the sensitive place below each of my earlobes. I sighed, wanting to pull away from the feelings he conjured up inside of me, but I managed to place a huge smile on my face as we entered the restaurant.

  Now who was acting?

  My dad and Jack stood up from the large table they were sitting at, both in their own way questioning me with different expressions on their faces. My broad grin and the fact that I slipped an arm around my new husband’s waist, seemed to put them at ease.

  I could do this, I owed my dad.

  I was quiet at the table as we shared brunch together. The security team and my brother discussed loads of different sports and various sporting teams. Their loud laughter filled the room we were in. Luckily their noise, and the fact that John had taken to feeding me with things from his plate, made our table look as it should.

  ‘Are you OK, Jasmin?’ John asked, patting at his lips with a linen napkin.

  ‘Fine,’ I answered, forcing a smile to my face but not turning in his direction.

  I felt him as he moved closer to me, bringing his face nearer to the side of my head. He used his long, well-manicured fingers to push some loose hair behind my ear and bringing his mouth close to my exposed shell he whispered, ‘Oh Christ… even I know that fine doesn’t mean fine. Stay with me, we only need a few more hours and then you can put all of this behind you.’

  If only it was going to be that easy.

  I pulled away and turned towards my mum, grabbing her hand off the table and placing it in my lap. She looked at me questioningly.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, making her voice soft.

  ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ I whispered.

  She looked at me once again.

  ‘You can. I think for your own sake you need to follow this through.’ I watched her peer around me and take in the man that was pretending to be my husband. ‘This is obviously essential for our safety, Jasmin. Surely you can pretend to be in love?’ I pulled my hand away from hers and looked at her. Her eyes opened wider as she stared at me curiously, reading my expression.

  She knew, she knew I had stupidly fallen for him.

  What a bloody mess I was in.

  Once again, we piled back into my cabin. Instinct had caused me to wrap my arms around my torso, just trying to offer myself a shred of comfort from my stupidity. I went and sat on the settee in the corner of the room, pushed off my flip-flops and placed my bare feet underneath my bottom. I knew my body language screamed of withdrawing into myself, but I no longer cared.

  Once everyone was in the cabin and settled, with their eyes focussed upon the object of my discomfort and desire, he started to speak.

  ‘Firstly, well done everyone. I think we managed to pull off a highly convincing marriage and celebration yesterday. I want to thank you all. I know it wasn’t easy.’ John was walking around the cabin as he spoke. My parents were sat on the bed together. Jack had sat down on the arm of the settee and was now behind me, leaning his body over the back cushions. I knew he had felt that I needed him and he was offering me his silent comradeship. The rest of the security team were either leaning on walls or doors, listening to their boss make his speech, obviously not comfortable enough to sit in his presence.

  I felt his eyes fall on me as he spoke the words, “I know it wasn’t easy.” I refused to look up at him and just played with a loose piece of cotton at the hem of my dress.

  ‘We need to up the ante over the next twenty-four hours. I am determined to have them off this ship by the time we reach Genoa.’ I watched him from the corner of my eye looking at everyone as they all began to nod in agreement. ‘We need to create...’ He stopped speaking suddenly as we all heard a knock at the door. The team began to move, Rik picked up an excursion leaflet to look at it and Brent went into the bathroom.

  John made his way to the door and pulled the door open. ‘Yes?’ he questioned.

  ‘Is there anything I can do in your cabin, sir?’ came the voice I now recognised as belonging to my cabin steward.

  ‘Thank you, but no everything is just fine in here.’

  ‘That’s good, sir. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need anything.’

  I looked up as I heard the door click and John appeared again. His eyes found mine as he came back to claim his pseudo soap box. Before he could start talking, my dad found his voice. Our eyes released each other once again.

  ‘These men that are on board, they’re definitely a threat to us, yes?’

  ‘Yes, they are without a doubt connected to the Antonescus. Their hired help…’ John looked at my dad and nodded with understanding at my dad’s fraught but questioning expression. ‘Ok, here’s what we do know. There are three of them, they embarked when the ship docked in Lisbon, Portugal. We know who they are, but that isn’t enough to have them removed, there are no warrants for their arrest outstanding against them, in any country. They obviously had eyes on you that we were not aware of.’ He shook his head and shuffled his feet, showing he was not happy at that last comment. ‘None of the men that work for, or that are related to the Antonescus, are people that you want to be around. As you already are aware they are sanctimonious bastards especially, as you know, with women.’ He looked at me and my mum as we sat and listened. ‘I want them off this ship ASAP. I don’t want them getting cosy.’ John finally stopped moving around and leant his broad shoulders into one of the built-in wardrobes, making it creak slightly in response. He crossed his arms over his chest and glanced around the room. ‘Brent the floor is yours.’

  I watched as Brent moved himself forward slightly.

  ‘Right, as far as I see it we’ve gotta get into their room. I want Rik to set up some microphones in there, with any luck the asshats will incriminate themselves. We need to keep them out of the way for at least thirty. So, we need the happy couple to cause a distraction out in public… I think the best way to do that i
s for you two to be causing a scene at the main pool, something diverting… We can then buy them drinks at the bar, we’ve been watching them and know they like a few cold ones… In conclusion, we need you two newlyweds out and available to be seen for a while.’

  ‘So, we’re going to honey trap them?’ I heard Jack speak behind me. ‘You’re going to use my sister as the bait for a trap?’ His voice didn’t rise nor did he move at all. It seemed he had asked the questions and was now mulling around the idea in his head. Suddenly, the settee moved under me as he jumped up. ‘I don’t like the idea of my family being used as pawns in your game.’

  I turned my head to the side and for the first time I really saw the man my little brother had become. He was staring at John and his team, moving his gaze from one to the other. ‘There must be another way… you can find another way?’

  ‘There are other ways, but I want them away from your sister and your family quickly. Other ways will take longer; all that time we’re stuck with them on board this ship. I want this over. I want your sister and family away from their clutches… do you understand that? Surely you don’t want your family within their reach and possibly in danger for longer than necessary?’ I watched as the testosterone-filled room seemed to shrink as John pushed himself away from the wardrobe and started to instinctively move towards Jack.

  I jumped up quickly and stood in between them. I leant back into Jack and held my hand to John’s chest, feeling his heart beat beneath my palm. I didn’t want to touch him as it felt almost painful to do so, but their personas were giving off “fight” vibes and I felt it was necessary to place myself in between them.

  ‘Of course I want this thing over, don’t you ever question my loyalty to my family. I just don’t want Jasmin being used by YOU.’ Jack’s voice started to rise and I knew he wasn’t just talking about the honey trap we were supposed to be discussing. I felt my eyes close briefly as both men glowered at each other over the top of my head. Obviously, Jack had taken in my hurt and withdrawn attitude.

  ‘STOP! Please, both of you calm down.’ I pushed against John’s chest trying to get him to move away. To no avail. None of the other men in the room moved, obviously feeling their boss could handle himself in the given situation. Turning myself around slightly, I grabbed hold of Jack’s face with one of my hands and feeling the taut muscles under my fingers I wordlessly pleaded for him to look at me. Exhaling he slowly lowered his eyes to mine.

  ‘Jack, please sit back down. I need this whole situation to be over as quickly as possible.’ I stared at him, hoping he would telepathically understand what I was talking about. ‘If I need to be part of the honey trap to end it, then so be it.’ Finally, he blinked and started to relax.

  ‘For you, sis. So, you can be rid of the suit, anything.’ He sat down in the seat I had recently vacated.

  I looked back at John, his persona had completely changed as he watched my painted nails unconsciously rub his chest. My fingers froze after following his gaze and I sat back down next to Jack.

  John turned away from us but as he did so he offered Jack a passing shot. ‘This isn’t your sort of fight, Jack. Leave this to us.’

  I watched as Jack’s body once again stiffened up, he quickly looked over at mum and dad and then just as quickly he looked away. However, he said no more but sat cracking his knuckles in anger.

  ‘I think, Jack, that perhaps we should talk in your cabin.’ It wasn’t a question. John almost commanded him. Jack stopped cracking his knuckles and stood up bestowing a tiny movement of his chin on John and the two of them vacated the stunned room together.

  What the hell was going on?

  It was unnatural for me to follow, and it wasn’t something I was comfortable doing. But knowing I had put him in his place in front of his family, I did what was needed to pour water onto the rising heat of the situation we were in. I had done what was necessary to take command of the escalating emotional situation back in the cabin, I had nothing to repent for.

  Jack fumbled with the door on entry, probably something to do with the seething anger that I could tell by his body language he was struggling to contain. I began to admire the young man in front of me though, what was he? Twenty-three and almost straight out of university. I thought back to his file I had read on the flight over. I could see the pages in my mind.

  The young man intrigued me.

  People didn’t very often interest me, let alone intrigue me.

  The door finally relinquished its hold on the cabin beyond and we strode in.

  ‘I think we should sit down,’ I offered, as the door slammed shut behind us and he began to start pacing the small internal room. I moved the only chair, swivelled it around on one leg and swung my leg over the seat to sit astride it, resting my arms on the seat back. Jack sat on the edge of his small bed. The room was tiny and I knew I was going to have to choose my words carefully so as not to ignite the testosterone-filled atmosphere.

  ‘You nearly dropped me well and truly in the shit.’ He sat bolt upright and folded his huge muscular arms defensively across his chest. I nodded in agreement, not wanting to break his flow of conversation. ‘My parents don’t know… What the fuck do you think it would do to them if they found out?’ His voice was starting to rise in volume.

  I took in a deep breath at the accusation and refocussed my eyes on the angry young man in front of me.

  ‘I’m not sure, I don’t know them well enough. They look like the sort of parents that want the best for their children, that’s not something I’ve seen much of… But believe me, I have no intention of bringing any more hurt to your family.’ I locked my eyes onto his, but he recoiled and started to stand.

  ‘Not even to my sister? Huh,’ he questioned as I watched him clench his fists in anger. ‘I don’t know, you fucking Americans think you can just waltz in and take over something that I’ve already got well in hand.’

  ‘How do you see that, Jack. Tell me. I’m all ears at this “got well in hand.” Come on tell me.’ I lowered my hands after using them to sarcastically air quote his words back at him, absolutely disgusted with myself that I had allowed him to unpick my normally solid exterior. This family was certainly adept at getting under my skin.

  ‘You know I’m bare knuckle fighting. I know you do.’

  I nodded, leant back a little and tucked my hands into my armpits to stop them waving around. I didn’t normally give people a chance to read my thoughts through my body language and I wasn’t going to start.

  ‘Yes, I do. Your parents though, think you’re in investment banking,’ I offered. ‘So, tell me what the hell this has got to do with you having this situation in hand.’ I brought the tone of my voice down in order that he would follow and calm down enough to try to have a conversation with our mouths and not with our fists. It worked, he sat back down in front of me and started to wring his hands together.

  ‘How do you think you would have coped with being told your sister had been used like Bella had?’ His eyes found mine in his pain.

  ‘I wouldn’t have coped.’

  ‘That’s precisely what happened to me. I fell off the deep end six months ago when the shit hit the fan at home. I’m her brother for God’s sake, brothers look after their sisters.’

  ‘You could only have been, what twelve years old? There is nothing a twelve-year-old could have done against grown men. I think you’re being too hard on yourself. I understand your anger, but it’s misplaced.’

  ‘HOW THE FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW?’ Jack roared, but he didn’t stand, he just placed his head into his hands.

  ‘I know all about wanting to protect family and screwing it up for all the wrong fucking reasons, believe me.’ I untucked my hands and leant further forward on my chair trying to connect with Jack without touching him. ‘How did you get into bare knuckle fighting?’

  ‘I was punching out in sheer fucking frustration after hearing what had happened to her… I couldn’t go home anymore, just afraid of what I might do if I
bumped into any of them. You know the story, drinking too much, fucking too much and fighting. Fighting is something I’ve always been good at; from a young age, I’d always used my fists. I loved getting into fights at school and constantly surprised people that a middle-class, doctor’s son could have such an affinity to violence.’ He took his head out of his hands and stared back at me. ‘Bare knuckle fighting is illegal and unregulated, I started going with my mates and I began to use it as an outlet… I’m good at it.’ He shrugged his shoulders and rolled his head around until something clicked, finally, he let out a small laugh. ‘Better at it than investment banking, that’s for sure… The people I started mixing with know the Antonescus. I was digging up so much shit on them and all the time was watching out for my family from afar.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Their fingers are in a lot of pies.’

  I nodded at him. ‘So I’ve heard… How were you protecting your family?’

  ‘Charlie, an old boyfriend of Jasmin’s, has been hanging around, watching, making sure…’

  I knew he said more but my brain was stuck on “boyfriend”. I ran the word through my head over and over. My blood began to pound around my body and for the first time in my life I felt an uncurling ball of jealousy in the pit of my stomach. I stood up suddenly and the chair fell towards Jack’s legs, luckily his reaction time was quick and he caught it effortlessly.

  ‘You OK?’

  ‘Yeah, sorry, just thought of something. Look, I understand what you’ve been doing and why, but going off like a loose cannon will do no one any good. You can turn in any evidence you’ve got to the police when we get back. It will help the prosecutors at their trial and if you can operate under my instruction, you can help us here. How does that sound?’

  I watched as his features changed as he took in what I was offering.

  ‘Be warned though, Jack, I won’t hesitate to have you locked up in here if I think you start to become a liability in any way. I won’t have my mission thwarted.’