I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of the question. “What?”
“Do you want to see Bradley?”
“Are you going to…” I let my words fall away since Gus is still lingering behind me.
“Yes,” Specter says, knowing full well what I was going to ask.
I consider the question for a few seconds. Do I want to see his body and know without a doubt that he can’t hurt me anymore? Or would it be enough to hear Specter’s account of the events?
The answer settles over me as the memory of years of looking over my shoulder rears up, flooding my chest with sadness, fear, and hurt. I tried so hard to shove it down, push it away, dance it off, but it’s still there. It’s always been there.
“Yes,” I whisper, even as my chin trembles. “I want to see him.”
“Do you want to speak to him? I could arrange it.”
I chew on my bottom lip for a second before shaking my head. “No, but you could give him a message from me.”
“Anything.”
“Tell him…” I blow out a breath as my eyes blur with tears. “Tell him I hope there’s a hell just so he can rot in it.”
“You got it, beautiful.” He leans in and kisses me sweetly. “I’ll be home before you know it.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I fist the lapel of his jacket. “Please be safe.”
“I promise. I might be covered in blood when I get back, but it won’t be mine.”
A black SUV pulls up and the passenger window rolls down. Phantom smiles at us from the driver’s side.
“Customer pickup,” he says.
Specter approaches the car, and I hang back, glancing over my shoulder at Gus.
“I’ll be okay.”
“I know,” Gus says. “He’ll make sure of it.”
“He will, yeah.”
Gus squeezes my arm. “I’m happy for you, Cashmere. You deserve a guy who’s willing to do anything for you.”
“Thanks. I do deserve it.”
“Come on, love.” Specter motions me toward the car.
I wave to Gus one more time, then walk over to the SUV and slide into the passenger seat. Phantom pats my shoulder.
“Don’t worry. We’ve got you.”
I nod, holding back the building emotion. Specter leans on the door, watching me.
“Je t’aime, mon hérisson. N’oublie pas ça.”He stumbles over the pronunciation and his accent is pretty awful, but it’s the thought that counts. “Did I say that right?”
“Close enough. I won’t forget.”
Specter looks at Phantom. “Take care of him.”
“Of course, man.”
