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He scrubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not saying you’re wrong. I’m just saying it's a long shot and we really need to talk to James about it. He’d be able to tell us more about what happened with the gang bust.”
Jo helpedme print out a picture of the guy while Jaime relayed our suspicions to Liam. I tried calling James again but he still wasn’t answering. I texted him instead.
E: I really need you to call me back
J: I can’t right now, I’m working.
E: I know but this is important, it’s about the break in
J: I’m looking into that, don’t worry about it.
I was aboutto reply but he answered quickly and my stomach dropped.
J: Baby, I’ve been falling behind on work, I need to focus. I’ll talk to you later
And just like that,he dismissed me, letting me know yet again that I was playing second fiddle to his work. I clenched my fists, grinding my teeth. It felt like he was blaming me for not getting to work as often as he used to and I wanted to scream. I didn’t ask for any of this to happen. I didn’t ask to move in with him either. If he was so worried about work, why did he bother asking to get back together?
I felt tears burn my eyes but I scrubbed them away before Jo and Jaime could notice. They were busy talking about potential connections between the hotel and the guy from the photo that didn’t involve me but I knew better. This wasn’t just a coincidence.
To prove my point, I used my phone to stalk Kyle. Since James was so adamant that it was him who broke in, I wanted to prove him wrong so he’d finally listen to me. I remembered what Yuri did when getting information on my boss and did the same thing as best I could. I found out pretty quickly that it was impossible for Kyle to have been the one to break into my apartment.
“Hey, Jaime?”
He straightened, facing me. “Yeah?”
“How much time has James really spent looking into what happened at my apartment?”
He frowned. “I don’t know, why?”
“Because the guy he said is responsible was arrested last Sunday for drunk and disorderly and has been in jail since. It took me less than ten minutes to find it. If he was actually looking into it like he said, wouldn’t he have figured that out by now?”
Fury ripped through me as I handed Jaime my phone, showing him the police report. James wasn’t looking into what happened at my apartment, he was too busy working. I’ve been living with him, stuck in a house where I was almost always uncomfortable because he couldn’t be bothered to take the time off he said he would to help me. Maybe if he would’ve spent more time on this, he would’ve figured it out sooner.
Jaime showed Jo the report and they both frowned. “I know Liam has been delegating more but is James that essential that he couldn’t look into this for her?” she asked.
Jaime flinched. “I can’t answer that. I’m not in the field much anymore. Besides, that seems like a thing I shouldn’t stick my nose in.”
“You mean like when you make Liam mad thinking you’re interested in me?” she snapped.
Their attention was diverted as they started arguing with each other. I took my phone, quietly leaving the room. I felt a little numb. I knew James had an issue with working too much but I never thought he’d outright lie to me so he could work instead of helping me get back home. What was he thinking, that I’d just live here forever? That’s not what I want.
I didn’t realize I still had the picture of the guy from the hotel in my hand until I was standing in the hall in front of James’s room. I stared down at it. I wasn’t wrong, I remember his face. He had the same worn look, the same hair, the same eyes. Unless this guy had an identical twin, someone has been after me since I got back together with James. And it wasn’t Kyle.
I spun on my heel, heading back toward the office. It might be a bit much but I think I deserve some answers. I walked back inside, clearing my throat to interrupt them. They were still arguing with each other.
“Jo. I need you to call Liam. I need him to send James home.”
She didn’t even argue. Jaime did though.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. No harm will come from waiting. James is a stickler about his work, he gets pissy if he gets interrupted.”
I glared at him. “I don’t give a shit. I’ve been pushed aside enough by him. This is my life and it’s his issue so he needs to deal with it. I am not waiting for him to finally have some time off or I’ll be waiting forever.”
Jo hung up, giving me a sharp nod. “They’re on their way.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
It tookfifteen minutes for them to get back. When Jo called, she managed to convince both James and Liam to head home which made me feel a little ill. If this wasn’t what I thought it was, if it was unrelated, then I’ve just summoned a mafia boss and his bodyguard home for no reason. And Jaime already warned me that James wouldn’t be happy…
