Page 55 of Wicked Oath
And now here I am, agreeing to do another hit.
Fuck.
My head thuds against the front door as I lean against it. I know Patrick has a large drug shipment coming in a few days. If I get away with it, I’ll be able to set my men up for life, and none of us will ever have to work again. I could live my life free and easy with Olivia. Though that would look suspicious to Patrick, so I’d have to keep working with him until he recovers. A small price to pay for happiness with Olivia.
The only kicker is I need to make sure none of my men get caught this time. Owen is just itching to take me down, and if I give him an inch, he’ll walk right over me until I’m dead.
I just need to think.
Olivia walks down the stairs at that moment, smiling at me, and I know I’ll have to plan this job later.
“Are you all right?” she asks, approaching me.
I give her my most charming smile. “Always. Just have work on my mind.”
“Oh. Anything I can help with?”
If you want me to get tortured by your dad and brother, then yes, I think. However, I say out loud, “No, just work. I’ll handle it.”
She wraps her arms around me and rests her head on my chest. “You always do.”
I kiss the top of her head. “Hey, did I ever tell you about the time my dad took me fishing?”
“No. You rarely talk about him. In fact, I’ve never heard you mention him. The only time was when we went to see your mom.”
“Well, we went fishing just once. You see, my dad was more of a lay-in-the-recliner type of guy. He didn’t like to exert himself too much. But once when I was a kid, we went fishing, and it meant everything to me. It was just him and me. None of his men around. For the first time in my life, I was completely at peace out on that lake. I never wanted it to end. But, of course, it did. And I was sad to go home.”
“Did you guys end up catching any?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I have nothing to remind myself about that day. No fish. No other souvenir. Just the memory of my dad and me.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Her tone is soft as she smiles up at me.
“I just wanted to share a moment from my past where I felt completely happy.”
“Are you happy now?” Worry fills her voice.
I gaze into her eyes. Her beautiful, green eyes. “With you, I am. And I don’t want that to change.”
She lets out a breath. “Good. I don’t want that to change either.”
But I know what I need to do in the upcoming days, and it has the power to ruin our relationship.
So, I just want to stay here, in this new happy memory of Olivia and I, because I know it might not last forever.
CHAPTER15
Olivia
James has been distant. Over the past few days, he’s hardly spent time with me, and when he has, there’s not the normal passion and intensity. Instead, he’s cold in a way I’ve never felt before.
One morning over breakfast, I lean in for a kiss, and he doesn’t respond. I pull back, my face flushing in embarrassment. “Oh.” I duck my head.
James sighs. “Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind. Come here.” He motions for me to lean in, and when I do, he plants a peck on my lips.
“Is everything all right? You’ve seemed distracted lately,” I ask.
“Just work stuff. Nothing you need to worry about.”
