“Do you know how dangerous this was? Do you know the implications of someone like you getting caught? There’s not oneof these guys in these photos that wouldn’t hesitate to chop your head off or sell you to the highest bidder.” He throws the photos on the bed.
He’s mad now. Furious even. But I knew if I sat back and did nothing, I would regret it in the long run. And now I’m glad I took those photos.
“Look, I stopped taking them around the time that Emmett’s last bodyguard disappeared, okay?”
His jaw ticks but he continues, “How long were you doing this?”
“Nine months. Give or take.”
“Start at the beginning. I want to know everything.”
I look at the time on the clock and it’s just barely eight AM. Plenty of time to hash this out.
“My dad started drinking after my mom passed, and he wouldn’t let up no matter how many times I told him to stop. It was a never-ending cycle and instead of moving through the grieving process, I was playing babysitter for a grown adult. Then one day, all of a sudden, he has a new job. I thought the job would get him sober, but it didn’t, and I decided I had had enough and told him I was moving out.
It took a couple of weeks before I found this place, but the day before I left, I overheard him on the phone. I had no idea about his deal with Emmett, and when he finally broke down and told me about the financial situation, I couldn’t believe how messy it had gotten. That’s when I told him I would help him to pay Emmett back. He begged me not to, but I’m stubborn.” I shrug my shoulders.
“Why did you think you should start spying on Emmett though?”
“My dad doesn’t know this, but Emmett and his previous bodyguard paid me a visit a few months after I moved out of the house. Emmett threatened me and told me that if I so much asbreathed a word about the deal with my dad to anyone, I would pay. It was then that I realized there was more to the story than my dad was telling me, and I decided I needed a plan for collateral. I started following him and taking the photos a little less than a year ago.”
Lucas sits on the bed, and I sit next to him. “This is a big fucking mess, isn’t it?”
“Huge. And now that I know you’re a cop, I can officially say my life is fucked up.”
He shakes his head, and a somber look fills his expression. “You’re not supposed to know. The fact that you do puts you at risk beyond what we’re already doing. But I didn’t want to walk out that door without you believing I would never hurt you.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” I give him a small smile. “But it was a huge shock to hear that you know my dad. I still can’t quite believe this isn’t one big coincidence though.”
“It’s a coincidence all right. Your dad would call you Jay, not Jordan. And then I saw your photo and couldn’t believe it. So, uh… you’re not mad that I’m a cop? Or that I lied to you?” His cheeks heat and he looks nervous as hell.
“I guess I have more pressing things to worry about.” I shrug my shoulders. Is it surprising that he’s an undercover cop? Completely. But my dad needs to be out of Emmett’s grasp once and for all, and if Lucas can help me, then I’m going to take that help. No matter our relationship.
I could be mad at Lucas for keeping this from me, but from a logical standpoint, I understand why he did.
Everything makes sense now. His house, the lack of conversation about his life and job. I’m not sure what this means for us, but for now, I’m not going to worry about it.
Chapter 22
Lucas
She’s taking this well. Too well in fact. I thought for sure I was going to get a slap to the face and a ‘get the hell out.’ But instead, she brings me a folder of photos that can help build a case against Emmett and all sorts of other people.
Quite frankly, I think I’m in more shock than she is.
“So, what’s next?” she asks, curling her legs under her on the bed and facing me.
“Next? Next, you go to work like normal and you stay out of this. In fact…” I blow out a breath. “I think it’s best we stay away from each other for the time being.”
The words taste bitter coming out of my mouth, but we’re too intertwined. I need to start acting like a cop, and that includes assuming I’m being watched since Emmett has his hands in Jordan’s life too.
“Sure.” She shifts away from me, pushing her pink hair behind her ears. “Yeah. That’s probably a good idea. Just let me know if you need anything else from me.”
She stands up, wiping her palms on her legs, and then holds her hand out for a handshake.
The gesture almost makes me laugh. After everything we’ve been through, a fucking handshake is what she gives me as a parting gift?
Just because I don’t think we should see each other right now, doesn’t mean this is goodbye.
