Page 64 of Murder & Mayhem
“Because you know it would leave a power vacuum in the Wraiths and whoever was left standing wouldn’t give afuck about my arrangement to leave the Sullivan boys alone?”
The fucker was right. Didn’t mean I had to like it. “I’m waiting for Jamie upstairs. Don’t kill O’Malley.”
Flame gave me a thumbs-up and went back to playing on his phone. I stomped up the stairs and into the main space. Gideon was there, because of course he fucking was. So was Ari. His gear was spread out on the long table as he focused on his computer. Gideon was sprawled out on a chair, his iPad in one hand and a gyro in the other. Both Gid and I had ended up taking the week off work for a death in the family. And because Ari was a genius, if either of our jobs looked into it, it would be legitimate. I was dreading going back. I had a feeling that compartmentalizing my two lives wouldn’t be as easy as it had been.
“Is it done?” Gideon asked, surprisingly serious.
“No. Jamie’s coming.”
Thankfully, both of my brothers stayed quiet. They’d already said their pieces yesterday.Jamie’s still processing his trauma. Give him space. He’ll come around if it’s meant to be.That last one had been Gideon, who watched way too much of the fucking Hallmark channel apparently. Now, they let me be as I sunk into the chair next to Gid. He eyed me skeptically. “Let’s hope that’s stain resistant to blood.” I gave him the finger.
I watched Jamie’s little dot on my phone that showed he was moving. It hadn’t been my proudest moment, but I had turned on his location sharing and had set myself up as one of the people with access. I’d wanted to stick a tracker on him, but Ari had convinced me it was a little too much.
It got closer and closer at a pace much faster than expected. Was Brooks going 100 mph? Didn’t he realize Jamie was injured?
“I’m going to spank the brat myself if Jamie gets sick.”
I climbed to my feet, pacing and trying not to rip my hair out. This was why Jamie should have come back with me. I would’ve taken care of him, and he would’ve already been with me so I wouldn’t be worried about Brooks’s reckless driving. He should be resting, not . . . coming to watch me murder a guy because I asked him to? Ugh. Guilt then became my overwhelming emotion, and all I could do was continue to stare at my phone until the dot finally stopped moving.
They were here. I headed to the door. The place was small. It was used only to hold assets and targets temporarily, so the living area was really more of a lounge. There was a tiny bathroom, and then a loft space to sleep, and that was it. It meant I got to the door quickly, but Gideon stopped me before I threw it open.
“Maybe don’t open the door looking like Dexter after a kill? I got it.”
I stepped back, suddenly conscious that I was covered in blood.
I went to the window to watch as Gideon met them on the porch. Was Jamie a little wobbly when he got out of the car? At least he was wearing sunglasses. And it was overcast today, so the ride shouldn’t have exacerbated his condition. Hopefully. I tried not to overanalyze every movement. He was stiff and a little unsteady. I was grinding my teeth so hard that my jaw ached, but I managed to keep it together. Fuck, I was really losing it.
Brooks climbed out of the driver’s seat but he didn’t go far. He leaned over the hood and waved, saying something to Gid and Jamie with a bratty grin on his face. Jamie responded, and Brooks nodded. Brooks’s gaze then fell on me creeping from the window. With a small salute and anothergrin, he slipped back into the car. Seconds later, the door closed and then he was driving off. Gideon guided Jamie inside, and I spun to face him.
Jamie’s lips twitched. “Were you watching from the window?” He had pulled his sunglasses off, and the bruises looked even more vivid today.
“Maybe. Gid wouldn’t let me go outside.”
His eyes ran up and down my body. “Probably a good call.”
I took a step forward, not sure what I should do.
Jamie hugged himself, chewing on his lips. He finally looked up, tears filling those pretty eyes, and I snapped.
I took another step forward and then opened my arms. “Come here, baby boy.”
Jamie choked on a sob, and then he was in my arms, his hands clawing the fuck out of my shirt. He was probably getting blood all over him, but he didn’t seem to mind.
“Nicky—” He broke off whatever he was going to say. I held him tighter and kissed the top of his head.
“It’s okay, beautiful. I’m here now. I’m so sorry for everything. So fucking sorry.”
He didn’t say anything, clinging onto me with all his strength. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ari get up and drag Gid outside with him, and I was grateful. We needed a minute.
When Jamie pulled away, he looked to be in more pain than before. I brushed his hair away with a featherlight touch. “Do you need to rest? Take your meds? O’Malley can wait.” Maybe.
“No. I want to get it over with. The pills make me sleepy. But maybe I can rest here before you take me back? If you don’t mind taking me back? I should’ve asked.”
“You don’t need to. Of course I’ll take you.” I resisted theurge to mention that I had been willing to pick him up in the first place. I was proud of my restraint. “And yes, you can rest. You need to follow what the doctors’ say.”
Jamie smiled faintly. “You sound like Bailey.”
“He’s a smart kid. Takes after his brother.”
