Chapter Twenty
Jill
My knuckles turn white against the death grip on the phone pressed to my ear. Hours—and days—of follow-up calls, sitting on hold just to get a full voicemail box. Getting the same run-around by receptionists and other drones—all just to lead to this conversation.
“Cold? How can it be cold? Tommy’s only been missing for a few months,” I demand, my anger wishing it could reach through the phone and strangle the detective on the other end.
“Listen, Miss Hart,” Detective Condescending says. “We’ve followed procedure to the letter, but with no leads, there’s nothing more we can do. According to the Coroner’s report, the amount of blood at the scene is enough to assume your brother is deceased. And with the circles your brother ran in, finding a body isn’t a common occurrence. We can’t dedicate more manpower or hours to this case unless we’re provided with more evidence.”
“So you’re not even going to be looking anymore?” My tone is sharp and bitter, but I don’t give a fuck to try and sound pleasant. The time for pleasantries is over.
“Unless something new comes up, our hands are tied. Sorry, Miss Hart.” My phone beeps in my ear to indicate the call has ended. He hung up on me.
Motherfucker.
I pace back and forth for over an hour, his words running through my head on a loop, making me angrier each time—cold case…no leads…your brother is deceased…our hands are tied…Miss Hart. I hate when they call me that—Miss Hart—like I’m some sweet kindergarten teacher in a romance novel.
Snatching my purse off my kitchen counter and my keys from the bowl on the entryway table, I storm out of my apartment. Slamming my car door shut, I rev the engine a few times before whipping out of the parking garage into the summer night and weaving through traffic. My hands tighten on the steering wheel until my fingers ache, my heartbeat matching my racing mind.
By the time I pull up to the curb, my head is such a mess there’s no going back. My breathing quickens as emotions crash over me, potent and crushing. I climb out from behind the wheel and slam the door shut. My car alarm beeps behind me as I flash the keyfob over my shoulder, stomping up the steps to the front door. The keys in my hands jingle irritatingly as I slip the shiny metal into the lock and turn it easily.
As the door opens, my control fractures.
I want to rage, and I want to crumble. I want to charge into the bar with a bat and start swinging until there’s nothing left but rubble with no chance of repair. Nothing but pieces left shattered and broken—just like my family, just like my life.
Just like me.
Turmoil builds inside me as I close the door behind me until I’m practically shaking.
“Whoever you are—you better have a damn good reason to be here right now, or I’ll enjoy putting a bullet in your head,” a deep voice rumbles as a switch is flipped and light floods the room. Gage stands at the edge of the large kitchen, shirtless and deadly, his gun pointed right at my head. I watch the realization settle over him, his eyes lowering to the key in my hand.
“Well, well, well, look who’s here.” He smirks, lowering his gun and tucking it into the back of the sweatpants hanging low on his hips as he saunters towards me. “I knew you’d be here before too long. You couldn’t wait to use that key, could you?”
I tighten my grip on the key when my hand starts to tremble, emotion overwhelming me like a dark cloud as I stare at him. Moisture wells up in my eyes, blurring my vision. A sob escapes me as the first tear rolls down my cheek.
All teasing and humor vanishes off Gage’s face in the blink of an eye. He eats the distance between us in a few large strides, pulling me into his arms without hesitation. I melt into him as his body envelops me. Wrapped in his embrace, the floodgates open, and I fall apart.
We stand there in silence for a while as I cry into his chest. After a few minutes, he pulls back just enough to look down at my face, his hand cupping my cheek to lift my eyes to meet his. The anger in his expression builds with each tear that falls down my face.
“Who do I need to kill?” There’s a rough, demanding edge beneath his low voice. I gaze up at him, my mouth opening then closing without a sound. He wants to know what happened, but I can’t talk about it right now. If I start explaining before I get my emotions under control, this city will never recover from the damage of my inevitable rampage.
Sensing my wrath surging has his own rising. His darkness is brewing just below the surface, itching to be unleashed. He starts to reach one arm around his back for his gun, but I stop him by wrapping my arm around his waist to halt his movement.
“Just hold me,” I say pitifully. He leans down to press his lips against mine, kissing me softly.
“I am going to hold you—I’m going to hold you, hug you, and kiss you until the smile is back on your face. Then I’m going to hunt down the reason for your tears and laugh while I destroy it.” Desire rolls over me at the passion behind his words. I lean up to recapture his lips, my tongue tangling with his.
“Not tonight,” I say against his lips. I slide my arms around to clasp behind his neck as he reaches down to pick me up and support me by my thighs, wrapping them around his waist. I bury my head into his neck as he carries me through the house.
Entering the bedroom, he lowers me onto the bed. When he moves to straighten, I use my arms around his neck to pull him closer, kissing him again. Gage’s mouth moves with mine, letting me take the lead as I channel all of my anger and frustration. My nails dig into his skin, clawing and scratching at his neck and shoulders. The emotions swirling through me, potent and dark, pour into him—and he takes it all, gladly, hungrily, and begging for more.
When I finally fall back, my arms letting go to land on the bed beside my head, Gage doesn’t let up. His lips trail across my face, peppering kisses along my jaw, cheeks, and the tip of my nose. His strong fingers work to unbutton my pants as his mouth moves across my chest, nipping and licking my cleavage. He climbs off the bed to kneel in front of me.
Taking great care, Gage pulls off my shoes and presses kisses to the inside of my ankles, his teeth sinking into my flesh with love bites that send arousal shooting through me. His mouth moves up my legs, paying special attention to my thighs. When he hooks his thumbs into the waistband of my pants to drag them down my legs until they fall to the floor, his mouth follows its path. Once he reaches my toes, he makes his way back up.
“Gage,” I say, hating how my voice shakes. Luckily, I don’t have to say anything else. He just knows.
“It’s time for bed, baby,” he murmurs, pulling back the covers for me to climb under, wearing only my t-shirt and panties. After putting his gun on his nightstand and switching off the light, he climbs into the bed and wraps himself around me. He lets out a gratified sigh and presses a kiss on the top of my head. We lay together in silence for a while, but it doesn’t last long.
A strong hand slips under my jaw, tilting my head up until I meet his dark gaze. The city lights filtering through the parted blinds cast deep shadows across his angular face, enhancing all of his beautiful, sharp edges. He’s a mercenary eager to do my bidding.
“I need you to talk to me, baby. Tell me what happened.” It’s a plea and a command. His thumb strokes my jaw tenderly, coaxing me to comply.
“The police called,” I say finally, forcing the emotion back enough to get the words out. “About Tommy.”
Gage remains silent as he listens and waits for me to continue, the ticking of his jaw the only reaction to my words. “Apparently, they think that the amount of blood at his apartment means that my brother is dead. They say they don’t have any more leads, and the case is now cold. He’s assumed dead, and they won’t be looking for him anymore. They’re giving up on him.” I let out a humorless laugh as a fresh wave of anger hits me. “I guess a gambling junkie with a perpetual losing streak and a habit of running from his debts isn’t at the top of their priority list.”
I shake my head, blinking past the tears of frustration streaming down my face freely. “He’s dead—I know it, you know it, the fucking cops know it. I didn’t expect them to come to his rescue. But the least they could do was find his body. Give me something to bury, something to say goodbye to. He wasn’t much of a brother, but he’s all that I had. He was my family. They might not think Tommy deserves closure, but I sure as hell do.”
“You’ll get your closure.” It’s more than an assurance. It’s a promise. “One way or another.” His dark words settle some of the animosity swirling inside me. I can’t help but lean up to press a lingering kiss on his lips.
“Get some rest, pretty girl. Tomorrow’s a new day to make the world fall to your feet.” He brushes the hair out of my face, cupping my cheeks and gently brushing the tears away with the pads of his thumbs. I nod against his hands.
When he lets go and wraps his arms around me, I lay my head on his chest and settle in. The steady beating of his heart is calming, our rhythms syncing. “Goodnight, Reaper,” I whisper.
This is where I belong.