Page 81 of A Dirty Business
“Oh, hey, Officer Hartman.”
Our day had officially started.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
TRACE
I was in the back of my SUV, parked a block from my uncle’s place, since that meeting he’d wanted the other day was happening now. I wasn’t able to push it off anymore, but I was here and it was nighttime and I’d not heard from Jess all day. She’d called last night but hung up.
That’s when the back door opened and a body slid inside, real quick-like and stealthy.
I started to reach for my own gun when her face turned my way, and I expelled a ragged breath.
“Jess.”
Jess was in all black. I was assuming for camouflage since it was dark. She’d gotten the jump on the guys, and my privacy divider was still in place.
“Mr.West?” That was Demetri. He was the driver tonight.
Pajn was out of the car, and as he opened her door from the outside, I was pressing the intercom button.
Jess had her gun out. It wasn’t pointed at Pajn, but it was out.
She was feeling on edge, vulnerable.
I spoke into the intercom. “It’s fine.” I let go of the intercom button, giving a nod to Pajn, who eased back and returned to the front seat.
Jess shot me a dark look before reaching and pulling her door shut.
“We’re beyond that.” I looked down at her gun, which was still drawn. “Also, I know guns. Your safety is on.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she holstered her weapon.
“Why’d you call last night?”
Her jaw tightened.
I tensed, waiting ...
A sigh from her. “Why does it matter?”
I made sure my tone was soft. “It matters to me. You matter to me.”
I didn’t know why she sought me out. I’m sure there was a reason, but she didn’t look ready to confess to it. Instead, I was going my route.
“Why’d you call, Jess?”
Her head lowered, but she didn’t turn to me. She remained facing the door. “It’s family, right? That’s our code for ‘shitty situations.’”
She was giving me something.
I wanted more. I needed more.
I asked, “What happened?”
“Just ... my mom being her usual bitch self. She called.”
Right. Some of my tension shifted to sympathy. A slice of pain went through me. “When you looked me up, did the file have what happened with my own mother?”
