Dorian’s work, no doubt.
Jaci grabbed the bottle of gin and a copa glass. “If you’re here to tear my heart out, please make it quick—I’m dying for an excuse to get out of these heels. Also, I totally get it, and I forgive you in advance.”
Charley’s dazzling smile widened, her eyes shining with warmth and amusement. “Tempting, but… Not tonight, hon. I just got my nails done.” She fluttered her fingers along the bar.
Jaci couldn’t help but notice the massive red diamond glittering on her ring finger. “Congratulations, I think?”
Charley beamed. “Thank you.”
Fairly certain the woman wasn’t going to leap on her jugular, Jaci turned her attention to making the drink, then handed it over, waving off Charley’s credit card.
Charley tipped the glass in cheers, then sipped, her eyebrows lifting. “Wow. That’s fuckinggood.”
Jaci laughed, some of the tension easing. “My boss is pretty demanding.”
A nod. Another sip. Another smile.
Finally, Charley set down her drink and sighed, the warmth in her eyes cooling a bit.
“Look, Jacinda,” she said. “I’m not here to pretend that what you did was okay. I just—”
“I didn’t know.”
Charley cocked her head. “About?”
“I didn’t know the poison was for Dorian,” she blurted. “I mean, that’s not to justify anything. It was super fucked-up either way. But Renault didn’t give me any details—just the assignment, and I did it without question. Which… yeah. The end result was still the same—Dorian nearly died, you got dragged into it, and…” She blew out a breath, regretting opening her big, fat mouth in the first place. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. If I could go back…”
Charley offered a soft smile. “But we can’t, that’s the kick in the ass.”
Jaci poured herself a shot of gin, then touched it to Charley’s glass. “To leaving the past in the past.”
“Here, here.”
The women drank, and Jaci darted off to help another customer. When she returned, Charley was still there.
“Listen, Jacinda—”
“Jaci. I mean, you can call me Jacinda if you want to, but Jaci works too.”
“Jaci.” Charley ran a manicured finger around the rim of her glass, the picture of elegance. “I came here to say… I’m not justifying what you did—not by a long shot. But let’s just say I know what it’s like to be stuck in a shitty situation with no way out, when your only options are a shit sandwich or a shit sandwich on fire.”
Jaci couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, that’s exactly how it feels sometimes.”
She liked the woman, and she suspected the woman liked her too, even though they should probably be on the floor already, clawing each other’s eyes out.
“But,” Charley said, and Jaci sighed.
“There’s always a but.”
“Butif you betray Gabriel’s trust, if you come after Dorian or anyone in my family again inanyway—shitty situation or not—I won’t hesitate to sacrifice a manicure to tear your heart out. And no, I won’t make it quick. And yes, you will remember me in hell, and when I finally make it there myself, I’ll track you down and do it all over again.”
“Understood.” Jaci believed her, but the sudden flare of emotion that burned down her spine wasn’t defensiveness or fear.
It was jealousy, plain and simple. Not for Charley’s confidence, her poise, her complete badassery—though all were admirable traits.
But because Jaci had no fucking idea what it felt like to be so completely devoted to anyone, much less to an entire family.
And she wanted to.
