A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(95)

“Leo—”

“I don’t want to hear it. Honestly. Get the fuck out of my office. I want your gun, your badge, and the keys to your car.”

“Leo—”

“Gun. Now. Badge second. Keys. Or do I need to pull in a second witness for this?”

Goddamn.

This was a punch. I, just, fuck.

I pulled out my keys. “I have things still inside.”

“That’s fine. Badge and gun.”

My throat was burning. My chest was searing from the inside out, but it was what it was.

I took out my gun, placed it down. My badge was next.

“You better not put Travis on my guys.”

“I will put whoever I want on your guys. You know you have no say.” He shook his head. “Goddamn, Jess. I never thought you. Never in my whole life. Not you.”

I was blinking back tears, but no way in hell would those things fall.

Forcing out a choked sound, I cleared my throat and went for the door, but just before leaving, I asked, “How is she?”

Another soft expelling of air. “She is dealing.”

“Is she in a place? A hospital? Clinic? I truly have no idea what I did so wrong to her, but I need to know that much. You know I’ve always tried to take care of her.”

“I know.” He made a torn sound, and I couldn’t begin to identify how that came out, but it was torn. All I knew. “She’s at the mental hospital, and she’s in therapy. Intense therapy. They’re doing the whole dual thing, whatever that it is. Where they treat all the shits that happen together. I don’t know those psych terms, but you know what I’m talking about.”

I knew, and another day I might’ve laughed at how helpless his explanation was, but that was Leo. He was old school in ways. “I’d like to see her, when that might be able to open. I’d appreciate it.”

He started nodding, then went to shake his head, and he paused, turning all the way away. “Another guy, Jess. There are other guys. Love them. Fall for them. Don’t give up your career for this one. He ain’t good—or wait until he’s actually out.”

That was the heartache of it all.

I’d already made my choice.

“Let me know about my mom.”

I left, not seeing anyone who was in the hallway. They were there, but I wasn’t paying attention to them. I just needed to go, but a loud crash, thud sounded behind me.

I paused, hearing Leo roar, “Goddammit!”

“Jess.” Val was calling my name, coming after me down the hallway.

I held up a hand. “Better this way. Stay back.”

“Jess! Come on.”

I kept going.

Head down. One foot in front of the other.

I left that way.





CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE


TRACE


Anthony: Jess just asked to pick up more shifts this week. What do you want me to do?

I frowned, reading his text as Ashton and I were heading to one of our warehouses.

“What is it?”

I showed him the screen before texting him back.

Me: She’s a normal employee. Think she’d be pissed you’re asking me how to handle it.

Ashton had leaned over and read what I’d responded. He snorted, taking my phone out of my hands, and he scrolled through it before hitting a button, putting it to his ear.

“Why are you asking for more shifts at my nightclub?”

Jesus. He called Jess. On my phone.

“I’m here with him, but you got me. Yeah.” A pause. “Anthony wanted to know our thoughts. You should be happy to know that your man said you’re a normal employee, you should be treated as such. He passed the buck back to Anthony, but I’m curious. I have it on good authority that your evenings are usually filled up, by you know, you getting fil—”

I plucked the phone from him and settled back. “Don’t shoot my best friend. I inherited him as a moron.”

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t fine. Her voice was restrained. That was never fine.

I lowered my voice. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m taking time off from work for a bit. Could use the hours.”

“What do you mean when you say you’re taking time?”

“Oh, damn,” Ashton said under his breath.

I ignored him. “Jess. What’s going on?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Now I’m worried.”

She sighed into the phone. “Look, could you do me a favor and tell Anthony to put me on every night?”

“What about me?”

She half laughed, half did her own snort into the phone. “You are busy doing what I don’t want to know you’re doing, but I know you’re busy. I’m a workaholic, Trace, and my full-time gig just got put on hold for a bit. I’m going to go crazy if I actually have time on my hands.”

That was not good, not about her not knowing how to handle downtime but about the job. “I’m sorry, Jess. I know you loved doing what you did.”

“Yeah. Well. I just need to be busy right now. Mom and all.”

“I’ll let him know. He’ll fill your schedule.”

“Thank you. And, um, when are you coming back tonight?”