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“How did you know there was something more?” I’m not really interested in the answer, it seems Rick doesn’t miss much, and although I don’t know what gave me away before I opened my stupid mouth, I’m just trying to delay the inevitable.
“I didn’t. Not really. It was just a feeling. Seems to me that I was right.” Rick picks my cup up. “You want a fresh one or do you need something a little stronger for this conversation?” he asks.
I let out a laugh. “You got a brewery hidden away somewhere in this place?” I joke flatly. “Nah, I’m good, thanks.” Rick places the cups in the sink, and I watch as he pulls a bottle of Jack from the top cupboard with two shot glasses before joining me back at the breakfast bar. He pours a measure into each glass, pushing mine towards me.
“Before we start, you need to know that I won’t lie or keep secrets from my friends, my men, but I will protect them. And by that, I mean if it requires me to be discreet about what you tell me, then I can and I will do that, until I feel they need to know.”
I nod before downing my shot. The burn is good and just what I didn’t know I needed. Seems to me Rick knows a lot more, about many things, than he lets on. The woman that finally catches his eye is going to be one lucky bitch but have her work cut out for her.
Seeing no other way to do this, and not wanting to explain verbally, I pull my phone from my pocket, unlocking it and sliding it to him.
“Open the last message I was sent.”
I grab the bottle of Jack and pour us both another one. I’ve never been one to be embarrassed about my body or about how free I am with it, but lately that’s changed. I down the shot while Rick scrolls through the pictures. Each one is a very graphic snapshot of that night.
“Okay. These were sent on Thursday?”
“Yeah.”
“Why haven’t you told anyone about them? Gone to the police with them?” I screw my nose up at the suggestion, and Rick doesn’t miss my reaction. “What?”
I sigh, long and deep, before explaining what happened at the station. “I received these after leaving the station, but honestly, I think it was a coincidence. I mean, Jasper didn’t seem happy that I broke things off with him, but how did he—Oh shit!”
“Jamie?”
I jump up from my seat and begin pacing the room. “Oh my God. How did I not see the connection before? I can’t believe I was so stupid.” I continue my pacing, biting the inside of my cheek, mumbling incoherently until Rick stops me.
“Hey,” Rick grabs my shoulders. “What connection? What’s going on?”
I drop my head into my hands, shaking my head. “No. No. No. It doesn’t make sense, Rick.” Rick guides me back to my seat and pours me another drink, shoving it into my hand. I knock it back, swiping my hand across my mouth. “Jasper is friends with one of the guys in the pictures. His name is Noah, but I don’t know any more about him.”
“How long ago was this night, Jamie?”
“Urm…maybe three weeks ago, I think.”
“And when did you meet Jasper?”
“The next evening. He was at the hospital after a stabbing victim was brought in and intervened when the patient got a little handsy with me. The guy, he knew who I was by name and knew who my dad was too.” Rick frowns. “Do you think it’s all connected? Don’t get me wrong, I believe in coincidences, but this is a little too big of a coincidence even for me,” I say, tilting my head and raising my brows.
“I don’t know yet. What I do know is that you need to tell Seb about this.”
“What? No! Why?” The pitch of my voice rises several octaves above normal, and I begin shaking my head emphatically. “You told me it was need to know, and he does not need to know about this,” I grit out, jamming my pointed finger into the counter.
“You need to tell him, Jamie.”
“Why? Because we fucked a couple of times, now I need to tell him everything that happens in my life? I don’t think so, Rick. This has absolutely nothing to do with Seb Roberts, and if you tell him behind my back, we’re done.”
“He doesn’t need to tell me behind your back because you’re going to tell me everything yourself.”
I spin on my stool, to find Seb leaning against the door frame on the other side of the kitchen. Arms folded across his chest, brow drawn down and eyes dark and menacing.
“I’m not telling you jack shit!” I spin back round, locking eyes with Rick’s penetrating gaze. “No.” I state, folding my arms across my body as I hear Seb grunt behind me. Rick continues to stare right at me, eyes like a chisel chipping away at my defiant denial until I snap. “You know what? Fine. He wants to know and you’re so desperate to tell him, you go right ahead, but count me out for this conversation.” I jump down from the stool and storm from the room.
