Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I smiled at Thomas’ expectant face, grateful for his care but unable to tell him so directly. Hell, maybe I wasn’t just unable. Maybe I was fucking incapable of feeling something as pedestrian as gratitude. I paid Thomas obscenely well and let him fuck me when I was in the mood. Did I owe him more than that?
I didn’t know. Most days, I went through the motions, saying shit I didn’t mean or didn’t feel because I thought I should. I felt something when it came to Thomas, but it wasn’t love. It could be fondness since we’d known each other since we were little more than kids. It could be a sense of camaraderie since we were side-by-side mourning the loss of Cillian and later, burying Colm.
Thomas had patched me up plenty, physically and emotionally, over the years.
Shit, maybe it is gratitude? “Thank you, Thomas.”
“Of course,” he offered quietly, as he always did. “Anything else?”
I shook my head and reached for the toast and the dish filled with whipped butter, hoping it would settle my stomach enough to eat. I had things to do today and no time for nausea.
The dining room door burst open, and Thomas put himself between me and the perceived danger. His stance changed and instantly relaxed at the sight of a panting, wide-eyed Madison.
“Hey,” she sighed with a smile that quickly faded as her hands flew to her mouth. Wide brown eyes looked around the room until she spotted what she was looking for. A potted Ficus, where she promptly threw up.
“Sorry.”
“For fuck’s sake, Madison, have a seat before you scare the baby out of you.”
Madison nodded and dropped down into the closest seat at the other end of the table. Thomas handed her a trash receptacle and poured her some ice water from the bar.
“Thank you, Thomas. You’re the best.” She flashed a grateful smile at him and took several sips. The first, she swished around her mouth and spat into the can before finishing the glass.
“Okay. Thanks,” she said, indicating she regained control of her stomach.
I took pity on the girl because obviously, something had brought her to me. “Can I assume from your exciting entrance that Jameson has finally come to his senses and decided to join our team?”
Madison shook her head. “He hasn’t made up his mind yet either way, and he wanted me to be very clear about that.”
My lips twitched at the wariness in her words as she spoke. “All right. I’m listening, then.”
She nodded and then blurted quickly as if she might lose her nerve or forget what she came to say.
“It’s not about Mueller and Bonnie, Sadie. It’s worse. Way worse.” Her eyes were wide as if I might shoot the messenger. It wasn’t off the table, but she didn’t need to know.
“Calm down, Madison. What is worse than the double homicide the FBI is trying to pin on me?”
“Okay. All right.” She closed her eyes and sucked in a long breath that she let out slowly. “Agent Beck is looking into the priest murders again. Her new theory is that Bonnie didn’t do it, but Bonnie knew you did, and that’s why she ended up murdered with Mueller. So if you murdered Bonnie’s priest and Mueller, then it stands to reason…” She froze, and her eyes went terrifyingly wide at the thought of voicing the rest of that sentence.
“That I killed them all?”
Maddie shrugged and nodded.
“And Jameson is concerned about me and my freedom?” If so, it meant he was on board.
“Don’t know, but he’s pissed Beck locked him out of the details of the priest murders. She thinks he might tell me, and I’ll tell you, or worse, that the Reckless Bastards are covering for you, and he knows it.”
“Wow, she thinks highly of me.” A smarmy grin crossed my face. Madison had good intel. Which she probably got from Jameson. I couldn’t figure out why Calvin didn’t know this. That man could hack into anyone’s database.
“Not too highly. She thinks you made a mistake and that she has something to tie you to one or more of the crimes. Jamie doesn’t know what it is, though.”
I let Madison’s words sink in, and once again, I had that feeling that I should be worried, but I didn’t feel worried. I nodded to Thomas, and he discreetly exited the dining room.
“Thank you for coming to tell me, Madison.”
“Of course. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Sadie. And Beck’s a bitch.” She flashed a grin as she poured herself another glass of water.
Thomas returned and handed her an envelope filled with cash.
Madison shook her head and took a step away from the money as if it might attack her. I was impressed by the rejection.
“Jamie said to consider this intel a gift between family, of sorts, while he makes up his mind.”