Boone: Hey Carn, I know it’s early as fuck, but I got something that might be helpful. Ask your man if he knows someone named Chris Johansen. Probably not the name he uses on the streets, but he might be connected to Leon.
Chris Johansen? I think about it for several minutes, mentally running though the guys who hung around Leon. Then it comes to me. CJ. Shady guy Leon didn’t like much but who he said could get his hands on some seriously good weed that kept customers coming back like it was heroin.
I tap out a reply, even though it looks like it’s from Carnage.
Me: This is Rue. Carnage is sleeping. Yes I know CJ. Sort of. He met up with Leon twice a month for weed shipments. They always met at Redlight in the back alley because CJ wouldn’t come inside.
Boone: Thanks, man. I’ll get back to you.
I put the phone down, but then curiosity gets to me and I read through the most recent messages in the chat, nervous that I’ll find out Carnage isn’t the man I hope he is, but if that’s the case, it’s better to know now.
All I see are conversations about all the things he’s already told me about, so at least he’s not lying. I open his text messages, but there’s nothing recent at all. In fact, the last one was a hookup message from months ago that he left on read.
I open his photo app, but it’s empty except for two pictures of me. In one I’m lying in bed sound asleep, and in the other I’m standing at the island talking to Colson. I didn’t even notice him taking that one, but it’s kind of sweet.
Just for kicks, I open his deleted items folder and there I see three pictures of mutilated bodies. He takes pictures of them? I study the photos, waiting for some kind of reaction—disgust? Fear? Something—but there isn’t one.
I close the folder and put the phone down on the nightstand, startling when I turn back and find a pair of warm brown eyes fixed on me.
“I’m sorry. I was making sure it wasn’t urgent. I didn’t want you to wake you up.”
“Find anything interesting?”
Ooh, busted.
“No, actually. I guess I was curious and… well, making sure you weren’t leading some kind of double life or something.”
He chuckles, reaching out and rubbing my thigh. “No double life. Was there a message for me?”
“Yeah, it was Boone. He wanted to know if I knew a guy named Chris Johansen and I do. I gave him the info I have.”
“Good.” He stretches his arms above my head. “What time is it?”
“Only seven.”
“Hmm. You wore me out, precious.”
“Back at ya.” I lean down and press a kiss to the center of his chest. “I was being nosy. I’m sorry for invading your privacy.”
“You didn’t. I don’t have anything to hide from you, and if it makes you feel better about me, then it’s all good. If it bothered me I wouldn’t have given you my password.”
“That’s a good point.”
Carnage smiles as his eyes search my face, roaming to my lips then back to my eyes. “I like this. Mornings with you in my bed.”
“I like it too.”
“Good.” He sits up. “Should we get some coffee?”
“That sounds good. I could make breakfast too since we’re up early.”
“No one will fight you on that.”
After a brief stop in the bathroom to take care of morning needs, we throw on sweats and t-shirts and head downstairs. I look like a kid playing dress up in his oversized clothes, but I kind of like it. I’m almost as tall as Carnage, but he’s got a lot of muscle and brawn on me.
Shadow is at the island, reading something on his tablet. He sips his coffee, only glancing up at us briefly.
“Morning, boss,” Carnage says.
