Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72895 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“So you don’t have shit?” Jasper folded his arms, a dark scowl on his face. He was spoiling for a fight.
Jameson smiled and shook his head. “I didn’t say that. I said I couldn’t destroy the files, but the one labeled DEA audio is exactly what they have and can’t use. Just to ease your worried mind.”
I shoved the drive into my laptop and clicked the DEA file. The audio was staticky, and the foreground conversation was garbled at best. I smiled.
“Not even a sound of a gunshot. Good job, Jameson.
“Thank you, Sadie.”
I nodded to Jasper. “Send the money.”
“He hasn’t given us shit,” he insisted.
“This drive might help us get Calvin to see the light. And now we know they have no direct evidence I was even at the hotel.”
Jasper glared at me. He wanted to argue, but he knew I was right. “Fine.” He tapped on his phone and waited for approval.
Jameson’s phone dinged, and he glanced at the screen with a smile.
“Pleasure doing business with you.”
“Whatever,” Jasper growled.
Jameson grinned as he shoved his phone back into his pocket. “One more thing.”
“I’m not giving you another fucking dime,” Jasper growled.
“I wouldn’t be so hasty if I were you, Ashby.” Jameson squared his shoulders and stood a little taller, almost daring Jasper to do something about his aggression before he shrugged dismissively and turned back to me.
“If you own a pair of very rare, limited edition heels, you might want to get rid of them. Don’t hide them in another residence or a safety deposit box. Burn those fuckers and scatter the ashes in the desert.”
I blinked at his words, feeling for the first time a hint of fear seep into my bones. “What? My Christin Louboutin x Sabyasachi strappy sandals?”
“‘Fraid so. Beck thinks she has a partial footprint, and I don’t imagine many suspects can afford to have a designer shoe collection that rivals yours.”
“Have you seen the print?” Terry stood at the bar, pouring a shot of whiskey.
“No, but a junior agent said Beck is creaming her panties that this is the evidence that will nail you. She’s convinced you’re the only suspect with shoes like that and a vendetta against priests.”
“Shit. Fuck.” Colm always said that my love of designer shoes would be my downfall, and as usual, he was wrong. “Thank you, Jameson. You’ve proven your worth.”
He smiled and headed toward the office door, but he stopped. Again.
“One more thing. Beck thinks that finding out why you hate priests is how she’ll nail you, so she’s digging. If that helps.”
Jameson didn’t wait for a reaction, almost as if he already knew before he left. For real, this time.
My blood turned cold at his words. “Jasper, wire him another half a mil. Now.”
There was no fucking way in hell I’d let that little bitch dig that deep, not that there was any record of it, but even a hint of what had happened would ruin Jasper’s reputation.
“Sadie,” he growled.
I smacked the desktop with my fists. “Dammit, Jas. Whatever your issues with him are, get the fuck over it. He’s already proven himself to be an asset. Having him on our payroll will be worth the cost.”
Hell, it already was.
“If he’s telling the truth.”
I sighed. “Come and look at the files for yourself. Bonnie was a busy little bitch.” I shoved the laptop towards him, and he hunched over, scanning a few files, his anger growing by the second.
“Fuck. If you hadn’t offed her, I would have.” Jasper shook his head and shoved the laptop away. “Un-fucking-believable.”
“I told you, it had to be done. I could, and I have forgiven a lot of people for a lot of things. Betrayal is not one of those things.”
Jasper nodded his agreement.
“Always protect the family,” Terry added with a heavy sigh. He handed Jasper a glass of whiskey. By now, my boys knew I wasn’t drinking, though who knew how long that would last. “Always.”
“Yeah,” I said and stood. “Too bad about the shoes, though. They are a fucking masterpiece.”
Jasper snorted a laugh and shook his head. “Should we prepare a memorial for your shoes?”
“No need, I’ll mourn them by replacing them with something even more incredible. I’ll get Thomas to light the fireplace.” And then I’d get him to light my fire to suppress the memories Beck’s investigation threatened to bring up again.
Not today, bitch.
Not today.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Sadie
“Holy shit, Ma! For real?” Kat looked around at the decorated courtyard with a wide smile on her face. She radiated pure fucking joy that made even a cold bitch like me smile.
“Yes, Kat. For real.”
She shook her head and looked around at all the people coming and going, erecting the gazebo near the waterfall pool, the archway for the ceremony, and tents for dinner and dancing.
“This is the fanciest fucking backyard wedding I’ve ever seen, but I love it. I really love it, Ma.”