Page 103 of A Forgotten Mistake

“Yeah? What’s so interesting?”

“Huh.”

“Come on, man. Spill.”

“You’re unworthy,” I decide.

“See if I show you shit again,” he says. “The next time something of interest comes through my doors, I’ll give it to Donna.”

I glower at him. “You wouldn’t.”

“I sure as fuck would.”

“We’ll see how shitty you want to be after I find your dirty secrets. You know Matthew will do whatever I ask because I saved him from deep throating a bomb.”

“Oh? A bit kinky,” Jesse says.

“I told him it wasn’t a good idea, but he was still?—”

“He was still what?” Matthew growls.

I turn to look before feigning surprise. “Christ, I thought one of the dead had risen when I saw your face.”

“You’re in an awfully chipper mood,” he grumbles.

I grin as I pat his face. He seems to enjoy it based on the way he glowers and squints with each pat. “I was just telling Jesse here about your deep-throating skills. Wingman of the century standing right here.”

“I didn’t fucking deep throat the bomb. I was going to answer the phone and somehow, I allowed Liam to save me from having my face blown off. A part of me questions if it was worth it.”

Jesse is all grins, loving every moment of this. “I didn’t know Liam could be that kind.”

“I can’t be.”

“Well, I kind of like your face and am very glad it didn’t get blown off,” Jesse says, which makes Matthew perk right up.

That’s rather ghastly, so I say, “Jesse, I really think your coworker has galloped over the rainbow bridge.”

“She’s gay or she’s dead?” Jesse asks as he glances over at Marge, who is dead asleep. Her mouth is hanging open and it weirdly makes me want to toss something into it. I feel like Matthew is having similar thoughts, judging by the way his fingers twitch.

“You can make that decision,” I say. “Well, unlike you guys, I have real people work to do.”

“Didn’t you literally show up hours late, and are now chastising us for being done with our work so we can head home?” Matthew asks.

“You two heading home together? I did that once with Gabriel, and look at us now. Now we have a house and two kids together.”

“You do not beat around the bush at all, do you?” Jesse asks. “Like no one ever taught you the fine art of discretion.”

“I beat around a lot of bushes. Just ask Gabriel.”

Then I laugh while no one else does and head for the stairs with the file Jesse gave me in hand. Seems like he was useful after all.

TWENTY-FOUR

Gabriel

The door to my office is thrown open with such force that I fling the paper I’m holding, like that’ll save me in some strange way.

“That was sexy,” Liam observes.

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