Be Mine (Jackson Boys 2)

I like that she didn’t use Chip’s name. He doesn’t deserve it. He’ll be forgotten, nothing more than a has-been, a footnote to my life and Lainey’s.

Tap tap goes the pen. “Why was he fired?”

“You should ask the front office. My client doesn’t make those decisions,” the lawyer stands up to signal that the interview is over.

Detective Ramos snaps her notebook shut. “I’ll be in touch. A man’s dead, so it’s not as if we can just zip his body up and call it a day.”

Why not?

“That’s exactly what you can do,” the lawyer says. “Everyone in Texas knows that the Castle Defense doctrine is held sacrosanct by juries. Ms. Valdez was in her home; she was being physically attacked. The law presumes she acted in self-defense. Even if you wanted to bring a case, you wouldn’t win.”

Ramos considers this for a moment and then turns to me. “Don’t go anywhere,” she warns.

“I’m playing on Sunday.” I spread my hands out. “Where would I be going?”

She scowls. “We’re not going to treat this case any differently just because you’re Nick Jackson.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.”

The detective gives me one last glare before striding across the room to speak with Lainey. I start forward only to be hauled back by the lawyer. Her nails bite into my arm.

“Don’t ruin all your play-acting now by rushing to her side,” the polished blonde says out of the side of her mouth.

I force myself to relax. I watch as the detective asks Lainey a few more questions. The EMT guy presses something into Lainey’s hand. If it’s his number, they’re going to need a second body bag.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, everyone is finally out. Including us. Lainey’s condo is a crime scene. Good thing I live upstairs.

“I’m so glad Cassidy is up with Charlie and your parents,” Lainey says, as we wait for the elevator to return from the lobby.

My knees buckle. I hadn’t thought of that. I reach out a hand and steady myself against the wall. “Thanks for that. I was wrecked before, and now I think you’re going to have to wheel me upstairs.”

Amused, she raises a hand to the top of her head, where there’s a little bald spot. “I’ve had better days.”

We stare at each other for a moment, lost in a moment of silent gratitude.

“Sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?” I say as the elevator doors slide open.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She shudders. “I’m done with people poking and prodding me.”

In my condo, I lead her down the hallway to my bedroom and hustle her into the attached bathroom. Inside the medicine chest, I find a bottle of painkillers. I tap out two into my palm and then pour a glass of water.

“Take these.”

“Yes, sir.” She salutes like a smartass but swallows the pills. “I can refill them with this.” She waves the paper in her hand. It’s a script for Vicodin.

“The emergency tech gets to live another day,” I quip. She winces. “Too soon?” I ask.

“A little.” She leans toward the mirror. “Is there blood in my hair?”

I part her hair carefully. “A little bit.” I lift her onto the vanity and turn on the faucet. “Does it hurt much?”

“Hurt more when it was being pulled out. It’s just an ache now.”

I carefully dab a lukewarm cloth onto her head, watching her closely for any wince.

“Hell of a way to start the season,” she murmurs, leaning her head against my chest.

“Yup.” There’s no point in denying it. The newspapers are going to go crazy. Blogs, talk radio, even the sports channels will all be talking about this. “Let them. I don’t care.” I rinse out the washrag and wipe it across her cheeks where tears of anger and fear smeared her makeup. Part of me would like to go down to the morgue, or wherever Chip’s body is, and shoot a few more bullets into his corpse.

“Everyone’s going to say this is a complete circus.”

“I agree. It’s salacious, and until the next drama, it’ll be the top news story in all of sports.”

“That sucks.”

I shrug. “If it wasn’t this, it’d be something else. Let them talk. Once we win, they’ll shut up about it.”

“As if you need more incentive.” She knows the pressure is on this year, and that’s why I fought this relationship for so long.

“Maybe I did. I played well last year because I had something to prove. This year, I’ve a new challenge. New motivation.” I’m not going to run away from someone as amazing as Lainey. With her beside me, I’m a stronger player and a better person. “Now hush up, because we’re going to bed.” I toss the rag into the sink and then hoist her into my arms. She curls her body into mine, hugging me tight.