Page 25 of Dark Wishes

“I’m happy he hasn’t, I don’t need him in my life. Even if I wanted him to come see me, he’s always ‘too busy’ with work.” She rolls her eyes in her skull. “As if he isn’t rich enough to retire twice over.”

I tap my cheek lightly. “I’m curious what he does for a living.”

“Runs a law firm that handles oil contracts. That’s how he got such a tidy divorce in his favor; being a multi-millionaire is a privilege, but having a million powerful connections? That’s the real ticket.”

That’s something I can agree with. Money gives you access to many things, but people in high places will always be worth more. “I’m guessing this means he doesn’t know anything about your friend’s death. Does your mother know?”

Her eyes gloss over with pain. “Mom asks about Valoria like she’s still alive. I told her three different times about the suicide,then I just quit putting us both through the torture. She gets to think Valoria is alive and well. I’m envious.”

“Selena...” The urge to go to her... to wrap her in my arms, to hug her close and give her a space to release the tears building in her eyes... is immense. Last night we were closer than ever. I held her, tasted her lips, felt the echo of her voice. It was intimacy like none other.

I should be able to touch her.

I should be able to soothe the tension in her bunched neck.

Instead, I remain where I am, clutching my arms like they’re her body.

She sits up, downing her coffee, exhaling in an exaggerated way. “If you’re going to bring up Valoria, then let’s get to it. Take me to the bank so I can pay the rest of your fee and we can start figuring out how we’ll kill Caruso.”

It fascinates me how quick she is to put her armor back on. But she’s got the right idea—I don’t know what to say to her in these moments of vulnerability. I’m not built for therapy.

I’m built to kill.

A single night with this woman in my tangled sheets won’t change that.

Chapter Eight

Selena

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This bank isn’t one I’ve been to before. Jamison picked it, declaring that any branch would work. In a rare occurrence, I believe him. There’s no tactical reason to keep me from showing up on my usual bank’s camera twice; the transactions will be embossed in time via some computer data center. The cops can reference it with a basic warrant.

Do they have a warrant yet?Probably not, or they’d call and tell me. It’s easier to threaten someone to turn themselves in than hunt them down.They don’t have a warrant because they don’t have anything. They’re chasing whispers with no substance.

I bend over the ATM and scoop up the chunk of bills. My account is essentially drained, though I have a little in my savings. If Dad doesn’t give me the predictable monthly deposit of 3 grand on the fifteenth—just five days away—I'll be in trouble.Mom’s bills cost over half of that 3 thousand bucks each month. If I miss a payment, the facility will give me some wiggle room, but...

I pause in the middle of stuffing my backpack.Jamison knows about my mom and dad now.The only person who knew my situation was Valoria.

She’d been sympathetic, avoiding bringing up my dad; better than that, she’d fawned over my mother. On video calls the two of them could chat forever. Valoria wasn’t faking interest, oh no. She would sit wide-eyed and invested in every story Mom told. Even if it was just repeating the plot of a movie for the fifth time, Valoria was locked in.

What does Jamison think about all this?

I don’t need his pity. But... it’s nice to not have to hide my secret. Slipping off to the garage to make the phone call was stressful. I'm jittery at the mere memory of him standing behind me.How long was he there for? A minute? The whole call?

Gathering myself, I jog towards his car where he parked it down the block. He watches me approach, his eyes the usual impenetrable onyx glacier. I thought I’d be able to read him better after last night. What a naive thing to imagine.

“Well?” he asks the second I climb inside the car.

I unzip my bag, showing him the money inside. “I’ve got it.”

Jamison reaches out; I slap his hand away, clicking my tongue like he’s a naughty cat. His wide eyes are satisfying. “Tell me that we’re going after Caruso today.”

“There’s no reason to be hasty.”

“Yes, there definitely is.”

“We need a solid plan first.”

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