Page 143 of All For You Duet

“Thank you. I’m so sorry I gotta leave like this.”

I step to the edge of the bed and hug his head to my cleavage. He kisses that spot and then the necklace he gave me.

“This is my job. You get reshoots, and I get real shit.”

“Call him.” He doesn’t look at me. “I know you need to.”

I know Redix isn’t thrilled about Jameson. But if I can watch him pseudo fuck another woman, he can deal with my partner who’s lost all patience. I tap the phone in my hand, holding Redix with the other. It’s two rings, and Jameson picks up.

“Hey.” My tone is flat.

“Hey.”

So is Jameson’s. He knows where I am, and he’s pissed about it.

“It’s our case. I waited for you. Remember? Daufuskie? You gonna wait for me too?”

The seconds he takes to answer find me pulling away from Redix and walking to stare at the ocean, imagining I’m at Jameson’s desk instead and trying to talk some sense into him.

“I overheard Gentry at The Pelican,” Jameson finally answers. “I was there with Scarlett, and I heard him bragging about how he’s been partying on his yacht. I’m getting your friend Silas to take me out to follow him.”

“So you went behind my back and called Silas too?”

My blood is starting to boil.

“If I avoided every man in love with you, Bryant, none of us would be left to work.”

“Goddamnit, Jameson.”

“What, Bryant?”

“Do I gotta call you off like an attack dog? You go after Gentry without me, with just you and a civilian, and you’re gonna shit this up. I know that water. You’re from Boston. You don’t. I grew up with that man. You didn’t. I’ve dealt with him before. You haven’t.”

“Well, you’re not here doing your job. I am.”

That hurt. Spinning my head and bruising my heart.

“Don’t you dare.” I can barely speak.

Because he has no idea. This is more than my job. This is my deal. My past. My pain. The love of my life, Redix, and my revenge.

Something touches my shoulder. It’s Redix standing behind me, but I can’t face him as tears drop down my cheeks.

How did I get here?

Where two men like me. One man loves me. And two others I want to kill. All because I don’t want anyone else hurt because of me.

“I’m sorry, Bryant,” Jameson speaks through my stunned silence. “You’re the best fucking detective, and I’m sorry. I’m just frustrated.”

“I care about my job.” It’s all I can exhale. “Too much.”

“I know you do.” Jameson tries soothing more. “I’ll wait until tomorrow night, and we’ll go out then.”

“Copy.”

I end the call.

“That’s a lot of passion for just a colleague.”