Chapter 27
Twenty-seven
Jameson
My heart shatters as I watch her walk away from me, each step a hollow echo on the hardwood that splinters another piece of my soul. Pure agony. The kind of pain that wraps around your lungs so tightly you can't breathe.
I stand frozen, staring after her, as her footsteps disappear, replaced by guttural sobs.
Vic puts his hand on my shoulder. “Come on, let’s talk.”
I follow him into the kitchen, the faint hum of the refrigerator filling the silence. I’m dreading this conversation. I know he’s pissed at me, at Miles, at the shit we’ve gotten ourselves into. He’s never once raised a hand to me, but his lectures are legendary.
He isn’t privy to the details of the jobs we take on the side. It’s always been a don’t ask, don’t tell rule. Until now.
“Grab coffee if you want,” he says, dropping into a chair at the small round kitchen table, legs scraping across the tile.
I pour a mug, just to give myself something to do. The first sip hits like a shot of adrenaline through my overly tired body.
Miles strides in just as I take a seat across from Vic. His boots thud against the tile, too loud against the heaviness that hangs in the air. He meets my eyes before dropping into the chair beside me.
Neither of us says a word, waiting for Vic to speak first.
He shakes his head, a look of disappointment in his eyes that has my guts twisting.
“What in the hell were you two thinking? Taking a job from someone who goes out of their way to stay anonymous? A fucking Ghost? I know you two take on some jobs that I’m better off not knowing about, but why the fuck did you two let this get so far before calling me? ”
His head swivels between us. “I’ve told you to call me if you are ever in trouble.”
“It’s my fault,” I say, feeling like I’m fifteen again, getting a lecture after my mom found my weed in my sock drawer while putting my laundry away. “I didn’t want to involve you. To put you in a situation where you had to call in favors to cover for me.”
His eyes soften, but his voice stays firm. “Jameson, you are my son, both of you are,” he says, glancing at Miles. “It’s my job to help you. You should have called me.”
“Yes, sir.” Miles and I say in unison.
“Good. Now that I got that out of the way.” The crinkle of paper fills the air as he pulls a sheet from his pocket and hands it to me.
“I called a friend from Los Angeles who did some digging into Byron’s juvenile records.
He was almost expelled from school twice for verbally abusing his female teachers.
His parents paid the school a shit ton of money both times.
” He gives me a look that tells me I’m not going to like what he says next.
“He also called his connection at the LAPD, who said that there was a woman who fit Ceciley’s description who came in once to report domestic abuse.
He also said the officer who took the report ripped it up as soon as she walked out and called Byron’s father, who, as you know, is a Supreme Court Judge. ”
White hot rage boils inside me, the paper crinkling in my clenched fists. Lane was left to suffer for years because a corrupt justice system failed her.
Vic sits back, his hands folded over his stomach. “How much have you told her?”
I toss the paper on the table, and rub a hand down my face. “Nothing yet.”
“She was too busy giving him the silent treatment,” Miles chimes in, snatching my coffee from in front of me. He takes a long gulp, smirking at me over the rim.
I glare at him. “Fuck you, asshole."
Vic chuckles, the sound breaking some of the tensing swirling around us. “Don’t worry, she will forgive you. She just needs time to cool off and realize you were just trying to protect her. Even if you did go about it in a dumbass way.”
I groan, slumping back in my seat. “I’m already miserable enough. Can you both have some sympathy and lay off?”
Vic laughs, richer this time. “You think we are bad. Wait until your Mom gets home and finds out you met a woman and didn’t tell her.”
I groan again. Fuck. I’m about to piss off the other woman in my life.
Lane
I wake in an unfamiliar bed, my skin brushing against smooth satin sheets as I sit up. Panic creeps up my spine as I look around the equally unfamiliar room.
My eyes land on Kam, sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, and it all comes flooding back.
Jameson’s confession and the pain that accompanied it.
The trip here to his parents' house. Sobbing uncontrollably in Kam’s arms. She must have put me to bed after I had finally exhausted all my tears.
“Good evening, sleeping beauty,” Kam says, a blue blanket wrapped around her shoulders and her e-reader in hand.
My eyes sweep around the Lavender Room. “How long did I sleep?”
“About ten hours, it’s just past nine.” She points at the bedside table. “Jameson brought up some dinner, water, and an iced coffee.”
I reach for the coffee, the ice cubes clinking faintly against the cup. I may be pissed at him, but I’ll gladly drink his coffee. I take a sip, the caffeine slowly jumpstarting my system. “I’m sorry I cried all over you and then passed out all day.”
Kam lowers her e-reader, eyes meeting mine.
“First of all, don’t apologize to me. You just had the equivalent of an A Bomb dropped on you.
You needed a good cry and rest. Besides, it's giving me a chance to get caught up on my Tbr list. Now drink your coffee and eat your food,” she orders, before going back to her book.
I grab the bowl of delicious-looking stew. The savory aroma of slowly cooked beef, hints of thyme and rosemary mixed with the sweet smell of the carrots hit my nose, making my mouth water. A soft moan escapes my throat when the first flavor packed bite hits my taste buds.
Kam chuckles, the sound warm and familiar, from behind her e-reader. “Best damn stew you’ve ever had, right?”
I set the bowl aside, guilt eating at me. “I’m sorry you got dragged into all of this.” I murmur, looking down at my hands as they fidget in my lap.
She sets her e-reader aside and moves to the bed, perching on the edge with one knee tucked beneath her, facing me.
“I’m glad I’m here. I would never want you to go through this alone.
Besides, do you know how crazy I would have gone if I woke up and my best friend was just gone? I would have absolutely lost it.”
My best fucking friend.
I meet her eyes, offer a small smile, voice raw with emotion. “I’m glad you’re here too.” There’s no way I could get through this without her.
“So where are you mentally?” she asks.
She’s not being insensitive. She’s checking in, seeing how I’m handling everything.
I blow out a breath. “I’m dealing because I don't have any other option.” It’s the most honest answer I can give. I gave myself time to fall apart. Now it’s time to handle it. “I’m sorry I never told you,” I add softly.
“I understand why you didn’t tell me. I also understand why you shot him.
I don’t judge you, Lane.” She grabs my hand, squeezing gently.
“I’m proud of you. You escaped a truly horrific situation and made a whole new life for yourself.
You are Lane Maddox. You became Lane Maddox the day you decided to take control of your life and leave.
I don’t know Ceciley Knox, but I hurt for her. ”
She jumps up from the bed. “I’m going to go see if I can find some snacks, maybe some alcohol, and we can hide out in here till morning. We can deal with everything then.”
I say again; My. Best. Fucking. Friend.