Last thing we fucking needed was Jax tripping down memory lane. I needed him focused on Haley, not on the past.
Gem’s face paled. “Died? But—”
“I saw it happen,” I said. “Killed by her own father’s guards. Fucking sick.”
I felt Jax’s eye burning right through me.
Fuck.
“I… I’m so sorry,” Gem said, sounding genuinely astonished. “I had no idea.”
“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask you about that night again, Saint,” Jax said cooly. “Now that we’re back at the scene of the crime, so to speak.”
He flashed a grin that cut right to the bone.
Before he could spit out his question, I clamped a hand over his shoulder and said, “We’ve been over this, Jax. Oona’s dead. Keradoc ordered the hit. How many more times do you need to hear it?”
“As many as it takes until I’m convinced you’re not lying to me.”
“Trust me, brother. You donotwant to go chasing after ghosts. Not in this city.”
“Maybe I fucking do.” Jax pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “Good to see you again, Gem.”
“Fuck you going?” I asked him.
He didn’t answer. Just glared at me with the all-seeing eye, then took off.
“There’s something you’re not telling him about Oona,” Gem said once he was gone. “Spill it.”
With a grin, I picked up my mug and dumped some ale onto the floor, knowing damn well that’s not what she’d meant by “spill it.”
“For Oona of Midnight,” I said anyway. “May she rest in peace.”
Gem scoffed at me, but when it was clear I had nothing more to say on the matter, she let it go.
“All right, Saint. I’ve held out long enough. Time for you to tell me what you’rereallydoing in Midnight, and why the hell you’re asking me so many questions about Keradoc.”
I finished my drink. Set down the mug. Looked hard into her eyes. “We need to get close to him, Gem. Tell me how to fucking do it.”
A slow smile stretched across her face, lighting her up like the moons in the pitch-black sky. “Oh, I’ve got just the thing for you, Saint. And I’ve been waiting for a chance to see you and the boys in tuxes for alongtime.”
28
HUDSON
After a shower, I headed into the common area wearing nothing but sweatpants, thinking I’d have the place to myself for a bit.
But Haley was sitting on the floor, surrounded by potted plants and a few vials of blood and a bunch of them sharp knives she loved so much. The space was filled with candles, and a pentacle glowed on the bare wooden planks in front of her.
“Practicing,” she explained when she caught me watching her. “Sorry if it’s a little… extra. Then again, it’s not like I ever claimed to be anything else, so… Working as designed?” She shrugged and wrinkled her nose, and I grinned, real big this time. She brought it outta me like no one else could.
“So, bare chest and gray sweatpants, huh?” She took in the sight of me, her eyes roving down to my bare feet and back up again. “Nowwho’s casting dark magick?”
Anyone casting spells around here, babygirl, it’s you.
Ignoring her sinful little smirk, I grabbed two beers from the fridge, handed one to her, then took my favorite spot on the couch.
“You want some company up there?” she asked, already getting to her feet.
