Chapter 86 Untitled Chapter

Chapter 86 Untitled Chapter
GIANNA

“Miss Brooke I'll suggest you reconsider changing your statement, I promise the police would see to your safety,” he said as though I was making a huge mistake by letting Dane Jax go.

“Thank you for your offer, Detective Nielsen but I've already given my statement. Despite what you might have seen I assure you, these men are innocent, they didn't abuse me, it was all consensual.” his eyes narrowed. I shrugged, smiling.

“It's called Impact Play. They are dom escorts I hired to fulfill my personal needs as a sub,” I added making sure I stare him straight in the eyes and that my voice didn't waiver.

How I managed not to blush was beyond me. Probably one of those miracles.

From his expression he didn't believe me. I could tell in his eyes there's not even the slightest doubt that both men could be innocent.

He genuinely believed they'd kidnapped and abused me, and I was either brainwashed or too afraid to press charges hence why I'm letting them go.

I can't convince him otherwise, he could think whatever he wants. He moved closer blocking my view of the guys.

“Don't let them fool you Miss Brooke. I had run their names in the database, these men aren't as innocent as you'd like to think. Just, say the words and I will make sure they never bother you again.” I forced down my irritation, it was getting harder to keep calm.

“Detective, I don't know what gave you the impression that I might need your help. But as I have said earlier. I've already given my statement.” He nodded.

“Alright this is my card, you can contact me directly. And try to stay away from them. I mean it takes it from someone who deals with all kinds of criminals daily.” He'd said it like he was really concerned about me. Which was the only reason I didn't reply with a biting remark.

“Pfft, Who doesn't have a few tickets to their names detective,” Chloe said, she'd done a complete 180 since she found out the twins are male escorts and weren't the bad guys she thought they were. And was currently glued to poor Damon bombarding him with all kinds of questions.

She was curious about the ins and outs of the trade. And had decided who better to ask than the owner. Ruin looks like he couldn't decide what to do with the ball of energy chatting his ears off. Fortunately he'd followed the police officer who was about to release Dane and Jax.

“What were they charged with?” aunt Layla asks, glancing at the cell where Jax and Dane were just coming out.

“Murders.” There was a collective gasp at this news.

“Did I hear you say murder or murders as in plural?” Tessa, who had gone completely pale, asked.

“Murders, two victims. A young woman and her boyfriend, who were both college students. And supposedly they were friends with their murderers,” detective Nielsen replied pointedly, staring at me.

“What?!” Chloe, Tessa and aunt Layla chorus.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. I just couldn't reconcile the men I've come to know for almost a week as cold blooded murderers.

The men who had shattered the walls I had built around my heart and had breathed life into me.

The gorgeous brothers had taught me what real pleasure is and how to let go and not be ashamed of my needs. There's no way he was talking about Jax and Dane. He's probably talking about something else.

“Were they convicted?” Grams finally asked. The shock of what we all heard must have worn off. I couldn't say the same about me, my ears were still ringing with detective Nielsen revelation.

“Yes ma'am, they'd served time for a couple of years. But got released sooner due to good behavior.”

“Gianna, you can't let men like these go back into society,” aunt Layla said.

“I agree, you have to change your statement. I don't trust them, they must have lied to you.” That was Tessa, Chloe looked conflicted.

“I don't know, they don't look like killers to me,” she said.

“Grams?” I whispered, feeling like I couldn't breathe. My entire body was shaking, I felt like I was falling apart. I don't understand why though. Grams stare deeply into my eyes and grab my hands.

“It's your decision to make Gianna so listen to your heart, whatever you decide I will always support you,” Bridget replied, though her expression was grim.

I flash her a watery smile of gratitude for trusting me. Her words had comforted me more than she would ever know. They held me together and gave me the strength I needed. I turned to Detective Nielsen.

“Whatever crimes they had committed they'd already paid for by serving time. So I'm not changing my statement. We're done here.”

With those last words I turned to leave. But stopped when two voices called my name, like them calling my name had the power to stop me.

“Gianna, please.” I turned around and that's when it hit me. Seeing them staring at me expectantly, I know without a single doubt that I am irrevocably in love with them. Dane and Jax.

“Let's talk. Give us a chance to tell you everything,” Dane said, his dark green eyes have never been as intense as they are right now.

“No,” aunt Layla said, getting in between pointing at them with accusing manicured fingers.

“You'll stay the hell away from her. Both of you. Or I'll be sure to sue you and this time you won't get free.” Dane and Jax glared at her and went to move closer but we're stopped by something Ruin said. They glanced at me pleadingly and I was half tempted to listen to them.

“Auntie…I ”

“No!” Aunt Layla snapped. “You've already made your decision and I respect that. But you're going to listen to me now and get into the car.”

I've never seen aunt Layla being this protective or angry ever. I realize she's just shaken, right now.

She's not rational enough to get that I know what I am doing, that I am more than capable of taking care of myself and making my own decisions.

I was half dragged outside by both Aunt Layla and Tessa and forced into our waiting SUV, I glanced back at the men who had succeeded where others had failed and felt my heart break.

Nothing has felt as painful as this. I thought I had suffered heartbreak when I broke it up with Colton but I was wrong. Looking back and seeing these men staring at my car as we drove away, hit worse.

“I don't understand why you just allowed those murderers to go free Gianna. Do you realize the magnitude of what you just did?” Aunt Layla said, I could understand her frustration but I'm not in the mood for this.

“What if they attack another innocent woman? How would you feel then knowing you could have stop it if only…,”

“If I believe even for a second that these men are capable of doing such atrocities I would never have believed them to be innocent of my kidnapping. Besides, let's not jump to conclusions; neither of us knows the truth.” I replied, feeling anger raise and join with my other emotions that were looking for an outlet.

“I can't believe you're defending them. What have they done to you?” I swallowed hard.

“I am not! And they did nothing to me. I am as shocked as you auntie so please stop… just stop,” I begged.

“You were there Gianna, you heard the detective. They were found guilty and spend God only knows how many years in jail. They are bad people, you should have changed your statement, that's all I'm saying.”

“God Auntie, I don't want to argue with you. But I'm going to say this for the last time, whatever crime Dane and Jax had committed they'd already gotten convicted and jailed for it. I can't hold them accountable for something they didn't do just because they were ex-felons.”

She snickered.
“Who said they didn't do it? Them? I can't believe you still believe a word out of their mouths. They are lying to you Gianna, can't you fucking see it. I'm trying to protect you against yourself. You've always been kind, too trusting and blind when it comes to people you love. You're just like your…”

“Enough Layla,” Grams finally said.

Something bitter coated my tongue. I know what she had wanted to say. That I am just like my mother, but I wasn't.

I will never close my eyes to the truth. I would never take my own life for anything.

“Mom, I'm only telling the truth. I just don't want them coming anywhere near her and I have this feeling that they would come for her. You should have stopped her or said something.”

“Layla, Gianna is not a child. She's fully capable of taking care of her problems, she's worked alongside you and I for years and I've always trusted her judgement. I believe she knows what she's doing.”

“That's two different things, mother. Gianna is great at her work but when it comes to her relationships she has poor judgment. Don't tell me you don't see how those two were looking at her. I just don't want her to make the same mistake she made with Colton”

“It's her life and her mistakes to make, she's an adult and you have to respect her decisions, Layla.”

Everything Aunt Layla was saying was sound and reasonable. It was what I myself had thought of. But despite what I had learned about Jax and Dane's past, my heart that stupid organ refuses to believe they are this…these bad people capable of murdering two innocent people.

Aunt Layla and grams were still arguing over me. And over the fact that I should have left Dane and Jax at the police station until proven completely innocent before they were released.

I rub my temple with two fingers as though I could ease the headache threatening to split my head in two. I tried to tune them out as my thoughts took a different turn. I wonder what the truth is. Did Jax and Dane really kill these couples? Were they innocent but couldn't prove it? Was I making up excuses because I now realize I love them.

My phone ringtone startled me back to where I was. I pulled it out of my jacket pocket and was surprised to see Dane's name flashing on the screen. I was sure he was the one who had saved his number in my phone.

“Who is it?” Tessa asked, leaning in to see his name. It was too late for me to hide it from her.

“Don't pick up Gianna, I say you block his number right now or better yet delete it. If you can't do it. Let me do it for you.” She went to grab it, just then the car swerved and the phone slipped from my fingers.

My head smashed against the window, my ears instantly went deaf. As I watched my aunt, Chloe, grams and Tessa open their mouths in what could have been screams, but I couldn't hear a single sound. Something red flashes in front of my eyes before I finally black out.