Page 94 of Ghost Walk
Jamie’s head swiveled around to look at Robert and his smile was all jagged teeth. “Well that’s convenient.” He murmured to himself, getting to his feet as gracefully as a shark surfacing from deep water. “I donea even have to go hunting for the bastard.”
Uh-oh.
Grace’s eyes went wide. “Jamie…”
“Sohe’sJamie?” Robert interrupted scornfully. He smoothed down his hair, as if that would help make the comparison between them less absurd. “The one you’ve been cheating on me with?”
“I’m Jamie.” Jamie told him calmly. “The one who’s about to beat you to death.”
Grace cringed as her fiancé knocked out three of her ex-boyfriend’s capped teeth. Crap. If Jamie was arrested for assault and battery, the police would have a field day at booking. His only form of photo identification was a two-hundred and fifty year old oil painting. “Stop, Jamie! You have no idea what a mess it would be to explain who you are in court.”
He didn’t seem to care about the legal ramifications. He was too busy ripping Robert apart with his bare hands.
Robert gave a squawk of pain and panic, trying to escape Jamie’s fury. Who could blame him? It was like watching a dog fight between a Chihuahua and a rabid timber wolf.
“You think you can hit my goddamnwife?!” Jamie bellowed, sending Robert flying backwards with another crushing blow. The smaller man landed on his back, blood pouring from his crushed nose. “You think you can come into her house? Threaten her? Try to rape her? Call heryours? You think I’ll just fucking let that happen?”
Robert scrambled backward like a crab, his pennyloafers slipping on the cement floor. “It wasn’t my fault! She started it! She tried to ruin my life!”
Jamie followed him down the aisle like the specter of death. “You’re not going tohavea life, by the time I’m done with you.” It was a grim promise. “Nobody touches Grace.Nobody.” He hauled Robert up to hit him again.
Repeatedly.
Grace realized this was careening towards a murder charge. Jamie had been riding high on emotions for several hours now and he hated Robert with a festering passion even on his good days. Assault and battery was bad enough, but she didn’t want her fiancé locked up in jail for the rest of his brand new life. Especially not over a waste of skin like Robert.
“Wait!” She protested, clambering to her feet. “You can’t kill him.”
“Watch me.” Jamie kicked Robert hard enough to break multiple ribs and then planted his booted heel on the smaller man’s neck. “Next time you strike a woman, you’d better double-check if she belongs to a pirate, asshole. We tend to be a possessive bunch.” He gave a meaningful pause. “Oh wait… There won’tbea next time for you, will there?”
Robert managed a gurgled response, his face turning purple.
Grace’s eyebrows compressed in alarm. This wasn’t what she wanted. It was sweet and all, but they had seen enough violence and death today. “Jamie, please. You don’t have to do this. We’ll call the police…”
“Who did so fucking much the last time!” He interrupted at a roar. “They let him out and he came after youagain! Do you have any idea what it felt like, standing there and doingnothing, while he hurt you?” His voice was anguished. “I couldn’t help you, Grace!”
“Youdidhelp me. You saved me, butthiswon’t do me any good, at all. They’ll just throw you in prison and then I’ll be alone.” She gazed up at him. “Don’t do that to us. I need you.”
His gaze cut over to hers, burning with the intense blue of spacious skies, and shining seas, and every other shimmering American dream. This man was every dream Grace had everhad.
“I need you.” She repeated quietly. “You’re my Partner, Jamie. Stay with me.”
The pressure on Robert’s throat eased slightly, as Jamie reluctantly allowed him to gasp in some air. He frowned a bit, but did as she asked. “I do not agree with this decision.” He intoned, breathing hard.
“I know.” She held out a hand to him. “For me. Just let him gofor me.”
He muttered a Gaelic curse and released Robert. He took his foot off his neck and gave him a disgusted nudge with his boot. “Be grateful my woman is a Sunday school teacher.” He muttered with an annoyed scowl.
The other man lay on the floor, sucking in lungfuls of oxygen and sending Jamie a look of total loathing.
Jamie didn’t so much as glance at him. “Foryou, Grace.” He agreed, still not pleased with letting Robert go. “I would do whatever you ask. You know that. Even when it is ahorribleidea.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a misty smile. “I love you too much to lose you.”
“I love you too much to be lost.” He said softly, moving towards her. “There is nothing that will ever take me from your side…”
Robert let out a sudden bellow, apparently getting his second wind at the sound of their romantic declarations. He leapt to his feet, the broken saber that Grace had lost earlier clutched in his hand. “She was mine first!” He shouted manically and lunged at Jamie, trying to spear him with the blade.
Grace didn’t think. Jamie was about to be stabbed and she just reacted. Her palm went up…
