He laughed, completely unbothered.
“Fine. I brought the good shit,” Moses said, hopping up into the van with an agility that didn’t match his size. He kicked the side of a wooden crate. “This one’s full of ARs—custom builds. Lightweight, modded triggers, clean optics. You can strip one of these in your sleep and still shoot a fly off a bottle at forty yards.”
He pried open the second crate.
“Shotguns. Modified. Hollow slugs, dragon’s breath, beanbags if you're feeling generous.” He smirked, tossing a red shell into the air and catching it one-handed. “Didn’t think y’all would be.”
Jamie climbed into the van beside him, crouching low. Her hands moved over the polished black metal with a strange reverence that twisted something primal deep in my chest. She checked the weight of one of the heavy tactical shotguns, racked the slide back, and grinned.
“This is heavy as hell. I like it,” she muttered to herself.
Moses watched her the way a man watches something he used to possess and still desperately wanted. “Told you I know exactly what you like and need, beautiful.”
Jamie stood up, dusting her palms off on her thighs. “We'll take it all.”
“Thought you might. What the hell are you planning, Brownie?”
I gritted my teeth. I despised his little nicknames for her.
Jamie shrugged, but her doe eyes turned to absolute stone. “To keep living.”
I reached up to help her down from the van, and when her feet hit the ground, we stood close enough for our shoulders to rub. She immediately picked up one of the heavy duffel bags from the grass and handed it up to Moses.
“Your money. You know I got you on the rest when this is all finished.”
He nodded, his expression finally turning serious. “You need extra bodies? Help?”
I stepped into his line of sight. I hated the way he looked at her, hated how comfortable her history made them. I wanted him out of our space. “I appreciate you coming,” I said, my voice dangerously flat, my eyes locking onto Jamie. “But we’re good. You can go.”
Moses didn’t move. He kept his eyes on her.
I snapped, "You need her permission?"
He smirked, challenging me. I took a step forward, ready to repaint the grass in his blood, but Jamie’s palm shot out, landing flat against my chest and holding me back.
“I’m good, Moses," she intervened smoothly. "I know how to contact you if things change.”
Moses raised his hands in a mock surrender. “Say less. I’m gone.” He cast one lingering look at Jamie before slipping into the driver's seat.
She didn’t watch the van pull away. It should’ve eased the pressure in my chest, but the heat under my skin stayed constant. The second the sound of his engine faded into the trees, I gripped Jamie’s arm and hauled her toward the cabin.
“Vinny,” she warned, her tone sharp, but she didn’t fight the pull.
I didn’t say a word until the heavy deadbolt clicked shut behind us. Then I turned on her.
“What the fuck was that?”
Her eyes narrowed instantly. “What are you talking about?”
“You told me nothing about a plan. Then I wake up and find you flirting with a goddamn arms dealer in the yard.”
“Oh my God.” She let out a mocking laugh. “This is jealousy? Really? That’s what this is,papi?”
“Don’t fucking call me papi.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly. “Are you serious right now?”
“Dead serious. Why the fuck did he look at you like he’s seen you naked?”
