Page 107 of Cash

“Here.” Jules offered out the coffee. “Have a good day at work, dear.”

Brick chuckled. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll be done as soon as I can.”

“No rush, baby boy.” Jules winked. “I ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

“You two are just so fuckin’ sweet I think I’m gonna choke on my own fuckin’ molars,” Junior crooned. “Like, seriously, I think I need some tissues or somethin’. Wow.”

“Fuck off, Junior.”

Brick shook off the last few threads of the stupor that had held him and hurried to his office to avoid any more of Junior’s teasing.

Plus, he didn’t want to be a witness if Jules beat Junior’s ass.

After a few more sips of coffee, Brick was ready to start work. It was easy to fall back into the familiar routine of checking his emails and signing off on edits. He didn’t have as much to catch up on as he’d feared, and he was able to sort everything out and translate two new chapters before lunch.

He was sure that Jules would probably order out for them again, and he left his office in search of him to see what was on the menu today.

Jules was by himself on the couch, and he smiled at Brick as he plopped beside him. “Lunchtime already?”

“Yup!” Brick leaned in for a kiss. “Where’s Junior and Erasmus?”

“Over at my place packing up. How are you feeling? Better?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what that was. I just… I just saw that guy you oopsied and I couldn’t move. It was weird.” Brick scrubbed his face. “Ugh.”

“Could be like a flashback or somethin’. That was some traumatic ass shit.” Jules wrapped his arm around Brick’s shoulders and hugged him close. “If you need to talk s’more about it, I’m here. You can’t let shit like that eat you up if it’s botherin’ you.”

“Thank you. Seriously. That means a lot, but right now I think I’m okay.” Brick smirked. “If I need therapy, I’m sending you the bill.”

“You got it.” Jules smooched his hair. “Mm, so. Lunch?”

“Sure. What are you in the mood for?”

“What about that Korean place you told me about?”

“Madame Kimchi’s?” Brick clicked his tongue. “Sorry, but they’re only open on weekends, remember?”

“Fuck, that’s right. I told Junior about it too when we were drivin’ back here, and he got all pissed off when he saw it wasn’t open.”

“He likes Korean food?”

“Yup. He’s kinda wimpy about spicy shit, but he’ll—”

There was a knock at the door.

Jules immediately stiffened, and he patted Brick’s arm. “Stay put.”

Brick’s stomach dropped.

Despite Jules’s warning, he stood and hovered a few paces behind as Jules went to the door.

Jules hadn’t drawn his gun, but he had his hand under his jacket and appeared ready to draw at any moment. He peered through the side window and then glanced back at Brick. “It’s your little buddies from the funeral home.”

“Really?” Brick poked his head around Jules to look through the window.

Ziggy and Noah were standing right there on his front porch.

Brick made sure the alarm was off before he opened the door. “Hey guys! What’s up?”

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