Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
His voice rose an octave with each statement he was yelling, but there was nothing I could say.
Chain of command. You took it. I was taking it.
“I gave you two weeks. You showed up at your mother’s almost-dead bedside. I thought you’d wake up. You haven’t woken up. I’m getting reports that you go to his place every night. That he brings you coffee in the mornings. You’re going out to eat with him. It was bad enough when you were working for him, but there was no known relationship. I got heat then too. Did you know that?”
I was stunned, but maybe I shouldn’t have been. “You did?”
“Yes. Organized crime. They were up my ass. They wanted to use you, but I said no. I kept saying no. That it was a legit second job. You were shouldering your brother’s debts and your mother’s. Plus yours. Another person in your place, and they’d be looking at being dirty long before now. Not before you started sleeping dirty, but now. God! Now, I gotta suspend your ass. Without pay! You need to wake your ass up. Leave this guy, and when you come back, we’ll start going over damage control, because don’t think for a second this ain’t getting out. It’s already out.”
“Leo—”
“I don’t want to hear it. Honestly. Get the fuck out of my office. I want your gun, your badge, and the keys to your car.”
“Leo—”
“Gun. Now. Badge second. Keys. Or do I need to pull in a second witness for this?”
Goddamn.
This was a punch. I, just, fuck.
I pulled out my keys. “I have things still inside.”
“That’s fine. Badge and gun.”
My throat was burning. My chest was searing from the inside out, but it was what it was.
I took out my gun, placed it down. My badge was next.
“You better not put Travis on my guys.”
“I will put whoever I want on your guys. You know you have no say.” He shook his head. “Goddamn, Jess. I never thought you. Never in my whole life. Not you.”
I was blinking back tears, but no way in hell would those things fall.
Forcing out a choked sound, I cleared my throat and went for the door, but just before leaving, I asked, “How is she?”
Another soft expelling of air. “She is dealing.”
“Is she in a place? A hospital? Clinic? I truly have no idea what I did so wrong to her, but I need to know that much. You know I’ve always tried to take care of her.”
“I know.” He made a torn sound, and I couldn’t begin to identify how that came out, but it was torn. All I knew. “She’s at the mental hospital, and she’s in therapy. Intense therapy. They’re doing the whole dual thing, whatever that it is. Where they treat all the shits that happen together. I don’t know those psych terms, but you know what I’m talking about.”
I knew, and another day I might’ve laughed at how helpless his explanation was, but that was Leo. He was old school in ways. “I’d like to see her, when that might be able to open. I’d appreciate it.”
He started nodding, then went to shake his head, and he paused, turning all the way away. “Another guy, Jess. There are other guys. Love them. Fall for them. Don’t give up your career for this one. He ain’t good—or wait until he’s actually out.”
That was the heartache of it all.
I’d already made my choice.
“Let me know about my mom.”
I left, not seeing anyone who was in the hallway. They were there, but I wasn’t paying attention to them. I just needed to go, but a loud crash, thud sounded behind me.
I paused, hearing Leo roar, “Goddammit!”
“Jess.” Val was calling my name, coming after me down the hallway.
I held up a hand. “Better this way. Stay back.”
“Jess! Come on.”
I kept going.
Head down. One foot in front of the other.
I left that way.
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
TRACE
Anthony: Jess just asked to pick up more shifts this week. What do you want me to do?
I frowned, reading his text as Ashton and I were heading to one of our warehouses.
“What is it?”
I showed him the screen before texting him back.
Me: She’s a normal employee. Think she’d be pissed you’re asking me how to handle it.
Ashton had leaned over and read what I’d responded. He snorted, taking my phone out of my hands, and he scrolled through it before hitting a button, putting it to his ear.
“Why are you asking for more shifts at my nightclub?”
Jesus. He called Jess. On my phone.
“I’m here with him, but you got me. Yeah.” A pause. “Anthony wanted to know our thoughts. You should be happy to know that your man said you’re a normal employee, you should be treated as such. He passed the buck back to Anthony, but I’m curious. I have it on good authority that your evenings are usually filled up, by you know, you getting fil—”