Page 84 of Cash

After Junior left, Brick was pretty sure he was going to go insane. It was maddening to sit here and do nothing, especially when he was anxious to go see Trixie as soon as possible. Nothing on television could hold his interest, and the booze that was meant to relax him was just giving him a damn headache.

Jules was doing his best to comfort Brick, and per a text from Junior, they found out Trixie was over at Rex Hospital and her condition was stable. Jules was doubtful that visiting her was going to be useful and said as much, but he promised that he would still take Brick over there to see her.

Try as he might, Jules could not remember anything from the night at the Rialto. The obvious concern was that if Trixie was also drugged like he was, then she wouldn’t be able to recall anything either.

Brick was quick to remind Jules that visiting her wasn’t just about finding Finchie, though there was a part of him that really hoped she did remember something useful to justify the risk.

He was worried.

All of this was quickly so much more than he bargained for, and he wanted to believe Jules’s promises that everything was going to be resolved—but more shit just kept happening.

Jules had been attacked, and now Trixie. Not to mention Erasmus was somewhere in a dark corner at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home threatening to bite people’s fingers off, and Junior was running off to beat up people for information. It was like the most ridiculous mafia drama he’d ever seen, but this was so much worse because it was happening in real life.

Brick tried to focus on the positive things.

His relationship with Jules was also real, and it was passionate and absolutely intoxicating. He’d never had anyone worship him like Jules did, and the way he took command of Brick’s body was the most thrilling experience of his entire life. Even now, Brick enjoyed the simple bliss of being together and watching crappy Saturday television, and he was surprised by how comfortable he was around Jules.

The obvious flattery of being the first man Jules had ever been with had yet to lose its novelty, and Brick hoped the current situation would settle down soon. He wanted to get to know Jules better, to go out on an actual date with him, maybe hit up a hiking trail or whatever adventurous couples did. He resisted the pull of his emotions, knowing he had a very bad habit of getting attached too fast, but…

Brick really liked Jules.

Really liked him.

And he wanted to see this through.

Plus, getting justice for whoever had hurt Trixie would be immensely satisfying.

The hours ticked by, they ordered pizza for a late lunch, and Brick was practically clawing at the walls to get going when it started getting dark outside. He really wanted to see Trixie. He knew what had happened to her was not his fault, but he felt weirdly responsible. Maybe if he had warned Trixie that there were dangerous gangsters about, she wouldn’t have been so vocal about Finch’s murder being covered up.

Maybe he could have helped save her from getting hurt.

Maybe she’d be okay now if he had just said something.

Erasmus finally returned from the funeral home and gave the all clear. There was no sign of Finchie at either of the visitations, and it had become quite the local scandal because it wasn’t just Trixie who thought Finchie had murdered his father—apparently everyone had drawn that conclusion because it was well known that Finchie was in serious debt. Whether or not the police were investigating that angle was unknown.

If Jules or Erasmus knew anything about it, they didn’t say.

Brick’s mind was running at a million miles per second as he got dressed, and he was so distracted that he put on a white T-shirt inside out. He grumbled as he pulled it off to set it right, and then he grabbed a colorful floral button-up and his jeans to finish getting dressed.

Jules was in the room with him, his back respectfully turned, but he’d definitely glanced over his shoulder and saw Brick having trouble with his shirt. He waited a few moments before asking, “You okay, baby boy?”

“Yeah, no.” Brick shook his head as he buttoned up his jeans. “Just freaking out a little. I swear I’m getting paranoid. Like, what if someone is actually watching my house right now, but they see us when we leave? What if they follow us to the hospital or something?”

“You ain’t gotta worry about a thing.” Jules waited for Brick to button up his shirt before reaching for him. He put his hands on Brick’s waist, guiding him in for a deep kiss. “Erasmus is comin’, and Junior will meet us over there. I’m gonna be with you, and there ain’t shit that’s gonna happen as long as we’re together. Daddy is gonna take care of you, baby boy.”

Brick rubbed Jules’s broad chest, and Brick smiled. “You really don’t worry about anything, do you? Not getting shot or stabbed or even eating another man’s ass, huh?”

“Nope.” Jules winked. “I told ya’. I’m very well adjusted. And besides, I already know everything is gonna work out.”

“How do you know?” Brick asked, hating how he sounded so desperate but very much wanting the reassurance.

“Because I’m gonna make it.” Jules kissed Brick’s forehead. “Come on, let’s get movin’.”

Erasmus pulled a car around front, a discreet black sedan, and Jules got in the passenger seat, but not before holding open the rear door for Brick to get in.

Brick didn’t want to be obvious, but he did totally sneak looks back at the funeral home to see if it looked like anyone was watching them. He didn’t see anyone, not even around the side smoking, and he tried to ignore the dread creeping up the back of his spine.

The drive over to Rex Hospital was quiet.

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