Page 88 of Blackmail

Tony pipes up. “The smart thing to do here is to walk away, Bas.”

As if Tony’s ever known what was smart. “The smart thing to do is let Simon go. You know damn well that blaming me for your problems is bullshit. I tried to help you.”

“Never went out of your way like you did for this guy, though.” Tony digs the gun into Simon’s temple.

My body goes rigid. “Don’t you dare hurt him, Tony.”

Nobody’s allowed to hurt Simon except me.

“You piece of shit motherfuc?—”

Somewhere behind us, a shot rings out. Simon takes advantage of the distraction and stomps on Tony’s stupid leather loafers, causing him to loosen his grip. Who wears loafers on a damn farm? When Tony loses his footing, Simon twists out of his grip.

That’s when I shoot.

There’s no time to process what I’ve just done. Behind us, light explodes, and more shots are fired. One of those shots comes from Simon’s brother, but it doesn’t hit his target. There’s a flash of movement as their cowardly pastor disappears into the trees.

Tony’s on the ground, bleeding. Next to him is the blue wallet I’d given him. It’s covered in blood now.

“Feds are on their way,” Brennan warns. “Better get out of here.”

I grab Simon’s hand and shout for his brother. “Come on. We need to get the fuck out of here.” Brennan’s right. Things will be much more complicated once the authorities arrive.

Two of Brennan’s guys are herding another bound man out of the other barn. Liam’s team is pulling another one from the back of the white van.

“Go,” Liam says. “We’ll take care of this.”

So I get Simon and Gabe into the car and get the hell out.

Chapter

Thirty-One

SIMON

I’m still recovering in Sebastian’s bed when I send the text to Brennan.

I quit.

I start to send the same text to my supervisor at the assisted living facility, and then at the last second I erase the whole thing and change it to I need a couple of weeks off due to a family emergency. If you need to fire me I understand.

There. I’d rather have a chance to go back and at least say goodbye to the patients and folks I’ve worked with before I’m out of here for good, but we’ll see. I need to get my nursing certification, and then my brother, Penelope, and I can go anywhere that isn’t Belle Argo.

After all this time, surely Brennan trusts me to finish paying the money I owe him. All I know is, I can’t continue the life I was living.

I know what Sebastian said about us being together, but everything that went down was way too much. Especially after what he did to Tony. We haven’t talked much, but he’s got to be angry. Furious.

He got me away from the farm right before the feds descended. Then he insisted on bringing me back to his place. It’s been two days of recovering from exhaustion and dehydration, but I need to go home. Figure out my life. Check on my cat.

First, though, I really need a shower.

“Where are you going?” His voice stops me in the middle of easing out of bed. I’m wearing nothing but my boxers, and the air conditioning is going full blast, causing chill bumps to pop up all over my body.

Only because I’m cold, and definitely for no other reason like the sound of Sebastian speaking in what I’ve come to think of as his sex voice.

“Shower,” I manage. After a couple of days of disuse, my voice is scratchy.

He smiles slightly. “You want company?”