Page 100 of Bedlam

“Bullshit. Who did it?” I ask, and that’s when I realize Spade is cleaning Dario’s stitches.

“I leave for four days and all hell breaks loose. What the fuck?” I say.

“It’s a long story, but our girl put a bullet in both of their heads and now she’s been waiting for you to come home to take her on a kill. We need to get that shit under control, and now.” Dario says, wincing as he sits up.

“I can’t believe I missed it. Fuck. Alright, I’m taking her out tonight. I’ll talk to her.” I say and they nod.

Jesus Christ. The Aces are dead and Jade killed them. What the fuck?

sixty-four

The Queen & her Kings send their regards

Jade

Jamie took me out to dinner at a fancy restaurant in the city. The view was breathtaking and now I’m full and ready for a nap.

“Our night isn’t over just yet, Princess.” He says, holding my hand as we drive through the city streets.

“Where are we going next?” I ask, rubbing circles over his knuckles.

“You’ll see. Did you like Deuces Skyline?” He asks and I nod.

“The food was magnificent and the view is something you only see in movies. Thank you for taking me. I’d love to go there again. We should make it a thing. Once a month we go out.” I suggest, and he grins.

“I like that idea. Plus, it gets you away from the house and we can just enjoy one another.” He says as we pull down a dark street across from a park.

“Come on, Princess.” He says, grabbing a blanket and a backpack. He climbs out and rounds the truck, opening my door for me.

“Always such a gentleman.” I say, grabbing his hand. It’s hard as fuck to climb in and out of his truck in these heels.

“My mama did raise me right. Can’t say much for the other.” He says and I nod.

“Agreed. Speaking of the prick. Where’s he been? It’s been awfully quiet and I’m waiting for the fallout with what I did.” I say, and he looks down at me as we walk across the street to the park.

“No idea. I was contacted recently that I now have control over everything and he’s a ghost.” He says and I gasp.

“Everything? Even all the bad and depraved?” I ask, and he nods as we walk across a small bridge to a clearing.

“Yep, I just need time to sort that all out and make things how I want it. Not what he left me to do in his legacy. I’d rather burn it all to the ground and have nothing, than to finish what he started.” He spits and I stop walking.

“If it’s yours, you make what you want of it. Destroy it all if you have to or sever the ties with the bad. You are now in control of that. Not him. The strings are cut, Jamie. You are no longer his puppet. Just like the others. It's done and you are all free.” I say, hoping to ease his racing mind.

“I hope it’s as easy as that, but forget about that bullshit. Tonight is about us.” He says, pulling me along.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming fast behind me. I reach down into my thigh holster, gripping my knife as I whirl around. The person dressed in all black slams into me, causing me to fall on my ass.

“Jamie!” I scream, as the masked man hits him over the head with the barrel of the gun. I stand up as fast as I can as he points the gun at Jamie's head, cocking the gun.

“Dalton sends his regards.” The man says as I sail my knife through the air, watching it sink into his neck. The gun goes off and I scream, running over as my heels sink into the wet grass. I take another knife and cut the straps, freeing my ankles as the masked man points the gun at me.

Pop. Pop.

The bullets sail past my head, and I throw the knife in my hand, hitting him in the throat. He chokes and immediately drops the gun. I run over to Jamie, who's on his knees holding his head. But I don’t see any blood.Fucking thank god.

“Jamie, Jamie. Are you okay?” I ask, but he shakes his head.

“Something is wrong. I can’t fucking see anything,” he says.