Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Her face falls, and for a split second, her eyes fill with fear. “Shut your mouth and get inside.”
“Not stepping inside your place until you put on some clothes.” Defiance crosses her features, but she reaches around and covers herself with a robe. “Get inside.”
I step inside, staying close to the door, noticing the monitor in the kitchen surveilling the garage. Explains how she knew I was here.
“You have something for me?”
“Seems you’ve done your research.”
“Listen, woman, I’m not here for small talk. Give me what you have, or I’m gone.”
“I’m not the reason he died, Major.”
“Never said you were.”
“You blamed me all these years.”
“You didn’t pull the trigger.”
“No, the only thing I’m guilty of is loving you to the point of madness and doing anything to keep us together.”
“You used sex to control me. When I finally got my dick dry and woke up, you tried to strap me down with a kid who you knew I’d never abandon. That’s not love; that’s a power play.”
“I was young and desperate. You were joining the Marines, leaving me behind. In my mind, I couldn’t take the chance of losing you.”
“You mean you couldn’t take the chance of losing your meal ticket?”
Her face morphs into anger. “Not sure if you noticed, but I’ve done pretty well for myself without your help.”
“Why are you here now? Why dredge up Koby’s death and bring it to me?”
“Because I still love—"
“Don’t finish that thought. I’ve moved on. You wanted to talk, this is all you’re getting. Now, do you have something for me?”
The anger disappears, and on cue, her eyes brim with tears. She walks over to her desk and brings me a file. “I didn’t call in the tip but am confident I know who did. Here’s what I collected before resigning and starting over. No one ever suspected the air-headed glamour girl was actually a skilled lawyer.”
I snatch the file, glancing at the contents briefly to make sure she’s not playing me.
“The Chicago PD has a solid case. I’m taking a big risk handing this over.”
“Nothing will come back to you.” I open the door and leave without a backward glance.
When I get to the parking garage, it’s no surprise to find Talon and Ford leaning against my truck.
They study the file, Ford’s eyes coming to mine. “What do you want to do?”
It fucking sucks, but spending any time with Jewls this morning is no longer an option.
“Call Robbie and see if he has time to meet.”
They nod in agreement.
Hayes Security is the best option to make sure the man that killed JaKoby goes down.
22
Jewls
An eerie feeling of being watched skittles over my skin, and I curl deeper into a ball. My cheeks and eyes burn, and my head feels like a lead weight, but nothing compares to the splintering ache in my chest. Images replay in my brain, bringing the barrage of emotions with them.
The pictures… So many pictures of Major with Darla this morning.
There’s a shuffling in the doorway, confirming I’m not alone.
I hiccup back a sob. “Get out.”
The bed shifts, and I make a move to scramble, only to fly backward and find Major hovering. His stormy eyes soften, and he leans in to kiss my eyelids. “You’ve been crying.”
“It’s allergies!”
He harumphs and buries his face in my neck, inhaling deep.
My insides crack at the intimate gesture. “Please get off of me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry about what? Because you lied to me, went to your ex-lovers’ place before daylight, and let her seduce you, or just in general? Because she sent the pictures to prove you aren’t over her.”
He bolts up, bracing me beneath him. “I’m not over her?”
“Look at the evidence, Major.” I gesture to the pictures all over the bed.
Him storming up the stairs.
Him entering her hallway.
Him looking thunderous… until he caught sight of her in the slinky black lace and her hand wrapped around his neck.
Then going into her condo.
“She’s nothing to me.”
“You left my bed to go to her!”
He blows out a breath, his jaw hard and face a mask of danger. I fear his reaction for a split second before terror sets in. He bounds to his feet, grabbing his phone and pressing a series of buttons.
“You set me up?”
“Major.”
I cringe. Even with the distance, there’s an undeniable tone of seduction in Darla’s voice.
“Hear me now. I tapped out of your shit years ago. Whatever whacked-out game you’re playing is over. Jewls is off limits. She doesn’t exist to you.”
There’s muffling on the line that sounds like denial.
“I’m looking at half a dozen pictures and an envelope with her name on it that says differently.”
More muffling.
“You think I believe someone else set me up? Don’t forget I’ve had a front-row seat to the lengths you go to get what you want. You fuck with Jewls again, there won’t be a phone call. Consider this your last courtesy.”