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)
Anthony: Please.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
JESS
It was a different staff on weeknights. Felt weird, but Anthony put me at my normal section. I had seniority over the other bartender, who’d been sending me nasty looks the whole shift. She was disturbed by it all. I wasn’t, and most of the other bar staff shared how bothered she was that I didn’t care.
The other thing I noted was that she didn’t keep her inventory updated. I was low on five bottles of liquor that should never be low. I’d already done the trip back for a refill on Patrón, but I’d have to go again. We were barely hitting eleven at night. I had three full hours left and would need a full stock of vodka. I sent Anthony a text, letting him know where I’d be for a few minutes.
Anthony: On my way to cover.
I had to laugh. He should offer just to go and get it, but Anthony wasn’t that type of manager. He’d man the bar until I got back. That was the type he was.
That was the third thing that felt off—no Justin, not that there’d been a Justin to cover me for a while.
It was me. I was off. The whole thing was off.
When I saw Anthony heading my way, I held up a hand in a wave and headed to the back room. As soon as I got there, I went in and was grabbing my third bottle when the door opened again.
“Hey.” I started to come out from the back where I was when I saw who’d come in.
He looked like Justin. Same height. Same hair, but his body was more defined. He worked out, and he was looking at me with dead eyes. Cop eyes.
I didn’t need to see the badge to know this was Detective Worthing.
“Why are you here?”
He clipped his head in a small nod. “Good. You know who I am.” He took a step closer.
I was searching him for where he kept his piece. His shirt was tucked in and was smooth where it shouldn’t have been smooth. The back? A shoulder holster under his shirt? His badge was hidden too.
“I’m here as a professional courtesy.”
That didn’t sound good. “I got suspended today.”
“I’m aware. Birdy told me, but you’re still one of us as far as I’m concerned.”
“So why are you here?” I didn’t usually need to ask twice, not for this kind of “professional courtesy.”
“I got moved to organized crime. They’re doing a raid on your boy. All of his places. His downtown apartment. His office. Warehouses the West family own. We’re raiding here too.”
Jesus. They were doing a full-gut renovation.
I began to put the booze back. “When?”
“One hour from now.”
One hour. “Why are you telling me?”
“My little brother swears you’re clean, but the guy who’s sharing your bed isn’t. I want to know what side you’re on. If you let him know, we’ll know. You don’t, and I’ll share with your boss. You got me?”
No, but I nodded to him anyway.
He began to back up to the door, watching me watching him. Neither of us was showing emotions. No surprise. No panic. Nothing. Stone-cold indifference. Then he blinked and reached for the door. “One hour. If I were you, I’d not be here.”
Which would make me look suspicious to everyone. They’d do their jobs and would find out I was supposed to be working. If I wasn’t at that counter, both sides would notice. I was fucked no matter what I did. But there’d be questions no matter what.
Be here when my colleagues raided where I worked? Or leave?
Funny thing was, I didn’t need to mull over if I was going to warn Trace or not. His family business was his family business. Not mine. He knew the deal between us. Now I’d have to learn if I could trust him to remember the deal or not.
I texted Anthony.
Me: Heading out. Something came up. Cover me please.
Anthony: What?! What the hell? Call me. You better tell me your mother—oh shit. Never mind. I’m remembering. Hope everything is okay. Keep me updated.
Yeah. I wouldn’t.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
JESS
I ran through my options.
I wanted security cameras on me so people would know I wasn’t up to anything shady. That meant public transportation. That meant an alibi, but I didn’t want to go anywhere that might get raided. I was taking a big risk here, but I’d always been adamant that while I loved Trace, which was still new to me, I did not and would not love his job. So the raids were happening, and I wasn’t getting involved, though interesting timing on Leo’s behalf of when he suspended me. All that said, I wouldn’t have an alibi if I went to my own place either. Staying alone somewhere and no one could vouch for me.
“Not that I don’t love the surprise of you coming in here not on a Sunday night, but I’m a little concerned. You’re drinking here, and you’ve not texted Kelly to join you.”