Page 87 of Dirty Reads

I nodded. “Interesting. We’ll need to look into that. I’m guessing someone got to him, though. Turned him into a snitch.”

“Agreed,” Seton said.

“So where’s the cat?”

“I have no idea. I opened the cage, and it jumped out and just sat down. It looked like it was breathing pretty heavy, and I figured it was scared so I reached down to pick it up. As soon as I touched it, it started swinging its paws at me. Next thing I knew, I was covered in blood and it was gone.”

Jess laughed. “I’m sorry. It’s just. It’s a cat. I can’t believe it did that to you.”

I felt I needed to correct her. It wasn’t a cat. Not even close. “It’s a thirty-pound leopard. They said it’ll get up to fifty pounds.”

She studied my cuts and shook her head. “And you haven’t seen it since?”

I shook my head. “Not once.”

“Did you put some food out for it?”

“That’s another thing. All it can eat is raw chicken.”

“What? Raw meat?”

“Chicken. That’s it. I bought some the other day, it’s in the fridge.”

She laughed. “I’ll put some out. I’m guessing you found the diamond?”

“On the floorboard of the car. I was scared for a minute when I didn’t find it in your purse.”

“I’m so glad this worked out,” she said.

“All I know is I feel like I can only trust two people, and I can’t believe Seton’s one of ‘em,” I said.

Seton cleared his throat. “All my debts are resolved?”

I nodded. “We’re straight.”

“Okay, then fuck you on your shitty remark. There’ll be no more free legal advice.”

“And there’ll be no more loans to support your gambling,” I said. “Your guaranteed pay-offs aren’t very guaranteed, asshole.”

Jess walked to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and got out the package of chicken. She smiled as she opened a drawer and got a knife. When she got a plate out of the cupboard, I realized she had been in my home enough that she knew where everything was, and I found an odd comfort in knowing that she did.

I had never allowed anyone to grow as close to me as Jess, and seeing her prepare the leopard’s food made me view her in a more maternal sense. I shook it off as being a sleep deprived state-of-mind that I would not have possessed otherwise.

“Seton,” I said. “I’m taking the diamond to the safe, and I’m going to grab you $100,000 for your quick thinking on this deal. Don’t gamble it away.”

“Damn. I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.

“And after I give it to you, you’re going to leave. I’m tired, and I’m ready for bed.”

“What about me?” Jess asked.

I turned around. “You? You’re staying. We’re going to have some celebratory sex.”

“I just have to stay off my knees,” she said. “They’re still pretty banged up.”

“Duly noted,” I said with a laugh.

My sexual interest in Jess had changed so much since we met. I went from wanting to shove her full of dick just to claim her as another notch on my belt to wanting to have sex with her because I cared for her deeply.

I couldn’t pinpoint the moment things changed, but I really didn’t feel the need to. It simply seemed when she found out what I was involved in that she accepted not only my chosen profession, but me. Immediately following, things within me began to change.

I walked to the safe, placed the diamond inside, and grabbed ten $10,000 stacks of the drug money.

Halfway to the door, I stopped.

I turned around, returned the drug money to the safe, and grabbed ten stacks of $10,000 in clean money.

I locked the safe, walked to the door, and looked around the room.

Something in me had changed.