“You can’t do that, Amethyst,” she said, sitting back and crossing her arms. The fact that she knew my name, yet no one else had mentioned it, told me everything I needed to know. Shelly knew what the fuck was going on and was playing dumb. She wasn’t done with Grant; she was making an effort at the moment. There was no doubt in my mind that as soon as I left, she would call him and tell him everything. “If you could, you wouldn’t be sitting here now trying to figure out what the fuck happened all those years ago.” She sat forward and smiled sweetly. “You are a pawn in a fucking game just like I am. The only difference between us is you didn’t realize which brother was fucking you over.”
“The only thing saving you right now is that baby growing in your stomach,” I said, grilling her. “I may not like killing women, but for you I’d make an exception.” My phone rang, and I smiled at the sight of Psalms’ name on the screen. I swiped it to answer and put it on speaker so Shelly could hear us discuss her death. “Hello, my favorite DeCorte.” Shelly’s eyes got big for a second at the mention of Psalms’ last name.
“Cross said you wanted me to come out of my garden to play,” Psalm said. Her voice was soft as hell, which always made me laugh because no one ever expected her to be as unhinged as she was. But shit, that would be said about all the DeCorte women. They all looked innocent and gentle, and that was the furthest thing from the truth.
“She’s pregnant, I’m guessing six months or so, but I’m hoping you won’t care.”
“Nope, more fertilizer for my plants,” Psalms said. “I’ll get the name from Cross. Is there anything you want to know?”
“Everything,” I said as I stood.
“Okay,” Psalms said, then hung up.
I picked up my phone, put it in my pocket, then tucked my gun into the back of my pants. Shelly looked scared as fuck, but I didn’t care. I’d given her the chance to get the fuck away from Grant, tell me what I needed to know, and live her life in peace. She chose to do otherwise, which is why she would have to deal with Psalms.
“She’s a DeCorte?” Shelly asked, and I nodded. “The one that was with-?”
“Nah,” I laughed because I knew where her mind was going, and I was going to dead that shit fast. I leaned over the table, resting my hands on it and bending so we were eye to eye. “People have met the nice one, witnessed the calm one, and have heard hints of the unhinged one. You’re going to get the special honor of meeting the one that probably should stay retired.”
“All because I won’t tell you why Grant set up that bitch Yale?”
“Nah,” I said, shaking my head. “All because you won’t tell me why Grant set up the love of my fucking life.” I stood to my full height and shrugged. “But no worries, because I already know Psalms will get all the answers I need.”
I left the restaurant, not caring that more than likely Shelly was going to run to Grant; truthfully, I wanted her to. I wasn’t going to blindside Grant or any of the other Kilmores. I wanted them to know who was coming after them. I’d been played for years, and now I wanted all the fucking answers and my woman, too.
I sat in my car, waiting for Shelly to leave, and just like I knew she would, she rolled out a few minutes after me. I picked up my phone from my lap and called Yale.
“Hello?” she sleepily answered.
“You sleep?” I lifted my brow in surprise. Yale was typically up half the night working, so it was surprising to see her in bed this early.
“I dozed off,” she answered. “What’s up?”
“I’m on my way to get you,” I said as I watched Shelly pull out of the parking lot. “Get dressed, pack a bag, and be ready when I pull up.”
“Where are we going?” she questioned. The sound of covers being moved echoed in the phone, and the image of her lying in bed in just her panties and no bra flooded my mind, and my mouth watered. I wanted Yale so fucking bad, and she hadn’t even done shit out of the ordinary. “And how long will we be gone?”
“I want to go hang out,” I said instead of answering her question. She wasn’t going back to that house ever fucking around with me.
“Where?”
“It doesn’t matter as long as I’m with you,” I said as I headed to her house. “You down for an adventure?”
“How long do I have to get ready?” she replied, and I smiled.
“I’m in the city, so it’ll take me like thirty minutes to get to you,” I answered.
“I’ll be ready,” she said, and I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.
“Bet, I’m on the way,” I said. “I’ll see you in a minute.”
“Okay.”
**
Four hours later, we were having the time of our lives in my kitchen. At first, I wanted to go out, but then I thought about itand realized it would be safer for Yale if we were locked down. My moving through the city after killing two people associated with the Franklins was dumb, and moving with Yale by my side was idiotic. Putting her in a situation to get caught up in my shit wasn’t it.
“Ay man, have a drink with me,” I said, holding up the bottle of Hennessy. Yale shook her head, and I grunted. “Why not?”
