Page 42 of Slaughtered Firefly
“Hello?” he questioned roughly.
“I swear Addams I don’t have the time for your fucking silent treatment. We don’t have time to waste,” he ground out.
“Hey baby, did you like the present?” Her cocky tone of voice was like a splash of cold water. It had been so long since she had called him that, and my eyes dragged slightly to the scars that were poking out of the hospital gown. She took the fall for me, and that was something I regretted ever since. My mind still reeled at what had happened that night, how both of us, in complete sync had given ourselves over to her. I couldn’t always be there for her, and when she pushed me away, I took it to heart. I knew she still loved him, and the naive, selfish part of me knew I didn’t want to share.
Cole was taller, better looking, but I was still that slim, lengthy loner that stole a kiss that was never mine to begin with; a part of me never gave it back. That was why, a divorce and three women later, I was still in denial. Nothing ever compared; she was remarkable.
Maybe sharing wasn’t so bad.
Guilt plagued me at my latest attempt to get over Mia with Melody, and as I watched her stare at the phone in her hand, I realized how I was still that stupid boy chasing her. Melody was nice, a secure option and way better than that bitch of an ex-wife, but neither filled the void like the woman in front of me.
There was silence on the other end, as Cole processed and I had a satisfying feeling in my head. Serves him right for being a fucking idiot.
“Why so quiet now? I thought you had something important to share?” Mia teased him.
“Where is Scott?” Cole questioned, not even acknowledging Mia.
“He just fed and fucked me, can I take a note and we will get back with you?” she continued, a bit of a smile peaking on her lips.
There was a noise on the other end, almost as if Cole had punched something, then came a weighted sigh.
“Baby I am sorry, okay? I will shout it from every rooftop in Chicago if you want me to, but I really need to to speak with Scott, please,” he pleaded.
It was the first time I had ever heard that level of rawness in his voice; he really meant it. I wondered what the fuck had happened between them. She was his wife after all. There was only so much you could do for your wife to hate you like that.
She rolled her eyes and tossed me the phone, which was on mute; we could hear Cole’s breathing on the other end.
“I suggest you prepare to meet a judge and get both their cases overturned, important only means one thing. Vacation is over,” she whispered that last part, her voice distant now.I nodded my understanding and unmuted the phone before walking toward the door. “Scott, don’t do anything stupid, that’s my job,” she gave me a wink before turning back to her food.
“I’m here,” I said, sliding out the door and down the hall to a refreshment room, regretting having to leave Mia’s side.
25
I MISS HER
Present day—July 30th
“I’m here,” Scott’s voice sounded through the phone.
“You didn’t, did you?” I couldn’t help the jealousy that crept in as the words left my mouth. She wouldn’t do that again; she should have learned her lesson. Doubt and anger began twisting an ugly knot in my stomach as my fist formed against the wall.
“No. I have a girlfriend. No, I do not know when she will be released and no she won’t tell me anything vital,” he huffed out, and relief flooded through me.
I leaned back on the wall, the corded phone stretched tight as I clutched it to my ear, desperate for any news regarding her. I should have known they would take her to a hospital, or at least I hoped; it was much better than letting her bleed out like last time.
“You need to be careful with her, she hasn’t been herself lately,” Concern laced Scott’s voice, and I grunted.
I couldn’t forget the reason for calling Mr. Pain in my ass, and I thought for a moment on how best to portray the urgency through the monitored line.
“Things are shifting, and I can’t say much over the phone but you need to come down ASAP,” I pressed into the phone, making sure that every word was clear.
Midas has never done business with the cartels. That was never our area, always Obsidian’s territory. I scratched at the beard on my chin, annoyed that I couldn’t cleanly shave it in this shithole. Contraband aside, they still didn’t want us killing one another. Fuck, I really need to get out of here.
Midas only ever told Summer the truth regarding the plans he set forth. It was some fucked-up power move, family first I was constantly reminded. Family first, but wasn’t I family? Was it not Midas who walked her down the aisle? Tangled thoughts crossed my mind as I pondered why Midas would break allegiance with Obsidian. Why would he risk that overdrug pushers? Something did not add up, and it irritated me to continue the train of thought. Scott cleared his throat. “I will be there in an hour,” His voice was tight, and he hung up.
I dropped the phone onto the back of the receiver and slid down the wall, my hands resting on my knees as I started to laugh. She called me baby; she misses me. My firefly sent me that present. She spelled my name wrong, but what can I expect? Spelling was never her strongest subject. I continued to chuckle as my hands wove around the pendant against my chest. It was worn down by the constant rubbing and years of handling. The tracker was long since broken, but still, it was comforting. Gleefully and totally obsessed with her reaction, I replayed the conversation.
The first words she uttered to me in seven years, and it was ‘hey baby.’ Nothing could spoil the feeling. She accepted her wrongdoing and finally came back around. I knew it.
