The bathroom door opens and Laird and Matthew step into the living room.Jessy freezes, covers his mouth with both hands, and lets out a delighted little gasp.“Oh, sweet devil!Were you guys up to something naughty in there?”he teases, voice bright with laughter.
“Hey, Jessy.”Laird waves, clearing his throat.“Meet Matthew.Don’t mind him, he’s a little drunk.”
“Hey.Nice leather,” Matthew says, pointing at Jessy’s jacket.I frown at the sloppy compliment; the coat is faux Dalmatian fur and Matthew’s tipsiness makes the line sound ridiculous.
Matthew collapses onto the sofa while I help Jessy set down his bag and hang his coat.We gather around the fireplace, letting the heat chase the cold from our cheeks.My phone is quiet—no sign of Alan.
“How’s your mother?”my mother asks.
“She’s better.She only needs a hospital visit once a month now, so I grabbed a tiny window to come here while I could,” Jessy says.
“That’s wonderful.”My mother heads for the kitchen.“Wait here, I’ll get you some eggnog.”
Jessy settles in, eyes bright and curious.“What actually happened?I was shocked when I saw your text.”He leans forward, waiting for the full confession.I tell him everything—the plan, the theft, the stakeout—how we ended up on this mission to bring Alan down.
“Damn that jerk.”Jessy sighs, his shoulders dropping after hearing the whole story.“Doesn’t that mean Gene’s going bankrupt?”
“Most likely.The feds might freeze the company’s accounts, seize all the contracts, and shut down the office.”Laird’s face looks grim as he lays out the risks.
“Shit, I forgot about that.If Alan gets arrested and the office accounts are seized by the court, what happens to the models and actors?”I slap my forehead and lean back against the sofa.My thoughts drift to Greg and the others.
“And the other agents too,” Jessy adds.
My heart sinks as I think of them all.Am I really willing to ruin their livelihoods just to take down one person?I keep cupping my cheeks as I stare at Laird.He can’t come up with anything either, his brows pulled tight as he studies his hands resting on his knees.
“That’s a risk we have to take,” he mutters.
“Why don’t you start your own agency?Or look for another one before the FBI catches that guy.”Matthew’s voice cuts through the silence.We all turn to him with blank stares.His face is red, eyelids drooping, clearly on the verge of passing out.
“As if starting a new agency is easy.”Jessy sighs and rolls his eyes.
My phone rings again.Alan.I look at Laird.Jessy gasps, and Laird nods, gesturing for me to pick it up.
“Loudspeaker,” Laird says before I answer.
“Hello, Alan.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” Alan says.
Laird shoots me a look.I hit speaker and set the phone on the table.“Hey…” I shrug, not sure what to say.
“Took you long enough to pick up.”
“Yeah, my mom has a guest coming.Sorry,” I mumble.
“Oh, I see.No worries.”Alan clears his throat like he’s trying to hold back his temper.
“So, what’s up?”I ask casually, careful not to sound defensive.
“Do you miss me?”
Hearing that tone again—soft, seductive—Laird gets up from the sofa.His hands clasp on his chest, a crooked, annoyed smile tugging at his mouth.He looks at my phone like he wants to crush it.
“Hm… a little.”I shrug and widen my eyes at Laird.I don’t know what to say, okay?
“Ah, that’s good enough.You know, I miss you so much.”His whisper sends a chill through the room.Jessy shivers and hugs himself, rubbing his nose in disgust.
“Hey, sorry, but my mom needs me.I really gotta go,” I say quickly, desperate to end this useless conversation.
