Page 39 of Murder & Mayhem (Bloody Desires #9)

I took another step forward and then opened my arms. “Come here, baby boy.”

Jamie choked on a sob, and then he was in my arms, his hands clawing the fuck out of my shirt. He was probably getting blood all over him, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“Nicky—” He broke off whatever he was going to say. I held him tighter and kissed the top of his head.

“It’s okay, beautiful. I’m here now. I’m so sorry for everything. So fucking sorry.”

He didn’t say anything, clinging onto me with all his strength. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ari get up and drag Gid outside with him, and I was grateful. We needed a minute.

When Jamie pulled away, he looked to be in more pain than before. I brushed his hair away with a featherlight touch. “Do you need to rest? Take your meds? O’Malley can wait.” Maybe.

“No. I want to get it over with. The pills make me sleepy. But maybe I can rest here before you take me back? If you don’t mind taking me back? I should’ve asked.”

“You don’t need to. Of course I’ll take you.” I resisted the urge to mention that I had been willing to pick him up in the first place. I was proud of my restraint. “And yes, you can rest. You need to follow what the doctors’ say.”

Jamie smiled faintly. “You sound like Bailey.”

“He’s a smart kid. Takes after his brother.”

Jamie snorted, but I couldn’t be happier. Things weren’t perfect, but that chasm that had been growing between us was maybe closing now? At least enough that Jamie took my hand and let me bring him down to the basement, where Flame and what was left of O’Malley remained.

Maybe I should be worried about Jamie’s reaction to O’Malley.

Or at least warn him. He might’ve been his abuser and the fuck who’d kidnapped Bailey, but Jamie wasn’t a violent person.

He wasn’t used to this lifestyle, and it might be a shock.

I stiffened, prepared for anything as he stilled on the bottom step, eyes locked on the destroyed fleshbag.

“Th-that’s him? I don’t even recognize him.”

“Yeah, it’s him. I might’ve lost control.”

From the corner, Flame made some kind of sound that was somewhere between a laugh and choking. Jamie’s eyes snapped to him, his body tensing.

“You called him?” He sounded surprised. I gave his hand a squeeze.

“I did. You don’t want me beholden to the Wraiths, remember?”

“He won’t be,” Flame said, brushing crumbs off his pants, “and neither are you or Bailey. If I never have to see his grumpy ass again, I’ll be happy.”

Of course Jamie fucking laughed at that, looking less stressed for the first time.

“Do you have any requests, beautiful? I haven’t touched his dick yet.”

“Yeah? You’d cut it off like you did Joey’s? For me? ”

I didn’t care who was watching us or the tension that was still brewing between us, that tone, hopeful and a little turned on, had me reacting despite my best efforts. With a gentle hand, I tipped his chin and kissed him.

I was extra careful, not wanting to hurt him, but Jamie deepened the kiss all on his own. I pulled back. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I’m fine, Nicky. Please. I-I need you.”

Flame made a strangled sound, pulling us out of our moment. “This is sweet and all, but can you wait till after you kill this fucker? Please.”

I glared at the bastard as Jamie stepped back, cheeks red. “Sorry.”

I walked Jamie over to the cart then. O’Malley hadn’t moved at all, and I didn’t want us to miss our chance. I could tell he was barely breathing at this point.

“What do you want to use?” I asked Jamie, who stared at the cart with wide eyes.

“Yeah, I don’t know what half this stuff is. What kind of knife did you use on Joey?”

I picked it up and showed him. “Okay, that works then.”

Smiling, I pulled Jamie close. “You don’t have much bloodlust, do you?”

He shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t think I’d ever participate, and all that torture might not be for me, but I really, really want to see this.

And I need to see him dead. Like Joey. I don’t think it’ll feel real till I see it with my own eyes.

I know Bailey doesn’t believe it. He asked me like five times already. ”

That had me thinking. I typically wouldn’t involve a minor in this type of shit, but I’d been younger than Bailey when we’d set Mitchell on fire, and he deserved closure. “Does he want to come?”

Jamie shook his head. “I asked, but no. He’s locked himself in his room and is blasting a video game. Skye said he’s processing.”

“Okay, well, when he’s ready, if he needs something, you let me know, alright?”

“Okay.”

I flipped the hilt in my hand a few times. “Let’s end this.”

Jamie didn’t look away from O’Malley until his pulse stopped.

Even then, he stayed stock still, eyes locked on the mutilated husk as Flame confirmed his death and shook both of our hands, announcing that our business was complete.

I came and stood next to Jamie and waited.

I didn’t know what to say, but it felt like that was okay.

Just being here, letting Jamie come to terms with everything was enough.

“He’s really dead,” he said, voice rough, about twenty minutes later.

“Yes, sweetheart, he is.”

Jamie launched himself at me with enough force that it took me by surprise, but I recovered easily enough, my hands holding Jamie by his ass as he climbed up me. “Easy, your concussion.”

“I’m good. Kiss me, Nicky.”

His nails dug into my neck and he had his legs wrapped around my middle. I held him tight, loving the way he felt in my arms. I kissed him lightly, carefully, so fucking scared of hurting him. He ground against me, trying to get even closer.

“Nicky, please.”

“I won’t hurt you.”

“I don’t care if you do. I need you. Please . . . Daddy, I need this. I need to forget, to know what it’s like with you without all the bullshit hanging over my head. I need you to be my Daddy. Just this one time.”

Fuck. This boy was breaking my heart into two. Just this one time . There was so much finality to his words. Like he was sure this was all we’d ever get between us.

It wasn’t enough; nothing ever would be. But how could I possibly walk away and not give this boy, this man who’d somehow so easily slipped past my defenses and into my heart, what he’d asked for?

I kissed him again. “If we do this, then we do it my way. You listen to what I say. I won’t hurt you. I can’t. I need to be careful. But I’ll take care of you, baby boy. That, I promise you.”

Jamie rested his head against my shoulder, his lips brushing against the bloody skin. “I’ll listen . . . Daddy. Take care of me, please. I need it. I need you.”