Page 24 of Murder & Mayhem (Bloody Desires #9)

DOMINIC

B ailey wasn’t there. Neither was O’Malley, just like Flame had said.

It wasn’t a surprise, but I was shocked about how cooperative they were.

Flame seemed way more concerned with O’Malley taking off and backstabbing them than anything to do with the Sullivan brothers.

I confirmed that Joey Bryne was dead, and he only shrugged and said, “Good.”

He met us back at the vehicles when we finished our search with a proposition.

If we found O’Malley, we handed him over to Flame, and in exchange, he’d forgive Byrne’s debt and leave Jamie and Bailey alone.

If it was his men that found O’Malley and Bailey, he’d hand Bailey over to us and was willing to work out a deal with me to pay off the debt.

One that utilized my services. I had no idea what he thought my services were—he asked no questions, but he had preconceived notions and an idea I could be useful.

By some of the comments he made, it seemed like he thought Gid and I worked for one of the crime families that ran this city, and we didn’t discourage that thought.

I agreed to the terms without even thinking about it.

It took me by surprise how easily I’d entangled myself with Jamie, but it hadn’t even been a question. Jamie, on the other hand, was pissed.

The Wraiths let us leave without an issue. Once we were gone, we scanned the SUV for a tracker and weren’t really surprised when we had to remove one. We would’ve done the same.

“Okay,” Ari told us once we pulled away from the dump.

I had him on Bluetooth. Jamie was looking out the window, his knees in his chest, and refused to talk to me after I’d taken on that deal without discussing it with him first. Usually, I wasn’t bothered when people were mad at me, but Jamie’s anger hit differently.

I wanted to make it right, but I had no idea how.

“ While the two of you were searching the property, I heard back from my contact, Luca Castellano. His new hacker agreed to look into things as well. They have more resources than I do, so I was happy to let him share the load. They also have a file on Slash that Luca just sent over. I’m reviewing it now.

Luca also agreed to send some of his guys to help out if we need it. ”

“Good.” I looked at Jamie. He was steadfastly ignoring me, but he was paying attention. “We’re going to head over to the shore house. Gid has to stop at his cottage, but then he’s going to meet us over there as well. It’s not far from the docks and it’s stocked. It’s a good base.”

Ari hummed in agreement. “ Smart. I’m going to stay here for longer since I have everything going on, but once we get something solid, I can get there too.”

“Thanks, A. I’m starving, and Jamie should eat too. I’m going to stop at the diner on the way.”

“Oh, yay. Making more decisions without asking me first,” Jamie cut in dryly. Ari managed to hold back a laugh. “Alright, well, I’m going to let you handle that. Good luck.” He hung up before I could tell him to go fuck himself.

I glanced at Jamie from the corner of my eye. “Jamie?—”

“Just don’t.”

I ground my jaw. “Can you talk to me please? I understand you’re pissed, but I was trying to get us out of there alive. If he’s willing to make a deal for Bailey, it was smart to take it. We’ll handle it later if it comes to that.”

“Yeah? And what does that mean for me? You cover my debt to Flame, and then what the fuck do I owe you?”

I slammed on the brakes so hard, Jamie nearly crashed into the dashboard.

“Fuck, sorry.”

Jamie glared, and the car behind me laid on the horn. “Fuck,” I muttered, more to myself this time, before driving again.

“What the hell, Jamie? I thought I told you, you don’t owe me anything.”

At some point, he’d pulled out the switchblade and was flicking it open and closed . . . which honestly was very unnerving.

“No one does something for free. You don’t take on someone’s debt like that, not with someone like Flame, unless you have a motive.”

I chewed on my lip, trying to come up with the words to explain my thought process.

“First, it’s not a guarantee. If we hand O’Malley over to him, I’m in the clear.

But even if it turns out that way, I swear to fuck, I have no intention of holding it over your head.

I have no idea why I agreed to it so easily.

It makes no fucking sense. I get that, but the idea of walking away from you .

. . is not pleasant. You don’t have to understand it, hell knows I don’t.

I didn’t even think before I agreed, I just did, and honestly, I’d do it again.

Having the Wraiths cooperating rather than stopping us as we left?

It was the right call. I swear that no matter what, I’m not going to ask for anything from you that you’re not willing to give. ”

Jamie was quiet for a while, the only sound the snick of the blade opening and closing. When he shifted to stare at my profile, I could see that some of the anger had disappeared, even if he was still very doubtful. “Do you always risk it all for strangers?”

That had me smiling despite everything. “No, not usually. Though, if you asked Ari and Gid, they’d tell you I have a hero complex. I’ve never done this before. You’re special, beautiful.”

Jamie snorted. “I’m not special. You’re delusional and gonna get yourself killed, and as you’re dying, you’ll be lying there and thinking, ‘Oh damn, Jamie was right. He wasn’t special at all, and now I’m dead.’”

I flicked my eyes to him. His were still serious, but there was a slight curve to his lips. I matched it with my own. “We’ll see about that. Only one of us is right, and beautiful? I’m rarely fucking wrong.”

We pulled up to the diner a little over an hour later. I had been there a time or two, and it was a good place to stop and regroup. It was right off the highway, so they were used to all kinds of people passing through. Nobody would look twice at us.

Jamie didn’t wait for me to get out, but he didn’t start walking until I reached him.

Right before we got to the door, Jamie’s fingers curled around my hand.

I nearly tripped right on my ass in shock, but he wasn’t even looking at me.

I didn’t understand what was happening, but I also was smart enough to know not to bring attention to it.

The boy was prickly, and that could easily get him to change his mind.

It felt like a peace offering, and I took it as that.

There was still so much tension in his lithe body, and I didn’t think he trusted me all the way yet, but his hand felt so good in mine that I would happily take the small victory, even if I didn’t understand it.

His hand really fit perfectly in mine, and it was a little terrifying to realize how much I wanted to keep it there permanently.

It wasn’t a practical wish. Jamie and I were like fire and gasoline.

Two broken people forced into close proximity under shitty circumstances.

It made sense there’d be a spark there. But this would end once his brother was safely in his care again.

Oh, I’d make sure they were taken care of and that no one would go after them, but beyond that, I needed to be out of his life.

These feelings, the overbearing protectiveness and need I felt for Jamie weren’t healthy.

My brothers and I had survived because we stayed under the radar.

There was nothing under the radar about Jamie.

I’d make sure they were safe, and then I’d go back to nice and easy hookups. That was all I needed.

The diner was mostly empty, a few truckers taking their breaks and a couple of guys at the bar counter. The waitress waved and told us to take a seat anywhere. We found one toward the back of the restaurant, where I could sit with my back to the wall and still have a clear view of the door.

A few minutes later, she came over with menus and smiled. “Can I get you anything to drink to start with?”

“I’ll have a coffee, please, black.”

Jamie’s nose wrinkled. “Of course you drink it black.” I smirked and the waitress laughed before looking at him.

“Do you have chocolate milk?”

“Sure thing, honey. I’ll be right back with your drinks and to take your orders.”

Once she left, Jamie settled into his seat, looking around. “So, where are we going exactly, since you made all the decisions?” he whispered.

I winced. I guessed I wasn’t completely out of the doghouse. “I’m sorry. My brother did warn you that I could be an overbearing asshole.” I shrugged apologetically. “I’m used to only working with them. I’m not purposely trying to force you anywhere.”

Jamie’s expression softened. “I know. And I get that I have no idea what I’m doing and would probably be dead already if it wasn’t for you.

I just—I don’t like owing people things.

I’ve spent my whole life paying off debts that weren’t mine, long before I was old enough to understand what was happening.

I worked hard to make sure that wouldn’t happen again, and I feel like I’m falling into the same cycle. ”

Before I could think about it, I reached out, grabbing Jamie’s shaky hands with my own. He stiffened for only a fraction of a second before relaxing. I managed not to smile despite the satisfaction I felt at his easy surrender.

“I swear, sweetheart, you aren’t. I get it’s not easy to believe me, but let me prove it to you.

I don’t have a good answer as to why I latched onto you the way I did, but it happened, and I’m not walking away until you and Bailey are both safe.

And when I do go, there will be no strings, no debts. I don’t expect anything.”